I have a soft spot for The Ontario Poetry Society (TOPS) and the not-for-profit organization has a soft spot for poets.
Every year around this time, The Ontario Poetry Society releases its annual membership anthology. The process begins in March when members interested in sharing their work will submit their ten best poems based on the year’s theme. Then during the spring months, an assigned editor will select the best work from those submissions.
Delicate Impact (Beret Days Press 2018) edited by April Bulmer and illustrated by Nan Williamson features the delicate-themed work of 63 poets from The Ontario Poetry Society.
It’s a huge project but the result is an eclectic mix of work celebrating poets and poetry. Some submissions are new creations. Others are previously published and/or contest winners. What a wonderful showcase!
This year’s anthology Delicate Impact: An Anthology of Contemporary Canadian Verse (Beret Days Press 2018) edited and compiled by April Bulmer and illustrated by Nan Williamson, features the work of 63 poets on 214 pages. The book is divided into four sections: Handle With Care, Delicate Matters, Delicate Cycles of Life, and The Climate’s Delicate, The Air Most Sweet.
Editor April Bulmer has just released her 11th poetry book, Out of Darkness, Light (Hidden Brook Press, 2018, John B. Lee Signature Series.). Photo by Nadezhda.
“The word… [delicate]…is an adjective that denotes a variety of definitions…” wrote Bulmer in her introduction. “…The poets in this anthology investigate many of these meanings in their delicately-crafted poems.”
Bulmer cited many examples: Kate Marshall Flaherty described an apple slice, John B. Lee penned a poem about foxes and Elana Wolff highlighted the blush of a crab apple tree. Other reccurring themes included birds and cycles and recycling with more cited examples by Donna Langevan, Kathy Robertson, Alvin G. Ens, and Katherine L Gordon.
Some of the contributors will be in London, Ontario today (Sunday, August 19) to read from the Delicate Impact anthology. Others will be launching new books or presenting new work. Non-members may share their poetry during the open mic portion of the event. Sign-up for readers is at the door. The Sultry Summer Poetry Gathering starts at 12:30 p.m. at Mykonos Restaurant, 572 Adelaide Street North. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome even if it is your first or hundredth time reading. Prepare to share one or two short poems. The length of each reading depends on the number of readers signed up.
Applause for this year’s editor/compiler:
April Bulmer’s 11th book of poetry, Out of Darkness, Light (Hidden Brook Press, John B. Lee Signature Series) was released in May, 2018. More information here.
She is known for her spiritual poems and her interest in women’s issues.
Another of April’s books (And With Thy Spirit, Hidden Brook Press) was recently named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (U.S.) in its spirituality category.
April lives in Cambridge, Ontario.
April Bulmer is known for her spiritual poems and her interest in women’s issues.
Applause for this year’s illustrator:
Nan Williamson
Nan Williamson is an artist and poet. She is a graduate of The Humber School for Writers, 2013; her poems have appeared in literary journals in Canada and the UK. Her sold-out chapbook, leave the door open for the moon, was published by Jackson Creek Press, 2015.
Always interested in the verbal-visual connection, she plays with shapes, colours, and texture to wed form and content in paint and poetry.
Nan is inspired by beauty – natural, or created in the arts and by language and the challenge of painting with brushes – or words.
Delicate Impact illustrator Nan Williamson is also a published poet. Her limited edition chapbook leave the door open for the moon (Jackson Creek Press 2015) quickly sold out. Her illustrations appear on the front and back cover of Delicate Impact as well as on the anthology’s matching bookmark.
Applause for this year’s featured poets:
In alphabetical order: Sheila Bello, Christopher Black, Clara Blackwood, Wendy Bourke, Allan Briesmaster, Ronnie R. Brown, David C. Brydges, April Bulmer, Mark Clement, John Corvese, Linda Crosfield, Laura De Leon, Alvin G. Ens, Fran Figge, Kate Marshall Flaherty, Gill Foss, Renée Francoeur, Howard Freelander, Meg Freer, Katerina Vaughan Fretwell, Siegfried Gatkowski, Linda Lou Gauthier, Suparna Ghosh, Joyce Goodwin, Katherine L. Gordon, Glenna Hall, Tom Gannon Hamilton, Debbie Okun Hill, Eva Kolacz-Hutchman, Keith Inman, I. B. Iskov, R. Patrick James, Judith Johanson, Mark Kruk, Donna Langevin, John B. Lee, Bernice Lever, Melanie Lever, Norma West Linder, Tom MacGregor, Bob MacKenzie, Martha Mallory, Fred Manson, Fotios Panos, Yavar Khan Qadri, Frances Roberts-Reilly, Kathy Robertson, Ellen B. Ryan, K.V. Skene, Michael Stacey, Dorothy Stott, Ellen Elizabeth Stout, Elsie Suréna, Lynn Tait, Vanna Tessier, Jim Tomkins, Sheila Tucker, Lily Williams, Nan Williamson, Elana Wolff, Jan Wood, Ed Woods, and Carmen Ziolkowski.
Submission Call For the 2019 Anthology:
Next year’s membership anthology Dancing on Stones will be edited, complied and illustrated by John Di Leonardo. He will be seeking poems on Landforms/Natural Environments, Music, Relationships, Impactful Situations. The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2019. More information here.
What are you waiting for?
If you are at all timid about sharing your writing and don’t know where to turn, consider becoming a member. If you are an experienced writer looking for opportunities to give back to the community, contact the group as new judges and/or editors are often needed for some of its projects.
Additional information about The Ontario Poetry Society as well as their future readings can be found on its website.
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