Okay, tell me exactly what happened
by Juleta Severson-Baker
This collection of poems emerged from the author’s experience working as a 911 call-taker just over 10 years ago. The collection is structured as a series of poems inspired by the Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols (the scripted questions and advice) that she used to help 911 callers. Each “Case Entry” question and medical call type has a poem in the book, and each of those 911-inspired poems has an accompanying trauma-recovery poem. The book is an offering to all first responders, an homage to the urgent and professional work they do to save lives every day, and in respect for the traumas they are exposed to at work. It is also for everyone, because we all experience pain and crisis in this life, and because we may need to call 911 at some point for ourselves, a loved one, or for a stranger. Ultimately, this is a book filled with gratitude for life and a love for being alive. In these poems, Severson-Baker looks to point a way through trauma towards resilience, connection with self and others, and even joy.
This title is now available for pre-order. We expect to be shipping in late September. Ordering the print copy of this book will enable you to download the PDF version at no additional charge.
Purchasing this book will also enable a free PDF download of Okay, tell me exactly what happened (Regular price $9.95). The download option will be available after payment is processed. Click HERE to order the standalone PDF file.
$22.95 CAD
Additional information
| Weight | .208 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9 × 6 × .264 in |
| Page Count | 120 |
| Binding | Soft Cover with flaps |
| Year Published | 2026 |
Juleta Severson-Baker
Juleta Severson-Baker is of settler heritage and was born and raised on Treaty 7 land in Calgary. She is an educator and poet whose first book, Incarnate (Frontenac House, 2013), was shortlisted for the W. O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Prize and the Gerald Lampert Memorial Prize for Poetry. Her most recent collection of poetry, Antecedent (Frontenac House, 2023) was shortlisted for the WGA’s Stephan G. Stephansson Award. Juleta has been a teacher and administrator at Calgary Arts Academy, a speech arts and drama instructor at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory, a birth doula and a 911 call taker. In other identities, she is a mom of two amazing humans, a lover of nature and spending time outside, and a fierce believer in imagining a future where we transition to a sustainable economy and where all people are free.
Antidote for Hypervigilance
East from the hilltop lookout
a trail meanders through pastureland.
In July, grasses and wildflowers
bloom and bob to summon bees.
Summon you too. Come up from lakeside
to reach perfection of meadow
after effortful climb.
Walk into wind.
Wind such that, after a time
you can hear yourself
not thinking.