Local poetry: For letter or for verse

When it comes to poetry, Halifax slams. And poetry is cool. Really.
Don’t think so? Got the structured verse of a long dead white guy
rattling your cranium? Been rejected by a now out-of-print literary
journal?

Whatever might have scared you off poetry, you’re in Halifax now.
Halifax is one poetic town. Poetry rings through our written word, at
live spoken word venues, in our abundant indie music. It’s in our
blood.

Ask Ben Gallagher, a new poet to the Hali scene. “Halifax is a good
place for poets and writers in general,” he says. “The Writers Fed is
supportive, and the do-it-yourself attitude here helps create an
independent poetic voice.”

The “Writers Fed” Gallagher refers to is the Nova Scotia Writers’
Federation (1113 Marginal Road, 423-8116). The annual student
membership fee is $20. They help poets and authors get respect (and
occasionally pay).

“You’ll receive WFNS’s bi-monthly newsletter with a list of poetry
events, workshops, opportunities, competitions, and more,” says
Shauntay Grant, Halifax’s poet laureate and a source of pride for
Halifax.

Quickly, her creds: Grant is a journalist, writer and spoken-word
artist whose work has been featured on national radio and television.
Her blend of music and poetry gives a distinctive rhythm, beat and
voice to her stories. She is as comfortable at a poetry slam as she is
performing at the Halifax jazz festival. Grant has hosted CBC’s
National Poetry Face-Off for two years and won two Atlantic Book
Awards.

Grant’s goal for her term as poet laureate is to bring poetry back
to young people.

“Anyone who knows me knows how much I love working with youth around
creative writing and spoken word performance,” she says. “Youth will be
a focus for me—challenging youth to tell their stories, creating
mentorship opportunities for young writers…creating a poet laureate
legacy project that is reflective of the city’s diverse and vibrant
poetry community.

“It’s the poets, the organizers, the audiences that make our poetry
scene so vibrant,” she adds. “People are excited about poetry and
storytelling: the range of voices, stories, experiences.”

The DIY poetry of open mics and zines rarely pays, but it’s where
the genre is reinvented and reinvigorated, where what’s in our blood is
heard on the street. Especially at the Anchor Archive Zine
Library (5684 Roberts Street, 446-1788). “Poetry zines are one of
our biggest categories,” says Amanda Stevens, who coordinates the
cataloguing.

A quick perusal of the poetry zines at the archive yields poetry on
favourite Hali topics like activism, Buddhism, local food, trolls and
mermaids, boats and beaches, love (in and out of trailer parks), sex
(in and out of leather) and drugs. Nothing on rock and roll.

For the rock-star rush, live spoken word is recommended. There are
more venues than Grant can name, but she gives it a go. “Word Iz Bond
hosts the SPEAK! series on the third Thursday of each month at Club
1668 (1668 Lower Water Street, 431-8588),” she begins. “A great
line-up of local performers and guests from around the country, and
home of the Halifax Slam Team.” She neglects to mention she was a
member of last year’s national championship team. “The school year is
starting up so hopefully the Broken English series at Saint Mary’s
University will be at it again,” she continues. “The shows are on the
last Thursday of the month.

“David Rimmington runs the Left Bank Reading Series at Local Jo
Cafe (2959 Oxford Street, 455-6255) on the last Thursday of the
month, featuring guest writers and an open mic in a chill
atmosphere—the crowd is very supportive.”

Grant recommends attending a Storytellers Circle of Halifax event,
held the second Thursday of the month (“Poets love Thursdays, I guess,”
she says), at Local Jo’s. “They have created a warm, welcoming
environment devoted to the art of storytelling—taking poetry back to
its roots.”

In the north end, The Company House (2202 Gottingen,
404-3050) in March began hosting Porkpie, a bi-monthly series of
writers reading new work. “It’s been drawing wonderful crowds and great
poetry,” says Grant. “The venue is perfect for a poetry vibe!”

Public libraries—where the revolution is researched—hosts an
open mic series with poets, singers and musicians. Details are at
halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/programs.html.

Halifax’s hottest poets can be found at our annual Word on the
Street Festival at The Cunard Centre (961 Marginal Road) on Sunday,
September 27. You can buy their latest books or listen to live
readings. You can even pitch your dusty poetry manuscript to a panel of
local publishers. To register for Pitch the Publisher see thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/halifax.

By now your repressed inner poet is ready to “suck the marrow from
the bones of life.” (Those dead white guys aren’t all bad.)

“Sign up for the open mic,” Grant recommends. “Once you’ve done it
one time, the next time will be easier.”

This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2009.