Black Stilting

Susan and the Angels

All kindsa poetry fans...

The official launch of Planet Earth Poetry last night brought forth a monster medley of poetry lovers -- all shapes, sizes and ages -- and some fine musical accompanyment by Flat Lightning (half of which is Rick Van Krugel of Mandolirium). Susan Stenson was on hand selling AIDS Angels to raise money for medical relief to Africa, in lieu of admission charges. And then there were the readings - 20? 30? of them? An alarming number anyway. I thought I might fall in a swoon under the coffee table by the end, but things moved along at a good clip, made merciful by the evening's rules: one poem only, by someone else. Our new hero, Dave Crothal, the owner of the Black Stilt, even read a poem.

Wendy Morton closed the evening with one of my favourite all time poems, Forgetfulness - click that link to find a fabulous animated version by the author, Billy Collins (I understand this is also available as an iPod download - now there's technology I can get behind!)