Susan Flemming

Susan Flemming was born on January 17th,1956 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, into a family of gifted artists and musicians. According to Susan, she learned everything she needed to know before she went to school and never recalls learning to read. Somehow, she states, she imbibed enough poetry to be able to string a few words together. Susan said that she attended university long enough for her professor to tell her to go home and write. She asserts that she has been trying to get the words right ever since.  I had the honor of meeting Susan Flemming in August, 2008, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where I was involved as a member of the Executive Committee for the Atlantic Conference, a symposium aimed at presenting evidence of pre-Columbian Atlantic crossings to the New World.  Susan was attending as a reporter / observer. It was my great privilege to be able to spend time with her, on occasion, during the three days I was there. She mentioned the fact that she was a music major and teacher, and had been composing poetical verse for many years. Being a poet myself, I invited her to send me selections of her work, and suggested that, based on its merit, I might be interested in publishing it. Upon receiving an email of three of her recent poems, I was blown away at the quality and depth which it possessed.  Formerly published in Particles, 1982, Tech Press, Halifax, Nova Scotia : Sarah Jackson drawings, Archeology for Beginners, Ocean Mood.  Apprentice on a Journey is her first published book, and represents her early work.  Among all of the aspiring poets which I have met, I have found none with any more originality and undeniable talent than she. She has since had a publication of a few of her works, but no collection, such as this. It is my great pleasure to introduce her outstanding verse to the world in this small first volume. Those who appreciate distinctive talent will, no doubt, drink in her lines, and find themselves, like myself, begging for more. And more there shall be.