Poet Laureate of Cobourg
These posts include poetry written for occasions in my role as Poet Laureate and some of the related projects and events.
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The Story of Water
We continue the tradition for a third year of publishing an eChapbook to celebrate Earth Day. First, we published Light in My Eyes in 2020. Then we published Lessons from the Earth in 2021.
Water is life. This year for our Earth Day eChapbook, I wanted to invite poets to reflect on the story of water. Poetry helps us to see in different ways. As you read this collection, consider the story of water in your life. How can we protect it? Respect it? What does water have to teach us?
I’m overwhelmed by the number of poems and the diversity of stories. As you read through this collection, pay attention to the ways water changes form, its relationship to people and other elements in nature, and how it travels.
Find a quiet spot, maybe even outside, by the water to read a poem or two as a gift for the water. Let us thank the water for all it has given us.
With this project, we also celebrate National Poetry Month.
“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.†— Kahlil GibranÂ
The eChapbook was sent out via the Poetry Present subscriber list on Earth Day, Friday April 22, 2022. -
Letter to a Poet
A monthly column in Cobourg Now: A Local News Magazine.
Each month features a poem by a local poet and a letter to the poet about poetry and life. My hope is that we can connect more readers to our wonderful poets and that we can encourage people to write poetry.
Each month a link to the column will be added here:
- Poetry is About Discovery (Jenni Burke)
- Poetry is About Connection (Marion Fuessel)
- Reading Poetry Can Connect Us (Doug Langille)
- Story is at the Heart of Poetry (Gwynn Scheltema)
- The Gifts of Poetry in Community (James Pickersgill)
- Poetry Inspired by Geese (Marie-Lynn Hammond)
- Talking to Cats, Birds & Myself (Linda Hutsell-Manning)
- April is National Poetry Month (Antony Di Nardo)
- Poetry is Summertime (Katie Hoogendam)
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Lessons from the Earth: Poetry eChapbbook
Happy Earth Day!
It was such a joy to put together this eChapbook featuring poetry and images for Earth Day 2021. Each year celebrating Earth Day feels more vital. We are blessed to live on such a beautiful, abundant planet. On Earth Day we express our gratitude and we renew our commitment to care for our Earth. This eChapbook is a collection of poetry and images exploring the theme: Lessons from the Earth.
We can learn something new every day when we pay attention. Thank-you so much to the contributors for generously sharing their talents. Thank-you to our readers for giving your time to reflect on the environment.
With this project, we also celebrate National Poetry Month.
Watch some of the contributors read their work!
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Introducing Cobourg Present: An eChapbook of Poetry
It began as a weekly Poetry Present delivered to your inbox. We continue to connect as a community in that way. Poets who share a connection to Cobourg and the surrounding area submit poems.
After nearly two years of this project, it was time to expand. Poetry Invites was introduced in January 2021. This invites all poets from anywhere to be inspired by our town and the things we value here. Each month a new prompt is emailed to our Poetry Present list.
Cobourg Present launched on February 1, 2021 and is the product of the monthly prompts. It will continue to grow throughout the year so be sure to check this link each month.
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Poetry Invites: Inspired by Cobourg
What is Poetry Invites?
Cobourg is a dynamic town filled with landscapes, people, and places that inspire. Let’s use our town to inspire poetry we can share!
Encouraging others to create is an important part of my mission as Poet Laureate. The goal of Poetry Invites is to invite anyone who is interested (from here or anywhere) to write poetry inspired by our town.
Poetry is good medicine! All the prompts will be easy to access safely while we navigate our way through COVID-19 protocols. Most prompts will be outdoors or utilize online resources. The prompts will be an invitation to reflect on a theme, a place, or idea. You can write the poem in any form you choose!
Let’s join together and write in community! Engage in the prompts, share your poems, and then read the poems of others!
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Light in My Eyes
For the subscribers of Poetry Present and all our friends we have put together an eChapbook to celebrate Earth Day and National Poetry Month.
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Hometown Hockey
