Over several days, Poets Laureates from across Canada came to Windsor to read and inspire crowds.
Hosted by the Cultural Affairs Office of the City of Windsor, Black Moss Press, and welcomed by the University of Windsor, Herman High School, Catholic Central High School and St. Joseph’s High School, Windsor’s own Poet Laureate Marty Gervais and Bruce Meyer (Barrie), Alice Major (Alberta), Eric Folsom (Kingston), John B. Lee (Brantford), Marilyn Gear-Pilling (Hamilton) and George Elliott Clarke (Toronto) showed standing-room only crowds how important, inspiring and, darn it, how sexy poetry is.
(Photo credit: Jason Rankin)
(From left: Bruce Meyer, Marty Gervais, Alice Major, Marilyn Gear-Pilling, George Elliott Clarke, John B. Lee, Eric Folsom)
While the event at Willistead Manor started out beautiful and packed, the energy and bravery of the poets soon escalated to a steamy, tantalizing high as the group shared poetry that was both sexy, fun and accessible to all. The crowd was cheering and clapping and laughing and up on their feet by the end of the reading. Each poet brought his/her unique voice and playful comradery to the couch-laden stage at the manor.
Following the stellar poetry, food and drink filled bellies and warmed hearts further. Vanessa Shields was on-hand for Poetry on Demand, and blues were played a local Windsor band (name forthcoming!) to tie it all together!
George Elliott Clarke
(Photo by Dan Pilling)
Alice Major
(Photo by Dan Pilling)
Marty Gervais
(Photo by Dan Pilling)
George Elliott Clarke and Eric Folsom
(Photo by Dan Pilling)
Marilyn Gear-Pilling
(Photo by Dan Pilling)
Alice Major and Bruce Meyer
(Photo by Vanessa Shields)
Stay tuned for more photos!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support poetry!