Jan Figurski is London Open Mic Poetry Night’s Oct. 2nd featured poet.
Figurski is a London poet/musician with a degree in English literature from Carleton and a Masters from Western. His poetry has been published in three collections and in numerous literary journals. He has also edited a poetry journal and books by James Reaney Sr. and Thomas Nashe. As a musician, Figurski has played in a number of London bands and his work has been recorded on 6 CDs.
Asked about the evolution of his poetic style and what he generally tries to accomplish in his poetry, Figurski says:
“Like most poets, I started out by imitating those poets and writers I liked, and admired. This was the early 70’s. I wrote mostly free verse about the things I experienced using a language that was more or less self-consciously “poetic”. But writing is also a craft. I deliberately tried writing in many different forms: rhymed metred poetry, prose poems, haiku, automatic writing, surrealism, writing in the first person as a character who isn’t me, experimenting with vocabulary, line breaks, punctuation; all as a way of consciously developing my craft. Along the way, I began to find it easier to express myself in a voice that felt natural to me, but that deliberately embodied elements of craft. Sometime later, maybe around the same time as I discovered abstract art, I discovered sound poetry, and began to incorporate more abstract forms: performance poetry, concrete poetry, and just using sounds. I see now that I started writing poetry because I was attracted to engaging in a creative process and the main form of expression I had to bring to that process in the beginning was language. If I try and accomplish anything in my poetry, it has been that in the process of writing I discover something about myself and my relationship to what I’m experiencing and have been able to communicate that in a way that is striking, original, and true.”
Figurski is a London poet/musician with a degree in English literature from Carleton and a Masters from Western. His poetry has been published in three collections and in numerous literary journals. He has also edited a poetry journal and books by James Reaney Sr. and Thomas Nashe. As a musician, Figurski has played in a number of London bands and his work has been recorded on 6 CDs.
Asked about the evolution of his poetic style and what he generally tries to accomplish in his poetry, Figurski says:
“Like most poets, I started out by imitating those poets and writers I liked, and admired. This was the early 70’s. I wrote mostly free verse about the things I experienced using a language that was more or less self-consciously “poetic”. But writing is also a craft. I deliberately tried writing in many different forms: rhymed metred poetry, prose poems, haiku, automatic writing, surrealism, writing in the first person as a character who isn’t me, experimenting with vocabulary, line breaks, punctuation; all as a way of consciously developing my craft. Along the way, I began to find it easier to express myself in a voice that felt natural to me, but that deliberately embodied elements of craft. Sometime later, maybe around the same time as I discovered abstract art, I discovered sound poetry, and began to incorporate more abstract forms: performance poetry, concrete poetry, and just using sounds. I see now that I started writing poetry because I was attracted to engaging in a creative process and the main form of expression I had to bring to that process in the beginning was language. If I try and accomplish anything in my poetry, it has been that in the process of writing I discover something about myself and my relationship to what I’m experiencing and have been able to communicate that in a way that is striking, original, and true.”
1. Night in the Virgin Forest
My ears are full of its hymns,
this gloomy cathedral
In this forest, leaning to an ocean
on the backs of mountains,
swaying giants crack in the wind
In me, long secure
in the womb of civilization,
shudders the uncurled animal
The moon, become a thurible
swung above the trees,
glows like burning incense
through their outstretched arms
Fear lies in wait
sniffing the air
Sleep too lies waiting
to smother me
in dream
©Jan Figurski, ‘Windows’, Equinox Press, 1978
2. Rite of Passage
Walking home at dawn
in the rain
still drunk
the daisy you gave me
wilting in my lapel
My head feels like a cathedral
the choir still singing,
although hoarsely now,
preludes to the morning
Thank you for all the commotion
I’ve had to blow my nose twice
and the pencil I am writing this with
has sprouted leaves
and threatens to flower
©Jan Figurski, ‘Heavy Seasoning & Heavenly Bodies’, SWOP, 1985
3. Images From Huron And The Bruce
hawk gliding on a hot gusty day
a span of silence imposed by the eyes’ hunger
the shadow of grace and guillotine poise
trees under gathering clouds
storm immanence in leaf-tips
fluttering silver-green omens
island, the texture of elephant skin
windworn, wearing its last disguise
alone before the horizon
paper moon hovering at the lake’s edge
an orange smudge behind cloud wisps
tiger’s eye blinking at the liquid horizon
the sure feeling of spring uncoiling
april hills smothered under grey blanket sky
there is thunder in the caves
©Jan Figurski, ‘Heavy Seasoning & Heavenly Bodies’, SWOP, 1985
4. The Moon Swells Inside You
O love your eyes
Your eyes are silver apples
Silver apples laughing
Laughing at the nets I cast
Crescent moon rising on the sandy beach
Goldfish swarming in the crested wave
Goldfish swarming in the crested wave
Impaled on a sliver of light
Playing in the sea like an otter
You let down your hair
You let down your hair
And catch the growing moon
Nourished by the sea
The moon swells inside you
The moon swells inside you
Your eyes full of light
O love, your eyes are silver apples
Laughing, at the nets I cast.
©Jan Figurski
5. Black Dance
How you do it.
How you do it.
How you do it in Somalia
black dance, black dance.
How you do it.
How you do it.
How you do it in Africa
black dance, black dance.
To the rhythm of bones on hollow logs
coloured plumage added to a black body’s grace
supple hips swaying to wild beat of drums?
black dance, black dance.
Or the bolt/click/clank
of a child’s tin cup
on the refugee
compound
fence?
black dance.
©Jan Figurski
Jan Figurski Biography
Jan Figurski Interview
THE EVENT
WHERE: The Mykonos Restaurant at 572 Adelaide St. North, London, Ontario. The restaurant has a large, covered terrace just behind the main restaurant, which comfortably holds 60 poetry lovers. Mediterranean food and drinks are available. Overflow parking is available across the side street and in the large lot one block north, in front of Trad’s Furniture.
WHEN: October 2nd, the first Wednesday of the month, as with most of our events.
LIVE MUSIC will begin at least by 6:30. There is also an intermission with live music and (usually) more at the end of the event. This month we have a surprise, to be announced soon.
THE FEATURED POET: Jan Figurski begins reading shortly after 7:00, followed by a Q&A.
OPEN MIC: Following the featured poet, there is about 1.5 hours of open mic, ending about 9:00 pm. Each poet has five minutes (which is about two good pages of poetry, but it should be timed at home). NOTE: FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WILL NOT BE SELECTING NAMES AT RANDOM, BUT, AS IS TRADITIONAL AT MOST POETRY OPEN MICS, POETS WILL WRITE THEIR NAMES IN A SPOT OF THEIR CHOOSING ON A LIST AT THE DOOR. They will also be asked for their email addresses and whether or not we can photograph and videotape them reading.
RAFFLE PRIZES: Anyone who donates to London Open Mic Poetry Night receives a ticket for a raffle prize, three of which will be picked. The prizes consist of poetry books donated by Brick Books and The Ontario Poetry Society. Donations are our only source of income. We still haven't paid off our initial debt.
EBOOK ANTHOLOGY: Our annual ebook is an anthology of the poets who have read during the year, including both the featured poets, with one or two poems by each, and the open mic readers, with from one to a few, depending on length, from each of those who wish to participate, no matter how many times they read. The ebook will then be available on Amazon at the end of the season, at a few dollars each, used to help offset expenses. If anyone gives us more than several poems, we will select from them. All poems that are included must have been read at the events during the season. The ebook will include a short biography (up to seven lines) of each poet. This must be included with the poems. We may also add a photo of the poet reading at the event. This hasn’t been decided yet. To keep transcription errors from creeping into the poems, the preferred way to get them to us is by email. Those who don’t use email can give us a copy at the events. A cautionary note: Some poets may not want certain poems to be included in the ebook because it would make them unacceptable for later publication in certain poetry journals. Erik Martinez Richards will edit and publish the anthology. His email address is erikf1944@hotmail.com
My ears are full of its hymns,
this gloomy cathedral
In this forest, leaning to an ocean
on the backs of mountains,
swaying giants crack in the wind
In me, long secure
in the womb of civilization,
shudders the uncurled animal
The moon, become a thurible
swung above the trees,
glows like burning incense
through their outstretched arms
Fear lies in wait
sniffing the air
Sleep too lies waiting
to smother me
in dream
©Jan Figurski, ‘Windows’, Equinox Press, 1978
2. Rite of Passage
Walking home at dawn
in the rain
still drunk
the daisy you gave me
wilting in my lapel
My head feels like a cathedral
the choir still singing,
although hoarsely now,
preludes to the morning
Thank you for all the commotion
I’ve had to blow my nose twice
and the pencil I am writing this with
has sprouted leaves
and threatens to flower
©Jan Figurski, ‘Heavy Seasoning & Heavenly Bodies’, SWOP, 1985
3. Images From Huron And The Bruce
hawk gliding on a hot gusty day
a span of silence imposed by the eyes’ hunger
the shadow of grace and guillotine poise
trees under gathering clouds
storm immanence in leaf-tips
fluttering silver-green omens
island, the texture of elephant skin
windworn, wearing its last disguise
alone before the horizon
paper moon hovering at the lake’s edge
an orange smudge behind cloud wisps
tiger’s eye blinking at the liquid horizon
the sure feeling of spring uncoiling
april hills smothered under grey blanket sky
there is thunder in the caves
©Jan Figurski, ‘Heavy Seasoning & Heavenly Bodies’, SWOP, 1985
4. The Moon Swells Inside You
O love your eyes
Your eyes are silver apples
Silver apples laughing
Laughing at the nets I cast
Crescent moon rising on the sandy beach
Goldfish swarming in the crested wave
Goldfish swarming in the crested wave
Impaled on a sliver of light
Playing in the sea like an otter
You let down your hair
You let down your hair
And catch the growing moon
Nourished by the sea
The moon swells inside you
The moon swells inside you
Your eyes full of light
O love, your eyes are silver apples
Laughing, at the nets I cast.
©Jan Figurski
5. Black Dance
How you do it.
How you do it.
How you do it in Somalia
black dance, black dance.
How you do it.
How you do it.
How you do it in Africa
black dance, black dance.
To the rhythm of bones on hollow logs
coloured plumage added to a black body’s grace
supple hips swaying to wild beat of drums?
black dance, black dance.
Or the bolt/click/clank
of a child’s tin cup
on the refugee
compound
fence?
black dance.
©Jan Figurski
Jan Figurski Biography
Jan Figurski Interview
THE EVENT
WHERE: The Mykonos Restaurant at 572 Adelaide St. North, London, Ontario. The restaurant has a large, covered terrace just behind the main restaurant, which comfortably holds 60 poetry lovers. Mediterranean food and drinks are available. Overflow parking is available across the side street and in the large lot one block north, in front of Trad’s Furniture.
WHEN: October 2nd, the first Wednesday of the month, as with most of our events.
LIVE MUSIC will begin at least by 6:30. There is also an intermission with live music and (usually) more at the end of the event. This month we have a surprise, to be announced soon.
THE FEATURED POET: Jan Figurski begins reading shortly after 7:00, followed by a Q&A.
OPEN MIC: Following the featured poet, there is about 1.5 hours of open mic, ending about 9:00 pm. Each poet has five minutes (which is about two good pages of poetry, but it should be timed at home). NOTE: FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WILL NOT BE SELECTING NAMES AT RANDOM, BUT, AS IS TRADITIONAL AT MOST POETRY OPEN MICS, POETS WILL WRITE THEIR NAMES IN A SPOT OF THEIR CHOOSING ON A LIST AT THE DOOR. They will also be asked for their email addresses and whether or not we can photograph and videotape them reading.
RAFFLE PRIZES: Anyone who donates to London Open Mic Poetry Night receives a ticket for a raffle prize, three of which will be picked. The prizes consist of poetry books donated by Brick Books and The Ontario Poetry Society. Donations are our only source of income. We still haven't paid off our initial debt.
EBOOK ANTHOLOGY: Our annual ebook is an anthology of the poets who have read during the year, including both the featured poets, with one or two poems by each, and the open mic readers, with from one to a few, depending on length, from each of those who wish to participate, no matter how many times they read. The ebook will then be available on Amazon at the end of the season, at a few dollars each, used to help offset expenses. If anyone gives us more than several poems, we will select from them. All poems that are included must have been read at the events during the season. The ebook will include a short biography (up to seven lines) of each poet. This must be included with the poems. We may also add a photo of the poet reading at the event. This hasn’t been decided yet. To keep transcription errors from creeping into the poems, the preferred way to get them to us is by email. Those who don’t use email can give us a copy at the events. A cautionary note: Some poets may not want certain poems to be included in the ebook because it would make them unacceptable for later publication in certain poetry journals. Erik Martinez Richards will edit and publish the anthology. His email address is erikf1944@hotmail.com
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