23 Mar, 2009

Library readings in Altona, Steinbach, and Winkler MB

All of these readings were with Armin Wiebe. Our first event was in Altona on Feb. 12. There were about 20 people there, and a local newspaper covered the reading. It was the rollicking Rabelaisian humour of Armin’s work that attracted people, although of course the earthy jokes were in low German.

There seemed to be tentative amusement over some of my poems too, and everyone was very pleasant.

Armin Wiebe reading in the Altona Public Library

In Steinbach on Feb. 13 we had less people there, but Doug Reimer joined us. An accomplished fiction writer and a critic, Doug has been singing and playing bluegrass tunes for a number of years, and that’s what he did here. Somehow it all fit together–a bit of Yasch Siemens, some Fear Not, and old time music.

Doug Reimer helps close down the Winkler library

March 3rd all three of us were in Winkler, and we took turns until the library politely kicked us out. I read some Franz Wright in addition to my poems, and Armin read a story that he’s now turning into a play, as well as an excerpt from his novel Tatsea. Doug’s got a pretty good head tone, and listening to him made me want to have a drink. We settled for tea at the local Tim H’s with some of the folks who attended the reading.