Temple Run (#120)

Reflections on a new publication, a video (!) poetry reading of said publication, and a summer programming notice.

"We are looking for poems that delve into what we feel when we face a goodbye, beyond the grief of loss or the relief of freeing yourself.  Consider how letting a certain phase of your life go has affected you. Maybe saying a fond farewell to a certain type of behaviour or dependency. We want to read about letting go of expectations and how goodbyes transform us." - Jane Hanson & Mirjam Mahler

Twenty years ago, I began squirreling away little words and phrases. Everyone in bed, I’d stay up late to punch away at the keyboard of the desktop computer in a cramped apartment. I used to do something similar as a teenager in cheap diaries or leftover scribblers, when I couldn’t sleep and my mind was too a cramped apartment. The words have always needed a way out.

Those early words on paper are lost to time and decluttering - but the electronic words two decades old, typed into non-descript text files, endured.

Amongst these gems were a batch of poems brought together as a chapbook I had thoughts of self-publishing, before life and other words consumed my waking moments. Over time, though, I began to reclaim headspace. I found an emerging version of me, cobbled together from past identities and new words, who was ready to let the words out again.

Last summer was a turning point. I poured grief into a gifted notebook. I found grief waiting to be re-processed and closed in the dusty old .txt collection. And, amongst that digital archive waiting to be polished was today’s entry - one of three submitted last fall in my first submission ever. The second to be published.

Facing Goodbye - a poetry anthology is an collection devoted to all manner of grief: Grief for people, for places, for feelings, for experiences never to be felt again. It’s published by the lovely indie outfit,

The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press

. You can find the details of the publication towards the bottom of this post, along with links to purchase a copy in your country.

Poetry Reading Around the Campfire

Part of the launch of this collection is a Zoom poetry reading in mid-August. If you have the opportunity, please do attend; you can get the details by subscribing to

The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press

’ Substack or follow their Instagram.

Sadly, the reading overlaps with my holidays¹. I wanted to participate, though, so I took my GoPro and my copy of the collection, and stepped out of the comfort zone to a park² and recorded a reading for you. (Turn on Closed Captions if you’d like to read along, too.)

I’d love to know what you think about the poem, and the collection, if you’ve had the chance to pick it up. (I’m also thinking about diving into the experience that inspired the piece in a later post, too, so I’d be curious to hear what you hear in it.)

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As a programming note: I’ll be on vacation for two weeks. Regular weekly service resumes August 22, but to stoke the coals until then, I’ll be re-sharing some older pieces - including one of my personal favourites next week.

I look forward to reconnecting when I’m back in the office! Thanks so much for joining me around the Campfire these past two years. I’m not sure I would have made the leap without the folks I’ve met and the opportunity to share words with you. ❤️

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DETAILS

Facing Goodbye - a poetry anthology
This collection of poems brings together over 90 international voices, each with their unique take on the multifaceted theme of ‘goodbye’, with original illustrations by Scottish artist, Colin Thom. All proceeds are donated to the International Rescue Committee.³

• Publisher: The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press (July 8, 2024)

• Language: English (129 pages)

• ISBN: 978-8409625369

Purchase a Copy:

• Paperback (Amazon): US | UK | DE | FR | ES | IT | NL | PL | SE | JP | CA | AU

• PDF (via Wee Sparrow)

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1. Although I’m very excited for said vacation - stay tuned!

2. Yeah, I know. I could have done it at home, I suppose. But then I wouldn’t be literally stepping out of my comfort zone?

3. The International Rescue Committee is an organization that supports refugee families in crisis in over 50 countries with “food, medical care and emergency supplies wherever the need is greatest.” (Bonus: “All gifts, up to $75,000, will be matched by generous donors until 11:59 PM on 30 September 2024, or until the match total is met.”)