By Simon Grant (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: October 8, 2014
Every once in a Blue Moon Reading Series, members of the Fraser Valley Poets Society gather to read their poetry at the Clearbrook Library. October 6 ended the reading season, which will begin again after a winter of writing in March 2015.
The purpose of the society, according its president Braden Sawatzky, is to “get together to celebrate ordinary people who write poetry and encourage others to read.”
“We want the ‘man-on-the-street’ written poetry, and everyone is invited,” Sawatzky says.
Many members have published their own books of poetry and the society has released several anthologies of its members’ work. The most recent collection, Encouragement, was released in October 2012 to celebrate member Donna Bishop.
The society has also received awards for its poetry. Bishop won the Abbotsford Arty Award for her work in Encouragement. Another member won the Gold Seal Award for Literary Excellence awarded by Trafford Publishing.
This past meeting was a special occasion for society president Sawatzky and Bridget Porter Oldale, who shared from their newly released book of poems, titled Of Wind and Flame. While both authors focused their poems on the same theme, their different personalities created variations. Sawatzky recognized the differences and used a simile to explain their complementary relationship.
“Poetry is like food. Some are main courses; others are the hors d’oeuvres. Bridget is the main course, and I’m the hors d’oeuvres.”
After their reading, and some time to mingle with the other poets, the microphone was opened to members and visitors. The procession of poets lasted until closing.
