Abecedarian: Banff, Canada

“In Abecedarian: Banff, Canada Melanie Hyo-In Han captures the beauty and reverence of Banff and the peaks that surround them. Holding the country in context, Han brings each voice to the forefront, holding space for First Nations and tradition, as well as the plants, peaks, and animals that make up the land. A book for all ages, Abecedarian: Banff, Canada is for anyone with a love for the landscape and wonder in mind.”

“Abecedarian: Banff, Canada is a beautifully crafted chapbook, a true abecedarian of nature’s wonders in the heart of Banff. Each letter-inspired, short-form haibun captures a unique facet of this breathtaking landscape, weaving together poetry and prose to illuminate the essence of the Canadian Rockies. Through vivid imagery and contemplative haikus, this collection transforms the natural world into an intimate experience – from the resilient Alpine Forget-Me-Not to the mysterious hoodoos and the ancestral lands of the First Nations. Thoughtfully composed to encompass the entire alphabet, this chapbook invites readers to journey through a complete, evocative portrait of Banff’s wild beauty.”

“In the confines of Banff National Park, Melanie Hyo-In Han examines the beauty of nature as a comparative for the beauty of poetry. Highlighting every single aspect of nature that she finds enticing, there is nothing more graphically tranquil than the peace of nature. Her words hold you through each unique story, each feature, each part of Banff that she loves. With lines like “they are the poets of the wild with verses written in their roots and rhymes engraved in their leaves,” she reminds you that nature is not only outside, but in every single one of us. Han’s Abecedarian: Banff, Canada ensures a delightfully serene journey into her appreciation for nature, her love for Banff, and her values as a whole; there is no way to deny that her haibuns are a true reflection of her love for poetry, for nature, and the connection between the two.”