Editor’s Notes

Greetings dear readers,

While news of the arrival of spring was greatly exaggerated, it seems as if milder weather is coming our way. Whatever the weather, April is still the cruelest month, breeding lilacs and poetry out of the dead land…to retrofit Eliot to suit our purposes. In other words, it's National Poetry Month. I invite you to celebrate with me. Please follow the instructions:

1. Read and enjoy the April issue, which features four poems and a thoughtful interview of Anne Michaels' All We Saw by Scott Lemoine.

2. Attend poetry readings and spoken word performances in the Nation's Capital. See the calendar for a performance by renowned spoken word artist Andrea Gibson, the semi-monthly Urban Legends Slam, the Tree Reading Series and Blue Mondays, and the Coach House Books launch.

3. Download the League of Canadian Poets' Poem-In-Your-Pocket-Day booklet and give away your favourite poems to friends on April 18.

4. Visit local chapbook publishers' sites and purchase chapbooks. Find links on the site for above/ground press, Apt. 9 Press, battleaxe press, Coven Editions, post ghost press.

5. Write poems and share them at local open mics: Tree Reading Series, Nostalgica, The Barely Bruised Book Club.

6. Listen to local radio shows and podcasts that feature poetry: CKCU FM's Literary Landscapes, The Small Machine Talks.

7. Put poetry books and chapbooks you no longer want in the Little Free Libraries around town.

8. Subscribe to local magazines, Arc Poetry Magazine and Canthius. See links for site info.

9. Review a recent Canadian poetry book or chapbook for publication on Bywords.ca. See guidelines in the News under Calls for Submission.

10. Submit your poems to Bywords.ca. See guidelines on the site.

Thanks to our selection committee this month:

Jesse Aubin
Wes Babcock
Robert Martin Evans
Margo Lapierre
Tanya Mead
Kemisha Newman
Catina Noble
Jade Riordan
Carol A. Stephen
JC Sulzenko
Rob Thomas
Ben Toner

If you have comments, suggestions, questions or a fistful of spring flowers to offer, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca.

If you see me at a reading, please do stop by and say hello. If you tell me you've read the April issue, I will buy you a beverage.

Amanda Earl
Managing Editor

For regular event updates, please follow us on Twitter or join our FaceBook fan page.