Poetry symposium set for Thursday

Practising poet, curious poetry lover, or just plain curious?

Whatever category you fit into, you’re invited to attend as seven southern Alberta poets and Whetstone’s editor-in-chief and moderator, Jayme Wong, gather to explore the theme of poet as witness.

A poetry symposium titled “Bearing Witness” will take place Thursday from 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. at Andy’s Place (Anderson Hall 100) at the University of Lethbridge. There’s no admission charge.

The poets will each read for 10 minutes, and will explore the theme through a wide variety of styles and approaches, everything from stark imagism to lyric/narrative to spoken word/performance poetry.

Members of the public are invited to join Lethbridge poets Ken Sears, Ian McAdam, Blaine Greenwood and Richard Stevenson as they welcome Calgarians Ali Riley, Viv Hansen and Erin Dingle, for a multigenerational romp through language.

All the poets are experts at reading and/or performing; all are published or have been celebrated for their performances; all are well educated, but not particularly academic in their embrace of the widest possible audience.

The event promises to entertain and move those who attend. Best of all, you can participate, as there will be plenty of time for questions. Come mingle and pick up signed copies of the poets’ recent works, courtesy of the University of Lethbridge Bookstore.

Later, at 6:30 p.m., the U of L Bookstore will host the launch of Blaine Greenwood’s latest book of poetry, “The False Mirror.”