Category: Archive

April is National Poetry Month and JC’s interview with Lynn Pickering gives her the chance to share poems that celebrate both the Month and the sun on the eve of the total eclipse, taking place during the afternoon of April 8.

“Because Prince Edward County is right on the path of totality, when the moon will block the sun for more than 3 minutes, I thought it important to mark the experience with poetry that ranges from the mid 1880’s to today. This event won’t happen in the County for more than 400 years, well after my best before date,” JC noted.

The interview can be live-streamed right after the noon news on Sunday, April 7.

JC honours the memory of her late mother in this poem, posted by Silver Birch Press on July 2 as part of its series, About My Mother.

Here’s a link to the poem, November 13, 2008.

https://silverbirchpress.wordpress.com/2024/07/02/november-13-2008-by-jc-sulzenko-all-about-my-mother-series/

 The notes which form part of the post explain the provenance of the poem and include a photo of JC with her mother taken when the poet was about two years-old.

“As the notes show, I am often torn between writing about my mother or even speaking about her, given how much of a private person she was. I don’t want to intrude. Or in any way erode the closeness of our relationship even these many years after her death,” JC added.

 “I am grateful to Silver Birch Press for publishing this poem on the day of what would have been my mother’s 106^th birthday.”

It’s timely to republish “Anthem” JC’s poem, which first was broadcast on CBC radio nationally on the program “Commentary.”

When thinking people cannot ignore how democracy and related values are under assault everywhere and how many forces conspire to weaken the fragile balance that is civility, many others pay little heed. It’s as though they embrace a new mantra, a combo of “that can’t happen here” with”what do I care, anyway.” They do so without regard for the facts and the truth or the consequences of ignoring both.

Here’s JC’s poem which calls upon Canadians on the 157th anniversary of the country’s founding to smarten up, tune in, and step up to do his/her/their part for Canada and for democracy.

Anthem

 A Mountie sings the anthem

Fine baritone, scarlet tunic

The odd, stiff brown hat

I strain to hear the others –their singing jumbles off

high glass planes, transparent walls

I make out

Des plus brilliants

God keep

Glorious and free

I hear my voice, small in the great room

Oh Canada, we stand on guard

I will the words to be true

Fear we are not up to it

Many of us don’t bother to vote

We squander our choices, our democracy

Grumble at leaders in power

almost by default

Our fault, really

Centred in everyday lives

Blind to the need to protect this country

Beautiful, fragile

We ought to know better

Know what to do for Canada each day

and in times of flood, plague, war, and fire

Should someone tell us

Should we ask

Or should we go out there

Start somewhere

Work not only for ourselves

but for our Canada

A half hour a day

times the 38+ million of us

(minus the sick, the too-young)

would sure buy a lot

of standing on guard

Calling all County Book Clubs and mystery lovers to attend the Prince Edward County launch of Steve Burrows’ 8^th ‘birder murder’ mystery, A Nye of Pheasants.

This fundraiser for the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory takes place on Saturday, May 18 at South Bay United Church, 2029 County Road 13, starting at 2:30 PM.

Here’s a unique chance to get up close and somewhat personal with the author for a conversation moderated by Lynn Pickering. You will be able to ask him questions about his popular series, now optioned for the small screen by the folks who produce the highly successful Murdoch Mysteries for CBC and streaming services. Refreshments in the church hall follow the reading, discussion, and Q & A. There’s a door prize! And Books & Company will have copies of the novel for sale on site.

Tickets @ $20 each can be purchased from https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/prince-edward-point-bird-observatory/events/steve-burrows-book-launch/  Information: comms@peptbo.ca 

After championing “All the Colour in the World” at the County Reads debate in April, JC is delighted the Library invited author C. S. Richardson to read and discuss this excellent novel with her.

The event takes place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 17, at the Picton Branch of the Library. The hour-long program will feature a reading by the author, a conversation between him and JC and a Q and A opportunity. Books & Company will offer copies of the book available for sale at the event. Tickets are available at the library at $15 each.

 “At the 2024 County Reads Debate, I championed All the Colour in the World, a finalist for the 2023 Giller Prize, because I couldn’t put it down. And it’s not a whodunnit,” JC explained to the 200-person audience at the debate. She suggested the book contains not only a good story but also is innovative in the way it uses facts and tidbits from history, the arts, science, culture and literature to illuminate and illustrate, to inform the story and its characters. And in the sensuous way it incorporates the colour palette.

 

 

 

 

Lynn Pickering’s interview with JC aired on Sunday, April 7, after the noon news on 99.3 County FM’s The County Reads… The County writes.

JC read her ecletic selection of poems written by poets from the mid 1800’s to today. “Since Prince Edward County is on the path of totality for the April 8 eclipse of the sun, what better way to mark this occasion than with poetry that offers glimpses into its light. Such an eclipse won’t happen again in the County for more than 400 years, which is well past my best before date!” JC added.

Among the poems she read were words written by Bliss Carman, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walt Whitman, Philip Larkin, Mary Oliver , Robert Bly, and Richard Wagamese.

 

Here’s the link to the story on countylive.ca about the Prince Edward County Authors Festival’s County Reads debate at which JC will champion ALL THE COLOUR IN THE WORLD, the C.S. Richardson novel which was a finalist for the 2023 Giller Prize.

https://www.countylive.ca/five-residents-will-defend-favourite-books-at-county-reads-debate/

 Five panellists will attempt to persuade the in-person audience that their title is THE one which everyone in Prince Edward County should read. After the pitches, members of the audience vote, and the winning book emerges from that process.

 “I chose ALL THE COLOUR IN THE WORLD by C. S. Richardson, a finalist for the 2023 Giller Prize, because I could not put it down!” JC explained. “And it’s not a whodunnit!”

 JC looks forward to the debate and encourages friends and colleagues to attend the event and support her choice! County Reads takes place at St. Mary Magdalene Church at 335 Main Street in Picton, Ontario, on Thursday April 18 at 7:00 PM.  Tickets are available at Library branches in the County and at the door. For further information, go to:

peclibrary.org/countyreads

JC was a panellist in the wrap-up event at the Picton Armoury for the first County Arts Mentorship Program, which began in October, 2023.

 JC spoke first on the panel and described how she worked closely with County poet Heather Lindsay over the four core months of the mentorship. She discussed how their collaboration evolved and what she brought to the table. Here’s The Picton Gazette’s great story on the event with the fine photo of Heather and JC taking part in the panel.

https://pictongazette.ca/post/collaborative-creation

Here’s CountyLive’s take on the culminating event:

https://www.countylive.ca/county-arts-celebrates-mentorship-program-success/

And here’s the link to how the Wellington Times captured the story:

https://wellingtontimes.ca/mentorship-program/

“In my writing career, I have been fortunate to have been mentored by the best (Olive Senior, Miller (formerly Sylvia) Adams, and Allan Briesmaster), and I have worked with poets aged 7-97! This focussed program gave me the chance to share my experience and expertise and, at the same time, to learn from my mentee, Heather Lindsay, ” JC explained.

“Serving in the first mentorship program to be offered in the County was a true privilege. I thank County Arts for giving me the opportunity.”

Yes, it finally snuck into my life. In spite of my diligence for almost 3 years in wearing a mask and gloves in any indoor public space and handwashing/sanitizing until my hands felt raw, the current incarnation of the virus hit me like a fully-loaded truck.

I am grateful to have access to anti-viral medication which I hope will cut the severity of the disease. But getting COVID causes me to observe this:  Often, I was the only person masked indoors, the consequences of which are plain for everyone to see. ERs are overloaded as more as more people become very ill.

The lack of concern about how one person’s health can impact on others, particularly those most at risk– the vulnerable very young and the elderly — dominates herd thinking now. That’s more than a shame as it entails big time costs to society and each taxpayer.

Caring about the health of others needs to come back into fashion. Perhaps an influencer can help make that happen.

Here’s a piece from my collection with the working title REAPER, which contains short poems using words drawn from obituary notices and articles in the Toronto Globe and Mail. I hope to find a publisher for it in 2024. I write found poetry under my pseudonym, A. Garnett Weiss.

Best wishes to all for a healthy, happy 2024 and for healing for the world.

Masks

Satisfaction, a familiar face

come alive to teach containment,

relief and hope to the most animated,

although sometimes

at a price.

Sources: Words or phrases drawn unaltered from death notices and obituary articles published in the April 15, 2017 Toronto Globe and Mail.

 

 

 

JC thanks The Wellington Times for bringing her seasonal, prose poem, “Evergreen” to readers in Prince Edward County.

“For everyone who does not receive the print version of this weekly paper, here is the poem. I hope you enjoy it. Happy holidays to one and all.”

Evergreen

I unwrap the witch on her broomstick—a merry witch with red hat, plaid dress and a smile befitting a Christmas tree. I bought her at a shoppe filled with holiday fare in a small town on the way to Maine one July.

The hefty, ceramic angel in a tutu smiles from a nearby branch where a felted gnome in blue and white hangs below a pewter moose. The tin star from Mexico, each point a primary colour, reigns again after languishing in pieces until madcap glue reunited its halves.

I had not thought I’d have a real Christmas fir again. Holidays took us away from home to be with our children. With little joy, I divided decorations between them for their own trees, bid farewell in my mind as I saw how each ornament suited its new site.

Favourites I placed one-by-one in a box with compartments for bells, bears, birds, glass balls, figurines, snowflakes, and silvered spiderwebs.Just in case I should be lucky enough to have a real tree one more time.

I’m looking at our Balsam now. The story of each decoration returns to me as grandchildren find a perfect place on low branches for those not breakable. The younger boy I trust with tiny orbs in emerald. He keeps asking for one more.

When later I approach with fragile pieces for higher up, I see he has clustered the balls like grapes on one bough. He grins at me, says they are friends, like brothers, then crashes into his older sibling when my back is turned, their moment of harmony past.