Planet Earth Poetry At The Moka House - The Reading Series: April 2010

April's Amazing Calendar at The Black Stilt

APRIL 2, 2010: BRIAN BRETT

Winner of the Writers' Trust for non-fiction, for his memoir Trauma Farm, of which Wade Davis writes: "Trauma Farm is a touching and endearing memoir, at once humorous and profound, filled with wonderful insights about life as a poet and accidental farmer in what will always be, for Brian Brett, especially, the gentle rain forests of home."

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Writers' Union.

April 9, 2010: GEORGE SIPOS & NAOMI BETH WAKEN

George Sipos, Salt Spring poet and memoirist, former symphony manager and book store owner, who loves fencing and choral singing, reads from his memoir, Geography of Arrival and from his latest book of poetry, Anything But the Moon.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the League of Canadian Poets.

Naomi Beth Waker, Gabriola poet, and writer, reads from her latest book, A Year Between the Covers, about the books she read in one year.

April 16, 2010: LORNA CROZIER was scheduled to read; but it was all a ruse!

Winner of the Governor General's Award for Poetry and numerous other awards, author of 14 collections of poetry, and a memoir, Small Beneath the Sky, lover of cats, gardens and Patrick Lane, Lorna Crozier was scheduled to read; but it was all a ruse to SURPRISE Wendy Morton with the Spirit Bear Award! Sooke poet Wendy Morton has been named the first recipient of The Spirit Bear Award. This biannual tribute, founded by Patrick Lane and Lorna Crozier with support from the Victoria, BC poetry community, recognizes the significance of a vital and enduring contribution to the poetry of the West Coast.

April 23. 2010: DANIELE BOUNEVA ELZA, PETER MORIN, ONJAN YAWNGHWE

These 3 poets are part of a book from Mother Tongue Publishing, New B.C. Poets.

Daniele Bouveva Elza is a doctoral student in Philosophy of Education at SFU.

Peter Morin is an independent curator, writer, visual artist. He is from the crow clan of the Tahltian Nation.

Onjana Yawnghwe was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand, grew up in Vancouver, and is a graduate of UBC and co-founder of fish magic press that produces fine, hand made productions.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the League of Canadian Poets.

April 30, 2010: LORRI NEILSEN GLENN

Halifax's Poet Laureate from 2005-2009, professor of literacy and literacy studies at Mt. St Vincent University, author of 4 collections of poetry, winner of the 2010 Open Season Award for poetry from the Malahat Review, this Nova Scotia poet will read from her latest book of poetry The Lost Gospels.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the League of Canadian Poets.

We end our season with this reading and will resume in the middle of September, 2010.

Island Poet Named Recipient of New Literary Award!

Island Poet Named Recipient of New Literary Award!
Originally uploaded by planet earth poetry

Sooke poet Wendy Morton has been named the first recipient of The Spirit Bear Award. This biannual tribute, founded by Patrick Lane and Lorna Crozier with support from the Victoria, BC poetry community, recognizes the significance of a vital and enduring contribution to the poetry of the West Coast.

Morton, a resident of Vancouver Island, was honoured at a surprise gala presentation in Victoria, on Friday, 16 April. Lucinda Chodan, Editor-in-Chief of The Victoria Times-Colonist, poet and novelist Patrick Lane and poet and memoirist Lorna Crozier each spoke of Morton’s extensive support of poetry and poets during the celebration. She was presented with a carved Spirit Bear Box made by Sooke artist John Mugford. A very surprised Morton then spoke of her work with First Nations peoples, helping both children and adults tell their stories in poetry.

Wendy Morton, the author of four books of poetry and a memoir, also created Planet Earth Poetry, the popular Victoria reading series now in its second decade. Morton was instrumental in founding Victoria’s Poet Laureate position as well as Random Acts of Poetry, an annual event across Canada and now in the United Kingdom that has seen poets reading in schools, shopping malls, hotel lobbies, municipal offices, and taxi cabs. She has been Westjet’s Poet of the Skies and has taught poetry at the Victoria READ Society and in public schools across Canada. For the past fifteen years she has managed the annual Master Poetry classes at The Juan de Fuca poetry retreats. "Poetry is the shortest distance between two hearts," said the passionate literary leader.

Patrick Lane called her a literary treasure and a dynamic force in the literature of this country. “I can think of no one who has so dedicated her life to this island’s literary community. In doing so she has raised the awareness of people, helping them discover their own stories and songs through the art of the poem. A passionate advocate for poetry and the richness it brings to people’s lives, she is most deserving of this inaugural community award.”

Photo credit: Rhonda Ganz. In attached photo l.to r.: Lorna Crozier, Wendy Morton, Patrick Lane.