A tough life needs a tough language – and that is what poetry is. That is what literature offers – a language powerful enough to say how it is.
So says Jeanette Winterson in her wonderful memoir Why be happy when you could be normal? Friday 27 July is your day to celebrate the toughest language – National Poetry Day.
Booksellers New Zealand suggests you put a poem in your pocket so you can share it with friends, family and workmates as the chance arises. They have four poems you can choose from.
On National Poetry Day I will salute Phantom Billstickers who have been beautifying (and toughening) Christchurch with their Phantom Poetry.
Here’s some New Zealand poets as seen in Digital New Zealand.
And heck I love Hera Lindsay Bird’s The most beautiful love poem of all time.
Events in Christchurch
Poetica Friday 27 July, 9am to 10am at 614 Colombo Street, Christchurch. Poetica (supported by Gap Filler) presents an outdoor interactive poetry installation. Come to the site for breakfast where poetry will be “toasted” with fresh warm toast served with poetry readings and the opportunity to display your poetry on an outdoor poetry board.
CHCH Poets respond to the quake Friday 27 July, 12:30 – 1:30pm Canterbury University Bookshop, University Drive, Ilam, Christchurch. Participants are invited to submit a poem of between 10 and 20 lines on the theme My Quake Nightmare. Entries dropped off in person or posted into UBS Canterbury by 20th July. All entries will be judged by Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, author of Shake Down 6.3. The winners of the poetry competition will be invited to read their poems at a Poets Respond Poetry Reading event, 12.30 – 1.30 pm at UBS Canterbury, joining Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Ursula Bethell University of Canterbury Writer in Residence, Helen Lowe and local author, Ben Brown. Further information from phone 03 364-2043.
Poetry at Christchurch City Libraries
We love poetry all year round:
- Poetry resources at Christchurch City Libraries
- Poetry on the blog which includes some amazing poems given to us as Words for Christchurch
- NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry: Briefcase by John Adams (Auckland University Press)
- Poetry finalists in the New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012:
- The leaf-ride Dinah Hawken (Victoria University Press)
- Shift Rhian Gallagher (Auckland University Press)
- Thicket Anna Jackson (Auckland University Press)
- General non-fiction finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012: The Broken Book Fiona Farrell (Auckland University Press)
23 July 2012 at 1:01 pm
This is on in Christchurch too!:
CHCH “Toast” to poetry – Breakfast at outdoor poetry installation
When: Fri, July 27, 9am – 10am
Where: 614 Colombo Street, Christchurch
Poetica (supported by Gap Filler) presents an outdoor interactive poetry installation. Come to the site for breakfast where poetry will be “toasted” with fresh warm toast served with poetry readings and the opportunity to display your poetry on an outdoor poetry board.
http://www.facebook.com/Poetica.christchurch
23 July 2012 at 2:40 pm
Thanks Mariana, I have added info on Poetica into the post. Am planning to be there too.
23 July 2012 at 2:08 pm
Hell n Back open mike night on Tuesday night once a month at the Porthole bar in Lyttelton is a great opportunity to hear poetry, music and stories. I had the pleasure of hearing several amazing local artists perform including our Matariki story-teller Ben Brown. MC’d by the life’s-a-lot-of-laughs Helen Back, a fantastic night is actually pretty much guaranteed and is a great introduction to local talent and artistic adventures.
23 July 2012 at 2:12 pm
Which Tuesday night Nicole?
25 July 2012 at 5:37 pm
It’s once a month. That is not the easiest thing to find out surprisingly! If you are on facebook look up Hell’nBack Experience. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/476636865697389/
Might see you there next month!