DEBBIE OKUN HILL

New post on Kites Without Strings

I. B. Iskov’s New Poetry Book Skirts the Edge by d78hill “Bunny Iskov writes poems that skirt the edges and plunge the swirling eddies of sorrow and joy bringing with her the light of language and music of poetry.” ~ John B. Lee, Poet Laureate of Brantford; Poet Laureate of Norfolk County* Canadian poet I. B. (Bunny) Iskov reminds me of theEnergizer® Bunny and the TV commercial where the batteries in the pink-plush, sunglasses wearing, hare “keep going and going and going”. Even the Oxford Dictionary’sdescription of the generic ‘energizer bunny’ phrase resonates with her character and enthusiasm. She is indeed a “persistent or indefatigable person or phenomenon.” Family and friends are important to Canadian poet I.B. (Bunny) Iskov. As the founding member of The Ontario Poetry Society (TOPS),she has worked and continues to work tirelessly for this grassroots poetry-friendly organization which currently serves over 250 members. She has launched the writing careers of many emerging poets and embraces and caters to all writers from hobbyists to poet laureates. With the help of her executive, she has created contests, workshops, readings and open mic events. Through Beret Days Press, she has published newsletters, anthologies, and chapbooks for other people. In 2009, she won the inaugural R.A.V.E. Award – Recognizing Arts Vaughan Excellence --for her work as Art Educator and Mentor in the Literary Arts. Skirting the Edge by I.B. Iskov was spotlighted at The Ontario Poetry Society's Autumn Harvest Poetry Gathering, October 18 in Oakville. As an organizer and planner, she is simply amazing, but then I must disclose, we have been colleagues and friends for a long time. She is passionate about poetry, loves her family and friends and goes the extra mile to help others. Her own writing often takes a back seat in her busy schedule so I was thrilled when In Our Words Inc. (IOWI) officially released her new poetry book Skirting the Edge last Sunday, November 22 in Mississauga. Bunny also showcased her book at TOPS Autumn Harvest Poetry Gathering, October 18 in Oakville. I asked her to share her thoughts on her writing process. Below are her responses: 1) Congratulations Bunny on your new book. What inspired you to write it? The world around me inspires me to write poems.  Whether the muse comes from a personal experience, a news item or a work of art, I get motivated and words flow forth on the page. In a Wintered Nest by I.B. Iskov  published by Serengeti Press, 2013. 2) How does your work differ from other writers? What makes it unique and special?  I believe all poets are unique and special.  I sometimes will read a poem that I wish I had written and sometimes I get that same compliment from another poet I admire.  We all differ in our approach, in our use of metaphor and in our methods to create concrete visual imagery in different ways that are all worth sharing. 3) What is your writing process? And why do you write the way that you do? I don’t really have a writing process.  Sometimes, a few months will go by without a poem, and other times, I may write 2 or 3 poems in a day. It all depends on my muse and on what I may be exposed to that conjures a poem or poems. 4) Who are/were your mentors? My mentors include Katherine L. Gordon, Ronnie R. Brown, Fran Figge, K.V. Skene, Nancy Walden, Joan Sutcliffe, Marsha Barber, Jean Kallmeyer, Allan Briesmaster, Honey Novick, and you, Debbie Okun Hill. Sapphire Seasons by I.B. Iskov published by Aeolus House,  2009. 5) Ha ha! I think it's the other way around. YOU are one of my mentors. What writing project will you be working on in the future? I haven’t decided on my next writing project yet.  I am taking a cruise this coming January and maybe something on this voyage will awaken my muse to write.  I have a lot of personal responsibilities and I must give all of them adequate attention.  Writing poetry is a luxury that I must make time for when I have the time, which isn’t as often as I would like. 6) Is there anything else you would like to add about your book, your writing, your past or future? I am grateful to Ronnie R. Brown, for taking the time to read all of my poems and put them in the best order and make all the sections for the book. I am grateful to John B. Lee and Anna Yin for their kind blurbs on the back of my book and I am grateful to my publisher, Cheryl Antao-Xavier for her expertise in making my book so beautiful.  I look forward to writing new poems yet to be created.  I know I can count on my all friends to keep me writing. 7) Thanks Bunny. I look forward to reading your new book. The reviews have been most favourable. Enjoy your literary journey! Below is a review** written by poet Fran Figge: Skirting the Edge  I. B. Iskov In Our Words Inc., 2015, 78pp ISBN 978-1-926926-57-5 Skirting the Edge by I.B. Iskov was recently released by In Our Words Inc (IOWI). Creativity and cruelty are themes woven throughout I.B. (Bunny) Iskov’s latest book, Skirting the Edge.Creativity comes in many forms, from a handmade rug, to a stitched tapestry, from sculpture to painting, from theatre to film. In the book’s first section, the beauty of these diverse forms has been ‘restored by loving hand’ into poetry. Iskov captures their undercurrents, their messages and their whimsy, using her pencil/brush for ‘encapsulating fantastic footage’ of art forms and the artists who created them. Countering the lightness of creativity is the darkness of cruelty. In her middle book section, Iskov states others say she holds “the pencil like a knife”, an apt description of her evisceration of situations of cruelty, violence, alienation and oppression. In Though my Voice Breaks, she writes, “I am a wingless creature / on a hard impenetrable ledge,” nailing the feeling of helplessness experienced by the maligned. Iskov’s poems are a window to her deep and personal encounters with the world. They are also her catharsis. As she reveals inDreaming of Poetry, “I look for metaphor / inside every human exchange.” These poems are a tribute to the successful realization of that goal. Additional info:  I.B. Iskov,  The Ontario Poetry Society, andIn Our Words, Inc. (IOWI). Meet I. B. Iskov and hear her read at TOPS Winter Warmup Poetry Gathering, Sunday, December 6, noon to 4 p.m. at The Central in Toronto. The event includes a members' reading followed by an open mic. Everyone is welcome. Reading sign-up will be at the door. *John B. Lee’s quote appears on the back cover of Skirting the Edge (In Our Words Inc. (IOWI), 2015) by I. B. Iskov. Reprinted with permission. Copyright © Bunny Iskov. **Fran Figge’s review of Skirting the Edge (IOWI, 2015) by I. B. Iskov will appear in a future issue of Verse Afire (TOPS' membership newsletter) and was reprinted here with permission from the author. d78hill | November 28, 2015 at 3:22 pm | Tags: i.b. iskov, In Our Words Inc., poetry, Poetry Review, The Ontario Poetry Society | Categories:blog posts, News-Events, Poetry Reviews | URL: http://wp.me/p4dii3-oI Comment    See all comments    Like

WILMA SEVILLE

Hibou, my owl-like cat

Death came knocking early one morning

Unaware, we slept on sofa and bed

Through the vent, a gush of red-tinged water

Unhindered, spread through several rooms

Hibou, my owl-like cat, companion dear

Licked her brown silky hair to groom herself

Ingesting ethylene glycol as she did

It’s deadly sweetness seemed a treat to her

Three cats huddled high on sofa back

Trying to escape the rising red tide

I awoke that night, stepping into water

Ankle deep, uncertain where it came from

In appearance, Hibou appeared all right

Her head resting on her buddies bodies

Short haired male cats, unlike Hibou in build

Delicate, feminine, slight of body

Late afternoon, her movements became feeble

Vet visit, news bad, needle prick, last pat

I miss Hibou, with her golden brown eyes

Faithful gentle creature, loving nature

I will never forget you, little Hibou

No cat can take your place, gentle one.

(c)Wilma Seville

READINGS IN RETIREMENT RESIDENCES

Under the leadership of Ed Woods, Circulation Manager for Tower Poetry Society, a new project has been started.

Readings at Retirement Residences.

Once I was well enough to get out, I had the pleasure of reading some of my work at a lovely residence on Market Street.  Caroline Retirement Residence.  This was on November 5th.

While I was there, I took a look around and I would not mind living there when the time comes that I no longer can keep things up by myself.

The reading went well and Ed took a picture of me which is below.

Ed very kindly arranged for me to sit and read as I still was not very strong.  My daughter Anna made that lovely golden scarf. She is very good with knitting and crocheting and I have two scarves she has made me.

My next reading at another retirement home will be on the 26th of November.

Thanks for dropping by and have a good day.

Reading at Carnegie Gallery in Dundas, Ontario

Sunday the 8th of November was a perfect day for the Art Walk.This is a yearly event between the poets of Tower Poetry Society and the artists of Carnegie Gallery.  After guests and poets gathered outside of the gallery, the group strolled along the sun-lit street to gaze at the various paintings by the artists and to hear the poetic words associated with the pictures.

This is the first year I have been unable to participate due to hospitalization for a long time.  Hopefully next year, I can again take part.  It is something I really enjoy doing.

After the readings outside, people assembled in the Gallery to partake of light refreshments as well as hear further poetic readings.

All in all, a very nice occasion.  It is most fortunate that Carnegie Gallery is now fully accessible, thus enabling patrons to participate fully in the different shows and events that are held there.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

John DiLeonardo

Jim Tompkins

Roy Adams

Fran Figge

Gaiyle Connolly

Eleanore Kosydar

Jennifer L. Foster

Ellen Ryan

Valerie Nielsen

Debbie Eker

Glen Eker

Sandra Seethamsetty

Wilma Seville

Ed Woods

Hope you enjoyed reading about this event and that you have a good day.

Thanks for dropping by.

DEBBIE OKUN HILL

New post on Kites Without Strings

It’s Still Snowing Poetry – Windsor, Winnipeg, London, Toronto, Gimli… by d78hill “Each safe landing/on snow-dusted stage/whistled, applauded” –Debbie Okun Hill*  Here on Canada’s southern edge, Ms. Frosty has curled her toes and postponed her arrival. I yearn to be outdoors in this oven-warm weather planting bulbs in my neglected wordgardens. Instead, I pace inside my office where I can bear-ly, barely see the bottom of my desk. Event posters, poetic notes accumulate like paper snowflakes! Half-finished manuscripts and projects remain buried beneath more white clutter. I used to be so organized, well, before the birth of my first book, before I started blogging, before social media took over. Only in Canada! A snowstorm outside Jasper, Alberta during the Great Canadian PoeTrain Tour's National Poetry Month Celebration, April 2015! Today, a snatched photo (an image of a bear) captured during a freak snowstorm last April outside Jasper, Alberta reminds me of the Great Canadian PoeTrain Tour and other travel stories that could be told if I wasn’t still travelling, if I wasn’t juggling other writing projects, if I wasn’t eating or sleeping.  IN WINDSOR: Thursday, November 12, 2015 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Often, a writer’s journey takes many detours and like the weather, you can either fight it or have fun and roll like a snowball. Tomorrow I’m off on another adventure. Hope to lasso the sun but will bring an umbrella just in case. Wish me luck! In the meantime, below are some notices and posters that friends have shared with me. More blogs, more stories, and more poems I’d like to write. Mark your calendars and if you are a poetry fan wandering through Canada, I hope you will support some of these poetic events. Safe travels everyone!! IN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA: The Lake Winnipeg Writers' Group (LWWG) will launchVoices, Volume 15 Number 2, Sunday, November 15, 2 pm at McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg. Launch detailshere and LWWG info here. IN LONDON, CANADA: POETRY LONDON presents Victoria's Karen Enns and Nick Thran from Calgary. Wednesday, November 18, 167 Wortley Rd., London, ON Pre-reading workshop at 6:30pm The reading begins at 7:30pm  Admission is free. Addition info here. . IN TORONTO: Sarnia poet James Deahl will be in Toronto Wednesday, November 18, 2015 to launch his latest book IN GIMLI, MANITOBA: November 18, 2015 in Gimli, Manitoba *Quote from a new manuscript in progress. Used with permission by the author ©Debbie Okun Hill, 2015 d78hill | November 11, 2015 at 12:24 am | Tags: Black Moss Press,Debbie Okun Hill, James Deahl, John B. Lee, Lake Winnipeg Writers' Group, Poetry Events, Poetry London | Categories: blog posts, News-Events | URL: http://wp.me/p4dii3-nr

WILMA SEVILLE

This poem was done for the occasion of the World Day of Prayer.  I was the guest speaker at this event which took place March 1st, 2008 at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church.

In order to get this information, I was fortunate enough to interview a few Guyanese Canadians.

There were 80 people in attendance on that cold and blustery day in 2008.  In contrast to our Canadian weather, it was nice to be able to talk about a warmer climate!

This poem was also published in Silver & Gold magazine in that same year.

I hope you enjoy it.  I usually write free verse style and this is one of my very rare rhyming ones.

Guyana

My name means “Land of Many Waters”

Given to me by my native sons and daughters.

My soil is rich and fertile

Which makes planting very worthwhile

Fruit, sugar cane, and rice are grown

Eggplant, cassava, pineapples are well known

Gold, diamonds and aluminum boxide

Deep within my bowels does reside

Christians, Hindus and Muslims co-exist

Celebrating each others holidays with such bliss

Cricket, volleyball, football and boxing

Are all well known sports my people participate in.

In my rivers swim piranhas and crocodiles

Waiting patiently for an unwary cow

Boa Constrictors, tigers and leopards

From them you must be on your guard

My people are not rich in spite of my many natural gifts

Many barely manage to exist

Many of my people have left to work elsewhere

Sending money home to families, because they  care

I am Guyana, a land of many faces

Made up of many races.

WilmaSeville(c)2008

DEBBIE OKUN HILL

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[New post] Overcoming the Terror – Open Mic Readings Inbox x Kites Without Strings <comment-reply@wordpress.com> Unsubscribe 20:08 (37 minutes ago) to me Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Kites Without Strings Overcoming the Terror – Open Mic Readings by d78hill “We may get scared tonight/but we have each other” –Tom MacGregor* Last Friday, I attended an open mic event and hid inside a “Tree Spirit” costume. I sat at the back of the room, as far away from the open mic podium as possible, and scanned the audience. Not everyone wore a costume for this Halloween event but many had. Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. Makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a horror movie! On my right, a black-wigged man in a red housecoat held what appeared to be the skeleton of a cow’s head. On my left, a woman arrived as a social media butterfly. Her back dress was adorned with social media logos. Writers are indeed a creative bunch but those who are introverts (and many are) may limit their exposure to social settings so that they can relax with their writing at home. Did I mention in my early twenties, I dressed as a bookworm so I could sneak into a quiet corner of a party and read? That’s another story. For some, standing in front of an audience and reading a poem or story is frightening enough. Would wearing a costume and a mask make it easier? Yes and no! Some masks (like my own) made it difficult to read. Not all writers are social or even social media butterflies. Open mic events provide emerging poets, authors and musicians a safe place to experiment and test out new material with a supportive and encouraging audience. I don’t know when I lost my own jitters for spoken word events but I do recall the transformation of others. Years ago, one reader was so nervous about reading his work that one of the co-hosts of the open mic offered to read his work for him. When he discovered the audience embraced his words, he eventually found the courage to read at future events. Today, he not only offers to read the work of other new guests but has learned to work the stage and tell stories without a script in front of him. In London, Ontario, Stan Burfield who publically wrote about his transformation as a shy and nervous open mic reader is now one of the key organizers behind London Poetry Open Mic Night a successful open mic event that often draws over 60 people each month. He is also helping other introverts to share their work in a warm and accepting environment and is looking for ways to branch out into other areas such as organizing open mics for prisoners. For me, studying theatre as a child and as an adult helped me to face an audience with a memorized script. An organization like Toastmasters International could help with ad lib performances. Its website offers excellent articles and suggestions for public speaking. Spoken Word at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts was introduced by literary board members the late Peggy Fletcher and the late Hope Morritt. It is now co-hosted by poet/photographer Melissa Upfold. Read something you've written, something from your favourite author/poet or just sit back and listen. Photo courtesy - The Calculated Colour Co. Attending and sharing work at a literary open mic event such as Spoken Word Sarnia also provides necessary practise in refining one’s skills. Watch how other people present themselves. Experiment to see what works and doesn’t work to entertain the audience. Try reading and sharing the work of a favourite writer then build up to presenting your own original material. Unless it is a slam or spoken word contest, most open mics welcome new and emerging writers. For those who are serious about his/her writing, open mics offer friendship and encouragement from other writers. More experienced authors and poets are there to help or mentor you. Most can relate to their own first experiences. If you like to travel, open mics in other locations provide new opportunities for learning and networking. Of course, open mics aren’t for everyone and even at my age, I am still forever learning. For those in the southwestern Ontario area, this November offers some unique opportunities to share your work. What are you waiting for? TONIGHT (Wednesday, November 4) IN LONDON: Now in its fourth season, London Open Mic Poetry Night presents a spotlight feature with poet Charles Mountford followed by an open mic.  A wide range of ages and styles. Check out theirwebsite. Facebook event info here. November 2015 at Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada FRIDAY (November 6) IN SARNIA: For the first time, Spoken Word Sarnia will be highlighted during Sarnia’s First Friday event at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts. The three-hour ( 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) event is being held in conjunction with the month long Sustenance art show featuring the creative works of Lambton College Student and Faculty Artists. The Spoken Word Sarnia portion will present video poetry as well as readings by local poets, musicians, storytellers and other presenters followed by an open mic. See the Facebook event listing here. SATURDAY (November 7) IN LONDON – Guerilla poetry in the morning. See info here.  Featured guest poet Lucas Crawford followed by open mic. Music start time: 7:30 p.m. Reading info here. Facebook event info here. Both events are part of the three day celebration WORDS: the Literary andCreative Arts Festival. More Facebook event informationhere . The official website is here. In London, Ontario, Canada SATURDAY (November 7) IN ST. THOMAS: For those interested in invasive species, Morel Magazine is hosting a community event. An afternoon reading with poets Julie Berry and Tanis Rideout will be followed by an open mic event. More info here. SUNDAY (November 8) IN DUNDAS: Tower Poetry Societyhosts its annual Art Walk in collaboration with the Carnegie Art Gallery in Dundas. Some opportunities to share poetry. Contact info here. NOVEMBER 27 (Friday) IN SARNIA: Spoken Word Sarnia is held on the last Friday of every month at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts. This season’s co-host is Melissa Upfold.See the Facebook page here and the website here. The Ontario Poetry Society has helped many grassroots poets to hone their skills including public speaking at its members' readings and open mic events. DECEMBER 6 (Sunday) IN TORONTO: The Winter WarmUp Poetry Gathering! The Ontario Poetry Society, a grassroots poetry friendly organization advertises several members’ readings and open mic events throughout Ontario. Previous events have been held in Oakville, London, Sarnia, Stratford and other locations. More info about the December 2015 event here. For those interested in sharing work in a competitive environment, check out the poetry slam and spoken word competitions in the area. For storytellers, there’s Mouth Piece – Put Your Story Where Your Mouth Is, a Windsor/Essex County based storytelling series organized and hosted by Vanessa Shields. Additional information can be found here. Future literary events can also be found on my literary events page. Check back frequently as postings are added when I can squeeze in the time. Apologies re: those events I may have missed or have not been informed of. Highlights of some of these events may appear in future blog posts. I’ll be working on my backlog soon! *From the poem “Fright Night” by Tom MacGregor, MINDSHADOWS: A Canadian Anthology of Poetry 2015 (Beret Days Press, 2015) Page 134 d78hill | November 4, 2015 at 8:08 pm | Tags: Open Mic, Poetry Events, Spoken Word, The Ontario Poetry Society | Categories: blog posts, News-Events | URL: http://wp.me/p4dii3-n8 Comment    See all comments    Like