Ride a Rocket Round Regina
Ride a rocket round Regina
Ride a rocket to the moon
Take a parrot in your pocket
And a maple macaroon
Take your cousin’s ukulele
And your crazy cousin too
Ride a rocket round Regina
Ride a rocket to the zoo
***
This poem comes from Dream Helmet, a collection of poems for children by William New, published by Ronsdale Press in 2002.
To buy Dream Helmet:
Well I always like to be able to post these lovely updates our authors send from time to time. Beryl Young’s recent tour to Calgary and Halifax sounded particularly enjoyable. Here’s what she told us about the trip:
“I had a great trip to Calgary earlier in May (complete with snow) speaking to over 250 students about both Charlie and the Elephant books. At the end of the week I was part of a day-long Calgary Young Writer’s Conference with over 1200 students who broke into small groups to learn about writing with over 40 authors. I don’t usually teach writing to students, but had fun with the workshops I’d prepared and, I hope, inspired some students in their writing.
I just returned from a visit to Halifax which was a big success in spite of torrential rain and wind every day. I stayed in a charming old converted home from the 1860′s right downtown where I could walk to Pier 21 and some schools.
I had three school visits (about 160 students in total) and they all went well — seems that Charlie’s story moved the teachers to tears at one event. And I can report that I did not take it personally when a Grade 5 boy vomited in the middle of another talk!
The Hackmatack award ceremony was exhilarating — you can imagine 300 students stomping and cheering as the authors walked to the stage led by a student with our names on a big banner along with a BC flag in my case. I was the only nominee from BC. Charlie didn’t win the non-fiction award but it didn’t matter. Later after another marathon book and paper signing I had a chance to talk to Philip Roy about how we liked being with Ronsdale Press.”
Philip Roy is the author of the Submarine Outlaw books, and lives in Halifax. And I’m sure Beryl’s report of their conversation is completely uncensored—right?
You can read more of Beryl Young‘s news on her website.
Beryl Young with her Hackmatack Award medal for Follow the Elephant
On Wednesday, June 8, Garry Gottfriedson will be reading from his poetry collections Skin Like Mine (shortlisted for the 2011 CAA Literary Awards) and Whiskey Bullets as part of the Niagara Literary Arts Festival. Lynne Sherry McLean and Catherine Owen will also be reading.
This event takes place at the Crystal Ridge Branch of the Fort Erie Public Library, 89 Ridge Road, Ridgeway, Ontario. The evening begins at 7pm. For more details, check the festival’s website or the library’s events page.
On Friday, June 10, Garry Gottfriedson will be reading from his poetry collections Skin Like Mine (shortlisted for the 2011 CAA Literary Awards) and Whiskey Bullets as part of the Niagara Literary Arts Festival. Lynne Sherry McLean and Terry Trowbridge will also be reading.
This event takes place at the Jordan Art Gallery, 3845 Main Street, Jordan Village, Ontario. The evening’s readings begin at 7pm. For more details, or to read about other events in the festival, check the festival’s website.
On Sunday, December 4, Jean Rae Baxter (author of The Way Lies North and Broken Trail) will be reading at the LiT LiVe Reading Series. This long-running series takes place at the Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William Street, Hamilton, ON.
On Saturday, June 25, Jean Rae Baxter (author of The Way Lies North and Broken Trail) will be signing books at the Burlington Indigo store at 1250 Brant Street, Burlington, ON.
She’ll be there from 12pm—4pm, so pop in and say hello!
On Friday, June 17, Jean Rae Baxter (author of The Way Lies North and Broken Trail) will read at the Niagara Literary Arts Festival. She’ll be reading at “The Fine Grind,” 37 James Street, St. Catharines, ON, along with John Terpstra, Marilyn Gear Pilling and Terry Trowbridge.
The evening begins at 7pm.
For more on the Niagara Literary Arts Festival, see their website.
On Tuesday, May 24, at 10:30 am, Jean Rae Baxter (author of The Way Lies North and Broken Trail) will be giving a talk to students at St. Patrick’s School (200 Kenwood Ave., Burlington, ON).
The photo above is of Jean at the launch for Broken Trail earlier this year.
On Tuesday, May 10, at 10am, Jean Rae Baxter (author of The Way Lies North and Broken Trail) will be giving a talk to students at E. J. James Middle School (338 Cairncroft Road, Oakville, ON).
The photo above is of Jean at the launch for Broken Trail earlier this year.
Political Dysfunction
it’s the rez election year.
yahoo! hurray! whoopee!
step right up, political bullies
sweet-talk your way to stage-management
work that predatory environment
fill your cheeks with a strong dose of relentless reality
weaken the morale of loyal band employees
take the salt from your tongues
french-kiss your way to the hearts of the membership
practise the code of ethics in your trash-can green armour
promote your famished gossip
restrict respectful tipping of the Stetson
implement fundamental sneaky aspirations
shine your skin full of ravenous professionalism
mutilate equal treatment of Indians and cowboys alike
never graduate, but who cares?
mind your own business
lift your chin and sing along to a one-tribe honour song
and tuck away the fact
that internal pettiness is the norm
then vote for yourself
***
This poem comes from the collection Skin Like Mine by Garry Gottfriedson, published by Ronsdale Press in 2010.
To buy Skin Like Mine:
