Toews -- the poetic romantic -- a puzzling fellow

Enlarge Image

Vic Toews (CP)

Enlarge Image

W.B. Yeats

We are not here today to discuss the Honourable Victor Toews, MP for Provencher and minister of public safety, gentle readers. He has received too much public scrutiny in that role lately, most of it related to his proposed Internet surveillance bill and, as a tangential result, his divorce from his wife of 33 years.

We are here today instead to examine Vic Toews, poetry lover, unabashed devotee of William Butler Yeats and eloquent writer of public love notes to his second wife and their young son.

What the heck was he thinking?

This newspaper has not written in detail about the Toews divorce. It won't begin today. The matter became public last week when someone who objected to the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act (could they have chosen a more overwrought name?) leaked the salacious details on Twitter.

Realistically, it wasn't news to most people in politics, the media or, I imagine, Provencher. The details that were released are on the public record.

In a weekend letter to constituents, Manitoba's senior federal cabinet minister claimed online protests against his proposed Internet surveillance bill escalated to threats of "criminal acts" against him and his family.

Toews made reference to his divorce in the letter:

"I want you to know that I have never responded publicly to the specific allegations made in these affidavits nor will I ever do so."

Here's where the poetry came in:

"The other night, while I was reading my favourite poet, William Butler Yeats, I came across these lines:

" 'Yet they that know all things but know

'That all this life can give us is

'A child's laughter, a woman's kiss.'

"No words could ever describe my love for my young son and my spouse any better. What a fortunate man I am to have them in my life."

Out of curiosity I looked up the Yeats poem. It's a 1,300-word epic called Baile and Aillinn. I'm impressed he had the time to get through it, let alone make it a favourite.

As far as I could tell, the poem's protagonists were star-crossed lovers who were deceived into thinking the other had died. They then died from the heartbreak but ended up together forever after death.

It all sounds a bit glum but apparently it's super-romantic.

I had never read Yeats before Toews said he was his favourite poet. I don't have a favourite poet. I am partial to doggerel, especially as it relates to ladies from Nantucket.

Here are a couple of other excerpts from the poem:

"And that mild woman of the south,

'Aillinn, who was King Lugaidh's heir.

'Their love was never drowned in care

'Of this or that thing, nor grew cold

'Because their bodies had grown old.

'Being forbid to marry on Earth,

'They blossomed to immortal mirth."

I know, right? Super-romantic, especially the immortal mirth part.

And a little bit more:

"Where that wise harper's finger ran.

"For this young girl and this young man

"Have happiness without an end,

"Because they have made so good a friend."

Nice. It's his favourite poem, it's super-mushy and it's got a reference to a Harper. It's a natural selection, if that expression doesn't offend the ultra-religious members of the Conservative party.

Vic Toews objected to having the details of his divorce made public. In that context, his decision to publicly proclaim his love for his second wife (presumably his Aillinn) is a real head-scratcher.

If you want your privacy respected, why reference a poem where devoted lovers are prevented by society from being together? I'll rephrase: In light of a divorce that was rapidly followed by a remarriage and a baby, what the heck were you thinking?

Vic Toews is entitled to his privacy. For now at least, he can use email to tell his wife how much he loves her without worrying someone is reading over his shoulder.

lindor.reynolds@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 22, 2012 B1