An impromptu performance of slam poetry to celebrate the power of the spoken word. Hayah Imam and Dilki Jagoda the winners of Poetry Slam 2022 will be joined by Desiree Mackenzi and Shelley (Grace) Campbell for an inspiring and thought-provoking performance. The event will be hosted by Martin Gomes.
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Considering the decline in demand for Arabic poetry from publishers, did this push poetry to resign from its old roles, as a voice for the oppressed, the forgotten and the powerless? Did Arabic poetry quit the idea of change and the yearning for freedom, or did it take on new roles and forms? Is writing […]
Patrick Errington and Erin Noteboom turn the poet’s unflinching clear-eyed gaze upon the world to make meaning of our surroundings, articulating the pain and loss of environmental destruction, and exploring scientific hypotheses of emotion. Patrick Errington’s award-winning collection the swailing couldn’t be more timely in addressing ecological issues through the metaphor of ‘swailing,’ a term […]
Join emerging singer/songwriters, rappers, spoken word artists and writer-performers for a thrilling night of cabaret-style programming. The evening will showcase the work of fresh and exhilarating voices from creative writing programs at OCAD University, Guelph University, Seneca College and York University. A variety of forms and styles will be explored, including interdisciplinary performance, spoken word, […]
And, oh, my life, my daughter, the far away sky is cold and very blue. In an expertly woven tale of familial love, betrayal and inheritance, three generations of women come face to face with the legacy left behind by publicly lauded, privately careless poet Phil McDaragh. Anne Enright’s The Wren, The Wren is a […]
Three debut short story collections challenge genre and form as they explore themes of queerness, womanhood, sexuality and the body. In Paola Ferrante’s Her Body Among Animals, toxic masculinity, motherhood and the ongoing repression of outdated sociopolitical systems are examined in a collection influenced by everything from pop culture to sci-fi to the climate crisis. […]
Whether it be poetry written for the page, the stage, the silver screen, the slam or the melody, every poet plays with words and language to beguile, explain and entertain. Meet a new generation of Black Canadian poets who are pushing the possibilities and challenging the rules of language and music. Soundtracks & Stanzas is […]
A good number of Bengali poets living throughout Canada have also achieved recognition back home. Canadian Bengali poets, including Shekhor Gomes, Anjuman Rosy, Sheuli Jahan and Kazi Helal, will participate in this Reading Bengali Poems session. They will recite their own creations along with the Bengali transcreations. Noted writer and curator Subrata Kumar Das will […]
Join exciting young Tamil authors Priya Guns and Akil Kumarasamy for an evening of readings and conversation with Nedra Rodrigo (aka “Evil Aunty”) at the Tam Fam Lit Jam. The conversation will be followed by a showcase of poetry, prose, dance and film featuring a range of vibrant emerging talent both local and global.
Breaking from the traditional memoir form, Kwame Alexander’s Why Fathers Cry at Night is a compelling collage of poetry, letters and artifacts that delves into the complex highs and lows of marriage, parenthood and loss in a tender and vulnerable exploration of masculine love. In an intimate discussion with Elamin Adbelmahmoud, bestselling author Kwame Alexander gives […]
The Toronto Poetry Slam returns for a seventh Festival appearance with a high-energy spectacle of original content to leave you feeling inspired! Since 2005, TPS has featured some of Canada’s best and most engaging spoken word artists and next generation stars. Presented in partnership with Toronto Poetry Project, this hit slam is a competition in […]
International man of words and bibliopile, Alberto Manguel takes the stage to explore his journey and evolution as a writer and his prolific career to date, including his recent dual-language collection of poems Death By Water. A celebrated translator, writer, editor and reviewer, Manguel’s life has been linked to literature since he was 16 years […]