November 2014 RCLAS Wordplay at work ezine, Issue 19

Awards poster

shortlist

Margaret Cadwaladr was born in Vancouver, BC. She earned a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia where she developed her interest in autobiography and life story. She is a past vicepresident of the Federation of BC Writers and a member of the Royal City Literary Arts Society. She is author of Canadian bestseller In Veronica’s Garden: The Social History of the Milner Gardens and Woodland. In Veronica’s Garden was extremely well received and was a finalist for an international award given by the Council on Botanical and Horticultural libraries for an “outstanding contribution to the literature of horticulture or botany.”

Margaret established Madrona Books, a small independent press specializing in memoir, autobiography and life story, in 2002. She has given readings or lectures at a number of locations, both local and international. Margaret has had several magazine articles and photographs published.

George Reid was a young Canadian soldier during World War II who was taken prisoner after the invasion of Sicily. He spent time in eight Nazi prisoner of war camps. Many Canadian war veterans of the first and second war did not talk about their experiences. Yet, George wrote his experiences time and again. Eventually, he shared his story and it became a source of healing and self understanding. Margaret worked closely with George by transcribing and editing his story. It was published as Speed’s War: a Canadian Soldier’s Memoir of World War II. George passed away early this year at age 90.

Sylvia Taylor is an award-winning writer, editor, educator, and communications specialist in Metro Vancouver. A past director of the Federation of BC Writers for 13 years and current director for the Arts Council of Surrey, she consults with authors and entrepreneurs, teaches writing-related skills, and is a popular conference presenter and adjudicator. Her works have appeared in anthologies and genre magazines in Canada and the US, and was shortlisted for the CBC National Literary Awards. With over 400 articles in print, she has edit-coached over 100 book manuscripts and hosts author-readings series in partnership with city libraries.

Heritage House Publishing released her historical literary memoir, The Fisher Queen: A Deckhand’s Tales of the BC Coast, September, 2012.� www.sylviataylor.ca

Candice James and Kyle McKillop with our outstanding features!

Center left to right:

Richard Olafson, Carol Sokoloff and Margaret Thompson

RCLAS Secretary Deborah Kelly Welcomes RCLAS member Jaz Gill

Richard Olafson with new member, Andrew Parkin

Membership Drive Host Candice James, President

Book Raffle

Open Mic Emcee Kyle McKillop, Interim President

Presented to Richard Olafson, Carol Sokoloff and Margaret Thompson

In Recognition of your support

In Appreciation It was the weekend. Not that a private eye like me gets weekends, but it sets a scene, you know: an upturn in the outlook, a loosening of the tie – even if I was broke. Not a case on my desk. And by desk, I mean bar. A passerby alleged it was sunny outside, but daytime was never my gig.

So there I was, holed up and minding my own scotch, when it happened: artistic types all over the place. Writers. Poets.

Singers. Hold on, I thought, this oughta be good.

And it was! On behalf of RCLAS, I’d like to thank everyone who came in from the sun to take part in our membership drive! Your presence made the afternoon a blast.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed to our three features. To Margaret Thompson, Carol Sokoloff, and Richard Olafson, thank you so much for giving of your time and talent – you were riveting. It was so moving for a group like us, bonded by the beauty of words, to see your passion in full swing.

Appreciation also goes out to the poets (and chanteuse!) who shared their work via the open mic. RCLAS open mics always impress, and we are lucky to have so many skilled writers among us!

Finally, and most importantly at a membership drive, a thank you to the new members of RCLAS who joined up in September. You make RCLAS the great organization that it is, and I hope you will be enriched by your involvement – and that I see you at the next event!

With gratitude, Kyle McKillop, P.I. Interim President

More photos on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.705482749545699&type=1

Video Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpNIVzB0oQFzBwxsD2c2BwDNqdY1r3Ws7

Thank you

http://theheritagegrill.com/

cc

November 2014

View Calendar and Bios at www.poeticjustice.ca

HERITAGE GRILL, BACK ROOM 3-5 pm Sunday Afternoons—two features and open mic 447 Columbia St, New Westminster, near the Columbia Skytrain Station CO-FOUNDER & BOOKING MANAGER—Franci Louann flouann@telus.net Website & Facebook Manager, Photographer—Janet Kvammen janetkvammen@rclas.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/poeticjusticenewwest/

November 2 Sunday 3 – 5 pm Poetic Justice featuring ROBERT MARTENS & LILIJA VALIS Host: Franci Louann

http://poeticjustice.ca/event/poetic-justice-featuring-lilija-valis-robert-martens-with-host-franci-louann/

November 9 Sunday 3 – 5 pm Poetic Justice featuring TRACY HAMON & DEBORAH L. KELLY Host: Sonja Grgar

http://poeticjustice.ca/event/poetic-justice-featuring-deborah-l-kelly-tracy-hamon-with-host-sonja-grgar/

November 16 Sunday 3 – 5 pm Poetic Justice featuring MANOLIS & TIMOTHY SHAY Host: Sho Wiley

http://poeticjustice.ca/event/poetic-justice-featuring-manolis-timothy-shay-with-host-sho-wiley/

November 23 Sunday 3 – 5 pm Poetic Justice featuring AIDAN CHAFE & MAX TELL Host: Franci Louann http://poeticjustice.ca/event/poetic-justice-featuring-aidan-chafe-max-tell-with-host-franci-louann/

November 30 Sunday 3 – 5 pm Poetic Justice featuring SYNN KUNE LOH & AL MADER Host: Alan Hill http://poeticjustice.ca/event/poetic-justice-featuring-synn-kune-loh-al-mader-with-host-alan-hill/

RCLAS WRITER OF THE MONTH

Photo Credit: Una Bruhns

FRANCI LOUANN’s poetry bloomed first when she was Frances Louann Workman.

Dorothy Livesay included Fran’s work in Woman’s Eye 12 BC Poets (Air 1974 /75).

Burnaby Writers’ Society has recognized Franci’s work as early as 1981 with an Honourable Mention. Since then she was a Finalist four times and won Second Prize in 2010. Pandora’s Collective has given her four Honourable Mentions and in a 2009 contest she was awarded first, second and third prizes. In 2013 Franci won Honourable Mention (second prize of two) for poetry at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference.

In 2006 Franci created Horse of Course Press. Manuscripts started to appear in 2011. Two received ISBNs. She is a reluctant self-publisher.

Franci has a long history of organizing and promoting poetry events. In 2010, with New Westminster’s Poet Laureate Candice James, she co-founded Poetic Justice which takes place most Sunday afternoons, 3-5 pm. (See www.poeticjustice.ca for more information.)

Recently Franci was pleased to be published by Leaf Press (with 'Monday's Poem' and in a collection of love poems), Quattro Books/Fourfront Editions (Jack Layton: Art in Action, an anthology) and Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine (10th anniversary erotic edition). This year her hybrid piece about enigmatic Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa was printed in DASH Literary Journal 7, by California State University.

Franci has been an unofficial poet-in-residence in Argentina, Australia and Portugal. She has several large poetry manuscripts underway.

World Poetry gave Franci a Volunteer Media Award in 2007 and appointed her Ambassador to New Zealand and Australia 2009-2010. She is World Poetry’s first Peace Ambassador.

Franci loves to proofread prose, and to edit/proof and/or mentor re poetry. Her rates are reasonable.

Wait For Me, Daddy Special Feature

September 25, 2014 An Evening of Poetry: The Royal City Remembers

Host Rene Sarojini Saklikar, Janet Kvammen, RCLAS Director, Biliana Velkova, Arts Coordinator City of New Westminster and Kyle McKillop, RCLAS Interim President

Video Link to WFMD Poetry Readings

by Wilson M. Becket, Bernice Lever and Margo Prentice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQl_dpd3BAg

Video Link to WFMD Poetry Readings

by Franci Louann, Alan Hill, Janet Kvammen and Alan Girling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHigqF0XUs

Thank you to the Royal City Record & Julie MacLellan for featuring our project http://www.royalcityrecord.com/entertainment/wait-for-me-daddy-inspirespoetry-walk-in-new-west-1.1382016

Video Link to WFMD Poetry Readings

by Carla Evans, Nancy Pilling and SylviaTaylor with Rene Saklikar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-SbAcE8Y1Y&list=UUPAG0nJHE1Tb44U75Z3HplQ

Video Link to WFMD Poetry Readings

by Don Smith, Elizabeth Houlton Schofield, Kyle McKillop for Marc Mullo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LI47gzWRmk

FULL PLAYLIST of the evening & more can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL97yrIHWs_bR9pgByzZGBPfIgKxWq8Vt Thank you to our fabulous host, Rene Saklikar!

Thank you & a description of our project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jor2_RauPj8&list=PL97yrIHWs_bR9pgByzZGBPfIgKxWq8Vt&index=1

The Wait - a group poem read by Franci Louann Poetic Justice - October 26, 2014 Click here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zaYsCViwTA&feature=youtu.be

Candice James, Poet Laureate of New Westminster reading Wait For Me Daddy Anvil Centre Luncheon, October 4, 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOSsKOVcbt8

21st AD plus

by Bernice Lever

life in the trenches battle scars deprived in prison camps tried and tried again sentenced, polluted, tortured but surviving growing new identities as we have always dreamed, not someone else’s discarded toy but renewed in glowing flesh.

Best Day

by Bernice Lever

is coming home to yourself.

It might begin with that poetic sunrise lifting high above dusty plains or not until a foggy dusk creeps around so others are blocked in their separate universes, letting you be vibrantly whole.

You resonate with being alive – you are sound and substance, a mingling of music as Northern Lights dance through your fingers and toes; your heart bubbles with song as you find no contradictions in the unity of being.

That awesome moment when all feels right in the universe and with yourself.

Wait For Me, Daddy

by Elizabeth Schofield

He’s not my boy.

I have no sweetheart, no wife to pack my kit, no woman blessing my handkerchiefs with her tears. I’ve had no life, yet.

I leave the mill, sticky, black, resinous, and walk, then swing along, a march, the first of many with other grimy, tired men.

Upwards from the river to join up.

It’s downhill from here.

Yet I’m here, knowing of the son I’ll never have, the wife I’ll never leave, the life I give away.

I shed the routine of my small existence, the safety of the familiar, the lunch pail, hockey, the steam whistle, to crawl out from a sandy grave or plummet from the sky in the rain.

Killing other men, before they kill me.

He runs from the safety of mother’s grasp, bold as brass across the road, lunging for his daddy’s hand. And Daddy turns, reaches for him one last time before the train, the boat, the army camp, the blood that comes between him and his father.

I’ll cross the road from the safety of my platoon’s grasp, lunge for his daddy’s hand. His daddy turns and reaches for my hand, one last time.

He’s my comrade, before the blood comes between him and me.

A Pattern Breaks

by Carla Evans

Strong arms bear hearts, Determined minds Mid march of steady feet Straight down a Royal City Street A pattern breaks but knits a bond Well understood by all Protective love of mother's arms Flows past her reach to father's hands Responding, searching son's warm grasp Each soul out reaching: one last hug One more love moment lost in time Seized moment pictured in world press For all the world to see Peace prompt for nations all: Unite!

Align our Hearts to Will: stop fight!

Brave child of soldier, teach the man Fight strong with love and will If peace we want we must climb hills Reach, hold – all colours of all hands And hear the drums of old new lands Accept past sorrows, feel the shame Bring hope and joy to earth again Brave child of soldier, use your mind Be kind and true, so peace we'll find Our dads are never truly blind

Endless March

by Carla Evans

Still from afar and top of hills The march continues Down steep hills At times to graves, in poppy fields Or simply back with sorrow tears At times with demons' damning dreams With endless march War yearnings yield

Waiting for Daddy

by Sylvia Taylor

Just Mummy and me for so long pale blue tissue-paper letters and little square photos Daddy riding the wild rivers on the backs of logs threads holding us together half-a-world apart.

So many X’s and O’s strung across the pages across the months and the miles so many afternoons singing “You Are My Sunshine” with Mummy in the kitchen playing the big black records songs Daddy’s band played every Saturday night.

He went ahead to build our new life She soldiered on keeping hope and home together. lurching through the frigid north Atlantic by ship flung across this vast land by train.

Trying to keep him warm and safe in our hearts playing the Remember Game.

Waiting for a daddy I didn’t know to arrive.

Waiting to have Christmas.

A soft knock at the front door. a blast of swirling snow and an ogre shaggy, smelly and rough its terrible hands reaching I fly at its legs, biting, kicking It drops to its haunches “Sylvie, don’t you know me?

I have a daddy and he is home.

Wait for me, Daddy – Please don’t go

by Wilson M. Becket

Past the crowd the soldiers stepped as children waved and lovers wept.

They marched toward an unknown destiny.

Low down the hill the Beasts await to take them to their perilous fate…

A child breaks away to make his final plea.

His mother then takes on the chase.

With outstretched arm he makes his case.

The soldier turns his head to hear the cry…

“Wait for me, Daddy – please don’t go…

You’re all I’ve got … you’re all I know.

Wait for me, Daddy – I don’t want you to die!”

Reaching for the fair-haired boy the soldier’s heart was filled with joy.

He thought for words to help to ease the pain.

“I love you more with every day.

You are a man and this I pray… take care of Mom and I’ll be back again.”

Weary Warrior

by Margo Prentice

I cried and ran after you and yelled, “Wait for me, Daddy.”

My hand reached for you, you keep on marching, one glance back Then you were gone somewhere far away, I wondered why But knew I was going to “Wait for you, Daddy,” I Remembered you as my handsome Prince away Slaying dragons, protecting us from an evil prince I listened to the adults talk in hushed tones about bombing And where your regiment was, in Europe, I heard They all hoped the war would end soon, but the years Passed, you did not see your son take his first steps Or say his first words. There was a hole in our hearts We would go to Saturday afternoon movies and watch “News of the World,” on a black and white movie screen I’d look for your face, fighting in the war, never seeing you At Christmas, I would pray that you’d be in a big box Under the tree jump out and say, “Surprise.”

I was three when you left; six Christmases went by without you I missed my handsome Daddy; I waited for you to come Home to my little brother and mother, home to us That day finally came, enormous excitement on your return There to greet you, brothers, sisters, mother, father, friends At the train station, I broke free from the crowd, filled with joy I threw myself into your arms, tears rolled down your face You couldn’t wait for me; I waited for you to Come back home, you did return wounded in body And spirit, a tired weary warrior, back to the Fold of your loving family, your mind filled With the horrors of the war you left behind, Memories that only time would erase.

I waited...for you.

Waiting for Daddy

by Franci Louann

in my place behind the wood stove, I read George Washington Carver’s biography— my favourite book from the little red schoolhouse; tires crunch on gravel, screen door creaks I announce: Daddy’s home! this I’ve found in my own poems written one New Westminster winter— a memory of my own ‘Daddy’— maybe this is the poem… this makes me want to ask: where did you wait? did your Daddy come home? was he changed? did this photo comfort you? your mother? did you catch your father’s hand? your mother yours? surely you cried…did she? did he? many ’round the world have wept with this image…

Wait for Me, Daddy—the famous photo

by Claude P. Dettloff of the Daily Province little blonde boy—did you get to shout? (as so many cannot) Daddy’s home!

Take my hand

by Alan Girling

What can a small boy know of marching, ocean crossings, long, lonely nights in a foreign land . . . what of the call to duty, orders to engage and the ensuing battleground conflagrations?

That is, what can he really know of who his father has become and who he will be in the days-months-years ahead?

All he sees now, from the sidewalk sidelines, as he waits anxiously with his mother, is the endless stream: men, their green khakis, service caps, rifles, the way they stride in unison marching off on a great adventure— what he too desperately wants: to be among them, alongside, experiencing again what he does know so well: the feeling that comes with bedtime stories, bounces upon knees backyard airplane rides, games of catch and whenever on a crowded downtown street he runs up to his father, his daddy, who reaches out and says, always with such love: come along, son take my hand.

Waiting

by Alan Hill

But he didn't wait, not then maybe we wanted to, but could not.

My daddy and I, owned by everyone now.

The public wanted him and got him, took me too although I came to live with that.

When he did come back he always wore that space had that picture there to tell him who did not return.

Then what the marriage gone the packing away of death of all that that could not be talked about and anyway, what good was it to talk about what everyone was hoping to forget.

He got himself a suit other loves, new confidants a brand new fishing rod, eventually a job this small boy, that he had left who had become a man, sometimes a stranger whom he hoped he had done enough for who, just maybe would never have to see what he had seen.

All RCLAS Wait For Me, Daddy poems can be found on our website http://rclas.com/waitforme Thank you to everyone who participated.

Copyright remains with the author.

Guest Host Nov 6: TBA Mark your Calendars Guest Host Elaine Woo December 4

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“Creative Writing: Writing

For the Faint of Heart” WORDS & WISDOM of Fran Bourassa Notes by Sonya Furst-Yuen -

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The first thing that you need to get out of your mind is that you need to write like a “writer” You. Your authentic voice is what we want to hear.

Free writing rules. Write. Write, don’t stop. Write Fast. Edit later Any words ending with “ly” have to go; use concrete nouns and verbs Writers have to get up and read, like songwriters/singers have to get up and sing Read out loud to yourself It’s hard work to get up and read, it takes courage, take the chance. Take many chances. It gets easier.

There should be no competition, no judgement, no comparison no expectation of self or others . Tell the editor in your head to leave you alone when you are attempting to free write Just a tip. When doing timed, free writing , write on every other line. its easier to read it out.

Home should be home, work should be work; try to write somewhere else. Put it in your schedule and don’t let other stuff interfere. Writing time should be sacred.

Don’t be afraid of your own story Take chances. Write about the hard stuff. Be vulnerable; be honest we need that in order to feel the connection good writing has to have detail; the people reading need that vision, empathy, connection to your written work “Show, don’t tell” let your words paint the picture. Think like a camera, like a movie camera.

Fran Bourassa facilitates a “Word Whips North Shore Edition” writing workshop every fourth Tuesday of the month 6:30-8:30 at: “Silk Purse Art Gallery” in West Vancouver.

Donation Fee: $5.00 Please visit: http://www.silkpurse.ca/literary for more information

Email: fbourassa@hotmail.com

RCLAS SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC October 21, 2014 Renaissance Books Songs were sung about love and friendship‌

"if you have one good friend, you can thank your lucky stars..." - Lavana La Brey Friendship so strong it continues even when one of them leaves to go. "high above the clouds or down below with the devil" - Chris Horne.

Janene White paid tribute to a young churchgoing boy whose pure life impressed her. Enrico sang to the magic man and offered to sell his lonely soul for a new heart.

Synn Kune Loh and Dawn, together with Lilija Valis, performed their collaborative composition on the heart's journey home and the search for spiritual freedom "Everything belongs to us but we own nothing" "All paths lead you home" Lawren Nemeth swung with his movement inducing song, Dance. Come to think of it, all songs, in one way or another, are appreciations of life, all of it, the pain and sorrow, the joy and loves. – Lilija Valis

A special musical, poetic and social evening with our New York/Barbados guest, poet and festival organizer AJA (Adisa Jelani Andwele) and his wife Irmine. He was the star of the evening with his poetry on peace, justice and poverty. Ken Ader showed up to videotape everything, Juergen and Una Bruhns to greet, hug, photograph and spread good will, Ariadne Sawyer to contribute spiritual themes, Jaz Gill to shower everyone with her love energy and her gifts. Our regular and irregular songwriters and poets created their usual magic with music and words. Janene White dressed as a glamourous red haired fabulous feline diva read a cat poem. It was an evening of harmony, rhythm, melody, humor, peace, love and friendship.

VIDEO OF AJA performing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfPfCSeU-Kc&feature=youtu.be This spirit dancing continued after Songwriters into a nearby restaurant where a customer recognized AJA as his homeboy, a fellow Barbadian, and they chatted like family. As we sat around the table, Jaz took off one of her lovely bracelets and put it on the hand of Irmine as a gift. She later disappeared to pay the whole bill behind our backs! Irmine said they had the best experience of all their travels here in Vancouver!

- Lilija Valis October 26, 2014 Renaissance Books

Warren “Whitey” Bernard and Judy Darcy.

Photo by Janet Kvammen.

EVENT SUBMISSION TO RCLAS Please send RCLAS your LITERARY EVENTS/BOOK LAUNCHES/CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS/CONTESTS Submit your literary events/readings/workshops/performances/book launches/call for submissions/contests and we will share them via our newsletter, events listings Facebook and website.

Please Submit to RCLAS Events Listing Coordinator, Sonya Furst-Yuen at sonya.yuen@rclas.com

Include all information typed within the body of the email (NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE).

Please write up your announcement in the simple format listed below: Title: Date: Time: Location: Contact Person: Email: Website: Description:

Sticking to this format will allow us to copy and paste which will help ensure no errors are made in your listing. Please send your announcement as early as possible to give us adequate time to post.

YOU ARE INVITED!  RCLAS Christmas POTLUCK Party Everyone Welcome Saturday December 6, 2014 3:00 - 5:00 PM (After our members only AGM ) Location: New West Public Library 716 6 th Avenue, New Westminster

RSVP to Sonya: sonya.yuen@rclas.com Our Potluck Organizer!

Info secretary@rclas.com

FEEDBACK & E-ZINE SUBMISSIONS

Drop us a line – Janet Kvammen, RCLAS Director/Newsletter Editor & Design janetkvammen@rclas.com Deborah Kelly secretary@rclas.com

Open Call for Submissions - RCLAS Members Only DECEMBER 2014: Poems & Prose Call for Submissions on the following themes: Christmas, Love, Peace and Hope Deadline: November 20.

Poems, Short Stories, Book excerpts & Songs are welcome for submission to future issues of Wordplay at work .

RCLAS Members: Please send us your latest news, feedback on our e-zine and any ideas or suggestions that you may have.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Sonya Furst-Yuen is our RCLAS Volunteer Coordinator.

If you would like to participate in a single event, or make an even bigger contribution, please contact our volunteer coordinator. sonya.yuen@rclas.com

RCLAS Book Reviews Call for Submission: Submit your book to Royal City Literary Arts Society Box # 5, 720 Sixth St. New Westminster, BC V3L 3C5 for review in the new monthly review section of our magazine Wordplay at

work.

Thank you to our Sponsors •

Arts Council of New Westminster

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Judy Darcy

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The Heritage Grill

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New Westminster Public Library

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Chuck Puchmayr

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Thank You To Donor, Doug Setter Thank you for your donation and support!

Visit his website here:

http://www.2ndwindbodyscience.com/

City of New Westminster

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Renaissance Books

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Wayne Wright

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Saddlestone International

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Silver Bow Publishing

November 2014

Wordplay at work

ISSN 2291-4269

Contact: janetkvammen@rclas.com RCLAS Director/ Newsletter Editor & Design

Lest we forget‌