The making of a poem is like the making of a pearl – you take something gritty and create a jewel. George Bowering’s final book of poetry, Pearl, follows this impulse, sprawling in search of the next glimmering insight, tugging at different threads with a multifarious large-heartedness. Pearl centres around a promise Bowering made to himself that one day he would write a poem about his mother, Pearl Bowering – a hillbilly, athlete, and champion bridge player. This promised poem anchors a book about the grit of life and what poetry can make from it. Touching, ribald, and cheeky, Pearl reflects on a life well-lived and well-written.