POET
THE FIRST POEM THAT CALLAGHAN wrote was published in his college magazine, Kaleidoscope, in 1957. It caused something of a sensation on his campus, as he was then known only as a basketball player. He did not write poetry again until 1972, the year following his departure from the Toronto Telegram and his being fired for political reasons by CBC Television. A section of The Hogg Poems appeared in Exile in 1973 and in 1974, and his first book The Hogg Poems and Drawings was published in 1978. The launching of that book took place at the now legendary Isaac’s Gallery in Toronto where all the Hogg drawings were exhibited for sale. A highlight of the launching was the appearance of the Downchild Blues Band, who played again and again over the years at Callaghan events. He has continued to rewrite and publish, in various forms, the Hogg Poems until the present day.
BARRY CALLAGHAN AND IRVING LAYTON AT CAFE DES COPAINS, 1979
IN CLAIRE WEISSMAN WILKS’ APARTMENT, ROSEDALE VALLEY RD., 1980
AT WOODBINE RACETRACK, 1982
IN CAFE HELLE, OUTSIDE DACHAU, 1978
BARRY CALLAGHAN
man of letters
MEDIA: POET
