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Random Acts of Poetry
By Lindsey | September 30, 2008
Watch out for Random Acts of Poetry
By Lindsey Rivait
Arts Editor
October 1, 2008
With poetry books and guerrilla tactics on hand, poets across Canada will be committing Random Acts of Poetry from Oct. 1-5. Launched in 2004 by B.C. poet Wendy Morton, Random Acts of Poetry features 28 poets across Canada travelling through their cities, reading their poetry, and giving away books to people wherever they can.
Some authors feel that poetry is an underappreciated literary form. Random Acts of Poetry serves to raise awareness about literacy issues and to get people excited about poetry.
Among this year’s participants is Windsor poet Mary Ann Mulhern, author of The Red Dress, Touch the Dead, and most recently—When Angels Weep, a collection based on the Father Charles Sylvestre molestation cases.
Mulhern will be reading to UWindsor creative writing classes, Catholic Central high school students, elementary school students, and anyone else who crosses her path—like those standing in line at the Toronto Dominion bank.
“I’m going to read to some of the people that are lined up there to get their money and they’ll get a free book,” said Mulhern.
Toronto Dominion is a corporate sponsor for Random Acts of Poetry, and has also sponsored a book of poetry written by children for children, We Can Say This.
The Random Acts of Poetry program purchases 50 copies of their 28 poets’ books. The authors then give these copies out to whomever they read to.
“Those sponsors are putting out quite a bit of money. But it’s tied in with literacy. Wendy Morton has always believed that poetry is for everybody and so there’s no point in leaving the books on the shelves, they should be in the hands of people. This is one way of doing it. I think it’s a pretty good way of doing it,” explained Mulhern, who will be giving away all three of her releases.
This is Mulhern’s third year participating in Random Acts of Poetry. “The response is always really good,” she said.
Mulhern is currently working on a book of poetry about medieval witches.
“I’ve also done some research on the Salem witch hunt. Then I’ve made some reference to the present terrorist hunt. I’ve made a comparison or so. I’ve got quite a few poems,” she explained.
“Right now, I’m at the point where I’ve written about 60 poems that I would present to someone. What I want right now is another pair of eyes to look at that work and give me some direction with it. I’m going to do that very soon,” said Mulhern.
In her research, Mulhern came across Reginald Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft, written in 1584.
“Essentially, it says that witches don’t even exist, that it’s the fault of the Roman Catholic Church that all of this is happening. When James I became king of England, he ordered every copy of that book to be burned. How the University of Windsor ever acquired one is amazing to me,” Mulhern said.
For more information about Random Acts of Poetry, visit them online at http://national-random-acts-of-poetry.blogspot.com.
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