a very griffin evening

A quick update, and some photos.

Al Moritz wins the Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize. American C.D. Wright wins the International Griffin Poetry Prize. The crowd signals its approval for both decisions, and both poets appear suitably humbled and delighted at the microphone.



The Griffin Trust knows how to throw a party for poetry. Good food, good wine, lots of dancing. And the sight of dozens of poets and their publishers on the dance floor can really only be shown (to be fair) as a blur of energy.


Thanks to Scott Griffin and the Trust for almost a decade showcasing poetry, and for inspiring more and better poems.

will that banner never stop swinging?

I spent last evening in the dark with a bunch of excellent poets and one giant swinging banner.

The Griffin Prize shortlist readings were held yesterday at the MacMillan Theatre, tucked in off Philosopher's Walk at the University of Toronto. I try to go every year, and every year I sit and watch the giant "Poetry" banner stage right swing dramatically back and forth in some silent breeze from the ventilation system.

This year, "Poetry" kept nudging up against Kevin Connolly's shortlist banner, knocking his amiable portait sideways and starting up a billiard ball-style transfer of energy across the entire line of banners all the way to the other "Poetry" flag stage left. Rarely is there such a compelling and suspenseful (ha!) visual component to a poetry reading.

And the poets themselves did not disappoint. All three Canadian finalists, Kevin Connolly, Al Moritz and Jeramy Dodds delivered entertaining sets; international finalist Derek Mahon charmed everyone with his rambling Irishness; C.D. Wright spoke more words per minute than I thought was possible; and actors Guillermo Verdecchia and R.H. Thomson performed the works of the late Mick Imlah and the unfortunately absent Dean Young.

The Griffin Prize winners are to be announced this evening at a dinner in Toronto. I'll keep you posted about banners and such.

poetry day in Ontario -- Griffins and Black Moss

(Midland poet Roger Bell reading to an overflow crowd in Windsor)

Today I received a rare good news story about the economy -- at least the micro-economy that is poetry. Marty Gervais, publisher of Black Moss Press in Windsor, Ontario sent me details of a recent book launch he organized in his hometown, which has been so poorly treated of late by the near collapse of the auto industry.

"With the economy being so bad in Windsor where auto workers are losing their jobs and others are in danger of losing their homes, and the city is pondering on pulling the plug on the Windsor Symphony and the Art Gallery of Windsor, it would seem that poetry would be the last thing on anyone’s mind.

But on April 2, in front of a popular Windsor diner on the city’s main drag — Ouellette Avenue — a crowd started to form. These were people wanting to get into a poetry reading by Midland writer Roger Bell and Hamilton poet Marilyn Gear Pilling. Black Moss Press was launching their new books at Elias Deli."

Having reached the venue limit of 120 people, and with stern warnings from the fire marshall, Black Moss quickly arranged for sound to be broadcast onto Ouellette Avenue, and for hot coffee to be served to the overflow crowd of 50 or so milling about outside. The poets, meanwhile stood on chairs in order to be seen as well as heard.

“It had to be a first for Windsor, where people stood on the main street and wouldn’t leave because there was poetry going on inside,” said Karl Jirgens, the editor of Rampike Magazine and head of the English Department at the University of Windsor.

***


As well, the Griffin Prize shortlists were announced this morning at le Select Bistro on Wellington Street in Toronto.

The International Shortlist:

Mick Imlah, The Lost Leader
Derek Mahon, Life on Earth
C.D. Wright, Rising, Falling, Hovering
Dean Young, Primitive Mentor

... and the Canadian Shortlist:

Kevin Connolly, Revolver
Jeramy Dodds, Crabwise to the Hounds
A.F. Moritz, The Sentinel

Congratulations to Ontario publishers House of Anansi and Coach House Books, who share the Canadian Shortlist this year, and to Ken Babstock and Alana Wilcox who shepherded these outstanding collections into print.

I can't help noticing that Ontario is home to all three shortlisted Canadians. I have read them all, met them all, and drank beer with two out of three. It's going to be next to impossible to make my Canadian pick in the Griffin pool this year.