'A collected poems' is either a gravestone or a testimonial to survival.

Al Purdy (1918-2000) was a Canadian poet who wrote about the Canadian landscape, rural life, and the human condition. He was born in Wooler, Ontario and his family moved to Trenton, Ontario when he was young. He had a difficult childhood and left school at the age of 15. He lived in many places throughout his life, including British Columbia and Nova Scotia. He was a prolific writer, publishing over 20 collections of poetry, two novels, and two collections of short stories. He was a great Canadian icon and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1982. He was also awarded the Governor General's Award for Poetry twice, in 1965 and 1986. He is known for his passionate, lyrical style and his ability to capture the beauty of the Canadian landscape.