Event Info
Poetry Reading at Planet Earth Poetry: Naomi Beth Wakan, Danika Dinsmore
Naomi Beth Wakan, the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Nanaimo and the Inaugural Honor...
7:30pm Doors at: 4:00pm
Free
Event Description
Naomi Beth Wakan, the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Nanaimo and the Inaugural Honorary Ambassador for the BC Federation of Writers will be reading from her new book, "Poetry That Heals," the story of how the writing process changes the writer. In this inspiring memoir, Naomi Beth Wakan takes the reader on a journey through her lifelong experiences writing various forms of Japanese poetry, especially haiku and its related genres. She explains the rules and structure that distinguish the various forms, providing many examples of her own work as well as poems from well-known historical and contemporary poets. Very importantly, however, Wakan shows by example that the "rules" are not to be taken as impediments, but rather as guideposts on the journey to discover and explore oneself. Looking back, Wakan realizes that her practice of poetry writing has enabled her to develop awareness, dispassionate interest, personal healing, and compassion. In her own words: "I have come to see that in creating poetry, I am creating myself."
Danika Dinsmore’s writing career began with experimental poetry & collaborative spokenword performance. After receiving her MFA from Naropa University, she and poet Bernadette Mayer launched the 3:15 Experiment, a poetic exploration of hypnogogic states. With poet Paul Nelson, Danika co-founded the Northwest SPokenword LAB and later produced the Seattle Poetry Festival and Future for Word Multi-Media Poetry Exhibition. She currently serves on the editorial staff of Reckoning, a literary journal of environmental justice, and writes and performs for children.
The Planet Earth Poetry reading series is a launching pad for the energies of writers and poets established and not. The evening begins at 7:30 with an open mic, followed by a featured reader(s). Planet Earth Poetry is located at Hillside Coffee and Tea, 1633 Hillside Ave (across from Bolen Books). Between 7 and 7:15, put your name in the hat to read at open mic.
In-Person Event
Fri. April 27th 2018 + Add to Calendar
Hillside Coffee and Tea
