copyright © Ellie Nichol, 1990,2003

      Second edition

      This epub edition pubished in 2010. Electronic ISBN 978 1 77056 073 4.

      The quotation on the back cover is from bpNichoFs “Narrative in Language: The Long Poem,” first published in The Dinosaur Review, then reprinted in Tracing the Paths, edited by Roy Miki (Vancouver: Talonbooks, 1988).

      Thanks to Nicky Drumbolis, Lola Tostevin and Ellie Nichol. - I.N.

      Published with the assistance of the Canada

      Council and the Ontario Arts Council

      National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication

      Nichol, B. P., 1944–1988

      Gifts : the martyrology book(s) 7 & / b.p. Nichol. - 2nd ed.

      Poems.

      ISBN 1–55245–090–2

      I. Title. II. Title: Martyrology book(s) 7 &.

      PS8527.I32G55 2003 C81 T.54 C00-930205–0

      PR9199.3.N48G42003

       To go beyond THE WORD, exercise control over it? no NO NO — BEYOND THE WORD, not to merely control it but to overcome it, go be yond the point where it is even necessary to think in terms of it

      Journal note

      Vancouver

      April 7, 1964

      2:15a.m.

      for ellie

      outside these books

      that life