Issue 18 Vol. 1 Spring 2021 18.1 | Spring 2021

In this issue:

2-4 Announcing the Pavlick Winners

5-6 News from the League

7-9 Bill Arnott’s Beat

9-15 Poetry Parlour

17-20 Book Review: Locked in Different Alphabets

20-25 New League Members

25-33 Member News

34-41 Writing Opportunities

42-50 In Memoriam For full details, juror comments, and more visit poets.ca The Pavlick Poetry Prize 2021 Winners

The Leon E. & Ann M. Pavlick Poetry Prize seeks to honour and encourage a Canadian poet whose work displays ample creativity and promise as well as an outstanding poetry group or collective with a positive and ongoing impact on poetry in Canada. Two prizes of $10,000 were awarded.

Congratulations to Group Winner Canthius and Individual Winner Andrea Thompson!

Canthius celebrates poetry and prose by women, trans men, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming writers. The magazine is published bi-annually, and over 8 issues, has displayed its committed to publishing diverse perspectives and experiences. Since its very first issue, Canthius has also committed to paying its contributors, before any funding had been secured. Their hard work and dedication to representation, diversity, and quality has seen them grow into a municipally- and provincially-fund- ed literary magazine that highlights art, fiction, poetry, and non-fiction by some of Canada’s most historically oppressed communities. Their commitment to producing a beautiful print edition of the journal rewards readers and contributors alike.

This prize has been presented to Canthius to allow them not just to continue the great work they are already doing, but to encourage and en- able them to push boundaries, working towards moving beyond the language of diversity and representation toward a truly equitable, joyful, and welcoming literary space. We look forward to seeing how this investment will enrich Canada’s poetry landscape.

From the jurors: “Only to explain difference must no longer be the require- ment of our artistic labours. What is needed are avenues that can allow for exposure and examination with fullness, that gesture towards both criticality and care. Canthius is able to be one such avenue.”

Runner up for the Group Prize is Poets’ Corner Reading Series Andrea Thompson is an artist. Her spoken word albums and performanc- es have been critically acclaimed, and her work in Canada’s spoken word community has been foundational and trail-blazing. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to nurturing and supporting youth and emerging artists of all ages, sometimes putting her own work on a back burner to do so. With a passion for using poetry and performance as a tool for empowerment, Thompson has helped hundreds of vulnerable and disenfranchised students to develop their craft and literacy skills while increasing their emo- tional well-being and self-esteem. Throughout the 90s, she worked to help Canadian spoken word gain national and international recognition through radio, documentary, performance, and more.

This prize is being awarded to Andrea Thompson because an investment in Andrea Thompson is an investment in the future of Canadian poetry. Thompson’s work will continue to change hearts and minds, and giving her the opportunity to focus on her own work will allow us all to reap the benefits when the work makes it out into the world. We are excited to see what Andrea Thompson will bring us next.

From the jurors: “It’s about time spoken word artists begin to receive the recognition they deserve. Thompson’s work is powerful and critical. I look forward to not only her new work but the inspirational ripples it will cause throughout the community.”

Runner up for the Individual Prize is Armand Garnet Ruffo

Honorable mentions: The jurors for this award were: Canisia Lubrin Chelene Knight, Joseph Dan- Cicely Belle Blain durand and Zarmina Rafi Cristalle Smith David Ly For full details on the winners, Faith Paré including statements, and juror George Elliott Clarke bios, visit our announcement jaye simpson page joelle baron Louise Bernice Melanie Power Michael Fraser Phoebe Wang Tanis McDonald News from the League

Leon E. and Ann M. Pavlick Poetry funding and select “CPT Reading Prize We are thrilled to celebrate the Series” as the program choice. Please selected winners of the Pavlick prize: request to reserve only as much as Canthius and Andrea Thompson! you believe you will need. Check out the full details, juror New: Host Database In order comments and more. to submit a funding application on behalf of an organization, a National Poetry Month Just around reading series, a school, a festival, the corner! Download social media or another official organizer (ie. not graphics, our official NPM2021 an individual), they will need to be poster, and more. in our new host database. View the database or Add a host Send a poem to a pocket Fundraiser The LCP wants to put a poem in Eden Mills Writers’ Festival every pocket this year! Sign up a Showcase: National Poetry Month loved one to recieve a poecket poem Celebration Thursday April 8, 8:00 - (Pay-What-You-Can) 9:00 p.m. EST (online) In celebration of National Poetry Month, we’ve Book Awards The League will be curated a showcase featuring some announcing the longlists of the 2021 of the most dynamic poetry to be Book Awards on April 6! Stay tuned! published in Canada this year. Take a break from pandemic life and Funding with the League For join these poets on a journey that Reading Series and Festivals: will explore the depth and breadth Reading Series and literary festivals of the human experience. Grab may be eligible to reserve up your favourite beverage, pull up a to $2,000 in honoraria for 8-16 chair and enjoy the ride. Featuring: unconfirmed readers for events Roxanna Bennett, Selina Boan, before March 31, 2022. Honoraria Leanne Dunic, Therese Estacion, can be disbursed in $125 (less than Louise B. Halfe, Steven Heighton, 10-minute reading) or $250 (solo, Dallas Hunt, Larissa Lai, Grace Lau, or greater than 15-minute reading) Jen Sookfong Lee, Garry Thomas increments, and readers must be Morse, Ken Norris, Arleen Paré, Full members of the League to Rebecca Salazar and Ian Williams. receive the funding, but do not RSVP to this event have to be confirmed at the time of reservation. Complete the event The LCP Chapbook Series Order a funding application at poets.ca/ chapbook today and know that you are supporting the continued success Stursberg. The prize accepts of the Series that brings publication submissions from young poets all opportunites to underrepresented across Canada, with three prizes poets as well as some new, top-notch awarded in both the Junior (grades poetry for your bookshelf. 7 to 9) and Senior (grades 10 to 12) Available now for order: categories. Deadline is April 30, 2021. • Voices of Quebec / Les voix du Find out more Quebec • The Time After: Poetry from Atlantic Member survey Thank you to Canada everyone who took the time to fill • The Next Generation Vol 1: Poems out our member survey. Congrats to from Young Poets the winners of the survey giveaway: • i am what becomes of broken Britta B, Natalee Caple, Greg Santos branch: A Collection of Voices by Indigenous Poets in Canada Poetry Pause Spoken Word • These Lands: A Collection of Voices The LCP is happy to share that by Black Poets in Canada spoken word poetry has a home in Poetry Pause. If you are a spoken Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize word poet, send us your poetry to be for Canadian Youth Established to featured! foster a lifelong relationship between Canadian youth and the literary Donate to the League arts, specifically poetry. The prize is Support poets and poetry in Canada. supported through a generous Please consider donating monthly donation from the Stursberg family to the League of Canadian Poets. and other donors in honour of Jessamy Donate via Canada Helps Bill Arnott’s Beat Poetry’s New Normal

We live, you see, in a space the size of a hotel room—a queen-sized bed, bath, and my closet-cum-con- ference-room/performance space. I had earbuds with mic on, my feet wedged amidst out-of-season foot- wear, ready for a poetry event like no other. Most of my festival friends who were eight hours ahead of me had their G&Ts while I, at eleven a.m., not wanting to feel excluded, clutched a juice glass of morning Malbec. Pri- or to this, I didn’t know such a thing existed. Turns out it does and may, I suspect, catch on. Part 1: Pre-Pandemic Normally these events occur annu- It was morning where I was, over- ally in St Ives, Cornwall—England’s looking Canada’s west coast, evening southwest corner, near Land’s End for pals in Europe, and teatime for and Penzance—the end of the line another few dozen buddies around for rail and bus, and obviously, where the UK. Together we were recreat- pirates come from. Each day for ing, virtually, a literature festival held the week-long festival, this eclectic in Britain each spring. This partial it- group converged for evening read- eration of the annual reading series ings along with daytime events held took place via Zoom, a collection of in a tiny park called Norway Square, a poets, musicians, and one librettist, pocket of windswept greenery with the man we love who began this fes- peekaboo views of the Celtic Sea. I’m tival years ago—the in-person ver- one of a number of “regulars” who sion. hail from everywhere, descending on this destination to share, perform Imagine if you will, a group of writers and socialize with fellow poets and and our inspiration, the librettist, gaz- mixed-media writers. The energy’s ing into monitors from living rooms, relaxed and inclusive. Something kitchens, and in my case, tucked in a hard to find, at times, elsewhere. Harry Potter-like closet off our entry- way, clothing pushed out of frame. The locale that traditionally holds this festival is a venerable wood ulf. Still does, I’m sure. And could, no structure leaning slightly over the doubt, do the entire thing given the ocean. The building is the St. Ives chance. But all I knew was an artis- Arts Club. The water, St. Ives Bay. The tic bar had been set. The people— first time I entered the venue it was strangers at the time—welcomed us a miserable, late winter night—dark, wholeheartedly. Yet I felt if I were to cold, wet. I’d made some perversely truly fit in, I too needed to learn my discomfiting commitment to myself work. that I’d read my poetry in this special place, the way some might vow Perhaps what I love most—above to one day grace a stage at Carnegie and beyond the kind-hearted peo- Hall. So rather than spending a cozy ple and their significance to my evening in front of the purr of BBC growth as a writer—is the venue it- TV—country getaways or titillating self. This unassuming structure was murders—I braved the elements to where the very first motion picture see who-knows-what, plus me, read- was played. Before Edison was rip- ing newborn writing, ink still damp ping off copyrights across the pond, on paper. here in remote England some guy in the late 1800s played a film of a gal- There were six of us: my wife Deb loping horse on the wall of this build- and me, librettist Bob, a European ing. History in real time, albeit jumpy actress, a poet from across the pen- black-and-white vignettes. insula, and a man named Shanty who delivered fifteen exceptional Bob addressed the room, explaining minutes of Beowulf, which he did that given the architectural limita- not read. The man knew his Beow- tions of this ancient structure of res- in-soaked timber with a lone stairwell and emergency exit ladder dropping to seaside rocks, in the unlikely event Poetry of a fire, to please ensure we’ve made the most of the evening! And with an Parlour uncomfortable laugh and glances at each other (Surely I can reach the ladder before the septuagenarian with a See what Leaguers have dodgy hip) we got on with the show. to say about their “dar- (Next issue, Part 2: Through Pan- lings”, writing commu- demic …) nities, and finding new books. Bill Arnott is the bestselling author of Gone Viking: A Travel Saga and The Gamble novellas. His work is published in Canada, the US, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. He’s been awarded for poetry, prose, songwriting and Thank you to everyone who re- is a Whistler Book Awards Finalist for sponded to the most recent Poetry Gone Viking. When not trekking the Pause questions! Check out our globe with a small pack and journal, new batch of questions. Bill can be found on Canada’s west coast, making friends and misbe- having. To join Bill’s Artist Showcase We often hear “kill your dar- newsletter, click here. lings” when writing. What is a memorable “darling” for you, killed or otherwise preserved?

Amanda Earl: the word “crimson.” another piece of advice i received was to go through my poems and see which words i repeated a lot. one of these was crimson. i love this darling red. it was everywhere. i have removed it from my poems, but not my lips or nails.

Anne Burke: “Kill Your Darlings” is loosely based on the life of poet Al- len Ginsberg. The film tells the story of the 1944 untold murder bringing together a young Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William S. Magie Dominic knew Ginsberg personally. I come to him only second-handed- Micheline Maylor: My whole first ly. My “Howl” has always been fem- book. John B. Lee. looked at it, told inist and broken-hearted. “Murder me start again, and then I cried your darlings,” is a popular piece of and worked at being better. Shit writing advice that is often attribut- happens in poetry, and that lesson ed to William Faulkner, but which about phrasing and energy was an can actually be traced back to the important one. Thanks, John. Wher- English writer and surname col- ever you are. lector Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. My favourite Faulkner has always been Crystal Hurdle: What is keeping “As I Lay Dying” which is a 1930 me sane while writing my first nov- Southern Gothic novel. Dickens’ el whose first draft clocked in at darling was “Little Dorrit” whom he over 400 pages is having a whole did fictionally “kill”. I am more inter- file of “recent cuts.” As I delete ested in his young secret actress El- something, I move it to the Cut file, len Ternan and want to write from now about 100 pages, and I’m try- her point of view and in her voice. ing for more. I know I’m guilty of overwriting, but how all those de- Kamal Parmar: My memorable letions hurt! Having them “saved” ‘darlings’ have been my cliche’s, for God knows what eases the pain. that I used to invariably cling on And I’m getting a bit competitive to. All my poems were ‘trashed’ by with myself about making the most magazines and anthologies. cut file longer… I suspect that by I was lucky to get a ‘break’ by my the time the actual novel and the mentor, who told me to ‘delete’ cut file are the same length, I’ll be those so-called ‘darlings ie the cli- done. che’s that were making my poems so dull and lifeless. Today, my po- Bill Arnott: I stupidly lost a hun- ems are getting wonderful reviews, dred-thousand word (travelogue) just because there is a ‘breath of manuscript, with no back up, notes fresh air’ and no cliche’s! Brevity is or journals (we’d moved and were one of the main tools in writing a living minimally). Going through poem, as it makes it rich in thought photos and starting from scratch, and leaves a deeper impact on the while heartbreaking, DID result in reader. When I started writing po- a tighter, vastly improved MS. So etry, as a novice, I clung to my “dar- while I hadn’t intended to kill my lings” such as throwing in a lot of darling, it really was for the best. similes , which were actually redun- dant and the reader got ‘’switched Joan Shillington: Many ‘darlings’ off.” I quickly learnt the knack of have worked their way into my writ- getting rid of my so-called ‘dar- ing over my writing career in the lings’ which were actually cliches’ form of stanzas, lines and whole and made my poems lusterless. All poems that have had to be left thanks to my mentors. behind; never included in a book (in the instance of a poem), or in a slashing full lines or stabbing single poem as they distract from a po- words. I lose a lot of poetry because em’s meaning or do not fit into I don’t things down as quickly as a collection’s theme. However, I they come to me! I could fill a ship keep these ‘darlings’ in my mind, with tattered poems...One that in a file and every now and again stands out is a collection called they ‘pop’ into a free write or poem ‘Things I’m afraid Of’...I’ve only stronger than ever. Patience is the shared a tiny bit of this...then I got key, sometimes it takes years before too afraid and hid it away. they enter into my writing muse again. Jessica Moore: I had a poem long ago with the lines “I love you as one foot loves the other / when it hollows solemnly / in the arch of its mate” and someone rightly told me to strike “hollows solemnly” - I think all kinds of matchy sound darlings like that have needed to be killed, in my work

Do you have a writing group or community of writers you share your work with? Who are they?

Vanessa Shields: I own a small creative writing school in Windsor, ON, Penn Kemp (above): My computer called Gertrude’s Writing Room. is full of darlings preserved in hid- There is a strong family of writers den, lost and to-be-recovered files that is growing through this small of poems and phrases and prompts business. Writers connect via virtual that didn’t fit the work in process. classes, workshops and one-to-one Sometimes, lines like these leftovers creative writing sessions (during spring to mind and are pasted into the pandemic - otherwise, we meet new work. More often they wait pa- at the school!). But, every day I con- tiently in the shade. Will they ever nect with Charis Cotter, award-win- be used? I live in hope. My epitaph ning children’s writer, from Western will read, “Just one more thing!” Bay, Newfoundland. We text, talk on the phone, email and/or Face- Dianne Joyce: My mother. Killed time. We have done several writing her on a mountain. Metaphorically retreats together (virtual and live). speaking, of course. I also talk to writer Erinn Banting (Toronto), Vanessa Taylour (Pelee Vanessa Shields: I’m a pretty con- Island), Catherine Hagey (Saskatch- sistent murderer of poems...by ewan), Margo Wheaton (Halifax), and Dorothy Mahoney (Windsor) on also belong to the Federation of BC a regular basis. We discuss our writ- writers which is an excellent media ing lives, inspirations and challeng- of networking with writers. es. Amanda Earl: Not these days, but Penn Kemp: In the past, I have or- for many years, i took rob mclen- ganized poetry reading series (in To- nan’s workshops and after that was ronto, London and Victoria) in order a member of a group of poets who to meet the poets I most admired! had also taken his workshops and Many, like Robert Creeley and Phyl- were sympatico. lis Webb, became friends. Here in London, I’ve organized readings for Anne Burke: No one living. Eli Man- Allan Briesmaster, Katerina Fretwell, del convinced me that that our Patricia Keeney, Daphne Marlatt, peers do not have to come from Susan McCaslin, Susan McMaster this century or in your lifetime. That and others, sharing work. Touring approach solved my dilemma for in NPM is another way I connect many years. I can glimpse the an- with fellow poets as we criss-cross cient, emulate the “contemporary” the country in April!, visiting or (in my academic career this term hosting for late-night discussions ended at 1920), and still embrace of writing. I collaborate over emails the avant garde. with Harold Rhenisch and Sharon Thesen, in particular. Dianne Joyce: At the moment, I do not. Though I do have an opportu- Micheline Maylor: I have a multi- nity to join one. Think I’m too much tude of writing friends spanning of a loner. from England to the Caribbean to tiny towns in B.C. But once a week Joan Shillington: Yes, I have two I work with a group in Calgary writing communities that I share made up of multi-genre short form my work with. One is a Thursday writers. People that heavily influ- night group lead by Richard Har- ence me that I only see rarely are: rison and the other a west coast John Wall Barger, Susan Musgrave, group that is mostly online. George Elliott Clarke, Tom Wayman, Jan Zwicky, Pat Lane, A.F. Mori- Where do you get your books tz, Russell Thornton, Jeffrey Don- from? Is there a reason for aldson, Steven Heighton, Richard your preference? Harrison Richard Osler, Rosemary Griebel, Basma Kavanagh. Linda Crosfield: Otter Books in Nel- son or directly from the publisher Kamal Parmar: I am part of a local (for chapbooks). And I leave lit mags poetry organization by the name in Little Free Libraries—no more of Wordstorm Society of the Arts than three and I add new ones to that meets monthly to have poetry them when they’re gone. readings as well as book launches. I as well as not seeing family and Kamal Parmar: I get my books friends in Victoria (travel restric- from a local library which is an in- tions), was being unable to look in valuable resource and treasure Sidney’s The Haunted Bookshop chest of knowledge. Books , old as and Victoria’s Russell books. But, well as new, are available, literally at soon! my doorstep. The library also orga- nizes book launches and readings Anne Burke: My books (which I (ZOOM) so as to help me in net- write) come from contemplation working with other writers. and spontaneous utterances. Those My second choice is Chapters. I read are the classics, although I remember when my father gave Dianne Joyce: Wherever I can: on my a gift card to buy poetry in line, used bookstores, through the downtown Montreal. I read Louis library, from friends. Dudek, Walt Whitman, Emily Dick- inson, Raymond Souster, and many others. I suppose you mean in print (dead trees) or online. I regard much of social media as anti-social because it seems to draw the dark and even vicious from some inner well of wickedness. Having said that, I do appreciate Project Guten- berg and most poets have discov- ered how long poems and long form writing are accommodated electronically.

Crystal Hurdle (above): I am a li- Micheline Maylor: Shelf Life in Cal- brary lover. I use my husband’s card gary is my favourite, Owl’s Nest in as well as my own, which allows Calgary. Cafe Books in Canmore. Or 30 holds on each. Today, as usual, I order direct from the publisher, I’m maxed out at 60 holds. I love that ensures the highest margins to get books, more than I can ever for them, and it’s important that peruse (hoarding?), and I love to be we think of these things, especially able to return them when I’m fin- now. Jeff Bezos has enough money. ished. Decluttering of anything is difficult, so due dates make things Penn Kemp: The Library is where easy. Well, easier. Books I especially most of my books come from. If love and wish to have in my collec- the book isn’t available, I order it, tion I then purchase. And visiting and sometimes that works! Many of second-hand bookshops is soooo my poetry books have accumulat- much more delightful than new ed in exchanges with other poets, ones. One of the things I missed and these are my most treasured! about this pandemic Christmas, After collecting books for 60 years, my shelves are over-laden... but if I’m the 1920s that are love stories? And going to buy a book, it will be from a they find one for me! There is so local indie store. I can’t afford many! much knowledge and respect for books that lives and breathes in independent bookstores. We need to cultivate this in our communities as much as we can!

JUST FOR FUN: Which poet/ writer would you most like to have a drink with, and why?

Penn Kemp: PK Page leaps to mind, as we often had drinks together when possible. I’d be curious to meet Sappho, not sure of wine of Amanda Earl (above): everywhere. i’ll the period :) try to support authors and publishers if i can, but i also get ebooks for Crystal Hurdle: I have been in love my Kindle, and random surprises in with Sylvia Plath for over forty years bookstores when i can walk through (longer than she was alive) since a store and browse. i’ve also ordered first encountering “Tulips” and books from local bookstores as well. “Lady Lazarus” on blue mimeo- small press fairs for indie and small graphed paper in university. Neu- run books and chapbooks. libraries rosis? Passion? Obsession? Not a when i need more books than i can clear dividing line. afford, which is always. A highlight of my professional, ped- agogical (until recently, I taught En- Joan Shillington: I usually buy my glish and Creative Writing at Capila- books from an independent book no University), poetic and personal store. In Calgary, where I live, we have life was seeing, in 2000, her house, four independent books stores. These Court Green, in North Tawton, that days with the pandemic raging, I or- she’d shared with her then-hus- der online and they either deliver or band Ted Hughes, and getting have curtsied pickup. dressed down by his widow, Carol Orchard, for near trespass. I delight- Vanessa Shields: I get them from ed in touching Plath’s archived hair Biblioasis Bookstore, mainly. But I’ve at the Lilly Library in 2002 when I also ordered from other local book- was a featured poet at the Sylvia stores. I do my best to support local, Plath 70th Year Symposium. The independent bookstores. They are tactility of realia! eager to help, they always find what She remains my muse even after I’m looking for...even when I’m not the 2003 publication of After Ted sure what I want, and I can say: do & Sylvia: poems. One might think you know any books about Paris in that she should be out of my system, but no. I require ever more fre- quent hits. The recent publication why he never produced a poem. of her collected Letters (edited by My father was a raging alcoholic so Peter Steinberg and Karen Kukil) in I generally avoid imbibing. Enough two volumes (2017, 2018), each over said. one thousand pages, has given me accessible, rich fodder with so many Vanessa Shields: Carlos Ruiz Zafon. piquant details. And a new gigan- I can’t get enough of his literary tic bio by Heather Clark has me tin- masterpieces. We’d have to meet gling. in Barcelona, of course. We’d have Coffee with Sylvia? Hell, yes! She to drink coffee...and wine. I think I’d drank Nescafe, and I’d like to intro- have to just stare at him for the first duce her to a full-throated latte with little while...just stare in admiration a double shot of espresso. and awe. Then - talk about the soul.

Joan Shillington: Lorna Crozier. Kamal Parmar: I would like to draw That’s an easy answer. First of all, back the curtain of time and have a having read most of her books from drink with the great Victorian po- cover to cover, I admire her work and et--William Wordsworth, how it’s developed over the years, in order to hear him read his poem- her insight and the variety of her -’The solitary reaper’ and what in- poetry. Second is that over the years spired his Muse. I have attended numerous retreats with Patrick Lane and, of course, love Dianne Joyce: Dead? Sylvia Plath. and admire his work. I think it would I’d like to know why she couldn’t be an interesting conversation. bring herself to write the next poem. Amanda Earl: that’s awkward. i would make a big pot of tea for Dju- Micheline Maylor: Patrick Lane, na Barnes, Beatrice Wood, Kiki, Le- just one more time. He was the onora Carrington and just listen in most monk-like person I ever on the sidelines, a ghost from the met who used the word fuck like future in “the twilight of the illicit.” ground pepper. [The Book of Repulsive Women - Djuna Barnes] New Poetry Parlour questions are now available! Click here to Anne Burke: That depends (a drink share your thoughts of what?) Maybe coffee with Irving Layton (Eli’s brother from another mother). Best to keep your wits about you. Probably steeped tea with Jay Macpherson whom I was planning to interview before her un- timely death. I wanted to ask her all about Northrop Frye and if she knew

Book Review: Locked in Differ- ent Alphabets by Doris Fiszer

Reviewed by Allan Briesmaster

Books of poetry that combine family history with autobiography have been appearing often enough in recent years to form a notable sub- genre. Locked in Different Alpha- bets is an excellent instance of such “memoir poetry.” The poems speak with a distinctive voice (or ensem- ble of voices), beyond being merely generic. And rather than too closely following well-worn paths across all-too-familiar terrain, this book reveals its characters’ personalities and recounts their struggles and traumas in ways that bespeak their, and the poet’s, uniqueness.

Three sections, each using somewhat different methodology, tell of the lives and deaths of the poet’s brother, father, and mother, also showing the indelible marks they left on the poet, for good or for ill: “trapped in the smell/ I will always associate/ with that day” and “my in memory. Most of the poems in- hands still shake/ when I strike a volve a single, decisively revealing match.” But the impact reaches incident or scene, usually fraught even further: “She is as near as the with conflict that is liable to scar. horned owl/ perched in the pine For the most part, the manner of tree.” One by one, the three princi- presentation is stark, plain-spoken pal figures are foregrounded, while and free of embellishments that the other family members interact might soften a stanza’s delivery. with them, both when present and The dead keep coming back― testimony to his troubled, at times uncontrollably violent behaviour in in the turn of a phrase, boyhood and youth. He torments his sister again and again, to trau- a stranger’s walk, matic effect. Thus, “After the time George set/ the kitchen curtains the certain way a head bends. ablaze” she is afraid to be alone with him; while after a tickling inci- However, the poet turns out to be dent in another poem, “I still have equally capable of imaginative dreams about it.// I feel as though leaps and evocations of the realm I’m cornered/ in a pitch-dark cave./ of dreams, especially in the third A shadowy form presses,/ press- section and with the book’s penulti- es against me.” The section’s later mate, surprisingly phantasmagoric poems abruptly shift to the adult poem, “Snapshot 3.” George’s affliction with ALS, which reduces him from fearful to pitiable. In all three sections, variations in Within five months, in “Voiceless 2,” the forms of the poems prevent he cannot move, only blink. stylistic monotony. In less care- ful hands, a generally no-frills ap- The middle section, “My Father An- proach could allow a flattening-out drzej,” is twice as long as the other into prose, but this poet’s terse, two, and even though much of it unadorned diction (“I never had dwells at length on his confine- the chance/ to hold you before you ment in a nursing home, I found died”) can shade into phrasing that the entire sequence to be com- is subtly and stoutly “poetic.” In that pellingly readable and touching. way, the right balance is struck for The father, who as a young man handling her very personal, emo- was forced by the Nazis to labour tionally-charged subjects. The re- in a rocket plant, is cantankerous, sult, both immediate and cumu- “proud of being unreasonable,” and lative, is consistently involving and cannot show appreciation or affec- moving: “Your words blunt knives/ tion to the daughter who patiently with a silence of uncertainty and tends to him on her visits, and who, imprecision/ not stabbing but leav- “despite everything”, can “still love ing a mark”. A lamenting of the dif- him.” Accordingly, the relationship ficulty of communication and lost is portrayed with both empathy opportunities for it runs through and candor: the book, and the poet is constantly sliding out of the immediate situa- You have always pointed out my tion into memory, or dream, wheth- flaws er fearfully or yearningly, as she seeks to understand and connect. rather than praising me.

The section about the brother be- The list of all the things I do wrong gins with relatively straightforward rings in my head. few happy interludes are recalled, such as a wild mushroom-picking Yet I’m told that you always ask adventure (“Foraging”); and the others knowledge that her mother did appreciate and love her is treasured. did you meet my daughter The poet’s grandmother (“Babcia”) is also fondly and vividly portrayed. that’s her picture on the wall. Readers might wish this section to be somewhat longer, perhaps The daughter had to contend with with more about the sunnier side the antique clocks, historic docu- of things, and yet the intensity of ments and other collected artifacts poem after poem evokes a power- her father was unwilling to let go ful enlargement. of, along with difficulties with his wheelchair and in feeding him. She The book ends in a mood of so- “fell in with the rhythm of your dy- lace with the serene meditative ing”, but afterward can still assert, poem “Zen Garden.” Alert readers “My heart carries you.” will have noticed earlier, though, that motifs of flowers and birds Although it was also difficult for have been a recurrent indicator of mother and daughter to show each possibilities of beauty and refuge, other much ordinary affection, the despite the insistence of “our deaf third section reveals a deeper love world/ repeating what/ it doesn’t that underlay their relationship; and want to hear.” Another potent leit- the mother, who did not outlive her motif is the touch and warmth of son, is sorely missed. The daugh- hands. As well, besides the telling ter often feels her to be present details and phrases of dialogue of and dreams of her. In a distinctly a kind found in well-written fiction, different approach from the other Fiszer has an admirable penchant sections, the poems here enter into for “objective correlatives.” Objects the mother’s harrowing experienc- and images emerge from the plain es when her girlhood ended with narration to resonate beyond the the invasion of Poland and the Nazi merely scenic with no need to be- atrocities in Warsaw. The moth- come heavy symbols: “dresses, price er’s own voice speaks razor-sharp tags still attached/ hung like war- memories: “After the bomb blast/ starved ghosts/ in Mother’s clos- I searched for traces of my father/ et.” A more unusual device which found one leather glove/ smolder- I don’t recall seeing elsewhere is ing.” Coming to understand how the placement at the end of some “Grief shadowed them// from room poems of two or three succinct to room”, the poet gains a more lines that, in a similar way to the complete picture of this concentra- haiku at the ends of Japanese or tion camp survivor, a worrier and North American haibun, serve to inclined to be fearful – beyond what clinch the preceding paragraph. was possible when she was alive. A Examples: “trapped bird/ another attempt/ to take wing” and – the last lines in the book – “A sugar-swol- len monarch/ will shiver its way to New warmth.”

As I have meant to imply, Locked in League Different Alphabets is a courageous writing endeavour, in which the author, much like her parents, takes on Members the roles, all at once, of a witness, a victim and a survivor. The book holds its own among other accounts by authors of Fiszer’s generation who have memorialized their parents’ horrific Andrea Actis is a writer, editor, early lives and their aftermaths while memorial maker, and second- forthrightly exposing the effects on generation settler living on themselves. The effect of this book, the unceded territories of the then, though to a great degree som- Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil- bre and troubling, is ultimately, when Waututh Nations. She teaches one reaches the end, consoling and literature and writing at Capilano an affirmation. University and was Editor of The Capilano Review from 2015-17. Locked In Different Alphabets Her first book,Grey All Over, is an by Doris Fiszer autoconceptual study of traumatic Silver Bow Publishing (2020) grief, white working-class identity, ISBN-13 : 978-1774031063 false prophets, and whole Purchase Locked In Different Alpha- seriousness. bets Visit www.andreaactis.com for more information.

Richard Brait

R.J. Calzonetti is a youth poet who loves how the abstract, intense and dark epics poetry can be. Identifying as he/him, he was born in 1997 and is asexual. He often finds himself writing hour after hour, never satisfied. He was a finalist two years in a row at the Burlington Poetry Slam within the first two years of writing. He has since branched out from spoken word into other forms of poetry. Headline Poetry and Press published a good dozen of Migration (2013). She is a settler in his poems, and for several months Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton/ he worked together with the head Treaty 6. editor who he owes a great debt. After leaving the magazine in order Sheri Doyle to focus more on building his skills in hopes of eventually publishing a Eva Halus is a painter, poet booklet, he has been bunkered up and journalist born in 1967 in for two years of constant writing. Bucharest, Romania. In 1989 she His early work focused on mental came toCanada, reuniting with her illness and abstract works. These father’s family. She lives in Montreal, days he focuses on improving in new where she completed Graphic areas. He wants to be inspired by Design studies at Concordia experienced poets, and eventually, University in 1993, took journalism be among them. and photojournalism studies at University of Montreal (2013-2015) Margaret Code and some studies in organising events at the City Counsel in NDG Ellie Csepregi has been a cultural neighbourhood. worker since 1972. Born in Budapest A trilingual author, writing in and grew up in Calgary, Alberta, English, French and Romanian, she has lived and worked in she published ten poetry books, several cities: New York, Vancouver, following the same concept and Toronto, Chengdu, but now calls format: poetry illustrated with Windsor, Ontario home where her own paintings. The first three she raised her two children and books are published at Reflections taught high school English for over Publishing Editing House in twenty years. She studied theatre California, followed by books arts and creative writing in NYC, published in Montreal (through the University of Calgary and the the Association of Romanian Poets University of Windsor. Ellie has from Quebec, the Hyegrafix Press served on several literary, art and in Ville St-Laurent, L’Essor du livre, social justice committees. Lanoraie, Lanaudière and Cervantes Editing, Romania). Her poems Jennifer Bowering Delisle (she/ are found in various anthologies her) is the author of Deriving in North America and Romania: (forthcoming March 2021), and The Who’s Who in Poetry from San Bosun Chair (2017). She regularly Francisco, Across the Canyons from teaches creative writing at the U of A Eber & Wein Publishing House Faculty of Extension, and is a board in Pennsylvania, The Val-David member of Edmonton’s NeWest Note Books from the Laurentians, Press. She has a PhD in English The Anthologies of ASLRQ from from UBC, and is also the author Montreal, The Anthology of of The Newfoundland Diaspora: the Editing House Singur from Mapping the Literature of Out- Romania, etc. Her translation work includes the translation of Soliloquies – a poetry book of Beth Lexah Veronica Balaj, (from Romanian to English) and the translation of Khashayar Mohammadi is a a Romanian Anthem that was the queer, Iranian born, Toronto- sound track of a documentary film based Poet, Writer, Translator and made in San Franscisco. Eva Halus Photographer. He is the author of is a permanent collaborator at poetry Chapbooks Moe’s Skin by different newspapers and literary ZED press 2018, Dear Kestrel by magazines published in Romanian knife | fork | book 2019 and Solitude in Montreal and Toronto, like Accent is an Acrobatic Act by above/ Montreal, and Candela de Montreal, ground press 2020. His debut The Observatory, as well as at the poetry collection Me, You, Then online magazine Raga zine from Snow is forthcoming with Gordon New York, where she writes in Hill Press. English. Zayn Ojoawo An emerging poet Dharmpal Mahendra Jain Born based in Tkaronto, colonially known (1952) and raised in tribal reserve of as Toronto, and presently residing on Jhabua, India, Dharm is a Toronto Treaty 6 territory, Zaenab is a bright based author. He also writes in new voice in the world of spoken Hindi. word. Performing under the stage name Zayn, they masterfully weave written extensively on the topics of stories of love, resilience, family, and transness and Judaism, diaspora, healing. After becoming the 2019 and healing justice. They know that London Poetry Slam Grand Slam language is action, and lives at the champion, Zaenab was a finalist site of all transformation. at the 2019 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word poetry slam along Anthony Purdy lives in Nova with their London Ontario team. Scotia where, after an academic Zaenab is a prolific writer, poet, and career spent at universities in New organizer with a vested interest in Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta, he helping young people like themself is happily acquiring a new skill set find their voice and speak their as he repurposes himself as a writer Truth. of fiction and poetry. He started writing creatively for publication in Kimberley Orton is a poet/stage 2020 and has since published, or poet, playwright and photographer had accepted for publication, three who lives and works in downtown stories and eighteen poems in Toronto. She has been published journals and magazines such as The by Playwrights Guild of Canada Goose, Prairie Fire, The Dalhousie along with several other poetry Review, The Fiddlehead, and publications, and her plays Raven, Queen’s Quarterly. He is a member An Act of Ruth, and The Savage of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Lily have been produced in Toronto, Scotia and an Associate Member of Ottawa, New York and Chicago. the League of Canadian Poets. Kimberley holds degrees from U of T in Theatre and English Literature, Deanna Radford and is currently completing her MFA in Creative Writing at UBC. Brian Sankarsingh is a Trinidadian- born Canadian immigrant who Angelica Poversky (they/them) describes himself as an accidental is a queer non-binary Russian- poet, with a passion for advocacy Jewish poet who has over 7 years of and a penchant for prose. Arriving poetry experience and facilitation in Canada in the 1980s, Brian experience. They’ve taught poetry worked tirelessly to forge a life and workshops in schools, libraries, with career for himself. In so doing, he youth groups, in community centres, inadvertently shrouded his love for and dozens of festivals across North poetry. Now, with his children all America. Much of their poetry has grown up, he has rediscovered his been devoted to queer and trans voice. With renewed vigour and an celebration and dreaming beyond unapologetic style, Sankarsingh patterns of trauma. An intuitive is committed to maddeningly empath, their practice is informed screaming his poetic ponderings by nurturance culture building from whatever rooftop or soapbox he and poetry as a political, personal, can find. Wading into controversial and spiritual power. They have topics like systemic racism and politics, Sankarsingh’s readers desires, while “Through the Looking should think about his poetry as Glass” questions sexual cultural social and political commentary. norms. These poems can be found in publications on my medium Lindsay Soberano-Wilson My platform. I hold a Bachelor of Arts poetry is best described as degree (honors) in English and accessible, colloquial, rhythmic, Creative Writing from Concordia repetitive, and concise sprinkled University, a Bachelor of Education with wordplay and imagery. I degree, and a Master of Arts degree seldom use punctuation and in English Literature from the instead use enjambment. I am University of Toronto. While at the also a high school English and University of Toronto I was lucky Drama teacher in Toronto. I have enough to find a professor willing been teaching for over 15 years. I to work with me on an independent love working with and inspiring study course in Jewish Canadian teenagers. My background in the Literature. I read a ton of work by dramatic arts also lends itself well to Montreal writers, such as Mordecai the spoken word. Watch my spoken Richler, A.M. Klein, Adele Wiseman, word dramatic monologue I Call and Leonard Cohen. this Trauma on IG @Poetry.Matters. I live with my amazing husband and I performed poems like “The Streets my boisterous and loveable three of Munich” (also in the upcoming sons in Vaughan, Ontario. We are all chapbook) at arts festivals in hockey, nature, and food lovers! Toronto and also dabbled in open mic nights in Kensington Market. Johnny D Trinh I love traveling and exploring Johnny D Trinh is an interdisciplinary new cultures in my writing. I have and spoken word artist based traveled to Israel, Egypt, Greece, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Exploring the use of spoken Morocco, France, Switzerland, word, music, video, social media, the Netherlands, and the US and movement, theatre, and creative Canada. I am interested in trauma technology- Johnny’s practice poetry and healing and also write integrates the multi-layered about topics such as mental health realities within which we exist to and suicide. I am currently working create immersive spoken word on additional poetry chapbooks experiences. Johnny’s pedagogy about motherhood, trauma is rooted in the constant goal of healing, and sex-positivity. As a fostering a sense of empowerment, feminist, bisexual writer, I look at agency, and compassion through sexuality in the eye and question socially engaged, community cultural norms and practices and based art. Johnny recognizes that evoke sensuality. For instance, my many of us are uninvited guests on poem “Sex Miseducation” explores this indigenous Turtle Island, and how women lack education in continually works to negotiate that reproductive health and sexual through accountability, solidarity, and integrity in practice. He creates opportunities to support marginalized communities cultivate their voice: “It takes a community to build an artist... Member whether we are nurtured by it, or resist against it.” Johnny D News Trinh is a member of the League of Canadian Poets, and holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Theatre & Creative Technology. Johnny’s research focuses on autho-ethnographic performance, and spoken word as a primary Donna Allard A new book of poetry method in community-engaged by League member Donna Allard, art. Intl New Generation Beat Poet Lau- reate for Canada (2019-2020). Check Anna van Valkenberg it out on Amazon.

Matthew James Weigel Bill Arnott is excited to announce the release of his poetry collection, Vironika Wilde / Tugaleva / Nikulya Forever Cast in Endless Time (Sil- / Viro / Nika / poet / feminist / ver Bow Publishing, 2021). This col- nomad / vocalist / cat fanatic / lection of work - first published in queer / immigrant / survivor / tree literary journals and anthologies in hugger / activist / crossing borders Canada, the US, UK, Europe, Asia / gazing at the stars / pickles / and Australia - examines the ca- coffee / getting lost in the woods / dence of exploration, discovery, and questioning authority / avocadoes play. Watch for Bill’s LCP launch / dancing in the rain events, happening this Spring!

Rebecca Anne Banks Subterra- nean Blue Poetry Announces! Com- Follow The League! ing Soon! The Covid Diaries: Cat on the Piazza for March 2021 (Volume Instagram IX Issue III) Revenge of the Deep @canadianpoets Green Forest for April 2021 (Volume Twitter IX Issue IV) @canadianpoets Working on: A New Age Book of Facebook Poetry, PoemZ 4 U AND YourZ by League of Canadian Poets Zo-Alonzo Gross. An arthouse book (8.5” x 11”) collection of 40 poems with original artwork for March 2021 launch @ Ingram Sparks. - A Subterranean Blue Poetry Im- print - Angel in the afternoon, winter tears A New Age Book of Erotica, The in Summer longing, thunder under Pink by Kimberlynne Darby New- the mountain, the five of cups, the ton for launch at Amazon.com. sky, castles in the sky. . .” Deadline: Hardcopy Issues of Subterranean Open. Email: subterraneanbluepoet- Blue Poetry are Available @ Ama- [email protected] zon Stations. Optional Pay-What-You-Can Reading Currently Available: Fee ($1 per Poem, up to 5 Poems). • Volume VII Issue XII (“The Leon- We pay $10 per Poem, $20 per Of Po- ard Cohen for Christmas 2019 etic Interest . . . critical essay and $20 Issue) per Masthead Art/Photo. Payment in • Volume VIII Issue V (“The Miss- the month of publication by PayPal. ing”) New Age Poetry. We are L@@king • Volume VIII Issue VI (“the last for Symbolist, Surrealist, Imagist, station”) Beat Poetry progressions and The • Volume VIII Issue IX (“A day in the New Goth. If it bangs in the dance it’s life – A day at the Aquarium”) in. Deadline: Open. Email: subterra- • Volume VIII Issue X (“The Blue [email protected]. Girl”) “all the poetry, everywhere” “for those • Volume VIII Issue XI (“Blue Pink”) subterranean blues” www.subterra- • Volume VIII Issue XII (“The Mar- neanbluepoetry.com lon Brando for Christmas 2020 Issue) David Brydges Dr. William Henry • Volume IX Issue I (“Four Trees of Drummond Poetry Contest (Can- Park Hill: angels in the forest”) ada’s oldest non-governmental • Volume IX Issue II (“Black Lives poetry contest). Entry fee: $10 per Matter”) poem. Cash Prizes: $1600: $300 first Perfect bound 7” x 10” in full Colour place, $200 second place, $100 third with Colour Art/Photos, midnight place, 8 honourable mentions of blue font, in French and English. $75, 8 judge’s choice of $50. Compli- If you want a Hardcopy Issue in the mentary anthology to all winners. back catalogue, please Inbox. Deadline: Friday April 30, 2021 The more requests for an Issue the HENCEFORTH WE ARE ONLY AC- sooner it is created. Soooo exciting! CEPTING ONLINE SUBMISSIONS Currently l@@king for New Age WITH E-TRANSFER PAYMENT TO Poetry Submissions, Of Poetic In- [email protected] terest . . . critical essays, Masthead Visit www.springpulsepoetryfestival. Art/Photos, and Books of Poetry com for further info and rules. for Book Reviews. We Pay $10 per Enquires: Send to David Brydges my- Poem, $20 per Of Poetic Interest, [email protected] critical essay, and $20 per Mast- head Art/Photo, in the month of Fern G. Z. Carr was delighted to dis- publication. cover that her poetry published in A Submission Call! Title: Thunder “Climate of Opinion: Sigmund Freud Under the Mountain. Theme: “An in Poetry” received a complimentary shout-out by a reviewer in the video every Wednesday, please be Winter 2020 issue of Division | Re- sure to click “Subscribe” – it’s free. view. She was also pleased that the Checkout Fern’s Youtube Channel. Federation of BC Writers reprised her article, “Unlocking the Door Louise Carson’s poem ‘Kindly burn’ - Publishing Tips and Resources” appears in Prairie Fire Vol. 41, No. 4. in: “Throwback Thursday - An ar- Louise Carson has three poems in ticle from WordWorks 2020 Vol Subterranean Blue Poetry, Volume II, in which Fern G. Z. Carr shares IX, Issue III. Read the poems. resources that helped her be published over 700 times worldwide!” Ron Charach This spring, Ron Read the article. Charach will be publishing with Fern had a delightful light-heart- Friesen Press his first children’s ed interview with Bill Arnott – “A literature book, Lemily by the Sea, fun interview with Fern G. Z. Carr illustrated by Laura Catrinella. - a poet whose work is out of this world, literally - on the latest Artist Conyer Clayton Showcase.” Check out the inter- Conyer and Manahil Bandukwala view. Fern continues to curate her recently released a collaborative YouTube poetry channel featuring chapbook and cine-poem, called beautifully illustrated poems which Sprawl | the time it took us to for- she composes and performs, along get with Collusion Books. Buy with readings recorded live, poetry the chapbook, as well as watch lesson plans and guides, plus her the cine-poem on Collusion’s site. translations of her poetry. For a new Or check out the audio for the cine-poem. Susan Glickman Artful Flight, Su- Julie de Belle’s interview at La san Glickman’s 16th book, a selec- Maison Felix Leclerc with Mosaik’s tion of her essays and book reviews Stephan Daigle. Watch the inter- - mostly about poetry - from 1985- view 2019, will be published in April by The Porcupine’s Quill. Learn more Jennifer Bowering Delisle’s new collection of poetry from Universi- Catherine Graham’s seventh col- ty of Alberta Press, Deriving, is out lection of poetry, Æther: An Out- this month. Her launch event took of-Body Lyric, appears this spring place on March 24 with Lisa Martin with Wolsak & Wynn / Buckrider and was hosted by Glass Bookshop Books. “Swimming through time and Shelf Life Books. and space, Graham introduces her mother, her father and herself and Adrienne Drobnies’ first book Salt the cancers that pull them apart and Ashes (Signature Editions, and bring them together. Memo- 2019) won the 2020 Fred Kerner ries mesh with visitations and mul- Book Award from the Canadian Au- tiple stories unfold of pain and loss, thors Association. It was also long hidden tragedy, forgiveness and listed for the Fred Cogswell Prize. growth. With an otherworldly deli- cacy Graham stitches it all together Amanda Earl is the editor of Judith: to create a book-length lyric essay Women Making Visual Poetry, A of lingering and profound beauty, a 21st Century Anthology to be pub- paean to the complexity of love and lished by Timglaset Editions of Swe- survival.” Visit Catherine’s website. den in Spring, 2021. Find out more gillian harding-russell At the tail Marilyn Gear Pilling The Gods of end of 2020, Uninterrupted was East Wawanosh, by Marilyn Gear published. The collection is about Pilling, a book of poetry published nature and human nature during by Cormorant Books and edited by the Anthropocene and the poems Robyn Sarah has won the Hamilton are sometimes speculative and Arts Council Award for Best Book of dystopic but are written out of a Poetry. Check out the Awards page. fear for what could be lost to us. Nature in its beauty and dynamism Suparna Ghosh’s poetry and visual is a fragile system that could be art are integrated, hence this news lost to us – though it will continue is relevant in the context of the in some form without us. ‘Uninter- League. Two of her pen, brush and rupted’ nature was once our home ink drawings were selected by five and identity, one that we looked independent jurors, for their first to for meaning and solace, a world national show sponsored by the larger than ourselves – but lately we Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. seem to have forgotten our place in Check out Suparna’s website the cosmos. These poems of warn- ing evoke terror in quasi-recogni- Penn Kemp Forthcoming Events tion of what could be our future. with Penn Kemp: Yet they are written out of love for April, 2021. NPM Zoom and launch what soon may be lost and they of Femmes de Parole/Women search for what may be wrong in of their Word, edited by Nancy R ourselves. ISBN: 978-1-77171-410-5 Lange. Contact: rappelparolecre- Publisher: Ekstasis Editions [email protected] for more info. Purchase the poetry collection 2021. “Becoming”: a poem of 80 from Ekstasis Editions Or to acquire words matched with Jim Kemp’s a copy from the author, please painting for 80mL Exhibition to email gillian@gillianharding-russell. celebrate Museum London’s 80th ca. Birthday. Check out the webpage Check out the video launch from Contact: 80museumlondon@gmail. Jan 10, 2021 com My news is up on www.pennkemp.weebly.com and www.word- Crystal Hurdle INVERSE: joint po- press.com as well as facebook.com. etry reading on April 10th at 2pm pennkemp.poet and www.twitter. pacific time sponsored by The com/pennkemp. Federation of BC Writers featuring PUBLICATIONS: “To Carry the Heart Aidan Chafe, Crystal Hurdle, Joanne of Community Wherever You Find Arnott, and Laisha Rosnau, hosted Yourself”. Sage-ing With Creative by Fiona Tinwei Lam Spirit, Grace and Gratitude, www. Check out the event page. sageing.ca. Spring 2021. READINGS: April 18, 2021. 4pm. Keith Inman has work published, Readings from “Voicing Suicide”, an or upcoming, in seven anthologies anthology edited by Daniel G. Scott. for 2020/21, most from Ontario, Contact: voicingsuicide@gmail. one Saskatchewan, and two inter- com, organizer Josie Andrews j_an- national. He will again co-ordinate [email protected] The Banister Poetry Contest / An- April, 2021. National Poetry Month thology for 2021. It’s 36th edition; zoom and launch of Femmes de hIs 15th year on the board; sixth Parole/Women of their Word, edit- as chair. This year’s judge is Dr. ed by Nancy R Lange. Elspeth Cameron. Last fall, Keith Readings: Penn Kemp and Sharon participated in Black Moss Press’s Thesen. Contact: rappelparolecre- video zoom recordings of authors [email protected]. discussing and reading their poet- May 20, 3pm, 2021. Feature, Owen ry. You can find the VZR’s at black- Sound Poet Laureate Open Mic mosspress.com He also continues series. Host: Richard-Yves Sitoski to participate in monthly poetry Check out the Facebook event meetings based on the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop style of R Kolewe A new chapbook titled round table discussion and sharing. The Wild Fox is now available from Although, these are now zoomed, knife | fork | book. they continue to be extremely valuable. Fiona Tinwei Lam A fun new Po- the finalists announment in The etry Phone Hotline in Vancouver Spec includes audiorecordings by ten BC poets: Fiona Tinwei Lam, Jennica David Ly was recently interviewed Harper, Jonina Kirton, Otoniya Ju- by It Gets Better Canada, an orga- liane Bitek, Christine Bissonnette, nization with a mission to uplift, Charlie Demers, Joanne Arnott, empower, and connect 2SLGBTQ+ Rachel Rose, curator Renee Sarojini youth across Canada. I talked about Saklikar & Dina Del Bucchia. Fiona how poetry helped shape my queer is one of 11 poets who made short identity! video poems for a BC Farm Folk City Folk fundraiser, now posted on Annick MacAskill Upcoming Event: its Youtube channel. National Poetry Month Virtual She has been hosting In/Verse, a Reading: Poetry for the Cruelest monthly online poetry series for the Month - Hosted on Zoom by the Federation of BC Writers. Halifax Public Library. Join us on- Poetry Phone: 1-833-POEMS-4-U line for a poetry reading in honour Paul Lisson of National Poetry Month. We have three local poets ready to help us Paul Lisson’s debut book of poetry, celebrate by reading excerpts from “The Perfect Archive” (Guernica Edi- their latest works: Annick MacAs- tions, 2019), is a Hamilton Literary killl, Murmurations, Nolan Natasha, Awards finalist in two categories: I Can Hear You, Can You Hear Me? Poetry and the Kerry Schooley Book and Award. Results coming 2021. Read Anna Quon. Annick MacAskill will moderate a QandA session after the thology The Sky Is Falling! The Sky readings. Learn more and RSVP Is Falling: a collection of Pandemic Poems. Ed. Sheila Martindale. Victo- Carol L. MacKay’s 2020 poetry ap- ria, BC: Goldfinch Press, 2020. pearances included publication in the League’s Poem in Your Pocket Chad Norman’s new collection, Day brochure and postcard project, Simona: A Celebration Of The as well as poems in the Life of Pie S.P.C.A., will appear and be ready anthology (edited by Myrna Garanis for purchase from him, or the pub- and Ivan Sundal) and in the Sheri-D lisher, Cyberwit.Net, based out of Wilson/Frontenac House anthology: India. Also, Norman’s poems will ap- YYC Pop: Portraits of People. Her pear in the anthologies Under The poetry was also published in Prairie Azure Sky Black Lives Matter, UK, Journal (Issue #75) and in the an- Second Name For Earth Is Peace, thology, Alone but Not Alone, pub- USA, and Gathering In, Nova Scotia. lished by Vancouver Island Region- Norman has started work on a new al Library. Her poems for children manuscript, Living Between The were published this year by Lady- Brackets. Poems recently accepted bug, Babybug and The Caterpillar by Beltway Poetry Journal (USA), (Ireland). Dreich, Summer Always Antholo- gy (Scotland). Also, virtual reading Susan McCaslin’s most recent vol- events planned for May and June. ume of poetry, Heart Work (Ekstasis Editions, Victoria, BC) was released Pearl Pirie’s 4th poetry collection, in mid-Dec. 2020. The title is cur- footlights (Radiant Press, 2020) is rently available on the Ekstasis now available as an audio book website. A virtual launch took place read by the author. It is for pur- on Feb. 24, 2021 with fellow Ekstasis chase for $8.71 at audible or free author Jude Neale and host Cyn- with audible trial. thia Sharp. It is also available in print from the A video-recording of her reading of publisher or directly from the au- the poem “Persephone’s Nook” for thor [email protected], the Poets Corner was posted on its One-Minute Poem Poetry Series. Kyeren Regehr I’m so thrilled and Dec. 11, 2020. Susan was a featured grateful to share that my manu- reader at the following: In/Verse Po- script of poems, Disassembling A etry Series, sponsored by the Feder- Dancer, won the Raven Chapbook ation of BC Writers on Sat. Dec. 12, Award. Upcoming event: Poets and 2020, host Fiona Lam. The Parkland Pedlar Press: Ronna Bloom, Kim Poet’s Society, Stony Plane, Alberta, Fahner, Moira MacDougall, and hosts SaraSwoti Lamichane & Lisa Kyeren Regehr, reading from re- Mulrooney, Feb. 11, 2021, with fellow cent work, hosted by Beth Follett. readers Emily Thomas & Claire Kelly. Her poem “Corona, Corona,” from Frances Roberts Reilly Watershed Heart Work appeared in the an- Writers is a new radio documentary series that features in-depth inter- cific Time. We’ll be sharing new and views and conversations with local retro verse, including some co-writ- poets and writers living and writing ten pieces just for this event. Please in the Grand River watershed area. email [email protected] for Watershed Writers is interested in the Zoom link. Thank for your sup- poets and writers who are often port! largely ignored or left out of main- stream media. Host is Tanis Mac- Vanessa Shields My new collection Donald. Producer is LCP member, of poetry launches on April 29, 2021. Frances Roberts Reilly. Watershed I’m having a virtual launch begin- Writers is broadcast every other ning at 7:30pm. Tuesday on CKWR FM 98.5 Real Community Radio. Videos and pod- Nellie P. Strowbridge My novel casts are available on Watershed THE HANGED WOMAN’S DAUGH- Writers YouTube channel and their TER will be published by Flanker website. Show runs to June 30, Press April 28, 2021. It is a sequel 2021. to the sold out novel CATHERINE SNOW. The Hanged Woman’s Ingrid Ruthig The Essential Eliz- Daughter, a novel, will be launched abeth Brewster, selected and in- (virtually) March 24th, 2021. troduced by Ingrid Ruthig, will be released from The Porcupine’s Quill JC Sulzenko in April 2021. Elizabeth Brewster The Light Ekphrastic published my (1922–2012), a Governor General’s ‘artnership’ with West Virginian Ron Award finalist and member of the Tobey in its 44th issue in November Order of Canada whose literary 2020. TLE had featured my poetry career spanned seven decades, was paired with the work of visual art- part of a second wave of modernist ists in the past. This was my first op- poets to influence the national con- portunity to work to a video compo- versation about Canadian poetry. sition. My poem “Luck.Now” is my response to this challenge. Ron’s Cynthia Sharp With much grat- video interpretation of “From sea itude to the League of Canadian to sea,” the piece he selected from Poets, I’d like to share my interdisci- what I had sent the journal appears plinary collaboration with Jilly Wat- there as well. My thanks to Editor son and Wendy Bullen Stephenson, Jenny O’Grady for the privilege. who created art to compliment my www.jcsulzenko.com nature poems, while I wrote new verse to go with Jilly’s paintings. Naomi Beth Wakan, the Inaugu- This is a sneak peak at our upcom- ral Poet Laureate of Nanaimo has ing book. Thanks for taking the a new book out from Shanti Arts, time to give us a view on Youtube. Wind on the Heath. Now in her Candice James and I would like to 90th year, the book contains a se- invite you to our celebration of po- lection from sixty years of poetry etry, April 21, 2021, from 7-8 PM Pa- writing. Carole MacRury writes of it: “Plato said ‘the unexamined life interested but is not a paid up CA is not worth living’. The poems in Peterborough or Affiliate member Wind on the Heath are all about the fee will be $25, to be paid to Ca- the examined life. Naomi Beth nadian Authors Peterborough. This Wakan has spent a lifetime pon- offer is open to 5 persons only on a dering what it means to be hu- first come first serve basis. Registra- man. Whether writing in longer tion. Ends on March 25th. Over the lyrical verse or Japanese five-line course of 4 sessions, participants tanka nothing escapes her gaze will read the work of established or her questioning mind. What is poets, do some in-class writing, and clear from this collection of poems share work in progress. There may spanning her mid-twenties to late be some homework. If there is a eighties, is that she was born in- demand, Nan might be persuaded quisitive and has remained inquis- to run it again. If you are interested itive. Whether she is writing about please email CA Peterborough at sex or how to cut a rose, these po- [email protected]. Nan has listed ems offer a bittersweet look at life the following potential times. When with irony, humor, reflection and signing up, please indicate all times a healthy dose of cynicism. These that are workable for you. are poems that speak to human Sundays, April 11 to May 2 1:30 – to nature, our existential aloneness, 3:15, Or Mondays April 12 to May 3 the fleetingness of life, the pitfalls 1:30 – 3:15, Or Wednesdays April 7 and hurdles we all must face and as to 28 7pm -8:45 Nan Williamson is quoted from “Watchers”, one of her a teacher, artist, and author living earliest poems, this collection offers in Peterborough. She is a graduate readers a crack through which we of the Humber School for Writers, may glimpse reality. Details are at Toronto, 2013. Her chapbook, leave The book is obtainable in Canada the door open for the moon, was through your local bookstore, from published by Jackson Creek Press Amazon or from mail@pagesresort. in 2015. Always interested in the com verbal-visual connection, she plays with shapes, colours, and texture Nan Williamson I am giving a week- to wed form and content in paint ly workshop, “Poetry 101” during Na- and poetry. More than 50 of her po- tional Poetry Week ems have been published in juried Offering Poetry 101 for beginning literary journals and anthologies in poets. Exclusive offer for would-be Canada, the US and the UK. She has poets…only $25 for four workshop had 4 poems accepted in the past sessions. April is National Poetry 3 months. She is also the illustra- Month. To mark it, The CAA will tor for Delicate Impact, a Canadian sponsor Nan Williamson to lead a anthology of poetry, A Beret Days four week course that is free to CA Book, The Ontario Poetry Society, Peterborough members and Af- 2018. filiates who want to explore how poetry works. For anyone who is Writing Opportunities

Calls for Submissions on your wildest dreams, your imag- ined encounters, your but-what-ifs. Dreamers Submit your short sto- we want your reality with a heaping ries, poems, personal essays or ex- side of fantasy, as long as you don’t cerpts (that stand alone) from any tell us which is which. Deadline is genre of writing. We’re willing to April 3, 2021. Find out more. consider any form of writing that is well-written and from the heart. We Pøst Accepting submissions of po- especially love writing that has some etry in English or French by poets connection to writing for wellness – of colour for the upcoming issue. narrative medicine, medical mem- Deadline is April 14, 2021. Find out oir, writing the self, healing writing, more etc. Deadline is March 31, 2021. Find out more. Literary Review of Canada Accept- ing poetry submissions for the an- Open Minds Quarterly Accepting nual 2021 Reading Period. Poems submissions from poets well-versed must be under 50 lines. Deadline is in mental health challenges for April 15, 2021. Find out more. the Summer 2021 Issue Sickness & Health. 4 piece/8 page limit. Dead- CP Quarterly (formerly Crèpe & line is March 31, 2021. Find out more. Penn). Accepting poetry submissions of up to one page. Simulata- The Hellebore Press is accepting neous submissions are accepted. submissions for upcoming digital Deadline is May 28, 2021. Find out issues and features until April 1, 2021. more Micro poetry, prose poetry, flash fiction, flash nonfiction, chapbook re- CV2 Annual submission period is views, craft essays, and visual art now open. Deadline is May 31, 2021. submissions are welcome. Find out Find out more. more Lammergeier Accepting submis- perhappened Submissions are sions of up to five poems. Simu- open now through april 3rd for latenous submissions are accepted. perhappened mag issue 10: DAY- Submissions period opens April 1. DREAM, featuring guest reader tay- Find out more lor byas!paint us a picture. let us in subTerrain Accepting poetry submis- cations. Deadline to submit is June sions for the upcoming issue with the 21, 2021. Find out more theme of “neighbours.” Whether we love them or hate them, we all have Puritan Accepting poetry submis- them. There’s the “Good Neighbour” sions. Baffle us, tangle us up, or policy and the unwritten but often break our hearts. We’re looking for spoken of “Bad Neighbour” policy. We poems of any length (including se- welcome essays, fiction, opinion piec- quences and long poems) Dead- es, and poetry that reflects upon this line is June 25, 2021. Find out more. unique designation — whether it be warm and fuzzy, awkward and prick- Cloud Lake Literary Accepting ly, or strained — that we call “neigh- submissions for the Fall 2021 Issue. bour.” Deadline is June 1, 2021. Find Deadline is June 30, 2021. Find out out more more.

Tree Poem Anthology from Caitlin Arc accepts unsolicited submis Press This is a call for submissions sions of previously unpublished from Caitlin Press for an anthology poetry in English, or translations of of tree poems, to be published in col- poetry into English, on any subject laboration with Christine Lowther, and in any form. Submissions peri- Tofino Poet Laureate. Send your sub- od opens April 1 until July 31, 2021. mission in an email or as Word Doc Find out more to [email protected] or mail to Box 127, Tofino, BC, V0R 2Z0, Subterranean Blue Poetry We with a cover letter. Deadline is June 1, look for Symbolist, Surrealist, Im- 2021. Find out more agist, Beat progressions and the New Goth. If it bangs in the dance Understorey Magazine Accept- it’s in. Optional Pay-What-You-Can ing poetry submissions for Issue 21, Reading Fee ($1 per Poem, up to 5 we want to hear from women and Poems). Everyone hears back from non-binary writers and artists living us. We pay $10 per Poem, $20 per in rural and remotes areas. Under- Of Poetic Interest . . . article, and storey is primarily a digital magazine. $20 per Masthead Art/Photo in the However, we recognise that many ru- month of publication. Thank you to ral and remote communities do not all Contributors, Readers, and Sup- have reliable access to the internet. porters of Subterranean Blue Poet- For that reason, we will be creating ry. Deadline: Open. Find out more a limited-distribution print edition of Issue 21. If you do have reliable inter- Beliveau Books Seeking chapbook net and live in a rural location, please submissions by BIPOC poets, to be help distribute this call for submis- published in August 2021. Find out sions. Download and print our call for more submissions and post the call in community centres, libraries, women’s centres, grocery stores, and other lo- Another New Calligraphy seeks by queer and trans people. No listed work exploring the human experi- deadline. Find out more ence, our internal worlds, and life among others; these complex sys- Existere Accepting unpublished tems are often clearest in our slight- submissions of Poetry. No set dead- est moments. No listed deadline. line. Find out more Find out more filling Station Open to poetry sub- Antigonish Review Open to gen- missions. No listed deadline. Find eral submissions. The quality of the out more writing is the chief criterion. We also consider it our mandate to encour- Friction Magazine accepts year- age Atlantic Canadians and Cana- round submissions of poetry and dian writers - although excellent other writing Experimental, nontra- writing can come from anywhere. ditional, and boundary-pushing lit- We also welcome new and young erature is strongly encouraged. No writers. No listed deadline. Find out listed deadline. Find out more more Geist Accepting submissions of a Beliveau Review Open to year maximum of 5 poems. No set dead- round submissions of poetry. No list- line. Find out more ed deadline. Find out more. The Mackinac Accepts poetry year- Cotton Xenomorph Accepting sub- round. Submit up to five poems. No missions of 3-5 poems. No listed listed deadline. Find out more deadline. Find out more Malahat Review Poetry submissions Cypress Press Accepting submis- should consist of three to five po- sions of up to 3 unpublished poems ems (10 pages of poetry maximum), and a 75 word bio in a single Word on any subject and in any style. Sub- document to poetrycypress@gmail. missions longer than 10 pages will com. Please make sure your submis- not be read. The magazine often sion is no more than 5 pages. No set accepts several poems by the same deadline. Find out more author; therefore, please do not limit your submission to a single poem. The Dalhousie Review Accepting No listed deadline. Find out more submissions of poetry year-round. No listed deadline. Find out more The New Quarterly We print free verse, ballad, sonnet, epic, and prose Damaged Goods Press ac- poems, and there’s no need to rhyme cepts chapbook length and full- unless you want to. TNQ is a gener- length manuscripts on a rolling alist magazine, interested in work in basis, and is currently reading for a wide variety of formal and stylistic publication in late 2020 and beyond. modes. Freshness of style, subject a small press specializing in books matter, perspective is something we look for. Submit up to 3 poems. or non-fiction, a premium will be No listed deadline. Find out more placed on singularity of voice, ac- cessibility of ideas and relevance to Okay Donkey Accepting submis- issues of common concern. Hono- sions of poetry for weekly publica- raria are paid, editorial services are tion on mondays. No deadline. Find provided and the chance to kick- out more start a national conversation is on offer. No listed deadline. Find out Pace Magazine Accepting submis- more sions of poetry. Submit up to five poems. No set deadline. Find out Qwerty Accepting poetry submis- more. sions for the upsoming Spring/Sum- mer 2021 Issure, with the theme of Plenitude Accepting submissions FOOD x IDENTITY. 2SQ+BIPOC art- of up to five pages of poetry. No list- ists are invited to submit work that ed deadline. Find out more explores food(s) in relation to racial, queer, gendered, etc. identities and Prism accepting year-round sub- bodies. No listed deadline. Find out missions. No listed deadline. Find more. out more Rejection Letters We like poetry Pulp Literature Accepting submis- that doesn’t try too hard but gets sions of poetry year-round. Submit under our skin in the best kinds of up to three poems. No listed dead- ways. Submit up to 4 unpublished line. Find out more poems. No listed deadline. Find out more Q/A Poetry Journal Q/A Poetry ex- ists to amplify the voices of womxn Riddle Fence Accepting general and nonbinary poets, and to expand submissions of poetry, up to 10 pag- the subjects deemed “appropriate” es. No deadline. Find out more. for womxn to be writing about. Send us your poems on your postpartum Room Magazine is accepting sub- body, spider veins, lip hair, your fa- missions of up to 5 unpublished po- vorite liquid eyeliner, your anguish ems. No listed deadline. Find out over glass ceilings, your sex work, more your ode to stay-at-home tedium, your list of your most beautiful and Shrapnel Accepting poetry submis- unlikeable qualities. No listed dead- sions on a rolling basis. Submit up line. Find out more to five poems. No listed deadline. Find out more The Queen’s Quarterly seeks submissions on any topic that presents Train Accepting submissions of po- a novel perspective and point of de- etry. No listed deadline. Find out parture for thinking about our con- more temporary world. Whether fiction The Walrus currently accepting po- Find out more. etry submissions and other writing. No listed deadline. Find out more Pulp Literature Magpie Award for Poetry At Pulp Literature, we have an affinity for poetry, the hard li- Awards and Contests quor of literature. We like it strong, Grain Magazine Short Grain Con- neat, and we don’t mind if it makes test Three prizes will be awarded our eyes water. Our judges, will be in each category: 1st = $1,000 and looking for a fusion of musicality, publication in Grain, 2nd = $750 and imagery, feeling, and thought. May publication in Grain, 3rd = $500 and the best poem win! This contest is publication in Grain. Poetry judge is for previously unpublished poems Phil Hall. Entry fee is $40. Deadline of up to 100 lines in length. 1st place is April 1, 2021. Find out more prize is $500. Deadline is April 15, 2021. Find out more The 20th annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, spon- Association of Italian Canadian sored by Winning Writers and Duo- Writers Venera Fazio Poetry Con- trope. There’s no fee to enter. Top test Three poems of up to 40 lines prize: $2,000. Total prizes: $3,500. each or 1 longer poem of up to 140 The 12 funniest poems are pub- lines. Submissions can be in En- lished on our website. Submit pub- glish, French, or Italian. Deadline is lished or unpublished work. Limit: April 30, 2021. Find out more 250 lines. Entries close on April 1. Dr. William Henry Drummond Muriel’s Journey Poetry Prize Out- Poetry Contest (Canada’s oldest spoken, risk taking, looking at a top- non-governmental poetry contest). ic in an unexpected way. It would Entry fee: $10 per poem. Cash Priz- be nice if it had a good potential for es: $1600: $300 first place, $200 being performed. Why these crite- second place, $100 third place, ria? Because that’s Muriel. She was 8 honourable mentions of $75, not only a poet but a fabulous per- 8 judge’s choice of $50. Compli- former and had no problems tack- mentary anthology to all winners. ling things from an unusual, makes- Deadline: Friday April 30, 2021 you-wake-up-and-listen point of HENCEFORTH WE ARE ONLY AC- view. All winners and honourary CEPTING ONLINE SUBMISSIONS mentions will be published in Fire WITH E-TRANSFER PAYMENT TO In The Heart, the Muriel’s Journey [email protected] Chapbook for 2021. Deadline is April Visit www.springpulsepoetryfesti- 30, 2021. Find out more. val.com for further info and rules. Enquires: Send to David Brydges bpNichol Chapbook Award recog- [email protected] nizes excellence in Canadian poetry in English published in chap- Exile The $3,000 Gwendolyn MacE- book form within Canada. The prize wen Poetry Competition $1,500 for is awarded to a poetry chapbook Best Suite by an Emerging Writer. judged to be the best submitted. $1,500 for Best Suite by a Writer at The author receives $4,000 and the Any Career Point. Deadline recently publisher receives $500. Award- extended to April 30, 2021. Find out ed continuously since 1986, the more bpNichol Chapbook Award is currently administered by the Meet The Ontario Poetry Society The the Presses collective. Chapbooks Love-Lies-Bleeding Anthology should be not less than 10 pages Contest. First Prize: $200 Second and not more than 48 pages. The Prize: $150 Third Prize: $100 Fourth chapbooks must have been pub- Prize: $50, plus up to 55 Honourable lished between January 1st and De- Mention Awards. Deadline is April cember 31st of the previous year 30, 2021. Find out more (2020), and the poet must be Ca- nadian. Interested authors or pub- Freefall Annual Prose and Poetry lishers should submit three copies Contest Over $1700.00 in Prizes. All of eligible chapbooks. Translations contest entries are also automat- into English from other languages ically entered into the Lynn Fras- are eligible. Deadline is May 31, 2021. er Memorial contest for a chance Find out more. to win $100. 2020 Judge is Natalie Meisner. Deadline is April 30, 2020. Find out more Dreamers Magazine Haiku Con- is June 4, 2021. Find out more test Submit up to 3 haikus. Win- ning prize is $120 USD. Deadline is The VMI Betsy Warland Between May 31, 2021. Find out more Genres Award For a book published in Canada in 2021 that is a The 36th Banister Poetry Contest hybrid genre, or straddles two or Dr. Elspeth Cameron will be this more genres. The winner will re- year’s judge for the Niagara Branch ceive $500 at a ceremony at The of Canadian Authors Association Vancouver Writers Fest in Fall 2021, poetry contest, open to residents of presented by judge Wayde Comp- Ontario. All poems must be in En- ton with Betsy Warland, special glish and not under consideration guest of honour. Two Honourable elsewhere. Entry fee is $15 for up to Mentions (no cash prize) will also be three poems and $4 for each addi- awarded. Deadline is July 30, 2021. tional poem. Number of entries is Find out more. unlimited. Prizes are: 1st prize: $300; 2nd prize: $200; 3rd prize: $100. Please feel free to share this infor- Job Opportunities mation with your writing groups and friends. Stay safe. Stay sane. Managing Editor at Room Maga- Deadline is May 31, 2021. Find out zine Room Magazine is seeking to more. hire a new Managing Editor. The ideal candidate will have previous Poetry and Short Prose Contest work experience in literary, grass- From the Icelandic festival of roots, scholarly, or academic mag- Manitoba The Icelandic Festival of azine or book publishing, especial- Manitoba invites you to submit pre- ly in the selection of material for viously unpublished poetry (three publication and with knowledge of entries per person) and/or a short Canadian literature. Working cre- story (one per person-maximum atively as part of a small team, the of 1200 words). Prize entries will be Managing Editor manages all edi- awarded and successful entries will torial and production aspects of the be published in the festival pro- magazine, which is published four gram and/or on the festival website. times a year. This is a permanent NEW: Winning entries and honor- full-time position that commenc- able mentions may also be pub- es May 1, 2021. Deadline to apply is lished in the Icelandic Connection March 31, 2021. Find out more magazine.You do not need to be of Icelandic descent to submit an en- Editorial Assistant at McLelland & try however material reflecting Ice- Stewart We’re looking for an Edi- landic culture and interests will be torial Assistant to join the team at given preference, as will entries that McClelland & Stewart. Do you read reflect our 2021 theme, “Icelandic at widely and enthusiastically, with an Heart / Íslenskt Innst Inni” Deadline eye for books that impact the way our culture evolves? Do you enjoy nities. Deadline to apply is April 10, working on a team where ideas are 2021. Find out more. heard and respected and collaboration is key, where things move Poet Laureate for the City of quickly but exacting detail and Nanaimo The Poet Laureate is a dedication to making a project the literary ambassador for the City of best it can be is never sacrificed? Nanaimo. Through their role they Do you love to make a workflow raise the profile of literary arts in and process as effective as possible, our community by creating and while contributing to the vision and presenting poetic works and activ- direction of the group? Do you en- ities that are relevant to our times joy working with a wide variety of and respond to our place. Nanai- people, getting a full picture of ev- mo’s next Poet Laureate will en- ery piece of a project’s life cycle, and gage and inspire, bring their own every stakeholder who’s a part of unique voice and experience to col- it? Do you hate comma splices and laborate and realize poetry projects love Pomeranian emojis? Deadline for the benefit of our community. to apply is April 2, 2021. Find out Deadline to apply is April 30, 2021. more. Find out more

Editor at Arsenal Pulp Press Arse- nal Pulp Press of Vancouver is look- Residency, Fellowship & Grant ing for a dynamic, detail-oriented, Opportunities and highly motivated individual to become our full-time Editor begin- Access Copyright Foundation Call ning in May. The Editor manages for Professional Development the editorial process, including sub- Grant Applications. The Founda- stantive editing, copyediting, re- tion offers grant funding to facili- search, and fact-checking, and usu- tate professional-development op- ally is the principal editorial liaison portunities for Canadian writers, with authors and freelancers. The visual artists and publishers as well Editor also contributes to the devel- as staff members at arts organiza- opment of the editorial list, includ- tions. Deadline to apply is April 1, ing management of manuscripts 2021. Find out more. under consideration, and assists with the writing and copyediting The Banff Centre is underway in of marketing materials, including reopening their programs, residen- catalogues and press releases. The cies, workshops and more for on- Editor also coordinates editorial line. Stay tuned for more details. and production meetings. The ide- Find out more. al candidate should be familiar with Arsenal’s publishing program and its mandate, and have a strong un- derstanding of its audience, including BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ commu- In Memoriam

The League of Canadian Poets has he showed endurance, grace and a large community that has stood much kindness. Jeff was a teach- strong for over 50 years. Over these er, author and musician. He loved past few months, the League has to read, run, swim, think, write and lost members and friends from the walk in nature. His steadiness of poetry community. We’d like to take mind and calm demeanour were this chance to remember Don Kerr, a strength to others. He is survived Lesley Strutt, Jeff Steudel, and Luci- by his devoted wife of 25 years Su- ana Ricciutelli. san Steudel, sons Christopher and Wil Steudel, parents Hildegard and Jeff Steudel Willy Steudel and sister Cecile Steu- del (Peter Kochevar). He is loved by his extended family, friends and students in all directions. There will be an outdoor celebration of his life at a future time. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to BC Cancer.

Don Kerr Tribute by Scott Larson, CBC News:

Former Saskatchewan poet laureate, historian, playwright and En- glish professor Don Kerr passed away on December 8, 2020. He was 84. “He had a huge personality,” Jeffrey Mike Steudel died in Van- said his son David Kerr. couver on February 2, 2021, at the age of 54 after giving everything “[He] was introduced to a bunch of he had toward his healing. He took painters and artists. And they were every opportunity to find a way all talking at the top of their voices through the challenges of can- — practically yelling — and all smil- cer. Through these experiences ing and having conversations. He walked into the room and thought with the heritage community with- to himself, ‘I’ve met my people.’” out talking about Don Kerr,” said David said Don talked loud, loved Peggy Sargeant, president of the life and was open to all arguments Saskatoon Heritage Society. and points of views. “Without Don, there would not Kerr spent 44 years as an English have been a Heritage society as ear- professor at the University of Sas- ly as the seventies. He was behind it katchewan. He wrote numerous all.” Sergeant said Don had a huge books of poetry along with short personality. “He was not afraid to stories, plays and even a musical. say anything, which was quite won- Born in 1936, Kerr spent most of his derful for us,” she said. Sergeant life in the Broadway area of Sas- said one of her favourite poems by katoon. He received the provincial Don is Capitol Punishment, about the demolition of the iconic Capitol Theatre.

“It was very sad and he was very up- set about it,” Sergeant said “I think he never quite got over it.”

Fellow writer and U of S colleague David Carpenter said Don was a real influence in many ways. “He always stressed that in spite of the fact we were teaching the classics, we ought to show just as much attention to local culture, local history, local writing,” Carpenter said. “He lived those words in many Order of Merit in 2007 and became ways.” the province’s poet laureate in 2011. His musical Tune Town, with mu- Carpenter said Don was a prolific sic written by Angie Tysseland, was writer. “Some of my favourites were staged at Persephone Theatre in his wartime plays. One is called 2006. Lanc, short for Lancaster, and The Great War.” Carpenter said anoth- Don was also one of the founding er favourite is Don’s latest poetry members of the Saskatoon Heri- collection, called The dust of just tage Society back in 1976. beginning. Bob Calder was a friend “You actually can’t talk about heri- and fellow teacher at the U of S and tage preservation or anything to do has known Don since the 1960s. Calder said he always thought of friend. “He was a wonderful guy to Don as “Mr. Saskatoon”. be with. He threw parties that were fun and, you know, enjoyable. He “He loved the city. He wrote one was very great and kind and sup- of his greatest poems in a volume portive.” Carpenter said Don always with the same name called In the had Saskatoon in his heart. City of Our Fathers. And it’s a paean, a poem of great love for Saska- “If Don isn’t around to remember toon.” what happened to our city and to remind us and to write about it, it is As much as he respected Don for like we will lose our memory,” Car- his teaching and art, Calder said he penter said. “I hope people will take appreciated him even more as a up the slack.”

Remembering Luciana Ricciutelli-Costa by Adebe DeRango-Adem

There are certain people who star- shoes. In rooms that always seem tle you with their kindness; who sunlit, even in stormy weather. offer a soft place for you to land Who weathered too many storms where you are heard, fully, and for one life, but also served as a loved, completely. There are those lighthouse for countless Canadian rare people who startle you with authors as well as editors. Who was how easily they embrace you, invite a fierce editor who read your work you in. To know them is to feel as and took it to heart, the only way cared for as kin. she knew how. And kept it there.

Rarer still are friends like Luciana Luciana lived for women’s writing; Ricciutelli, Editor-in-Chief of In- both Inanna and the journal Cana- anna Publications, who was all of dian Women’s Studies / Les cahiers these things, and more. To me and de la femme were both central to to many, as so many who knew her life’s work. But if you’ve had her loved her like family from the the blessing of knowing Lu outside start. Friends like Lu who knew me the publishing realm—of having before I could write, or tie my own received one of her safe, all-en- compassing hugs, or eaten one of nant words, if even words; muffled, her extraordinary meals, or simply incredulous sounds. As though a being in the presence of her light— prayer in the mouth of one who then you may very well imagine does not believe. how the loss of someone that rare is a loss like no other. And still, I can scarcely believe she will no longer be, let alone believe When I heard about Luciana’s fast in these words as testament to her decline, I felt myself thrown out to having been. Incongruent, too, trying to write about someone who was so life-affirming, so full of living—anima—in/as memory. And then the familiar shapelessness of shock that comes in, first, as a dis- tinct wave that sets forth a smaller collection of crests, which dissipate amongst the hours we fill with the various modes of tending to and caring for, working on and surviv- ing through. There is the attempt to continue, as usual, despite the tec- tonic shift in which even the lineari- ty of days isn’t promised.

Still, you must try and navigate the new landscape. “I want to write a novel about Silence,” says Teret, a character from Virginia Woolf’s first novel, The Voyage Out. “The things people don’t say.” Woolf knew how to paint the scenery of lives who face (or will come to face) the emo- tional vicissitudes of loss. Of self, of others. But it mustn’t have been an easy practice or task for Virgin- space, floating in and out of various ia. Nor for Luciana, whose years of registers of grief and disbelief. Then dedication to literature was her way when faced with trying to imag- of saying to her authors—I hear you, ine a world without her, I began to even what you don’t say. Go on and pray for Tino and the family, Ste- speak your truth. To carry on that fano and Claudia. But prayer, too, echo is to know that writing and became a difficult endeavor. Lan- bringing justice to a suffering have guage had mostly served me as a something in common; they both glowing vessel, waiting to be filled “deal” in silence. And to be an activ- with words, with meaning. But how ist, as Luciana has been her entire do you write about emptiness? The life, is to work on behalf of voices vessel that fills only with inconso- yet to surface. Luciana was also a all—is supposed to help us imagine Woolfian scholar. And Woolf, like new worlds. Say I refuse to imagine Lu, was lost too soon. a new world without Lu. Sorry, Lu. Say I will spend the rest of my life Not even the author’s own ability to trying to write about this loss, how- delve into the psychology of things ever irresolute the words show up. could deliver her from the shadows Say, even, that the grief returns in of her inner world. But Woolf gave bigger waves; say I still show up. coherence to the brutalities of life in a way that seemed to say, the pain Lu, let’s say this is a thank you for is the truth. believing in the power of words. For being the best editor in the Lu, losing you is painful and that is world. For believing in my words, the truth. But say I am learning that which has meant quite literally the being a strong editor means be- world to me. Say my discomfort ing invested in the delicate work of is evidence I’m doing something bringing a text closer to its truth. To right. Say I know you can hear me, the author’s truth. The truth is, writ- Lu, even when I do not say a word. ing is a struggle. But say the strug- I love you, Lu, and I will say it again gle itself is the source—the sand and again. in the shell, the clearing after the storm, the abject beauty of broken, by Adebe DeRango-Adem refractive light. Say metaphor— loved by multitudes of poets, if not

Remembering Lesley Strutt

by Claudia Coutu-Radmore

This article was first published by the Ottawa much recently. Poetry Newsletter. And I say there hasn’t been enough fuss yet, there hasn’t been a parade, So what’s all the fuss about Lesley balloons or banners strung across Strutt. A poet has died, not one who roads. had published a hundred books, or even poems, or been awarded any I say bring on the parade. The drum of the great prizes. A poet who does majors and majorettes, the floats, not yet have a trade collection out. the banners. We haven’t seen or heard from her I wasn’t fortunate enough to have going. She had a way of expecting known her for a lifetime, only since that you would do what she sug- 1998, but since then on so many oc- gested, but it was always for the casions we would sit and catch up good of the League. Her voice was with each other. I had to pry things strong in the League’s Feminist out of her, because she wasn’t one Caucus. to spend time talking about herself. When we talked family or relation- Outgoing, she struck up conversa- ships, we delved deep. Perhaps I tions with poets at League confer- knew more about the interior Les- ences. Joanna Lilley of Yukon was ley than the exterior. struck by her vivacity and vibrancy. Alice Major wrote that Lesley has been a gift to this world; Brenda Siberras, League of Canadian Po- ets representative from Manitoba wrote to Lesley ‘what an impact you made in this world. You will be missed and thought of often’. Lynn Tait, a poet from Southern Ontar- io wrote that now Lesley is part of everything, which is perfect, because that was her ultimate goal, to be one with the earth, the sky, the universe.

Ottawa poets have loved Lesley for many years. Nina Jane wrote about the little conversations they had about poetry in cramped book Lesley was, for several years, the stores. Doris Fiszer wrote of the Associate Members representative impact she made on everyone who on the League of Canadian Poets knew her. Sneha Madhavan-Reese council. There’s not enough being said Lesley was one of the most done for the associate members, beautiful and compassionate peo- she declared and so started Fresh ple she knew. Voices, a space on the League’s website for poems only by associ- Another League council member ate members. She was one of its says that she was a powerhouse, first editors, and then found others and I know that from experience. to keep it going. The League coun- Lesley had an idea to have the cil never knew what trouble she League representative of each would stir up next, trouble meaning province edit a section of poems the council’s work to get her ideas on trees, and that the books would be sold with profits going to The wrote haiku, but the reason they League of Canadian Poets, and left it was because they had discov- Heartwood: Poems for the Love ered how difficult and how long it of Trees was born. She went on would take to learn to write a good to launch it with a film by Diana haiku, and they wouldn’t do it un- Beresford- Kroeger, Call of the For- less they had a chance of writing est: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees good poems. She knew herself where many included Ottawa poets so well, and made wise, thought- read their contributions. She knew through decisions. Haiku was not Ms. Beresford-Kroeger and asked her form. She had other things to for a blurb for the cover of Heart- do. wood. She gave a presentation online recently; on the shelf behind Other projects involved going to her was her copy of Heartwood, reading series and launches, and which Lesley saw when she was spreading poetry in the communi- at a low point. It was exactly what ty she then called home. She held she needed, she said. Lesley sup- workshops in Merrickville for poets, ported TreeSisters, an organization started a poetry group, produced a that plants trees all over the world. chapbook of their work, and made Please feel free to leave a donation plans for further workshops and at https://treesisters.org. readings. She and I and Jessica Heimstra also formed a group we Lesley won the Tree Reading Se- called Poets Three that was so stim- ries Chapbook Contest in 2015 with ulating I would drive home in an Small as Butterflies and was a fea- almost euphoric cloud. tured reader at Tree. I have an ele- gant handmade chapbook, White Inanna Press published her Young Bowl, printed in New Haven, a se- Adult novel, On the Edge, in 2019, ries of poems about her parents. and she blogged about the research she’d done for it. I read the novel and was entranced even though I know nothing of sailing. I suggest it to anyone, not only young people, who are interested in sailing, as Lesley has done a great amount of sailing in her life. She knew the sea and what to do when one is on top of them.

In her last weeks she arranged She and Chuck had joined Kado, with Inanna that I would see the Ottawa’s Haiku group, for a while. publication of her new collection, They both had haiku hearts, and Window Ledge, accepted recently, through its last steps. Imagine my still another notes how selfless she answering a phone call from this was and generous, full of consider- amazing woman who was barely ation of others. able to speak for the cancer taking over her throat, asking me if I would How many people referred to the do her that favour. Yes, Yes, I’ll crawl light in her. Jazz musician Alrick up mountains for you… Huebener wrote that she was a literary and loving light.

Mike Beedell, internationally known conservation photographer, wilder- ness guide and outdoor educator, writes that when he was working with the film maker John Houston developing a virtual reality platform celebrating the Arctic world, Lesley brought together professors and departments, and sought funding. He was amazed at her energy and Louise Schwartz wrote of how Les- commitment, saying she was a ley contributed a piece on James fount of ideas. Strutt’s Magical House, on the Mountain Road, for a History Jour- Nate Mayer told how he and Les- nal called Up The Gatineau, how ley worked together at the Social Lesley was exceptional and such a Sciences and Humanities Research pleasure to work with. Council. As Program Officer, her role was to go over grant applica- Friends wrote that they felt bless- tions from the top Canadian minds ed to have known Lesley and the in Social Sciences. Her extensive bright, beautiful light she was. An- knowledge and brilliance in literacy other friend who had met Lesley was invaluable, that she had made while they were becoming certified him, as a young man, feel at ease as journey practitioners, wrote of and comfortable in the corporate how they recommended books to world, making sure his voice was each other, how Lesley shared wis- heard. dom and knowledge, how she always found ways to include laugh- Heather Sims tells of Lesley’s being ter, how they would laugh and Program Officer for the Canada laugh until they cried. Another tells Research Chairs Program, a gov- how Lesley’s lovely energy held her ernment funding agency, how she in a warm embrace through diffi- had such excellent relationships cult times, another wrote that she with colleagues and stakeholders, was encouraging and illuminating, and always welcomed new staff And I am devasted, lost. My hours with open arms, just a sweetheart with her when, perhaps we talked of a lady with the kindest soul and poetry and read it or listened to her amazing spirit. daughter Dee Dee Butters’ latest recording, perhaps played with Far- I was at Lesley and Chuck’s wed- ley, her dog or discussed the birds ding, held in their beautiful back in her garden, were almost magical. yard. Nearly the whole town was Her husband, Chuck Willemsen, there. I heard comments such as wrote that she gave to all who She should run for town council! asked of her willingly with kindness Because having moved there, she and grace which they gave back in and Chuck became so involved in abundance. She lived her life filled community activities, and were with joy and love in her heart. He especially active in the Merrickville wrote that her joy was infectious, Artists’ Guild (MAG). Chuck is a pho- that she never ran out of it. Two tographer, while Lesley constructed days before her planned medically intricate painted paper vases that assisted death, I texted her that I contained poetry. She had a lead- would give anything to see her face ing role in organizing literary events once more. for MAG. Her answer was Me too! Me Too! The Guild has started the Lesley followed by three heart emojis, and Strutt Poetry Prize fund, and I’m a smiley face. pleased to be associated with that project. Should anyone wish to con- Years ago, a friend of mine was dy- tribute, please go to the MAG Face- ing from cancer. She and her hus- book page. band had loved New Orleans music and so, in her memory, a New Or- Lesley had a PHD in Linguistics and leans Brass Band made up of mu- taught sessions at the Ottawa Uni- sicians from all over the city, along versities, but her heart lay in coun- with hundreds of friends, paraded seling. She started a new blog in along Bank Street. the last two years. In Living Starts with Love, the publication now on I say bring on the bands and the Kindle of her blog posts, she offers balloons and the floats. Parade to suggestions for when we feel life is be held when the pandemic is over. perilous and full of disappointment. Or for now, let’s have that parade in She’s had much of that in her life our minds. too, but suggests that life is an in- credible adventure, and we can live by Claudia Coutu-Radmore it fully. She believed that to her last morning. Don Kerr is survived by his wife Mil- dred and their three boys Bill, Bob and David.