E.D. Blodgett is professor emeritus of comparative literature at the University of Alberta and a distinguished poet. He held the Louis Desrochers Chair in Études canadiennes at the Campus Saint-Jean from 2008 to 2010. His publications include Five-Part Invention: A History of Literary History in Canada, Elegy, and twenty books of poetry. His 1996 collection Apostrophes: Woman at the Piano won the Governor General's Award. He is a past poet laureate of Edmonton, Alberta.

Praha | Praha 4
Castle | Hrad 6
Pomp | Pompa 8
Cemeteries | Hrbitovy 10
Bells | Zvony 12
Pigeons | Holubi 14
Emptiness | Prázdnota 16
Opening | Otevírání 18
Light | Svetlo 20
Trees | Stromy 22
Houses | Domy 24
Stones | Kameny 26
Lamps | Lampy 28
Dreams | Sny 32
Kings | Králové 34
Rain | DéSt 36
Cathedrals | Katedrály 38
River | Reka 40
Rooms | Pokoje 42
Bird | Pták 44
Unfolding | Rozvíjení 46
Museum | Muzeum 48
Lilacs | seríky 50
Girl | Dívka 52
Clouds | Mraky 54
Sun | Slunce 56
Rusalka | Rusalka 58
Saints | Svatí 60
Gardens | Sady 62
Faces | Tváre 64
Canals | Kanály 66
Boulevards | Bulváry 70
Gate | Branka 72
Steps | Schody 74
Forgetting | Zapomnení 76
Petals | Okvetní lístky 78
Fountains | Fontány 80
Parks | Parky 82
Leaf | List 84
Towers | Veze 86
Windows | Okna 88
Chiaroscuro | serosvit 90
Winter | Zima 92
Flower | Kvet 94
Angelus | Klekání 96
Tram | Tramvaj 98
Night | Noc 100
Streets | Ulice 104
Cloister | KláSter 106
Snow | Sníh 108
Horses | Kone 110
Dust | Prach 112
Crows | Vrány 114
Ladies | Paní 116
Sleepwalkers | Námesícníci 118
Eternity | Vecnost 120
Jewish Cemetery | Zidovský hrbitov 122
Bridges | Mosty 126
Ecstasy | Extáze 128
Na Kampe | Na Kampe 130
God | Buh 132
Music | Hudba 134
Golden Praha | Zlatá Praha 136
Chestnuts | KaStany 138
Heart | Srdce 140
Afterword 145

Prompted by renowned poet E.D. Blodgett's deep love for and intimate experience of Prague, Praha is a poetic homage to the legendary city's vital spirit. As they build on one another, the poems in the collection lift the reader over the threshold of purely mythic understanding and into the heart of one of Europe's loveliest and most venerable cities. Each poem is accompanied by a translation into Czech, encouraging even those who do not know the language to immerse themselves in its sound. Superbly complemented by the mysteriously eloquent paintings of Czech artist Robert Kessner, Praha offers the moods of Prague in its many seasons and in all its magic.