Poets and friends gathered at the Abbotsford Library n Monday June 10th for the Poets Potpourri Society’s June Blue Moon open mic reading and book launch.
Eight open mic readers entertained us with poems on many subjects from the last day of school to the heroism of the gamer, the joys and challenges of motherhood to musings on a Tennessee storm.
After the break special guest Carol Todd shared her passion to help kids deal with the realities of their cyber-world. She told us how she was taking a year out of her life as a long-time advocate for kids (she’s a special needs teacher) to advocate for her daughter (Amanda Todd) whose death after unbearable bullying was eight months from the night of the reading.
Emily’s book, Snowflake Princess, was especially significant to her because “Princess Snowflake” was the playful nickname she called Amanda. Carol reminded us how appropriate a snowflake is in describing our children and teens, with their beauty, uniqueness, and fragility.
Nicholas Roberts introduced Emily, after which she launched her book Snowflake Princess by reading selections from this prose-poetry book.
The poems employ various voices: Ivory—the Snowflake Princess; Ebony—her mother and a young naturalist and poet; and the Philosopher—Ivory’s father (latter selections read by Brayden Sawatzky). The poems delve into tragedy and suffering, and seek to find their meaning through poetry and symbolism.
Congratulations, Emily, on another beautiful book!
The Poets Potpourri Society will be taking a summer break but will return on September 9th to celebrate International Literacy Day. Please check back for details closer to the event.
Fraser Valley Poets Society 