{"id":1124,"date":"2018-05-28T11:26:52","date_gmt":"2018-05-28T15:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=1124"},"modified":"2018-10-28T13:59:36","modified_gmt":"2018-10-28T17:59:36","slug":"poetry-readng-in-kensington-market-may-27-2018-an-addiction-and-a-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=1124","title":{"rendered":"POETRY READNG IN KENSINGTON MARKET MAY 27, 2018 – AN ADDICTION AND A CHALLENGE"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Note: \u00a0This exposes much\u2026trying to set an example of which \u00a0you are expected to follow with your own blank verse. \u00a0Do \u00a0not chicken \u00a0out on me.<\/div>\n
I have taken risks.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

POETRY READING IN KENSINGTON MARKET, MAY \u00a027, 2018<\/p>\n

(inspired the worst and best in me\u2026as it wlll do to you I hope\u2026with apologies for my own blank and feeble verse)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
ALAN SKEOCH<\/div>\n
MAY 27, 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cAlan, we have been invited to a \u00a0poetry reading in Kensington Market on Sunday afternoon\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cPoetry\u2026people \u00a0reading poetry in Kensington?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, we must go.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWho invited us?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cKeith Gebarian\u2026the writer, art critic\u2026and \u00a0poet.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI thought he wrote history and \u00a0pop fiction.:<\/div>\n
\u2018Also seven books of poetry.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat kind? \u00a0Like Cr. Zeuss?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be silly\u2026he writes hard edged \u00a0poetry\u2026stuff that makes you think.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cIs Just Keith speaking at the Kensington affair?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo there will be six or seven poets.\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do it.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMaybe Judy will join us while Eric is \u00a0convalescing.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGood idea.\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cMarjorie this is \u00a0a big deal. \u00a0All \u00a0of Kensington is exploding \u00a0with people\u2026a \u00a0happening for sure.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHope the car doesn\u2019t get towed away\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI bet there are not many people \u00a0who have ever gone \u00a0to a \u00a0poetry reading.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSomething new for sure.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHow much are the books?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAny book by any of the poets\u2026$20.\u201d<\/div>\n
“Marjorie, I think poetry is a \u00a0kind of addiction\u2026makes us want to open \u00a0up\u2026to fess up to thoughts.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGetting carried \u00a0away \u00a0are you?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYou bet your life. \u00a0I can \u00a0do as \u00a0I damn well please\u2026reached that age.\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cHoly Smoke\u2026Augusta \u00a0Avenue must have 3,000 people walking about today\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNot just poets.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
RASPUTIN DID \u00a0NOT DIE<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Those eyes are a \u00a0time tunnel<\/div>\n
a road \u00a0to the deep past<\/div>\n
when men manipulated<\/div>\n
this world in ways mysterious<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
May \u00a02018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
WHISKEY GLASS<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The poet spoke of a whisky wall<\/div>\n
obscured \u00a0by misty burnished fluid<\/div>\n
And \u00a0there it was before me<\/div>\n
like \u00a0Medusa<\/div>\n
and a score of others<\/div>\n
who attempt to tempt.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan \u00a0skeoch<\/div>\n
May \u00a027, 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MY MOM IS \u00a0OVER THERE<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
That\u2019s my mom<\/div>\n
She brought us here<\/div>\n
to share the sunshine<\/div>\n
with others<\/div>\n
and \u00a0laugh and \u00a0dance<\/div>\n
and \u00a0talk triumphantly<\/div>\n
of good \u00a0times to come<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan \u00a0skeoch<\/div>\n
May 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
PARKING<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cHello, dear,<\/div>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s safe to park here?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cBecause there is someone watching\u2026protecting.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
SHE LAUGHS \u00a0WITH EASE<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He \u00a0came forward<\/div>\n
microphone in \u00a0hand<\/div>\n
a simple \u00a0choice<\/div>\n
to either run away<\/div>\n
or smile and \u00a0share the joy of life<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
May 2018<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cAnd \u00a0you madam, what do \u00a0you think of the Kensington Market today?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cJust wonderful\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
(Marjorie Skeoch interviewed \u00a0by CBC host for late night news)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
JOY<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Sally this is \u00a0joy<\/div>\n
to walk Augusta Avenue<\/div>\n
with you<\/div>\n
And \u00a0see the fires \u00a0of spring<\/div>\n
in shortened skirts<\/div>\n
and painted walls<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
May 27, 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
KENSNGTON<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Let\u2019s lighten up<\/div>\n
And wash \u00a0away the dust of \u00a0winter<\/div>\n
And \u00a0see ourselves<\/div>\n
in smiling \u00a0eyes<\/div>\n
and \u00a0touch \u00a0each \u00a0other<\/div>\n
without fear<\/div>\n
of law \u00a0suit or transgression.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
May 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
WHERE IS TORONTO?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cWhere \u00a0is Toronto?, she asked<\/div>\n
\u201cBetween heaven and \u00a0hell,\u201d<\/div>\n
came the answer<\/div>\n
with slight hesitation.<\/div>\n
\u201cCloser to which?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHeaven I would \u00a0say,\u201d she chiirped<\/div>\n
without pause or deep \u00a0breath<\/div>\n
and that is \u00a0the long and the short of \u00a0it.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
May 28, 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MAX \u00a0Layton reading from his latest poetry book\u2026all poems contain the word \u00a0\u201cLike\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
ON TURNING SEVENTY<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Me decking through a barbed-wire fence into<\/div>\n
The maze that marks the river\u2019s edge<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A chaos of vines and fallen trees walling off<\/div>\n
The way ahead<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Here, under the skirt of a towering evergreen<\/div>\n
A winter\u2019s worth of scat which my dogs sniff at<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Coyotes, probably<\/div>\n
The fur of rabbits \u00a0poking out<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am unafraid<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Though no house around, no sound except<\/div>\n
The river moving under ice<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
On the river\u2019s other side, a willow waiting<\/div>\n
To be swept downstream<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
My dogs \u00a0are waiting<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
They leap up eagerly when I turn and begin<\/div>\n
The long trek back through the tangled wood<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am not lost<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I have come to this place many times before<\/div>\n
And \u00a0I Know exactly where I am going.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(Max Layton, \u00a0LIKE, \u00a0GUERNICA PRESS, 2018)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
GARNI TEMPLE<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
My hand could hurt<\/div>\n
pressing it, ancient stone<\/div>\n
exactingly hammered,<\/div>\n
tested by sunstroke<\/div>\n
wind and rain\u2019s \u00a0buffering<\/div>\n
snow\u2019s resentment<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It carries me back to dawns<\/div>\n
when \u00a0sea \u00a0wrinkled first shores<\/div>\n
when moon kissed early mountains<\/div>\n
and many tongues<\/div>\n
sent prayer and pleading<\/div>\n
to awesome gods<\/div>\n
of waxing danger.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This sculpted sanctuary,<\/div>\n
proudly empty, gigantic \u00a0enough<\/div>\n
to darken the sky<\/div>\n
with massive \u00a0discipline<\/div>\n
of labouring men, burdened<\/div>\n
by sheer weight<\/div>\n
of haunting silence.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u2026Pilgrims move as on a drugged \u00a0path,<\/div>\n
fervent hearts pulsing<\/div>\n
in wind-stilled hush<\/div>\n
of pillars, pediments, and altars,<\/div>\n
the gods withdrawn, mute as urns.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(KEITH GAREBIAN, \u00a0POETRY IS BLOOD, \u00a0GUERNICA 2017<\/div>\n
Keith\u2019s poetry in this volume laments the \u00a0tragedies \u00a0of \u00a0his<\/div>\n
Armenian people)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I CAN READ \u00a0AND \u00a0DRINK<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I can read \u00a0and drink<\/div>\n
at the same time<\/div>\n
and \u00a0lose myself<\/div>\n
in places<\/div>\n
not visited before<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
May 2018<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Keith GAREBIAN reading from his \u00a0latest poetry book titled \u201cPoetry is Blood\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
DAIR-EZ-ZOR<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(Lost in the Syrian desert where the worst of \u00a0the genocide happened)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Rasping in the burning air,<\/div>\n
their throats open graves,<\/div>\n
more days and \u00a0nights<\/div>\n
in sands \u00a0of hallucination<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Their \u00a0broken bodies belong to silence,<\/div>\n
their names kneel inside them,<\/div>\n
begging mutely<\/div>\n
in abandonment,<\/div>\n
stop the slow extinguishing\u2026.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(Keith Garebian, POETRY IS BLOOD, 2017)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
DESTROYING \u00a0FAMILY PHOTOS<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Unsanctioned my sister cast them away<\/div>\n
family photos, \u00a0memento mori,<\/div>\n
I could not measure the ratio<\/div>\n
between her relief \u00a0and \u00a0my loss.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u2026Photos said more<\/div>\n
than the roar or whisper<\/div>\n
of words.<\/div>\n
they caught the truth<\/div>\n
of bindings and releases.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0 (Keith Garebian, Poetry is Blood, Guernica, 2017)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
BACK \u00a0IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The trouble is we no longer know \u00a0how<\/div>\n
To make the simplest things<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Things like a \u00a0good eraser, the kind we<\/div>\n
Had back in the good old days<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Back in the good old days there was no<\/div>\n
Mistake \u00a0a good eraser couldn\u2019t fix<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
No lie you could not \u00a0retell<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Ex-wives, lovers, broken promises?<\/div>\n
A \u00a0flick \u00a0of the wrist brushed them away<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Indiscretions, \u00a0embarrassments, stupidities?<\/div>\n
The bits \u00a0blew \u00a0clean off \u00a0the page<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
But now, not matter how vigorously I rub<\/div>\n
There\u2019s always \u00a0a dirty, grey, ever-widening<\/div>\n
Smudge which \u00a0nothing I do can change.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Of \u00a0course, I blame the Chinese<\/div>\n
The crappy erasers they sell \u00a0so cheap<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Theirs \u00a0is an ancient, subtle civilization<\/div>\n
Which understands what toruture a \u00a0drop<\/div>\n
Of water can be.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The slow drip-drip of history<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Those who \u00a0cannot erase, cannot rewrite<\/div>\n
Those \u00a0who \u00a0cannot rewrite, cannot create<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Those \u00a0wo cannot create, will be erased.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(Max \u00a0Layton, LIKE, Guernica 2018)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
LIGHT AND DARK: POETRY CAN BE BOTH<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
AND NOW THE TEST: \u00a0Marjorie snapped \u00a0this \u00a0sad \u00a0photo as we slipped \u00a0beneath the rail yards \u00a0in the York Street Tunnel.<\/div>\n
Note the \u00a0homeless man sitting on his cardboard bed watching people \u00a0like us in shiny cars zip through the tunnel leaving behind<\/div>\n
an invisible curtain of carbon \u00a0monoxide. \u00a0THE \u00a0TEST? \u00a0WRITE A \u00a0POEM \u00a0 Damnit\u2026I feel like writing a \u00a0poem myself.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I AM HERE<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am \u00a0here<\/div>\n
at present<\/div>\n
invisible to most of you in your fancy cars<\/div>\n
as \u00a0you race \u00a0to exit the York Street underpass<\/div>\n
and then disperse in all directions<\/div>\n
to happy homes<\/div>\n
and friends and \u00a0food and sleep.<\/div>\n
Me?<\/div>\n
I will roll over shortly<\/div>\n
on my cardboard \u00a0bed<\/div>\n
and \u00a0face the grey and blackened wall<\/div>\n
painted with the black \u00a0dots<\/div>\n
of \u00a0incomplete combustion.<\/div>\n
It is \u00a0a shroud<\/div>\n
my shroud.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
alan \u00a0skeoch<\/div>\n
May \u00a028, 2018<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Note: \u00a0This exposes much\u2026trying to set an example of which \u00a0you are expected to follow with your own blank verse. \u00a0Do \u00a0not chicken \u00a0out on me. I have taken risks. alan POETRY READING IN KENSINGTON MARKET, MAY \u00a027, 2018 (inspired the worst and best in me\u2026as it wlll do to you I hope\u2026with apologies for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1124"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1652,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1124\/revisions\/1652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}