Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet, Jean-Jacques Fournier, and a book review #treasuring poetry #bookreview #poetrycommunity

Posted: October 15, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Uncategorized |16 Comments

Today, I am delighted to introduce Jean-Jacques Fournier as my Treasuring Poetry guest.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a poet

A Canadian citizen, I was born in Montréal, Canada, in the Province of Québec, a long time ago. I was educated in English, by choice of my parents, who were bilingual French and English. This allowed me to work all over Canada and even in the USA.

I started writing poetry seriously, shortly after moving to Los Angeles, California, in the early eighties. I had left the corporate world and decided on an adventure, for some 6 years.

Being at a turning point in my professional and personal life, I was facing a lot of issues. I found writing poetry was the best way to express feelings and think about the meaning of life, hiding behind verses.

I came back to Montréal for a decade and a half, in partnership with a graphic designer in the finance domain. Then, around 2000, I decided to retire and move to the south of France where I wanted to dedicate myself to writing and poetry offered more immediate satisfaction than spending some years completing a novel. At that point, I had written more than 500 poems and was encouraged by an artist friend – sculptor Jim Ritchie – to publish my work. My first book of poetry was published in 2007, thanks to the help of a few close friends. In 2010, I came back to Montréal, married to a French lawyer. Since then, I have published 21 books of poetry and to date written more than 5000 poems. I also started a blog – Poetry on a canapé – and recorded more than 300 poems to give a voice to the words.

You have a distinctive poetry style. Did you develop this style yourself or were you inspired by another poet?

My wife said once, half joking, that I am the « Picasso of poetry » because I tend to deconstruct sentences, use abstract images and play with words. While the analogy with Picasso is of course, far-fetched, it does capture how I work with words and verses.  I love reading poetry, and the brevity of the medium of expression and its freedom of style are a constant attraction to me. Being a somewhat impatient person, I find it impossible to write a novel. The darkness and humour of Edgar Allan Poe inspire me, as much as the imaginative works of William Blake, Dorathy Parker, or the compact style of Samuel Menashe.

Which of your own poems is your favourite and why?

There is a poem that can be found in almost every one of my 21 books, with slight variations, over time.  The title is « Friend ».  The most important thing is having meaningful friendships and enjoying conversations with people we appreciate.  But deserving the title of friend is something that should not be received lightly, and it still puzzles me when someone calls me friend.

Friend

Why do they call me friend,

What is their cause

Or purpose

To judge me worthy,

That they would levy

Such expression of regard,

Entrust this much responsibility

To be bestowed upon my person,

That I’d be asked to manage

With this impressive status…

And to this title, friend

A singular entitlement,

Who possesses such impartiality

Could deem me be deserving,

Or capable indeed

To discharge such obligation,

Required and implied

When one is given title,

That of being called friend,

Why do they call me friend!

Your wife assists you by creating covers and artworks for inclusion in your books. Tell us a bit about her art and creation process.

My wife Marianne and I met in the South of France in 2002, where she was practising intellectual property law, in contact with the creative world. This allowed her to develop an artistic sensibility, notably with photography. And, being the first to read, comment and critique each of my new poems,  she has volunteered  to design the cover and content of the poetry books that follow, after the completion of the first 3 books by my business partner-  The artworks that illustrate the poems are usually from the public domain, or works from artist friends, or her own photographic composition. Canadian winter is the right moment for her to devote time to a new poetry project. She helps me with the selection of poems, titles, and the dominant thematic of the selected poems. Then, for the last five pocketbook size, she has looked for one or several artists, mainly surrealist artists in the public domain, whose works could be associated with my works. She makes suggestions, and we decide together until the final draft. She uses online tools to publish a book, with worldwide print on demand facilities.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Among my favourite poets are two French poets:  Boris Vian and Jacques Prevert. Their poetry moves me because they both liked to play with words and twist them. They both use simple language, for poems that could be sad or funny or both.

In the English language, the choice is even more difficult. Therefore, since I have only mentioned male poets as a potential influence, I will not mention them again.  From Emily Dickinson to Elisabeth Bishop and more recently, Rupi Kaur, these feminine voices resound to me because of their authenticity that transpires from their writing sense of provocation and lucidity. Should I have to select one poet, it would certainly be Dorothy Parker, not only for her caustic style, but also for her profound ability to perceive our human fellow’s defects and honesty in describing feelings.

My review of CHAOS – a human side of man

Right up front, I have to comment on the gorgeous cover for this intriguing collection. Designed by the poet’s wife, Marianne Dessis, it is as compelling as the poetry within this book. Many of the poems are accompanied by Marianne Dessis’ beautiful photographs.

This is the second poetry collection I’ve read by Jean-Jacques Fournier and it is just as thought provoking. The poet sees deeply into the heart of man and exposes his desires, loves, and thoughts with brutal honesty.

This short extract is from the poem ‘Apologies’:
“Oh too often we apologise
Just so the make amends,
Or evade we be chastised
We’ll effort to portend,
Till failing begs apprise
To impede ye condemn, …”

I admire the poet’s use of words, in short and sharp lines that collectively say a great deal in few words. It is a great poetic gift to impart so much without frills and flounces and I think this is the real essence of good poetry.

The poem that touched me the most in this collection is dedicated “in memory of Alan Kurdi, and all war-torn children sacrificed, thru man’s warring need for greed.”

“Save errant boat capsized,
In a bid to flee conflict
Where peace may be alive,
Tho its refuge not explicit
As bureaucracy deprives,
And silently the desperate
Boy’s fate is compromised,
Be sadly found face down …”

CHAOS – a human side of man – is a thoughtful collection that cannot fail to touch the reader’s heart.

You can purchase CHAOS – a human side of man from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0359191622

You can also find all of Jean-Jacques Fournier’s beautiful books on Lulu.

About Jean-Jacques Fournier

Jean-Jacques Fournier is a native of Montréal, in the province of Québec, Canada. He continued his studies while in the Canadian Navy and travelling substantially over the world. He started writing in earnest while living in California in the early eighties. In the process of reinventing himself numerous times, his penchant for the language of poetry seemed best suited, for him to express his emotions and life experiences. He then spent several years pursuing his writing in the south of France, during which time he published his first three books.  He has long since moved back to Canada, and is presently living in the Eastern Townships of Québec. He has published twenty-one books of poetry to date.

Find Jean-Jacques Fournier

My blog is Poetry on a canapé with a hyperlink, when it exists, to my Facebook profile for listening to audio recordings of numerous poems. My books can be found online on Lulu, notably.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

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