Literary Evening with Pandora's Box Collective, Renee Sarojini Saklikar and Dennis E. Bolen

Cafe Bistro, on Main Street at 29th was a perfect venue for the poetry readings of Renee Sarojini Saklikar and Dennis E. Bolen.  Always glad to hear Dennis read, loving my copy of his poetry book, Black Liquor, it was my first time hearing Renee Sarojini Saklikar . I entered as she was already standing, reading from CanadaProject, her life long poetic chronicle.  Her ‘children of air india’ Oolichan press, was haunting.
Dennis followed with beat poetry, working man verse, to audio stylings, firmly planted in the fabric of BC.  Both poets writings were so local, words, phrases, places, all northwest coast particular, but with themes universal.
Renee from India to Canada, Dennis from Vancouver Island, the two read each others works, before answering questions from the audience
All the while I ate Halibut and Fries, then pecan pie and ice cream, a regular philistine, savouring the Cafe Bistro dilectables while thoroughly enjoying the performance of these two captivating entertainers.  Dennis actually sang a refrain in the middle of a hard hitting poem.   I love the cadence and inflexion of Renee.
Between acts I talked with my CAA friend Lilija, another poet, whose enthusiasm for the Vancouver ‘poetry scene’ inspires.  I was glad I left my comfort zone of home and office.  Though, I'd bundled my hairy little dog in a sweater with a blanket I couldn't leave him longer in the car, this cold winter night.  I was sorry to leave early but glad to find my little friend unperturbed by weather but glad to be reunited with his human. Thanks Dennis and Renee.

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Canadian Author's Association - West Coast - March 13 2013

What a joy to be among genius!
Margot Bates (http://www.margobates.com) , opened the night by introducing the Stand and Deliver reader, Joyce Goodwin.  Joyce read an excerpt from an Irish short story previously published in Anthology.  A  coming of age tale of an Irish boy in the 'troubles', the  pranks in Catholic school  back dropped by a callously grenade slaughtered horse outside in the road. Joyce's characterization and wit well deserved the applause she received at the end of a very fine reading.
Dennis Bolan (http://dennisbolen.com)  introduced himself and his  fellow panel members,  Eileen Cook (http://www.eileencook.com), Ian Weir (http://ianweir.net) and Margaret Hume (Margaret A.Hume - Author, Biographer, Editor :: Hosted by CAA Vancouver Branc What amazing creative and talented folk they all were.  Yet they looked and sounded simply human.
Each of these gloriously published writers spoke humbly of their extraordinary achievements.  Each and everyone is the envy of their literary communities.  The breadths of their works ranged from poetry, fiction, non fiction, play writing, movie scripts and television, biography and memoir. For 2 hours they each and together enthralled us with personal anecdotes and writer's perspectives on career highlights and lateral shifts.  What remarkable story tellers they were.  The question and answer period was equally telling with audience members, mostly writers, asking questions of their own struggles to find a voice and to be heard.  Talk of character and copywrite mixed with insights into plot and characterization.  To quote a cliche I don't know where the time went.  Yet everyone was applauding. Laughter and handshakes as people were standing pulling on coats, lingering and mingling before leaving for the door.
I remembered we entered that special room.  Some magic spell  was cast.  P.S. Don't Tell Your Mother. Daniel O'Thunder , Arctic Air. Stupid Crimes, Kaspoti. The Wake Trilogy. The Almost Truth.  Just Mary.
I'm so thankful to have been there.  I feel touched by something more than human, that which is truly human.
Today smoke rose above the Vatican.  Light had flooded the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo's God touched Adam,  St. Francis, the first pope of the Americas.  There was a spark in this room tonight.  A special glow.  I felt it.  The holy ghost on a donkey or a pony?