WORLD POETRY SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
Issue 35: Spring 2009
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PUBLISHER: Ariadne Sawyer
© World Poetry Publishing
ariadnes@uniserve.com
Editor-in-Chief: Ariadne Sawyer
Proofreader: Dr. Lucia Gorea
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CONTENTS:
- Welcome!
- World Poetry News
- Poet in the Spotlight: Bong Ja Ahn
- Call for Poetry Submissions
- Poet on Stage: Rudolf Penner
- Bragging Writes
- Creativity Rocks! by Ariadne Sawyer
- Acknowledgements & Disclaimer
WELCOME TO ISSUE 35!
We now have over 4,000 readers on our list. Please send this newsletter to all your friends and ask them to subscribe.
In this issue we will share with you highlights of the past year. World Poetry could not have accomplished so many programs without the help of you, our great supporters.
We would like to thank the newsletter team of Lucia Gorea, Ariadnes Sawyer, and Rudolf Penner for their work in making this newsletter possible. We plan on creating a newsletter every four months. The next newsletter will be a summer issue in July with the poems of World Poetry Lifetime Award winner for 2009, Professor Diego Bastianutti.
A new section in this newsletter, Bragging Writes, features the accomplishments of World Poetry members and supporters.
World Poetry co-founder and co-host Alejandro Mujica-Olea recently returned from a successful poetry tour in Chile and Brazil. He would like to wish you all a belated and wonderful New Year!
If you would like to be a featured poet in our newsletter, if you have something to celebrate, or if you wish to contribute a brief article, please send all queries to ariadnes@uniserve.com.
World Poetry memberships are available to all poets, writers, musicians, and supporters. Please request a membership form by emailing ariadnes@uniserve.com.
WORLD POETRY NEWS
2009 is promising to be an eventful year!
- Eighth Anniversary World Poetry Gala / The Many Faces of Love
In February we celebrated our eighth anniversary Gala at the Vancouver Public Library with “The Many Faces of Love” poetry exhibit. Fifty of the 100 poems submitted were displayed at the library during the two weeks prior to our Gala Celebration. Over 300 people viewed the display. Thirteen loyal volunteers looked after the display and the “Create a Poem” table, where 75 poems were submitted. The artistic talents of Montana King at the display table were much appreciated.
On February 27, we had the Gala night with blessings by First Nations poet Godwin Barton and the Reverend Richard Delorme.
The World Poetry Lifetime Achievement awards were given to the 2009 winners: Bong Ja Ahn and Diego Bastianutti. Other awards given were: Musicians of the Year to Pancho and Sal; Artist of the Year to Peter Lojewski; Volunteer of the Year to Jacqueline Maire; World Poetry Café Guest Host to Lucia Gorea; and World Poetry Café Guest Technician to Marlon Castillo. Montana King was given an award as Artist in Residence.
The Deputy Mayor of the City of Vancouver and the Korean Consul General were present, as well as other notable dignitaries.
Letters of congratulations that were read included those sent by the offices of the Governor General of Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada, The Lieutenant Governor of BC and the Premier of BC. Many others letters and e-mails of support had been sent and were duly noted.
Sharon Rowe spent many hours making over 100 heart shaped paper flowers, which were given to the public and everyone who came to the Gala. Sharon has given her permission to World Poetry to print her story in the newsletter. Below is Sharon’s story about the flowers, “Sharon’s Heart Flowers,” which was dictated to Ariadne Sawyer on March 2, 2009.
Sharon’s Heart Flowers by Sharon Rowe © 2009
This is a short story about the adventures of Sharon’s “Many Faces of Love” flowers.
Last Saturday, we were going to Victoria to celebrate “mom’s” belated birthday.
We had some of the Gala flowers to give to poets and family in Victoria.
At the Scott Road bus stop, there was a lady who was mentally imbalanced.
She shouted racial insults at a lady from India and hit her on the arm.
We had to wait for 40 minutes while the police came and Translink authorities and security. Everyone was helpful.
The lady with mental problems was finally taken away and we resumed our journey.
Then the lady from India started to cry. “Mom” went over to comfort her and gave her a napkin so she could wipe her face.
I gave her one of my Gala heart flowers. She held it over her heart and told us that she would keep the flower until she died. She carefully put it in her handbag and put her hand on her heart. Then she said “Thank you.”
Several of the other passengers came to tell the lady from India that they were sorry.
“Mom” said that the love from the flowers was strong that day.
Another good part was that the bus got us to the ferry on time!
The other Gala flower went with the deputy mayor to live at the Vancouver City Hall.
Another flower went home with Sunday to Chicago. He came up to go to our Gala.
This is the story about my flowers. - World Poetry Prayer / Meditation Circle
The circle began in September and has members from around the world from various religions that pray or meditate for people on the list.
This program has been very successful and we hope to expand it to include topics such as world peace. The theme will be decided on by the members of the prayer / meditation circle. If you wish to join the group or would like to be prayed for, please contact Ariadne Sawyer at ariadnes@uniserve.com. - The World Poetry Workshop Series
This program started in September and has provided one or more workshops per month on a variety of topics, including Being Your Own Editor, Empowered Dreaming, and Breathing Life into Your Poetry, as well as on academic subjects.
The workshop team of Bernice Lever, Diego Bastianutti, Addena Sumter Freitag, Alejandro Mujica-Olea, and Ariadne Sawyer has done an excellent job of providing quality workshops at affordable prices at the Alliance of Arts and Culture in Vancouver. World Poetry is a proud member of the Alliance. - World Poetry New Westminster Chapter
In 2008, World Poetry held a variety of events in new Westminster, including World Poetry and Jazz, in partnership with the Backroom Theatre Club.
World Poetry New Westminster is currently working on a major project — the creation of a historical timeline in poetry for the 150th anniversary of New Westminster — from its First Nations origins to the present, and even into its future. - World Poetry Café Radio Show
World Poetry’s ongoing radio show, aired every Tuesday from 9-10 PM (PST) on Vancouver’s Co-op Radio (102.7 FM), features honoured guests, e-poems, music, Creativity Rocks! by Ariadne Sawyer, and more! Tune us in at 102.7 FM in Greater Vancouver, Starchoice Satellite 845, or on the Web at www.coopradio.org/listen. - World Poetry Blog
You're already here! (www.worldpoetics.blogspot.com) - The World Poetry Committee
World Poetry is excited to welcome two international members to our committee: Dr. Rita Malhotra from India and Dr. Hadaa Sendoo from Mongolia. We hope to partake in some collaborative projects in the near future. We are also honoured to welcome Vancouver’s Vera Manuel, who is a First Nations poet and storyteller, as well as a World Poetry Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
POET IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bong Ja Ahn
As an Inter-being of Many a Non I
The world
Became the world
By interconnecting many a non world.
You, I, they…
The flower
Became the flower
By interconnecting many a non flower.
The sun, the clouds, the wind…
And I
Became the I
By interconnecting many a non I.
Dreams, prayers, yearnings…
Though the winter rushes in
Shortly after the first snow,
Three inches deep in the earth
The spring waits.
The flowers will bloom again
When tomorrow’s tomorrow comes.
So, here I am
Living today
In this world
As an inter-being of many a non I.
*Inter-being: the interconnectedness of everything that exists
© Bong Ja Ahn
The Weight
I’ve just come back from the sea shore
Weighing twice heavier than before,
For I am soaked
in the sunset glow
In the sound of the waves
in my yearnings for you.
© Bong Ja Ahn
무게
바닷가에 나갔다가
몸무게가 두 배가 되어 돌아왔다
노을에 젖고
파도 소리에 젖고
너를 향한
그리움에 젖어서
© Bong Ja Ahn
Bong Ja Ahn, a poet and essayist, was born in Korea and immigrated to Canada in 1970. She is a member of the World Poetry Reading Series, the World Poetry Committee, the Canadian-Korean Literature Association, and the Korean Literature Association. Ms. Bong Ja is a World Poetry Lifetime Achievement Award winner (2009), a World Poetry Ambassador, she writes a literary column for the Korea Daily in Vancouver, and is the author of four books, including an English-Korean Poetry Anthology and a collection of essays. Her new book, Letter from the Sea, will be released in May.
CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
- NŪR: LIGHT – The Essence
Inspired by Light? In collaboration with the exhibition, NÛR: Light — The Essence, which will be at the Roundhouse Community Centre from May 11–25, World Poetry is calling for submissions of poetry for our interactive display, and will present a Create a Poem space in the exhibition from 2-5 PM on weekdays and 1-4 PM on weekends. World Poetry Volunteers will be on hand to support your muse and get you writing a light-inspired poem. Selected local poets will be contacted to read their poems at the World Poetry Extravaganza on May 25th.
Our Partners: World Poetry is honoured to be celebrating our Sixth Annual World Poetry-ExplorASIAN anniversary with our new partners, our generous hosts (the Roundhouse Community Centre), and the curators and artists of the special exhibit: NÛR: Light — The Essence.
NOTES FROM THE EXHIBIT: NÛR: Light — The Essence
"Inspired by the mystical verse on light in the Qur’an (24:35), NŪR: Light — The Essence seeks to explore the multifaceted notion of light in both its popular and mystical forms — especially within a contemporary context.
Light, in both its physical and esoteric forms is a shared motif to many faiths and philosophies, and is prevalent as a symbol of “the good” in popular culture. Light in poetry, philosophy and visual arts in the Islamic tradition (though not exclusive to it), is an intricately layered reality, metaphor and symbol, both literally perceptible to the eye and concealed within the core of being itself. It is this symbolic illumination that gradually reveals the essence of things. The world seen through such a prism becomes a series of veils to be uncovered by both outward and inward exploration.
Curated by Amyn Sunderji and Jabbar al-Janabi, this exhibition presents artists from the Ismaili, Iraqi and Iranian communities and features the work of: Amir Ali Alibhai, Jabbar al-Janabi, Sherazad Jamal, Pari Azarm, Mohamed Somani, Rozita Moini Shirazi, Rubina Rajan, Riyadh Hashim, Alia Noormohame, Nabil Adnan, Naznin Virji-Babul and Farida Mawji."
For more details about the NÛR: Light — The Essence exhibition and participation with World Poetry, go to www.roundhouse.ca and click “Download Program Guide” (see page 12) for the Roundhouse’s Spring and Summer PDF.
Submission Guidelines:
Submit one poem in English or one poem in English and a translation of the poem in another language.
Theme: The Essence of Light
Length: one page, max. per poem. - New Westminster Poetry Timeline / “Be Part of History” Project
Join in on World Poetry’s Special Poetry History Timeline!
For more information and research, check out:
• www.artscouncilnewwest.org/poetrytimeline/
• www.nwpr.bc.ca/parks web page/museum.html
Selected poems will go on display at the New Westminster City Hall and other locations, and will be read at the “World Poetry Celebrates New Westminster’s 150-Year Anniversary” extravaganza, August 12, from 2:00 to 7:30 PM at the Centennial Lodge in Queen’s Park, New Westminster BC.
If your poem is accepted, you will be notified and, with your signed consent, selected poems will be read on the World Poetry Café Radio Show and published in the World Poetry Electronic Newsletter.
Submission Guidelines:
Poets from around the world are welcome to submit their poetry.
Submit one poem in English or French.
Theme: New Westminster
Length: one page, max.
Font: Times New Roman, size 12.
Please type your name, city, and country at the bottom of the page.
Add the copyright (©) symbol next to your name.
This is a one-time copyright only.
Please send poems to: Ariadne Sawyer at: ariadnes@uniserve.com.
Deadline for Submissions: June 20, 2009
POET ON STAGE: Rudolf Penner
IT’S A MYSTERY
It’s a MYSTERY at first, to most poets who want to get published
because they can’t, because they won’t
THIS MYSTERY haunts them, often to their dying day
or until they figure it out
They may flirt with photocopies and self-publishing
But most poets do not have the will for self-promotion
BIG PROBLEM
Book signings in major cities with lots of Advertising
And most poets I know are unwilling to set out the initial 20,000 to get the
book rolling
Rolling down so many hills it’s not funny
IT’S A MYSTERY
IT’S A MYSTERY BECAUSE, because, because, because...
...and book signings are notoriously ‘low attendance’
Yes, it’s MYSTERY at first, to poets who don’t get published
because they can’t be understood, who wants to work to hear – who would
THE MYSTERY haunts them to the graveyard where
they play on 3-stringed instruments
never making a mistake
BIG PROBLEM – never making a mistake
Saying things people don’t want to hear
Saying things publishers don’t want to print
because of the government, because of fear
rolling thunder over so many hills —
quacker snake oil most say; you should change
this and adjust that and take out that horrible line that says we’re all
wasting our time
It’s not TRUE, It’s not TRUE
but it’s a MYSTERY that we all
keep working in tune with The Master’s Call
most poets I know wouldn’t lean over
If the Master called
if he yelled down the hall
it’s crazy wondrous circles that keep them flirting with things in their
minds
while the societies they live in know it is keeping them from making
20,000
and for this they would like to punish them
poets and DREAMERS and bards and teachers
I have often wondered why teachers have no qualms about photocopying
illegally
When a young poet writes behind a bush
on a leaf of marijuana
he sees visions of the turkey in the straw
or others clean halls at night
and write by day and never sleep
in the snow you will find them
lying, with sheets of scrawlings all around them
Society will never bury a poet with his poems
or the things he loved;
pink crystals, broken fall leaves, a stub of pencil, or a hoary pen
They’ll let them rot in coffins
on pillows of satin and borders of plywood
And they will never play to them
on 3-stringed instruments; it’s got to be 5 or 6,
to lull them into sleep eternal
I heard it once, a strange tune coming down a long lane of bumpy gravel...
© 2008 Rudolf Kurt Penner
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rudolf Kurt Penner (www.PoemTree6.wordpress.com) was part of the local poetry scene in Vancouver in the late 1980s and early 1990s, organizing readings and running a Dial-a-Poem phone line and a Poetry Calendar of Greater Vancouver. He was inspired by North American poetry chapbooks of the 1960s and 1970s, which brought more openness and honesty about emotions and feelings. Personal experience was valued as much as metaphor. Social commentary, abstract descriptions of the world, and wordplay are elements found in Rudolf’s poetry. Original patterns based on older forms are seen in his poem structure and it is littered with sparse rhyme. He has been published in several anthologies, including The Heart of the Community: The Best of the Carnegie Newsletter, edited by Paul Taylor (New Star Books, 2003), and The Soul of Vancouver: Voices From The Downtown Eastside (2008). He has put forth numerous chapbooks, several through Trabarni Editions. He has been a featured guest on the World Poetry Café Radio Show, reading in German and English.
BRAGGING WRITES!
If you have something to brag about or celebrate, email ariadnes@uniserve.com.
- Three World Poets were honoured in the World Poetry Almanac from Mongolia! Ariadne Sawyer, Addena Sumter Freitag, and Alejandro Mujica-Olea were the first poets from Canada to be included in the beautiful anthology, along with 147 poets from 70 countries and areas.
- Alejandro Mujica-Olea won a spot as finalist for the Top 75 Canadian Immigrants of the year! He is now trying to win a spot as one of the top 25. You can vote for Alejandro until April 17th at www.canadianimmigrant.ca/top25.
- Ariadne Sawyer and Alejandro Mujica-Olea were honoured to receive a lovely medallion of Honour and Excellence and some beautiful flowers from the World Poetry Committee at the World Poetry Gala on February 27th.
- Drummond Poetry Contest 2009 WINNERS
World Poetry would like to congratulate the World Poetry members and supporters whose poems won and have been published in Expressions (Vol. 2) — the Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Contest (2009) anthology.
Diego Bastianutti of Burnaby BC: “Enigma” won Second Prize ($200); “A Burning Question” won Honourable Mention ($50); and “Just For A While” and “Wreck Beach” will also be published in the anthology.
Shelley Haggard of Mission BC: “Soliloquy for the Silhouette” won Third Prize ($100) and “The ESP of Our Love” will also be published in the anthology.
Bernice Lever of Bowen Island BC: “Snow Day” and “Best Day” will be published in the anthology. - World Poetry Committee member Dr. Lucia Gorea is very happy to report that her book, ESL Games and Classroom Activities (published by Llumina Press), has become a best seller! Congratulations Lucia!
- International World Poetry Committee member Dr. Hadaa Sendoo is the Winner of the 2009 Mongolian Writers Union Prize! Congratulations Hadaa!
CREATIVITY ROCKS! (#57)
Donnie from New York wrote:
Hi Ariadne,
I constantly hear about how great creativity is and how it gives us so many things — art, music, and inventions. I think that creativity and the ability to create has given us many bad problems — machines to kill people, better ways to pollute our planet and other terrible things. I am not a fan of creating and creativity. I am 15 years old and worry about the future. Do you have any comments/ideas?
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Hello Donnie,
You have a good point there. When I was working on the development of a TV show, I had a segment on the misuse of creativity and its effect on the world.
The feeling of creating or creation is a strong and wondrous one. To bring something from the void or emptiness is a special gift. However, what is brought forth can be used for good or bad. There is a movement called ethical creativity or the ability to put aside creations that may have a negative impact on the environment or people.
The ability to evaluate one’s own creations and not take some to the next level is something that some scientists are beginning to look at. An inventor that I worked with said that he did not develop one third of his inventions because he felt they would be used for harm. Unfortunately, when creativity gets mixed up with greed and power, things tend to have a bad outcome.
Ideas:
Practice ethical creativity. Ask yourself what effects your creation will have on the world, people, and your community in the long term. If you do not feel good about it, put it aside and work on something else.
Please share ethical creativity (and your ethical creations) with others.
Ariadne Sawyer, M.A. (C.P.) is a creativity consultant and author of three books. She has worked with writers, musicians, screenwriters, and performers from Canada, the US, and Europe. Ariadne is the co-founder and co-host of The World Poetry Reading Series, The World Poetry Café Radio Show, and The World Poetry Electronic Newsletter, which has a readership of over 400 poets from 64 countries, and includes a strong First Nations and Canadian presence.
If you have a question on creativity, please send it to ariadnes@uniserve.com. Selected questions will be read on the radio.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & DISCLAIMER
World Poetry would like to thank participating poets, writers, proofreaders, and all others who work hard to make this newsletter possible.
While all care has been taken in the preparation of this newsletter, changes may occur and no responsibility or liability is accepted by the publisher, editor, layout person, proofreader, or the World Poetry Society membership for the accuracy or presumed intent of the content. If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe from the World Poetry Electronic Newsletter, please email ariadnes@uniserve.com.
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