Poetry Archives - Queen's Journal

Queen’s student releases poetry book

Written on January 28, 2022. Posted in Arts, Literature.

Becoming a published author as a young person can seem impossible. Queen’s student Bella Crysler is re-writing the narrative with her newly released poetry book, Bubblegum and Black Coffee. Crysler, ArtSci ’23, is a dedicated and consistent poet. She spoke with The Journal about her writing and why...

Rupi Kaur uses poetry to come home to herself

Written on September 17, 2021. Posted in Arts, Literature.

This article discusses sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Kingston Sexual Assault Centre’s 24-hour crisis and support phone line can be reached at 613-544-6424 / 1-800-544-6424. The Centre’s online chat feature can be reached here. Rupi Kaur is an Indian-born Canadian poet...

Sadiqa de Meijer turns hardship into creativity

Written on May 31, 2021. Posted in Arts, Literature.

Sadiqa de Meijer is a talented writer of poetry, short stories, and essays. Her work has been published in The Walrus and Poetry Magazine. Like many, de Meijer found herself challenged by the pandemic—both as a writer and a mother. “I’m fortunate as a writer that I was working at home anyway, but...

‘Just let it arrive’: Poet, mentor Bruce Kauffman talks career

Written on April 2, 2021. Posted in Arts.

Bruce Kauffman has been opening doors for artists for 12 years. In 2009, Kauffman started an open mic night at The Artel, an arts venue formerly located on Sydenham Road. A year later, he started a radio show on CFRC called Finding a Voice. With both projects, Kauffman’s goal was to create more opportunities...

‘Citizen: An American Lyric’ challenges readers with the reality of casual racism

Written on February 26, 2021. Posted in Arts.

Claudia Rankine’s voice is nothing short of transformational. Her volume, Citizen: An American Lyric, is a book-length poem which illuminates the uncomfortable reality of Black citizens’ everyday lives. There’s an overwhelming feeling in the collection of taking up too much space—of being too visible...

Poem: Unspoken Words

Written on February 11, 2021. Posted in Arts.

I have to thank you for dancing on tables In the basement of Brock. I took your hand and we rose above the sea of sweaty faces. You flashed me a grin of red lips and I twirled you around the dance floor of Stages, Laughing in the summer crowd. Hidden coats stuffed under cushions and above tiles Were...

Storytelling and being heard: Indigenous Poet Billie the Kid discusses storytelling through spoken word poetry

Written on November 13, 2020. Posted in Arts.

Billie Kearns, Sci ’19, commonly known as Billie the Kid, is a K’ai Taile Dené and Nehiyaw spoken word poet and storyteller. Kearns began writing spoken word poetry in Grade 10 while attending high school in Ottawa. She was inspired by a week-long workshop in her literary arts class taught by Canadian...

Poem: We Agreed That I Should Leave You in Toronto

Written on November 13, 2020. Posted in Arts.

We sit on the couch in your apartment and the clock pushes August away, hands squeezing the thick air to rain. Two hours left before my bus back to Kingston and we’re still dragging songs into the last Spotify playlist we’ll make together. You slide into a black hoodie and Icona Pop swells through...

Poem: She Must

Written on October 8, 2020. Posted in Arts.

Dip into that valley of the unknown, caress its invisible colour. Swim the pond of ache, smell its perfume. Run with a hue of red and blue, hasten its purpling. Dance with her, you must pursue. Breathe deeply, stop all that panting. Inhale the mists of Moher, warm in the droplets. Exhale those...

Our modern obsession with poetry is only growing

Written on February 7, 2020. Posted in Lifestyle, Pop Culture.

Given the recent mainstream popularity of poets like Rupi Kaur, it’s no secret that there’s been a poetry revival over the last few years. Poems are no longer only read by aspiring writers, English majors, and souls who find refuge in words. They’re being circulated to the masses. Now, poems are skimmed...

Dan School of Drama and Music presents first 2020 Faculty Artist Series show

Written on January 24, 2020. Posted in Arts.

The Dan School of Drama and Music will present From Bader Lane to Broadway this weekend at the Isabel Bader Centre. On Saturday, Jan. 25, the production of opera, operetta, and musical theatre numbers will feature a selection of the faculty’s composers, lyricists, and poets as part of the Faculty...

Bounce House grapples with grief and motherly love

Written on January 24, 2020. Posted in Arts.

Jennica Harper’s Bounce House explores the highs and lows of mother and daughter relationships with sensitivity and focus. “The mother who is gone and the daughter who is here: those are the people it’s dedicated to,” Harper said in an interview with The Journal. Harper wrote poetry about her mother...

Gwen Benaway isn’t letting critics slow her down

Written on November 22, 2019. Posted in Arts.

Gwen Benaway’s third collection of poetry, Holy Wild, explores her experience as a trans woman and her experience transitioning. The winners were announced on Oct. 29, and Benway scored the prize for poetry for her collection. Normally, the announcement is an exciting occasion for chosen authors—but...

On the Count of None examines reality through a surrealist lens

Written on September 17, 2019. Posted in Arts.

Allison Chisholm’s book On the Count of None is the culmination of years of hard work and random flashes of inspiration. The Kingston local first began writing eight years ago following the example of her husband, who’s also a writer. Since then, her works have appeared in various publications including...

Kingston film is poetry in motion

Written on March 1, 2019. Posted in Arts, Film.

Who is Bruce Kauffman?—a new film set to premiere at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday— brings literature beyond the page. The project, which was first conceived two years ago, has its roots in the Skeleton Park Arts Festival. Inspired by the film LIVE in Kingston’s tribute...

Guy Simser’s poetic homecoming

Written on February 9, 2018. Posted in Arts.

After a globetrotting career with stints in the military, journalism and diplomacy, it was time for Guy Simser to come home. His 2016 book, She Don’t Mean A Thing If She Ain’t Got That Swing, presents a memoir and poetry collection both dedicated to his wife and the wide-ranging life they spent together....

Q&A with renowned poet Liz Howard

Written on March 10, 2017. Posted in Arts.

On March 6, poetry enthusiasts gathered in Watson Hall to hear renowned Canadian poet Liz Howard read from her debut novel, Infinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent, as part of the Creative Writing at Queen’s reading series. Howard, who’s been authoring poetry since early childhood, writes with an extraordinary...

Valentine's Day poetry contest

Written on February 16, 2017. Posted in Arts.

Winner: Valetine for a friend By: Amy Ge there are rumours the boning under your skin was cut by lonely men who stripped rotting wood from a crippled oak and fashioned it into shelter you stand, a house, in your modest plot dreaming of bare feet pattering along your floorboards at all...

Dear Diary, today I read you to a live studio audience

Written on February 14, 2017. Posted in Arts.

Nostalgia ran high at The Mansion on Saturday evening as brave souls approached the open mic, clutching their paperbound elementary school journals, their padlocked diaries, and their angst-ridden teenage poetry as the audience nodded and laughed along to the universal memory of being young. “Grownups...

Winter poetry contest

Written on December 1, 2016. Posted in Arts.

As the snow began to fall, The Journal sent out a winter and holiday-themed poetry casting call. Our favourites from the contest are featured below. The First Sweater Paige Kedrosky, Winner I put on; Smooth against my skin, Cozy-warm within. Plenty to wear As winter grows, As December blows. The...

Snapping along to post-election blues

Written on December 1, 2016. Posted in Arts.

At this week’s Queen’s Poetry Slam at The Mansion, poets were encouraged to “Use Their Voice Now.” And voices were raised, mid-finals, to yell in unison about the inevitable apocalypse caused by president-elect Donald Trump. The hilarious and enthusiastic Rachel Manson, ArtSci ’17, hosted the night,...

Talking Heads: Who is your favourite poet?

Written on November 4, 2016. Posted in Opinions.

“Shel Silverstein.” Charlotte Heller, ArtSci ’17 “Dylan Thomas.” Emily Graham, ArtSci ’17 “William Blake.” Laura Toth, ConEd ’18 “Edgar Allan Poe” Rory Hilson, ArtSci ’19

QNSA showcases lineup of artists from Queen’s and beyond

Written on October 28, 2016. Posted in Arts.

On Tuesday night, The Mansion became well-versed in lyricism and poetry as slammers and hip-hop artists performed emotional and politically-charged pieces at Queen’s Native Student Association’s (QNSA) Inspiring a Generation poetry and hip-hop night. Spearheaded by QNSA with help from The Vault Kingston,...

Street art as survival

Written on October 2, 2015. Posted in Arts.

Jerm IX, a street artist whose work decorates downtown Kingston, hopes he can help people truly see the environment around them — and not simply look at it. I first noticed his poetry this summer. Wandering down Princess St., I saw a white paper with black-stenciled writing plastered on an electricity...

Poets with disabilities perform pieces with heart

Written on October 2, 2015. Posted in Arts.

A poetry reading was held on Tuesday night with performances by poets looking beyond their disabilities and finding inspiration in the world around them. The event, titled Off the Record, presented a group of emerging poets who shared their thoughts through poems of various styles and themes. It was...

One final slam

Written on April 2, 2015. Posted in Arts.

Queen’s Poetry Slam held their last slam and open-mic event of the year in an emotional finish at The Mansion on Monday. The night started with the founder and Executive Director, Danielle d’Entremont, thanking all of the attendees for filling the small venue and so committedly supporting her endeavour,...

Powerful poetry

Written on January 27, 2015. Posted in Arts.

Queen’s Poetry Slam hosted their January slam event on Monday to eager audiences with an impressively diverse panel of poets. The event, hosted at the Mansion, held a crowd of over 60 people that displayed their passion for poetry with finger-snapping and cries of encouragement towards those brave...

Moving words from Kingston’s creatives

Written on October 9, 2014. Posted in Arts.

Poetry is a great way to provide social commentary and express creativity, and it often acts as a therapeutic outlet. The best thing about poetry is that it doesn’t discriminate. That was clear at The Artel on Tuesday as writers of all ages, genders and identities stood up at the podium to share their...

Tag: Poetry

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