All Open-Mic 13 July 2010!: Tree Reading Series Ottawa Arts Court

We are excited to announce that we will have a brief reading by the Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara, California, David Starkey, to kick off the 13th of July evening! Tree reading Series

David will be in Ottawa in support of his new book, A Few Things You Should Know about the Weasel, soon out from Biblioasis. We’re very fortunate to have David join us. Come and find out what at least one poet south of the border is up to!

David Starkey is the Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Santa Barbara City College. Among his poetry collections are Starkey's Book of States (Boson Books, 2007), Adventures of the Minor Poet (Artamo Press, 2007), Ways of Being Dead: New and Selected Poems (Artamo, 2006), David Starkey's Greatest Hits (Pudding House, 2002) and Fear of Everything, winner of Palanquin Press's Spring 2000 chapbook contest. His most recent full-length collection of poetry is A Few Things You Should Know about the Weasel (Biblioasis, 2010). He has also written two textbooks: Creative Writing: Four Genres in Brief (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008) and Poetry Writing: Theme and Variations (McGraw-Hill, 1999).

David has given us two poems:

Annunciation

Lately, angels have been appearing

in her bedchamber with alarming

frequency. She'll be chilling, surfing

the Web-minding her own business,

basically-when, suddenly, a little trill

of harp music: a visitor from Outer Space.

Sometimes their bodies are nothing more

than shafts of pulsing light, other times

they arrive accompanied by puckish

cherubs, adorned in robes of elaborate

brocade, full-on halos, their wingspans

wider than any goose she's ever seen.

Problem is, they don't say anything.

She's like, Okay? but they only hover there

above her iPod dock, as if whatever message

they've brought she's supposed to understand

already. She doesn't. Try talking to them

and they just smile, get all beatific.

Most people don't believe her, so she keeps

a box of stuff they've left behind. Feathers,

of course, lots of them, but also lilies that stink

if she doesn't toss them out. And then

these notes written in some crazy language

on thick paper that smells vaguely of cows.

Last night, a new angel came-bigger,

brighter, fierce. He brooded over her

for half an hour. Once she even thought

he'd slap her with those delicate hands they have.

She has a feeling this one will be back, soon,

with a question. And she'd better answer Yes.

Originally published in subtropics, No. 10, 2010, and A Few Things You Should Know About the Weasel (Biblioasis, 2010)

The Murder Suspect, Moments Before He Is Confronted by Police

He sits in the driver's seat of a borrowed

Corolla, Red Sox cap tilted low over

his anguished face. Across the street, two cops

huddle together, whispering, gesturing

once in his direction-yet he can't find

the will to turn the key and pull away.

In the passenger seat, a Styrofoam

container of half-eaten beef chow mein,

cold rice stuck to the tines of a plastic fork.

The backseat is piled high with clothes.

In the glovebox, a loaded .38

snubby and half a box of cartridges.

He cracks the window to better hear the swish

of willow branches in the November wind.

There's a gingery taste on his mustache,

and he wipes it with his sleeve as a blast

of heavy metal erupts from a pickup

rumbling down the street. His fingertips

tingle-probably with cold, possibly

from something else. There's a needling twinge

above his heart, a flash of memory:

purple blouse, a braid of golden hair, a splash

of crimson on gray tile. The cops begin

to saunter over. Then, as he reaches

down, fumbling for his pistol, they run

toward him, guns drawn, shouting out his name.

Originally published in New Delta Review, Summer 2009, and A Few Things You Should Know About the Weasel (Biblioasis, 2010)

is the author of

A Few Things You Should Know about the Weasel: from Biblioasis

http://www.amazon.com/Things-Should-Know-About-Weasel/dp/189723189X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270007054&sr=1-1

Semitic illegal drug calls Khat spreads in North

America and Europe

oming 27 July 2010

As a poet, fiction writer,

Olive Senior is one of Canada's most internationally recognized and acclaimed authors. Winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for her fiction collection Summer Lightning and a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for her poetry collection Over the Roofs of the World, her body of published work includes four books of poetry, three collections of short stories and several award-winning non-fiction works on Caribbean culture. She divides her time between her native Jamaica and her home in Toronto.

Tree is offering a series of one-hour poetry workshops that are co-ordinated by Pearl Pirie, an accomplished local poet and experienced workshop facilitator. The workshops are free to anyone who wishes to attend.

They are held in the usual Tree venue between 6:45 and 7:45 on regular Tree evenings. Each series of four workshops will be led by a different facilitator.

Pearl’s objective is to have the workshops will develop organically. They are to be a time and space for people to talk about poetic practice, why poetry works and how to present ideas. It is a time to share inspiration and get safe group feedback. Each facilitator will act as a unique catalyst, each facilitator bringing a special angle on craft and practice in poetry to the round table. The facilitator brings a selected focus to each session.

Pre-Tree Workshops: On the 13th & 27th of July, Guy Simser: tanka poetics, its ancient Japanese origins and its more recent Japanese and N.A. development. Included with this would be the reading of selected examples. More information on the workshops.

Guy Simser

13 July, 2010
27 July, 2010

Tanka poetics, its ancient Japanese origins and its more recent Japanese and N.A. development. Included with this would be the reading of selected examples.

Contemporary poetry, Everything is connected: the beauty of juxtaposition, Japanese forms and grabbing inspiration.

Claudia Radmore

10 August, 2010
24 August, 2010
14 September, 2010
28 September, 2010

Ronnie Brown

12 Octber, 2010: Taking a Break--Using line and stanza breaks to enhance your poetry.

26 Octber, 2010: Excerpting the World--Using events in your life and from the world around you in your poetry.

9 November, 2010: A Winning Title--Finding the best title to lure a reader in. (Participants are encouraged to bring along some favourite titles).

23 November, 2010: Taking a Chance--Preparing your work (and yourself) for presentation to an audience. Be it an open set "quickie" or a full reading, preparation can make all the difference!