A book launch is always exciting. When that book is the project of two poets, the energy and joy is doubled. Monday, October 6th was such a time for Brayden Sawatzky and Bridget Porter Oldale as they unveiled their joint project Of Wind and Flame. It’s a book not only easy on the eye, but a pleasure to the ear as well.
Brayden began the reading, modestly introducing himself as the warmup act before the main feature. He chose selections from the book that challenged us “…to touch the heart of ancient ways / for spirit paths to call your name” (from “Ancient Ways” p. 66); to “follow your heart / into the adventure of love” (from “With All of Your Heart” p. 79); and to build the bonfires that “…dance / upon the tombs of our regrets” (from “Koinonia” p. 93).
Bridget charmed us all with her lilitingly British-accented reading of these Celtic flavoured poems:
Drums, drums, multiple drums
The wizards and the witches in the wind
are crying all the way from Quileute to Zennor, … (from “Missal for Earthsaints,” p. 15);
and
You are us, O Blaidd, O Wolf
You are family, clan and tribe.
Maided Allaidh, O dear wild dog,
… I behold you now
on Wolfmoon Day… (from “Merlin’s Song to the Wolf” p. 21);
and my favourite:
…this cleaning of the board and trenchers
after all are done with eating and have
returned to work and to the world—
perhaps more sacred even than the happy
preparation… (from “Washing Up” p. 61).
Brayden Sawatzky and Bridget Porter Oldale read from Of Wind and Flame
This book is a treasure! You’ll want one. I’ll post purchase information as soon as I get it.
Bridget Porter Oldale and Brayden Sawatzky pose with their cake at the launch of Of Wind and Flame
Coffee, cake (provided by our founder Donna Bishop), and other refreshments were followed by the open mic part of the night. Thirteen readers read pieces that went the gamut from exploring the meaning of Saskatchewan’s “Living Sky” to a tongue-in-cheek look at how the world would run if God were a woman.
Thanks so much to Stuart Oldale for providing a good quality mic for the evening!
Some of the open mic readers at the October 6th Blue Moon Reading
It’s hard to believe that the 2014 reading year is now over. But the high note on which the year ended augurs well for next year. Plans are underway. The Fraser Valley Poets Society has booked the library for the following reading dates in 2015:
- March 23
- April 13
- May 4
- June 15
- September 14
- October 5, 2015. Mark your calendars!
Another important event is just around the corner as well. Our Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 20th, at 1:30 p.m. in the Clearbrook Library Seminar Room. Members, please come out to review the year that was and help make plans for the future!
Book Launch
New Website address
Fraser Valley Poets Society 