Milton Acorn

Acorn worked between 1923 and 1986 across poet, writer, journalist and playwright. This article rests on 21 published texts and 36 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Milton Acorn • Born — March 30, 1923 • Birthplace — Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada • Place of death — Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada • Other Names — The People's Poet • Occupation — Poet, writer, playwright • Spouse — Gwendolyn MacEwen (1962–1964; divorced) • Birth Name — Milton James Rhode Acorn

He was born in Prince Edward Island, and grew up in Charlottetown. He joined the armed forces during World War II at the age of eighteen.

During World War II, on a trans-Atlantic crossing, Acorn suffered a wound from depth charges. The wound was severe enough for him to receive a disability pension from Veterans Affairs for most of his life. He returned to Prince Edward Island and moved to Montreal, Quebec, in 1956 and was for a time a member of the Labor-Progressive Party. He spent several years living at the Hotel Waverly in Toronto, Ontario. In Montreal, he published some of his early poems in the political magazine, New Frontiers. In 1956, he self-published a mimeographed chapbook, In Love and Anger, his first collection of poems. In the 1950s, some of his poetry was published in the magazine Canadian Forum. He was for a short time married to poet Gwendolyn MacEwen. In the mid-1960s, he moved to Vancouver and joined the League for Socialist Action. In 1967, Acorn helped found the "underground" newspaper The Georgia Straight in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1969, he published his poetry collection I've Tasted My Blood. Acorn was awarded the Canadian Poets Award in 1970 and the Governor General's Award in 1976 for his collection of poems, The Island Means Minago. In 1977, Acorn introduced the Jackpine sonnet, a form designed to be as irregular and spikey (and Canadian) as a jack pine tree, but with internal structure and integrity. Without a fixed number of lines and with varied line lengths, the Jackpine sonnet depends on interweaving internal rhymes, assonance and occasional end-rhymes. In July 1986, he suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital. Acorn died in his home town of Charlottetown on August 20, 1986, due to complications associated with his heart condition and diabetes. According to fellow poet and friend Jim Deahl, he had "lost his will to live after the death of a younger sister."

• 2002: Coastlines: The Poetry of Atlantic Canada, ed. Anne Compton, Laurence Hutchman, Ross Leckie and Robin McGrath (Goose Lane Editions)

Milton Acorn is recorded with the occupation playwright. Recorded as poet, writer, journalist and playwright. Established in Library of Congress under n50036892. Established in FAST under 12557.

• 1987: A Stand of Jackpine (with James Deahl) • 1987: The Uncollected Acorn • 1987: I Shout Love and Other Poems • 1988: Hundred Proof Earth • 1996: To Hear the Faint Bells

In 1987, the Milton Acorn People's Poetry Award was established in his memory by Ted Plantos. It is presented annually to an outstanding "people's poet." The award was initially $250 (since raised to $500) and a medallion, modelled after the one given to Milton Acorn.

• 1970 Canadian Poets' Award, more commonly known as the People's Poet Award and Medal • 1975 Governor General's Award • 1977 Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree (from the University of Prince Edward Island) • 1986 Life member Canadian Poetry Association