Continuing with the Christmas theme, here is a little poem I wrote for a writing class I'm taking with Patricia Pearson.
'Twas the Night of Halloween
‘Twas the night of Halloween, and all through the house,
Costumes were strewn and trick-or-treaters tuckered-out.
When all of sudden, 12:01 flashed the clock,
It gave us a fright; it was quite a shock.
The eerie howls of ghosts and goblins smothered by a scarier call,
The jingle of sleigh bells and that ho-ho-ho known by all.
Cobwebs and jack-o-lanterns disappeared into space,
Twinkling lights and tinsel appearing in their place.
As visions of Karl Marx danced in my head,
I asked myself, “Isn’t Christmas dead?”
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
What to get Stephen Harper for Christmas?
Worried about what to get the Prime Minister for Christmas this year? Me neither, but bear with me.
On Oct. 29th I attended a reading at the Toronto International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre.
Four fabulous writers read from recent work that evening; Lynda Barry (Picture This), Nadine Bismuth (Are You Married to a Psychopath?), Dany Laferrière (I am a Japanese Writer) and Yann Martel (Beatrice and Virgil).
Martel also read letters #64 and #93 from his ongoing project, What is Stephen Harper Reading?
In April 2007 Martel launched, What is Stephen Harper Reading? as a response to the federal government’s flaccid acknowledgement of the 50 artists sitting in the visitors’ gallery of the House of Commons on March 28, 2007 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council of the Arts.
Bev Oda, Minister for Canadian Heritage made a brief speech, but the Prime Minister neither addressed the group nor looked up at the gallery as Oda spoke. Martel began to wonder what kind of man Stephen Harper was, and concluded there probably wasn’t enough stillness in his life – the kind of stillness brought about by reading books.
Martel vowed to send Stephen Harper a book every two weeks until the end of his term. Each book is inscribed and accompanied by a letter, and is chosen for its ability to expand stillness.
Letters #64, Carole Mortimer’s The Virgin Secretary’s Impossible Boss, and #93, Selected Poems, by Yevgeny Yevtushenko, translated by Robin Milner-Gulland and Peter Levi, make for great reading in themselves.
Each letter describes why Martel recommends the accompanying book and neatly draws parallels to the Prime Minister’s leadership. The letters usually end with a suggestion or question for the PM to reflect on - should he decide to read Martel’s correspondence.
For instance, Mortimer’s novel is published by Harlequin Romance – a Canadian publishing company that has sold billions of books worldwide. “The function of genre fiction is to relax and confirm, not to stress and challenge. Genre fiction seeks to deliver one thing: emotional satisfaction,” wrote Martel. “Is that such a bad thing? I don’t think so,” he added.
Clearly, as Martel points out in the letter, Harlequin knows what their readers want and they deliver it. The implication, perhaps Harper could do something similar for Canadians?
As Martel began to read the first letter I realized that although I’d heard of the project, I had forgotten all about it. It also occurred to me that I was probably not alone. Immediately I knew what to do, I’d send Stephen Harper a letter and book for Christmas, and I’d invite others to do the same.
But, which book?
Perhaps one of the four titles read that evening? Maybe, I could arrange to have one of the authors read it to the PM personally? You know, there is nothing like having someone read to you.
I think I’ll send him a copy of my favourite book, Dante’s Inferno. But not for the reasons you’re thinking. Remember, the Inferno is an allegory about redemption, emerging into the light after exploring one’s soul.
Can’t afford to send a book? Then send a card and include a reading list, to:
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2
Last year, Martel published the first 55 letters in the book, What Is Stephen Harper Reading?: Yann Martel's Recommended Reading for a Prime Minister and Book Lovers of All Stripes, and maintains a blog about the project, http://www.whatisstephenharperreading.ca.
On Oct. 29th I attended a reading at the Toronto International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre.
Four fabulous writers read from recent work that evening; Lynda Barry (Picture This), Nadine Bismuth (Are You Married to a Psychopath?), Dany Laferrière (I am a Japanese Writer) and Yann Martel (Beatrice and Virgil).
Martel also read letters #64 and #93 from his ongoing project, What is Stephen Harper Reading?
In April 2007 Martel launched, What is Stephen Harper Reading? as a response to the federal government’s flaccid acknowledgement of the 50 artists sitting in the visitors’ gallery of the House of Commons on March 28, 2007 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council of the Arts.
Bev Oda, Minister for Canadian Heritage made a brief speech, but the Prime Minister neither addressed the group nor looked up at the gallery as Oda spoke. Martel began to wonder what kind of man Stephen Harper was, and concluded there probably wasn’t enough stillness in his life – the kind of stillness brought about by reading books.
Martel vowed to send Stephen Harper a book every two weeks until the end of his term. Each book is inscribed and accompanied by a letter, and is chosen for its ability to expand stillness.
Letters #64, Carole Mortimer’s The Virgin Secretary’s Impossible Boss, and #93, Selected Poems, by Yevgeny Yevtushenko, translated by Robin Milner-Gulland and Peter Levi, make for great reading in themselves.
Each letter describes why Martel recommends the accompanying book and neatly draws parallels to the Prime Minister’s leadership. The letters usually end with a suggestion or question for the PM to reflect on - should he decide to read Martel’s correspondence.
For instance, Mortimer’s novel is published by Harlequin Romance – a Canadian publishing company that has sold billions of books worldwide. “The function of genre fiction is to relax and confirm, not to stress and challenge. Genre fiction seeks to deliver one thing: emotional satisfaction,” wrote Martel. “Is that such a bad thing? I don’t think so,” he added.
Clearly, as Martel points out in the letter, Harlequin knows what their readers want and they deliver it. The implication, perhaps Harper could do something similar for Canadians?
As Martel began to read the first letter I realized that although I’d heard of the project, I had forgotten all about it. It also occurred to me that I was probably not alone. Immediately I knew what to do, I’d send Stephen Harper a letter and book for Christmas, and I’d invite others to do the same.
But, which book?
Perhaps one of the four titles read that evening? Maybe, I could arrange to have one of the authors read it to the PM personally? You know, there is nothing like having someone read to you.
I think I’ll send him a copy of my favourite book, Dante’s Inferno. But not for the reasons you’re thinking. Remember, the Inferno is an allegory about redemption, emerging into the light after exploring one’s soul.
Can’t afford to send a book? Then send a card and include a reading list, to:
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2
Last year, Martel published the first 55 letters in the book, What Is Stephen Harper Reading?: Yann Martel's Recommended Reading for a Prime Minister and Book Lovers of All Stripes, and maintains a blog about the project, http://www.whatisstephenharperreading.ca.
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