Benoit LaPierre

Benoit LaPierre is a little known poet from the 19th century, and said to have been was the first in Canada to use the double stanza method in his poetry. Also an aspiring painter, LaPierre experimented with the anthropomorphic depiction of canines, including dressing the animals in clothes.

Biography

Born in Ronscevalles, Quebec, not much is known AbOUT LaPierre's childhood. His family is reported to have been involved with an acrobatic troupe that performed for the Durocher Circus.

After gaining success in Montreal, LaPierre retreated to his rural Eastern Townships home, releasing new poetry only intermittently. It was here that he met his first wife, Caley Sutherland, an American woman whose parents came to Quebec after the United States gained independence. An aspiring artist herself, their marriage did not last long and they quickly separated. She moved to France and was a contemporary of a young Picasso in Paris.

LaPierre's second marriage was to Youday Megane, whom Benoit met when he broke his leg after he fell off a horse cart and Megane was assigned as his house nurse. A love affair ensued and this period is what several Canadian poetical historians have captioned "The Rebirth of Benoit". Many of his key works were written during this time period including the epic piece Avoir Mon Valentin, meaning "Be My Valentine". It is well known for its opener 'Meg meg meg, please don't make me beg'.

Legacy

While most of his work remains obscure to most people, he is considered by many to be an important influence on Canadian poetry. Of the poets that name him as an influence, the most notable are: Mark Abley, Ken Belford, Ralph Gustafson, and Alden Nowlan. Nowlan named LaPierre as his greatest influence in his autobiography in 1977.

In a critical essay 'The Modern Valentine', Collin M. Collins argued that the simplistic tone of Avoir Mon Valentin revolutionized romantic poetry in the 19th century. Collins asserted that LaPierre opened up poetry to the working man by making it seem possible to write something beautiful, yet simple.