With My Eyes Wide Open by Michael Fraser

With My Eyes Wide Open navigates life's catastrophes, failures, and coming through experiential slaughter revived and reborn to new possibilities. The biographical themes of grief, family, and resiliency amid the backdrop of racism and near poverty are explored with earnestness and no filter. This is confessional poetry where the poet acknowledges his wanton decisions with deft skill, astute creativity, and imaginative flair. This is not a book of victimhood, but one of triumph! (From Exile Editions)

• Poet Michael Fraser wants writers to keep the faith when it comes to creating great poetry

Michael Fraser was published in Best Canadian Poetry in English 2013 and 2018. He has won numerous awards, including Freefall Magazine's 2014 and 2015 poetry contests, the 2016 CBC Poetry Prize, the 2018 Gwendolyn Macewen Poetry Competition and the League of Canadian Poets' 2022 Lesley Strutt Poetry Prize. His latest collection, With My Eyes Wide Open, was published in 2023. Fraser was named one of CBC Books Writers to Watch in 2022. He was also a reader for the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize.

Interviews with Michael Fraser

CBC Books6:29Michael Fraser talks to Gloria Macarenko about the CBC Poetry Prize

The CBC Poetry Prize is open for submissions until May 31, 2022. Toronto poet Michael Fraser talks about his newest poetry collection, The Day-Breakers and what makes for a captivating CBC Poetry Prize entry.

Radio Active8:23Former Edmontonian Michael Fraser wins 2016 CBC Poetry Prize

Michael Fraser's winning entry "African Canadian in Union Blue" tells the story of a little-known piece of Canadian history. In it, an African Canadian heads south to fight in the American Civil War only to be confronted by horrid conditions and racism