Penguins Fly: A Queer Tale by Teren Hazzard

This book of poems is a marvel. Penguins Fly: Poems: A Queer Tale by Teren Hazzard (Wild Sky, 2026) reminds me of a graceful dancer that makes it look easy, as if anyone could write breezily and harpoon the heart.

One of the first things that strike is how novel the literal colour. Every title is blue and the endpapers are blue sky and cumulous clouds continuing from the cover. It is a kind of dream production in having colour in the interior, and not cheap see-though paper like some books have. It is also unapologetically modern in that some pages have texting bubbles, which I’ve seen in novels but not in poetry. Another title they put out is called “Sing up, Boo!” which seems to have a comparable spirit, of thriving and not centering on compromised trauma.

In the series of poems as a novel, Penguins Fly: Poems: A Queer Tale, the protagonist is working at an aquarium gift shop with sights set on being a specialist in penguins, on the other side of a degree.

I’ll aim to give no spoilers. It is a delicate and humorous coming of age story perfect for teens and youth but would work at any age. The struggles of the daily grind and the changing sense of self are universal and the specifics prove the rule that making things specific, makes it vividly better.

The struggles of the daily grind and the changing sense of self are universal and the specifics prove the rule that making things specific, makes it vividly better.

That said, what student wouldn’t feel the same: “10% of my grade/sinks into the pit of my stomach” (“A Victim of Spreadsheets” p. 30). I have recommended my local library buy a copy and I would hope it does get wide readership. I keep going on about how good it is on my social media.

Along the length of the 117 page collection, friends are made, awkwardness is met, challenge is negotiated, a hero’s journey that feels like a memoir as we are brought along in real time. They ask themselves along the way, does gender fit? Erm, maybe not? Does the relationship fit?

The meme goes, less “love is love” from allies, and more recognizing that Trans and Queer lives are at risk. That said, queer joy and gender euphoria are also worth airtime. I vicariously cheer for the acceptance in the book. There’s strength in persistently becoming more oneself, despite resistance. In “The Transcript of my Breakdown”, p. 92, sometimes you have to hold ground: “He doesn’t decide which students swim forward,/and who stops dead in the water.”

It is a lovely read, and re-read. You should buy it.

Continuing to grow and learn, Teren Hazzard writes about his observations from living in Sherwood Park and Edmonton, Alberta. His choice to write place-based poetry about his perspective as a queer Canadian is inspired by other writers who were brave enough to share their personal worlds in the books he reads.

Teren is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences at the University of Alberta. His love for sciences and nature is often woven into his work. His poetry is featured in the Queer Toronto Literary Magazine, Beyond Queer Words, and Transit in Motion bus art. His poem, Dance with Us, Girly Girl, is the 1st place winner of the 2025 Centre for Literature in Canada Poetry Contest. He frequents open mic nights in the Edmonton-area, and was the 2024 and 2025 Strathcona County Pride Flag Raising featured poet. Outside of poetry, he writes for the YouAlberta blog and The Gateway student newspaper.

Almost always busy, with a packed calendar of classes, work, and volunteering, he always makes time for writing.

Publisher: Wild Skies Press (April 26, 2026)
Paperback 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 120 pages
ISBN: 9781997770114

Pearl Pirie

Website

Pearl Pirie's latest is we astronauts (Pinhole Press, 2025). Pirie’s 4th poetry collection is footlights (Radiant Press, 2020). rain’s small gestures(Apt 9 Press, 2021) won the 2022 Nelson Ball Prize. www.pearlpirie.com and patreon.com/pearlpiriepoet