Y4Y Reading and Fundraiser

Time for some shameless self-promotion!

I’ve been organizing a reading/fundraiser for Covenant House for the past month, and we have a date!  The Y4Y: Youth For Youth Reading and Fundraiser will be happening on Saturday March 2nd at the Rhizome Cafe (317 East Broadway) in Vancouver.  The night starts at 7:00pm and I’ve planned for it to end at around 9:00 but the folks at the Rhizome have let me know that there’s no rush to wrap up the night, and most likely, we’ll have some time after the reading to chat and have some fun.

There will also be a book raffle during intermission, with the books written and donated by the Creative Writing faculty, and the proceeds thanking Rhizome for letting us use their lovely place.  I have the books with me right now and let me tell you, I want to keep them.  I’d come to the event just for the raffle!

The kitchen will also be open before, during, and after the event, so come and enjoy some delicious food and drinks while you hear the Undergrads from the Creative Writing program read their stuff!

Hope to see you all there!

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/409429542485355/?fref=ts

“I Love Like a Lesbian”

Wanted to post this one.  It’s from my reading at thrilLITERATE last week, the last one I read.

A friend didn’t understand the poem and although I could attribute it to his innocence and general naiviety about the world outside of his farm, perhaps there are others who don’t get it.  To understand it, you have to know about stereotypes, mainly that lesbians fall in love and get together VERY quickly.  I make fun of it but I also explain how I, as a gay man, am like that too.

Alright, now that I’ve told you how to interpret the poem, here it is:

I love thrilLITERATE

Although I’ve only read poetry in public a grand total of three times, I’ve forgotten what a great, cathartic experience it can be.  Before going to thrilLITERATE tonight, I was pretty nervous, so much so that I found it difficult to have dinner (even though it was brimming with what I assumed to be delicious MSG).  When I got to the Rhizome Cafe, though, I felt fine.  I knew the worst thing that would happen would be that my mouth would dry up when I read– as if always annoyingly does– but other than that, it really was simple.

Thanks so much to Amber Dawn to always being so supportive.  I know I am very clumsy, inarticulate, and probably have some condition that renders me inept at talking to people (but not writing about/to them), but I really do owe her for constantly getting me involved in the community and inspired to do so many wonderful things.  It may seem like an easy thing to do, to be supportive, but I never feel like she is just saying things, the way some friends do.  She is genuinely supportive, and coming from an atmosphere and culture that doesn’t support artist endeavours, it truly means a lot.  She keeps me going in and pursuing what I love in ways she probably doesn’t even know.  I’ll write more about her sometime.

I know I only attended twice ever, but I love you, thrilLITERATE!

thrilLITERATE poetry reading

Hello, everyone!  I will be reading some poetry at the last thrilLITERATE event later this month.  Here are some details below:

The thrilLITERATE Reading Series has showcased some of Vancouver’s most acclaimed queer and allied authors to raise funds for the women’s literacy program at WISH, a drop-in centre for female survival sex workers in the Downtown Eastside. After nearly five years, organizer and host Amber Dawn is saddened, but ready to retire this community literary event, BUT NOT WITHOUT A FINAL FAREWELL!
Friday February 24 and Saturday 25! Two nights of poetry, storytelling and celebrating literacy as a basic human right!

Friday February 24 Readers include: Elizabeth Bachinsky, Afuwa Granger, Shana Myara, Donna Dykeman, Aaron Chan, Cathleen With, Antonette Rea and Tony Correia,

Saturday February 25 Readers include: Tash Wolfe, Larissa Lai, Terra Poirier, Sonnet L’Abbe, Crystal Sikma, Sigal Samuel and Amber Dawn

Rhizome Cafe, 317 E Broadway

Sliding Scale $5 – $20. 100% of the door goes to the WISH Learning and Literacy Program. Doors 7 pm. Show 7:30, both nights.

Hope to see you guys there!

“A Million Times (All On You)” — Aaron Chan

I’m again at a loss for what to post so here’s a song I co-wrote and performed for the first time last weekend where I screwed up.  Enjoy!