Last night, André Narbonne launched his impressive new book — his second published work — since Twelve Nights to Midnight. The reading, sponsored by Flat Singles Press, took place at Biblioasis Books on Wyandotte Street here in Windsor. The place was packed. Narbonne was joined by two notable poets, Melanie Janisse-Barlow and Eva H.D.
In photos above Narbonne is reading at the event that also featured Eva H.D. and Melannie Janisse-Barlow. Dan Wells stands at the back in the aisle listening to the reading.
Melanie Janissse-Barlow
Poet Tom Wayman in a review of Narbonne’s newest work wrote that the poet “provides an unflinching look a rural Ontario childhood. His deft poems recall those throw-away words uttered by a significant adult that can haunt one throughout one’s life, for example the mother cautioning a novice photographer: ‘Stop! / my mother cried. / It’s not a picture without someone in it.’ Or a child misunderstanding a pending divorce, when at a lake he hears his ‘father say he was / parting waves with the family.’ Other poems skillfully consider the grown child, nature and travels through time and geography. A sense of home grounds and sustains the poet; in contrast, he is aware that ‘no stranger / can draw anything but a self-portrait.’ And thanks to Narbonne’s amazing eye and command of his art we are shown the familiar in unexpected places in our world, like those birds the poet notices that roost in the letters of large advertising signs that ‘nest in the alphabet of commerce.’”
I’m in the midst of reading this book slowly, and will write something later. For now, here are some photographs of the events. It was so gratifying to see Narbonne’s family at the reading. (Simon and Pearl above) When I was younger, I was always accompanied by my children. I couldn’t afford a babysitter. As a result, my children tasted the best of Canadian literature through the 1970s and 1980s. The authors they met became their uncles and aunts and cousins …
MARTY GERVAIS 