What we do

We need a new word.

On October 13th, 1812, Sir Isaac Brock stormed a larger American force that was ensconced on the Queenston Heights. He came over the crest of the hill, audaciously demanding the surrender of the hundreds of U.S. troops. The Americans made ready to comply until one of them peered over the lip of the hill, noticed that Brock hadn't bothered to bring any troops with him, and shot the General on the spot. Thus ended the life of Canada's greatest military strategist.



(Later, with a little help from Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell, a few dozen whooping native fighters scared the Americans into surrendering to the British.)

We now have a perfect way to describe proceeding without support: "brocking".

In the absence of an audience this is what we, as poets, critics, theorists and editors, are doing.