Author | Lightnews

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · May 13

I first heard the amazing #NitaProse discuss The Maid in Iceland, but she’ll be here, in #Ottawa, tomorrow, @writersfest.bsky.social. Highly recommended!

3

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 26

Café Wim was one of my favourite places when I first moved to Ottawa, so I was delighted to find references in works by Colin McAdam and Andre Alexis. Join me next weekend @janeswalk.bsky.social #Ottawa to find out more #WriteOttwa

1 5

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 26

Can anyone help me track down a full copy of Michael Fraser’s poem « Things to do around Ottawa when tou’re black »? www.cbc.ca/books/litera...

Things to Do around Ottawa when you're Black by Michael Fraser | CBC Books

Michael Fraser has made the 2023 CBC Poetry Prize longlist for Things to Do around Ottawa when you're Black.

www.cbc.ca

3 5

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 20

Here, Cameron Anstee reflects on some of his early work, on and about Frank Street: “the building’s foundation, slowly / giving way to one hundred years and more / I will never be older than this room / large enough to hold our books…” #WriteOttawa @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social

2 6

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 20

Writer and #Ottawa Poet Laureate David O’Meara on Elgin St. yesterday: “sub-zero, / overnight, a brocade of frost / on storefront glass. He died in / a doorway, his home a thin / sleeping bag in a city of rooms.” Thank you David for this. @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social #WriteOttawa

2 10

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 20

elegy for a friend, by @amandaearl.bsky.social: ~ how do we reflect on that which we hold dear, and grief, and loss. Thank you Amanda for sharing this on what turned out to be such a timely day. @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social #WriteOttawa

2 4

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 20

Jean Van Loon took us into the mind of JR Booth via her book #BuildingOnRiver (@cormorantbooks.bsky.social) while we stood on Parliament Hill, imagined it before there were buildings, and dreaming big dreams. Thanks to @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social and everyone who joined us today! #WriteOttawa

2 5

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 20

Next, Sneha Madhavan-Reese read from #ElementaryParticles and shared her very moving piece, Nathan Cirillo. We paused, stood in silence. @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social #WriteOttawa

2 4

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 20

From today’s adventure —“there are some in every crowd” (Natalie Hanna, in lisan al’asfour, ARP Books 2022) - thank you to @battleaxepress.bsky.social for joining us today to explore #Ottawa in Verse, with many thanks also to @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social; #AwesomeOttawa; #WriteOttawa

3 6

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 19

Thanks @johanneboucher.bsky.social for your very kind words! I had so much fun with it :-). Seeing poetry (and fiction) come alive in the place being discussed is one of my very favourite things. #WriteOttawa.

1

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 11

Thank you for your very kind words and all the goodness you enable!

2

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Apr 11

So excited to do this! We’re capping registration so we can avoid poetry through a megaphone. Ottawa has such great talent, and it’s fascinating to see how poets reflect on place in their work.

VERSe Ottawa / VERSeFest (prior account lost, @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social · Apr 9

We're excited to welcome @joycuriosity.bsky.social of #WriteOttawa presenting a walking #poetry tour of #Ottawa, featuring poems performed on location.

Explore the poetry of place! Sat April 19 10am
Free BUT registration capped: 20/tour.

[email protected] to register and get all the details.

2 10

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 30

I’d rather it look like spring outside, and be eating tacos in St. Luke’s Park, but we can dream — here’s an excerpt from #Ottawa poet laureate David O’Meara’s The Tennis Courts in Winter #WriteOttawa

5

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 30

Vivian Vavassis’ Friday Poem (after @robmclennan.bsky.social) (in @arcpoetry.bsky.social)
“so, you see, i have to believe
there are saints in #ottawa walking
along #elgin or bank among
the guitar players & bums
& busy entrepreneurs;
their heads down and hurried hoping not to be outed….” #writeottawa

2 12

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 29

elegy for a friend by @amandaearl.bsky.social
“I’d been wandering the Farm Boy
at Metcalfe and Lisgar
holding a bunch of golden beets

by the stems, conjuring up recipes
with sweet potatoes and red onions,
thinking of the salads I could make…” #writeottawa

4

Reposted by Susan Johnston

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Mar 24

BREAKING & BIG: Today in PARIS, citizens voted in a referendum to PEDESTRIANIZE 500 MORE of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by city leaders to create people-places, curb car usage, and improve air quality. 66% of Parisians voted in favour of the measure, official results showed!

Paris residents vote in favour of making 500 more streets pedestrian

Parisians voted in a referendum on Sunday to pedestrianise a further 500 of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by the French capital's left-leaning town hall to curb car usage and improve air quality.

www.reuters.com

38 760 3.3K

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 20

Also, I’m looking for a full copy of Michael #Fraser’s #poem Things to Do around #Ottawa when you're Black. It made the #CBC Poetry longlist; the first lines (see here: www.cbc.ca/books/litera...) are magic and I really want to read the whole thing so wonder if folks might help me source?

Things to Do around Ottawa when you're Black by Michael Fraser | CBC Books

Michael Fraser has made the 2023 CBC Poetry Prize longlist for Things to Do around Ottawa when you're Black.

www.cbc.ca

1

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 20

Hello #Ottawa #writer friends - I have a poem by Raymond #Souster (“Farewell to Teaching” — references Dunton Tower at #Carleton and Dow’s Lake) and am trying to figure out whether it was included in one of his manuscripts. So far no luck. Any advice? #WriteOttawa

3

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 17

I wish I could time travel to visit (among other things) gathering spots of #Ottawa past. Murray’s at the #LordElgin served up gossip and intrigue before my time. Here’s some spice from #HughHood in The Motor Boys in Ottawa. #WriteOttawa

4

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 17

Thinking back to the construction of the #Chinatown arch and the vibrancy it offers the neighbourhood. Appreciating @jcyliew.bsky.social’s visceral characterizations of it, and some of my favourite hangouts in #Dandelion @arsenalpulp.bsky.social. #WriteOttawa.

1 5

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 14

Misty-eyed in the Library of Parliament with #TerryFallis in The Best Laid Plans… #WriteOttawa

4

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 14

Around the #RideauCanal locks near Parliament Hill with #AlanCumyn in Burridge Unbound #WriteOttawa.

4

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 14

Going for a ride on the #RideauCanal with author #JoanneProulx… can’t wait for spring! #WriteOttawa

3

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 10

Druids! And druids running around downtown Ottawa. J. McCurdy’s #fantasy The Serpent’s Egg features some great chase scenes #WriteOttawa.

5

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · Mar 10

Colin McAdam’s Fall makes reference to boarding school kids drinking at the former Earl of Sussex pub #WriteOttawa.

3