Poets en Masse
Poetry Event Aims to Change the World
In the popular imagination, poetry is often conceived of as a solitary activity, featuring a degree of self-involvement that borders on egomania. On Sept. 24, however, poets across the world will be involved in an event that will challenge both of those assumptions.
The initiative, called 100 Thousand Poets for Change, aims to rally writers and artists worldwide in an attempt to combat the sense of malaise that often seems draped over our contemporary society—from foreign wars and environmental degradation to the simple reality that most of us don’t have the slightest idea who our next-door neighbours are.
The creators of the event, which looks to produce 600 events in 450 cities worldwide, are Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion. The two are editors at Big Bridge Press, a California-based publisher that grew out of the 14-year-old online literary magazine Big Bridge.
In the manifesto for the event, Rothenberg and Carrion are keen to put the focus—and the planning—not on themselves, but on poets worldwide.
“Organizers and participants will create their own local event as an expression of who they are locally,” reads the event’s website. “Do they want a candlelight vigil or a circus, a march or a dance, do they want absolute silence, a group meditation on a main street?”
Though it’s not mandatory, there is one suggestion for how the event should go down: “Outdoors, in public view.” The point is
for poets to bring their art, their work, and their positivity straight to the masses—and to document it.
The Montreal event, which coordinator Betty Esperanza describes as “a key player” in the 100 Thousand Poets for Change global hoopla, is taking place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday at Hurley’s Irish Pub.
Wanting it to be “inclusive rather than exclusive,” Esperanza wanted the Montreal version to be about peace and sustainability, choosing a vaguer theme whose interpretation could be “left open to all who [care] to join the event.”
Yes, though the reading will feature a litany of local poets—including Concordia alumna and Yellow Door founder Ilona Martonfi—poets off the street can sign up to participate, too.
“I reserved some time for people to sign up on a sheet,” said Esperanza, though cautioning that it would be “first come, first serve.” Time slots range from a mere 30 seconds for the shy, to up to three minutes for those in a more loquacious mood. Esperanza’s hoping the introduction of an outside and unplanned element will give the reading some flair.
“I hope the public poet will stand on his soapbox and scream, rant, sing, rap, slam, read, whisper. I love the spontaneous poet!”
Her use of the words rap and slam is no accident either. In addition to a handful of literary poets, Esperanza’s got a list of slam poets and hip-hoppers lined up for the event. As for any perceived divide between page poets and their more stage-oriented counterparts, she’s optimistic that the poets will be able to set aside their differences.
“Unfortunately there seems to be a fine divide—or ‘selective exclusion.’ I hope this event will open the door to a more progressive collaboration, creatively. This event was intended to be open to all—no experience necessary, and no censorship.”
100 Thousand Poets for Change / Hurley’s Irish Pub (1225 Crescent St.) / Sept. 24 / 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. / For more information, check out 100tpc.org and onehundredthousandpoets4change.tumblr.com
This article originally appeared in Volume 32, Issue 04, published September 20, 2011.
