2008•05•16 ~ MARK THIS IN YOUR Calendar: Michael Gravel chapbook imminent
Michael Gravel, the brilliant architect of this website, rabid font fetishist, and extraordinary writer is publishing a chapbook. Red Nettle Press (rednettlepress.ca) is publishing twelve of his poems as part of their inaugural publishing run. The chapbook is called "The Fast Places". The launch is on Thursday, May 29th, 2008, The ARTery, 9535 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton. It's a joint affair - three or four other authors will be present, readings and book sellings/signings by all. More info @: michaelgravel.com This offering of Gravel poems in published form is something I’m going to be all over. This guy is the real deal. If he doesn’t land a few GG or Griffin nominations in the coming years, I’ll be surprised. Already, there is an incredibly strong voice, unique and clear and moving. Amazing writer!!
Other Red Nettle Press writers include: Jenna Butler, Jeff Carpenter, Layne L’Heureux, rob mclennan, Trisha Eddy, Julie Robinson and Patti Sinclair. Doors at 7p.m. Readings at 7:30p.m.
HIGHLY recommended!!!
Edmonton continues to foster an incredible community of writers, artists, musicians…
In other news, the Icefields campground opens on Sunday. I won't be there -- I'll be putting a new roof on the back deck -- but I will be there in spirit. Wood-smoke. Glacier air. New green. The hush of water. Chickadees playing in wind currents. Stars!
For those who are not on the Sorbet list, here's a taste of today's sorbet (free of charge, and easy to sign up -- just click on "the sorbets" link above):
Death makes a car-call
Traffic is light this morning. He’s got the radio on and is poking the pre-set station numbers until something suits his mood. Not that he has any idea what his mood might be. His finger stumbles upon the Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock and Roll, and his hand comes back to the steering wheel. Thirty seconds later, Ronin James Bruce is in tears. The first thing he thinks is that there’s nothing inherently sad about this song by the Rolling Stones. So it can’t be the song. It must be something else. Ronin is profoundly confused by these tears. His life is good. He’s happy. Yes, he can see, from the vantage point of his close to 50 years on the planet, that there are, perhaps, more years behind, than in front. And this causes him to taste more, to pay attention to the flavours, colours, relationships – the quality of his life, but surely this is awareness is not the cause of these tears. Of course this dance will end someday, but is that enough to cause this flood? Death? Death makes a car-call and Ronin weeps?
The woman next to him at a red light on 103rd Street is smoking – her wrist is tilted out the window – the cigarette not actually a welcome guest in the car. She looks at him, then away, and then quickly back toward him. Concern creeps into her face, her eyes – as if she wants to ask: what’s wrong? As if she would wrap her arms around him and kiss his forehead, say: “everything’s all right,” and just generally make the owies go away. Ronin loves this woman for her unfulfilled kindness. Her concern releases a new flood of tears.
He pulls his car over to the side of the road, behind a row of parked cars. He checks for traffic, opens the car door and gets out. The elms along this street arch into the sky like fingered martini glasses. They are barely green. A hint of pale green in a blur against grey sky. Ronin nods his head. This was his mother’s favourite time of year. She loved this nascent green – would smile wide with wonder at this colour. It would be the same awe every spring. Every year, as if she had completely forgotten the previous years, his mother would rejoice.
3 Comments
1. Mike Gravel had this to say: May 16, 2008 ~ 13:23 ~ #
Thanks for the notice, Thomas! Your support means a lot to me. And your support of the E-Town scene means a lot to many others.
Here’s to more books and adventures in writing.
2. thomas had this to say: May 19, 2008 ~ 20:30 ~ #
You are a writer, first, and what ever it is that you do to make money — that puts food on the table — is just a job. Though, I have to say you are an incredible host, and you design a MEAN website too.
Looking forward to this launch.
3. paulette had this to say: May 20, 2008 ~ 15:15 ~ #
Hanging around Thomas is like rubbing a bald guy’s head or a fat baby belly…good things happen! Your key chain should have a Buddha smoking a cigar. Congratulations to both of you, Mike and Thomas, for a fine showing this month – keep checking the skies for more cosmotic smatterings.