Rest Cure by Sandra Ridley (Apt. 9 Press, 2009)

to begin, a small word about Apt. 9 Press. so far there have been 7 limited edition chapbooks: 6 poetry and 1 fiction; 6 from Ottawa, 1 from Toronto. the quality of the production is excellent: stitched binding, fine paper, cellophane wrapped for the collector. the offerings have been eclectic and representative of the skill and creativity of Ottawa (and a Toronto) writers.

what i want when i read poetry is to be spellbound by images and sound. Rest Cure accomplishes this for me. in minimal and carefully chosen language, Ridley mesmerizes, evoking the character of a poorly woman with language that is reminiscent of a bygone era. each poem pays heed to the senses; when necessary, Ridley troubles syntax , but not in a heavy-handed way, just wee nudges that slow down the momentum. lines are built and broken based on rhythm, image, sound. Ridley has given us mood, tone and enough exquisite detail to allow us to be compelled by this character, but she hasn’t gone overboard. she’s given us space to fill in for ourselves. this is an excerpt from a longer manuscript called Post-Apothecary. Rest Cure satisfies like a curative elixir, yet leaves us craving another draught.

i.
Before running on nightshade & wormwood in a topiary maze.

Before hawthorn punctures her arm : poison tipped.

Before a peck of stones, she handpicks or pockets,
she is camphor-doused
& blinded
by a fold of wool : wet & held tight to her eyes.

Before his screen & clips & the red light & darkening, his hands pressed
forward
to his switchboard & mirror : apparatus of the in-out & charged.

Before her fluoroscopic diapositive &
the smell of two kinds of heat.

Nothing left hidden in her body.

Before & after, there is only this : four corners to a room
& the others pounding at the door.

Gary Barwin in The A B Series

A B SERIES PRESENTS 


GARY BARWIN READING


SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010


7PM DOORS OPEN
7:30PM PERFORMANCE


MERCURY LOUNGE
56 ByWard Market Square
Ottawa


$7 admission at the door / $5 for people with low income


ABSERIES.ORG


We welcome to The A B Series stage, Hamilton writer, poet and composer GARY BARWIN. He gives a feature reading, which will last one hour. The event takes place in The Mercury Lounge at 56 ByWard Market Square in Ottawa; doors open at 7pm and the reading starts at 7:30. Barwin is a writer well known for giving entertaining and engaging readings of his fiction and poetry. Barwin's readings combine high artistry with a sharp sense of humour.

Barwin's music and writing have been published and presented in Canada, the USA, Japan and Europe. He has a PhD in Music Composition from The State University of New York at Buffalo. His work has been commissioned and broadcast by the CBC. His third poetry collection from Coach House Books,The Porcupinity of the Stars, will be published later this year. Barwin's chapbook,Inverting the Deer, was a co-winner of the 2009 bpNichol Chapbook Award. 

Italian Week 2010 – National Literary Contest : Ottawa Festivals d’Ottawa: Ottawa’s Festival Headquarters | Les Informations de Festival d’Ottawa

Italian Week 2010 – National Literary Contest : Ottawa Festivals d’Ottawa: Ottawa’s Festival Headquarters | Les Informations de Festival d’Ottawa

Poetry at the Writers Festival

Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St. (at Sunnyside)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

6:30pm: Spotlight on Talon Poetry:
derek beaulieu, Weyman Chan, Frank Davey, George Bowering

8:30pm: House of Anansi Poetry Bash:
Michael Lista, Suzanne Buffam, Steven Heighton

Monday, April 26, 2010

8:00pm: Poetry Cabaret
Rachel Zolf, Jesse Ferguson, Erin Moure, Gregory Scofield

Tickets: $15 ($10 student or senior; free for festival members)
Tel. 613 562 1243
www.writersfestival.org

Gary Barwin gives a feature reading in The A B Series, March 27, 2010

ABSERIES.ORG