Susan Downe & granddaughter Mackenzie. London poet and novelist Susan Downe is the next featured poet for London Open Mic Poetry Night, reading at the Mykonos Restaurant on Nov. 6th.
Susan Downe’s work (poetry and fiction) has appeared in Fiddlehead, Grain, Prairie Fire, Canadian Forum, and Pottersfield Portfolio, and is included in several anthologies.
Her first book of poems, a chapbook called ‘Between This . . . and This’ (Spanish Onion Press, 1998), dealt with her father's death and it’s effect on her mother. Her second book, ‘Little Horse’ (Brick Books, 2004) was shortlisted for the 2005 Gerald Lampert Award.
Downe's first novel, which also includes poetry, was just launched on Oct. 23rd, 2013. ‘Juanita Wildrose: My True Life’ (Pedlar Press is a reminiscent piece touching on motherhood, mortality, love and sex.
“Whether she is writing about the loss of her breast, or the loss of a friend, about the pleasure of time with her grandchildren or the passion of making love to her husband, Susan Downe writes with a surety of voice that comes from looking at the world and words with a gracious honesty. These spare and graceful poems are love stories; even the title sequence, about Downe's struggle with breast cancer, is a loving celebration of the beauty, the fullness, the irrefutable blessing of being alive.” Brick Books
Susan Downe is a retired London psychotherapist.
Susan Downe’s work (poetry and fiction) has appeared in Fiddlehead, Grain, Prairie Fire, Canadian Forum, and Pottersfield Portfolio, and is included in several anthologies.
Her first book of poems, a chapbook called ‘Between This . . . and This’ (Spanish Onion Press, 1998), dealt with her father's death and it’s effect on her mother. Her second book, ‘Little Horse’ (Brick Books, 2004) was shortlisted for the 2005 Gerald Lampert Award.
Downe's first novel, which also includes poetry, was just launched on Oct. 23rd, 2013. ‘Juanita Wildrose: My True Life’ (Pedlar Press is a reminiscent piece touching on motherhood, mortality, love and sex.
“Whether she is writing about the loss of her breast, or the loss of a friend, about the pleasure of time with her grandchildren or the passion of making love to her husband, Susan Downe writes with a surety of voice that comes from looking at the world and words with a gracious honesty. These spare and graceful poems are love stories; even the title sequence, about Downe's struggle with breast cancer, is a loving celebration of the beauty, the fullness, the irrefutable blessing of being alive.” Brick Books
Susan Downe is a retired London psychotherapist.
See Susan Downe Interview, Part 1:
SIX POEMS
1.
MANDALA FOR THE NEW YEAR
Her childrren shovel hardwood ashes
from the firebox -
shake them out
into the dark
under the pine
Under her feet
his garden lies unspeaking
under the snow
She lifts her arms and turns
as she did as a girl - turns and turns
Around where the sky comes down
dome
over the disc of snow
everything starts slow
to circle
- stars
the mugo pine
lilacs budding months before their leafing time
roses crouched in white -
all bound in a wheel
His garden whispers
corn and
sun
and his ashes lie indoors
in the shadowy velvet box
and she whirls and whirls
©Susan Downe
Between This ... And This, Spanish Onion Press, 1998
2.
MENDELSSOHN IS SINGING How Lovely
Are the Messengers, I am
swimming naked in a dream I swim
the breast-stroke oh
this pool is Olympic-
size I swim
so long its length and hold
a towel to disguise
the absense of my breast.
Astonishing
but I know why these other
swimmers whisper shy
and shocked.
I reach
the farther end and, giving up
their eyes, I flip onto my back, I let
the towel float away, I swim
the long, the all the water
back, propel myself with rapid
kicks and sweeping strokes
of my powerful arms and breastless
swim the lengthy all
the water distance
back, my skin
so free; in my under-
water ears I hear
an orchestra.
©Susan Downe,
Little Horse, Brick Books, 2004
3.
COULD WE KNOW what
in the world of men's
and women's lives is true, except
that we almost broke before?
Don't be ashamed.
Take pity on us all
for mercy draws courage to it:
this is law
not grace
not even character.
©Susan Downe,
Little Horse, Brick Books, 2004
4.
We Move the Beauty Around, Dig
six ostrich ferns from the front
of the house, trundle them
out back to honor
the chestnut who is dying
there in the light arms
of her one hundred years.
Today
she sprouts miniature
chartreuse origami, one per tip
of dainty twig, she
prepares to make
of remnants of desire
elaborate pale pagodas; they
will vanish and give way
to bristling green spheres
of leatherette, satin mahogany
seeds inside, each
cupped in an ivory meniscus (kids
will hoard them, polish
them on their pants
and play them--conkers
with a string).
The six newcome ferns
kneel at her feet;they reach
and arch, they
are the arms
of William Blake's Glad Day--they
are the living, waving
image of Glad Day.
©Susan Downe,
Beyond the Seventh Morning, ed. J. B. Lee and Manuel de T. Velesquez Leon, (Sandcrab Books, 2013)
5.
August is cramming her ditches with apples,
bronze silks tangle tips of fat cobs, blossoms,
of squash blare eloquent, yellow
for bees (for maybe ricotta), sky
is aswarm, Lord, aswarm
with your seeeds
Stirred by the carnival,
a young caryatid relinquishes
her assigned post
dignifying the Imperial porch, holding
aloft the Imperial roof. Watch!
her shoulders shudder and widen. One
quickened arm breaks free. She reaches,
she snatches a fistful of seeds.
©Susan Downe,
Beyond the Seventh Morning, ed. J. B. Lee and Manuel de T. Velesquez Leon, (Sandcrab Books, 2013)
6.
Via Negativa
You ask my name, I answer you
still ask, I do, and you
keep asking for my name, I answer
Turk’s-cap lilies loud
as clarinets, rosa gallica,
faint clouds, silver tug
of steelhead trout caught, not
caught, you ask, I answer shining
lines of rain stream
on every Alegheny mountain face, the scent
of Paradise behind a baby’s ear
and still
your longing clamours.
Clasp it,
Crack it like a hazelnut
let it break your heart
-- the tenderness
thirsting there,
that answer.
©Susan Downe,
Beyond the Seventh Morning, ed. J. B. Lee and Manuel de T. Velesquez Leon, (Sandcrab Books, 2013).
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: November 6th, 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: Susan Downe will begin 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.
SIX POEMS
1.
MANDALA FOR THE NEW YEAR
Her childrren shovel hardwood ashes
from the firebox -
shake them out
into the dark
under the pine
Under her feet
his garden lies unspeaking
under the snow
She lifts her arms and turns
as she did as a girl - turns and turns
Around where the sky comes down
dome
over the disc of snow
everything starts slow
to circle
- stars
the mugo pine
lilacs budding months before their leafing time
roses crouched in white -
all bound in a wheel
His garden whispers
corn and
sun
and his ashes lie indoors
in the shadowy velvet box
and she whirls and whirls
©Susan Downe
Between This ... And This, Spanish Onion Press, 1998
2.
MENDELSSOHN IS SINGING How Lovely
Are the Messengers, I am
swimming naked in a dream I swim
the breast-stroke oh
this pool is Olympic-
size I swim
so long its length and hold
a towel to disguise
the absense of my breast.
Astonishing
but I know why these other
swimmers whisper shy
and shocked.
I reach
the farther end and, giving up
their eyes, I flip onto my back, I let
the towel float away, I swim
the long, the all the water
back, propel myself with rapid
kicks and sweeping strokes
of my powerful arms and breastless
swim the lengthy all
the water distance
back, my skin
so free; in my under-
water ears I hear
an orchestra.
©Susan Downe,
Little Horse, Brick Books, 2004
3.
COULD WE KNOW what
in the world of men's
and women's lives is true, except
that we almost broke before?
Don't be ashamed.
Take pity on us all
for mercy draws courage to it:
this is law
not grace
not even character.
©Susan Downe,
Little Horse, Brick Books, 2004
4.
We Move the Beauty Around, Dig
six ostrich ferns from the front
of the house, trundle them
out back to honor
the chestnut who is dying
there in the light arms
of her one hundred years.
Today
she sprouts miniature
chartreuse origami, one per tip
of dainty twig, she
prepares to make
of remnants of desire
elaborate pale pagodas; they
will vanish and give way
to bristling green spheres
of leatherette, satin mahogany
seeds inside, each
cupped in an ivory meniscus (kids
will hoard them, polish
them on their pants
and play them--conkers
with a string).
The six newcome ferns
kneel at her feet;they reach
and arch, they
are the arms
of William Blake's Glad Day--they
are the living, waving
image of Glad Day.
©Susan Downe,
Beyond the Seventh Morning, ed. J. B. Lee and Manuel de T. Velesquez Leon, (Sandcrab Books, 2013)
5.
August is cramming her ditches with apples,
bronze silks tangle tips of fat cobs, blossoms,
of squash blare eloquent, yellow
for bees (for maybe ricotta), sky
is aswarm, Lord, aswarm
with your seeeds
Stirred by the carnival,
a young caryatid relinquishes
her assigned post
dignifying the Imperial porch, holding
aloft the Imperial roof. Watch!
her shoulders shudder and widen. One
quickened arm breaks free. She reaches,
she snatches a fistful of seeds.
©Susan Downe,
Beyond the Seventh Morning, ed. J. B. Lee and Manuel de T. Velesquez Leon, (Sandcrab Books, 2013)
6.
Via Negativa
You ask my name, I answer you
still ask, I do, and you
keep asking for my name, I answer
Turk’s-cap lilies loud
as clarinets, rosa gallica,
faint clouds, silver tug
of steelhead trout caught, not
caught, you ask, I answer shining
lines of rain stream
on every Alegheny mountain face, the scent
of Paradise behind a baby’s ear
and still
your longing clamours.
Clasp it,
Crack it like a hazelnut
let it break your heart
-- the tenderness
thirsting there,
that answer.
©Susan Downe,
Beyond the Seventh Morning, ed. J. B. Lee and Manuel de T. Velesquez Leon, (Sandcrab Books, 2013).
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: November 6th, 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: Susan Downe will begin 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.
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