Jessica Coles
@prairievixen.bsky.social
(she/her) Poet, songwriter, finder of lost things. Lover of the amphibious. Endearingly uncool. Occasional open mic performer. Visit https://prairievixenpress.ca/about/ for a list of places to find my poems.
Pinned
It is extremely unfortunate that my need to withdraw from active social media use coincided with my need to promote and sell my recently released chapbook.
This is my beauty. It's available for $10 if you're in Canada, $17 USD (because shipping—fuck!). DM me if you want a copy!
This is my beauty. It's available for $10 if you're in Canada, $17 USD (because shipping—fuck!). DM me if you want a copy!
I don't want to be able to party like I'm in my 20s, but I would very much like to eat a handful of potato chips without experiencing consequences and regret.
October 8, 2026 at 2:04 AM
I don't want to be able to party like I'm in my 20s, but I would very much like to eat a handful of potato chips without experiencing consequences and regret.
Oh, Sunday Jess, you gorgeous fool—what were you thinking putting a complicated and experimental supper on the meal plan for Wednesday night? Your optimism is adorable, but sweetie, you should have known we would not be there today.
October 7, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Oh, Sunday Jess, you gorgeous fool—what were you thinking putting a complicated and experimental supper on the meal plan for Wednesday night? Your optimism is adorable, but sweetie, you should have known we would not be there today.
Whoever (whatever algorithm) put "Caught a Lite Sneeze" by Tori Amos on the Sirius Coffee Shop playlist sure did me a strange favour this morning.
October 7, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Whoever (whatever algorithm) put "Caught a Lite Sneeze" by Tori Amos on the Sirius Coffee Shop playlist sure did me a strange favour this morning.
My guitar instructor told me I'm brilliant, and I had to just sit there and receive the compliment. Rude.
October 6, 2026 at 10:15 PM
My guitar instructor told me I'm brilliant, and I had to just sit there and receive the compliment. Rude.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
Smith is going to do anything & everything to keep her job, so that means however Alberta votes on the other 9 questions, we're getting those laws & changes. Disagree? Tell me about daylight savings time again. Alberta needs to decide if kindness, inclusion & opportunity are going to be our mantra.
October 6, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Smith is going to do anything & everything to keep her job, so that means however Alberta votes on the other 9 questions, we're getting those laws & changes. Disagree? Tell me about daylight savings time again. Alberta needs to decide if kindness, inclusion & opportunity are going to be our mantra.
I have a three-song set that I can truthfully introduce as "Songs about Sad Boys in Edmonton that I Have Loved". And that delights me a little.
October 6, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I have a three-song set that I can truthfully introduce as "Songs about Sad Boys in Edmonton that I Have Loved". And that delights me a little.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
How about a smol green snek friend for today's #Whistober? A recent visitor in the garden...
#SciArt #art #herps #snake
#SciArt #art #herps #snake
October 6, 2026 at 2:36 PM
How about a smol green snek friend for today's #Whistober? A recent visitor in the garden...
#SciArt #art #herps #snake
#SciArt #art #herps #snake
Reposted by Jessica Coles
Alberta separatism is just three oil executives in a trench coat stirring the pot so Canada will pay for pipelines instead of demanding private investment.
October 6, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Alberta separatism is just three oil executives in a trench coat stirring the pot so Canada will pay for pipelines instead of demanding private investment.
I finally made it out to a poetry open mic last night. I didn't care if I read or not, but a friend, a regular in the scene who I hadn't seen in months, asked if my name was on the list. It was not, the list was full, I was truly okay with it. But he asked if I'd brought anything I *could* read.
October 6, 2026 at 4:05 PM
I finally made it out to a poetry open mic last night. I didn't care if I read or not, but a friend, a regular in the scene who I hadn't seen in months, asked if my name was on the list. It was not, the list was full, I was truly okay with it. But he asked if I'd brought anything I *could* read.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
Look in the mirror and give yourself a big thumbs up! You're a resister! ✊
October 5, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Look in the mirror and give yourself a big thumbs up! You're a resister! ✊
I had the pleasure of being served by a whimsical vehicle registries employee who loudly and freely voiced her opinions on people in the world who get shitty about disability parking placards, and what things SHOULD be free that she has to charge for because of late-stage capitalism.
October 5, 2026 at 10:52 PM
I had the pleasure of being served by a whimsical vehicle registries employee who loudly and freely voiced her opinions on people in the world who get shitty about disability parking placards, and what things SHOULD be free that she has to charge for because of late-stage capitalism.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
Hello friends, our submissions have been running a little low. With a little under 3 weeks left before submissions close, if you could help us to spread the word it would be so greatly appreciated. All categories are open but we especially need more artwork and photography. heroinchic.weebly.com
October 5, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Hello friends, our submissions have been running a little low. With a little under 3 weeks left before submissions close, if you could help us to spread the word it would be so greatly appreciated. All categories are open but we especially need more artwork and photography. heroinchic.weebly.com
Reposted by Jessica Coles
I can’t even begin to imagine how great life would be if we funded the arts at oil and gas level
Guess I need to update this post from a couple of weeks ago. Is that $70 billion in subsidies? (30 ongoing + 40 for pipeline)
So the entire value of o&g to the Canadian economy is given straight back to big oil?
Absolutely corrupt behaviour & a climate crime.
So the entire value of o&g to the Canadian economy is given straight back to big oil?
Absolutely corrupt behaviour & a climate crime.
October 5, 2026 at 7:25 PM
I can’t even begin to imagine how great life would be if we funded the arts at oil and gas level
Reposted by Jessica Coles
This.
I strongly believe a lot of men have no idea how often women contend with this, and how it can stunt their ambitions.
I strongly believe a lot of men have no idea how often women contend with this, and how it can stunt their ambitions.
Yes every woman has been harassed, many assaulted. But every woman has also experienced invisible loss from moments she avoided harassment. She felt a space becoming unsafe, so she left, while men stayed on. And in leaving, she lost: opportunities, experiences, learning, promotions, even simply fun.
October 1, 2026 at 7:20 AM
This.
I strongly believe a lot of men have no idea how often women contend with this, and how it can stunt their ambitions.
I strongly believe a lot of men have no idea how often women contend with this, and how it can stunt their ambitions.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
"But the handicapped need cars!"
No, what they need are options in mobility. The tech exists to enable their freedom of independent mobility, but almost always what is lacking is the enabling infrastructure. Bike lanes and quality sidewalks serve everyone.
No, what they need are options in mobility. The tech exists to enable their freedom of independent mobility, but almost always what is lacking is the enabling infrastructure. Bike lanes and quality sidewalks serve everyone.
October 5, 2026 at 2:41 PM
"But the handicapped need cars!"
No, what they need are options in mobility. The tech exists to enable their freedom of independent mobility, but almost always what is lacking is the enabling infrastructure. Bike lanes and quality sidewalks serve everyone.
No, what they need are options in mobility. The tech exists to enable their freedom of independent mobility, but almost always what is lacking is the enabling infrastructure. Bike lanes and quality sidewalks serve everyone.
I was never a major Rheostatics fan, but Martin Tielli's voice is a kind of homecoming to a wonderful time in my life.
#PaLtaSO26, Day 5! This song is very new, just came out last week. Martin Tielli used to be in the Rheostatics, this reminds me of some of their songs. martintielli.bandcamp.com/track/cruelt...
Cruelty, by Martin Tielli
track by Martin Tielli
martintielli.bandcamp.com
October 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM
I was never a major Rheostatics fan, but Martin Tielli's voice is a kind of homecoming to a wonderful time in my life.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
An early reader of my book manuscript told me I have a wonderful plain language voice — and I’m scared I’ve lost it.
Recs for plain language voice poetry? So I can remind myself that plain language is good too?
Recs for plain language voice poetry? So I can remind myself that plain language is good too?
October 5, 2026 at 2:52 AM
An early reader of my book manuscript told me I have a wonderful plain language voice — and I’m scared I’ve lost it.
Recs for plain language voice poetry? So I can remind myself that plain language is good too?
Recs for plain language voice poetry? So I can remind myself that plain language is good too?
And then, the man I live with and our daughter made this beautiful thing for dessert tonight, so I think we can call this, definitely, a good life.
October 4, 2026 at 11:17 PM
And then, the man I live with and our daughter made this beautiful thing for dessert tonight, so I think we can call this, definitely, a good life.
Reposted by Jessica Coles
Apart from being one of the finest conjurors of the English language, Neko Case really does have a way of saying what you need to hear when you need to hear it, and saying it in sentences that read like dancing
October 4, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Apart from being one of the finest conjurors of the English language, Neko Case really does have a way of saying what you need to hear when you need to hear it, and saying it in sentences that read like dancing
In the same conversation yesterday, I listed everything that's been hard in my life recently and later stated, truthfully, that I like who I've become because of the unwelcome challenges I've lived through.
Anyway, I made cookies, muffins, and caramel sauce today. Probably, this is a good life.
Anyway, I made cookies, muffins, and caramel sauce today. Probably, this is a good life.
October 4, 2026 at 9:51 PM
In the same conversation yesterday, I listed everything that's been hard in my life recently and later stated, truthfully, that I like who I've become because of the unwelcome challenges I've lived through.
Anyway, I made cookies, muffins, and caramel sauce today. Probably, this is a good life.
Anyway, I made cookies, muffins, and caramel sauce today. Probably, this is a good life.
We've been listening to our entire vinyl collection in alphabetical order (by artist) since last Christmas. We're now on the S's, and our current listening run is Sleater-Kinney, Smashing Pumpkins, Elliott Smith, The Smiths, The Specials, and Regina Spektor. I like this stretch.
October 3, 2026 at 11:21 PM
We've been listening to our entire vinyl collection in alphabetical order (by artist) since last Christmas. We're now on the S's, and our current listening run is Sleater-Kinney, Smashing Pumpkins, Elliott Smith, The Smiths, The Specials, and Regina Spektor. I like this stretch.
Good self-care things this week: bought jeans and sweaters, went for a massage, added rich scene details to my novel, plugged away at guitar chord construction theory, started reading I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle.
This morning, its chai and a quiet walk with a friend.
This morning, its chai and a quiet walk with a friend.
October 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Good self-care things this week: bought jeans and sweaters, went for a massage, added rich scene details to my novel, plugged away at guitar chord construction theory, started reading I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle.
This morning, its chai and a quiet walk with a friend.
This morning, its chai and a quiet walk with a friend.
On the subject of country music (which I'm not exactly drawn to), I said to my guitar instructor this week, "I would hate to miss out on something really good just because I had attitude about a particular genre."
He recommended Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings. A+ yes.
He recommended Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings. A+ yes.
October 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
On the subject of country music (which I'm not exactly drawn to), I said to my guitar instructor this week, "I would hate to miss out on something really good just because I had attitude about a particular genre."
He recommended Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings. A+ yes.
He recommended Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings. A+ yes.
Embracing my inner cat energy and being incredibly selective about who I spend my time and affection on.
(This is actually very hard for me: I hate disappointing people.)
(This is actually very hard for me: I hate disappointing people.)
October 2, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Embracing my inner cat energy and being incredibly selective about who I spend my time and affection on.
(This is actually very hard for me: I hate disappointing people.)
(This is actually very hard for me: I hate disappointing people.)