Quill & Quire doing major feature on Marvin Orbach Collection

April 29/15

Thanks for this Chris!

Thanks also for all those great photos of your little piece of paradise.

We're still waiting for the Quill & Quire piece, in the end they decided to do a major feature on my father's collection. :)
 
Hope you've been well and enjoying spring's arrival.

Ariella, finally caught up on emails.
---
Ariella Orbach | MSc (MSPL)Rural development consultantConsultante en développement rural

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Hi Ariella,
Wow!!! That's great news that Q&Q is doing a major feature on your dad & his collection   ;  )  Think this news justifies a refill of chiraz!

All well here, altho I'm pretty sure that Chase is enjoying his last month or so of sniffing stuff on planet Earth. Next Wednesday I'm burying my mother's ashes in Ancaster - it'll feel good to put some closure on things.

And I'm so proud your mom likes my poem for Marvin. I don't believe I've ever had someone frame one of my poems as a memorial before  ;  )

ZenRiver Gardens is as quiet & relaxing as ever. Glad you enjoyed the pics. Some guy in Korea liked the post I did about the ZRG dragon drinking once a year from the spring freshet, & plans to include the piece in a book he's doing on dragons.

Trust you & your mom are coping OK over Marvin's passing. Again, I'm so proud he & his life's work are getting major recognition in Canada's primo literary outlet!

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase Wrffffffffffzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  (already snoozing after our nightly walk by the Crowe River)


p.s. pls forward the Q&Q piece when it appears - I feel I'm getting almost as haphazard as Chase these days, & may miss it otherwise ...


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On 2015-04-29, at 11:22 PM, anna yin wrote:

Indeed, good news.  I think Marvin in heaven will be happy to hear that. Thank you Marvin.


Anna

Marvin in Biblioheaven (poem)

 


Marvin's saggy armchair floats on a cloud
the coffee table beside him filling magically
with stacks of fresh poetry books
like his coffeecup which never empties

the poets Marvin befriended on Earth
have reincarnated as butterflies
and dragonflies - here their wings
whisper unending rhymes rather
than the nasty buzzing hums made below

Marvin's smile is permanent
sometimes a breeze wafts fresh parchment
other times the stale tang of musty bookshelves
all are perfumes for Marvin's bookish nostrils

there are few reference questions in biblioheaven
and those sought have easy answers
well, just hard enough to require mild thought
and the reference books Marvin consults
always fall open at exactly the right page

seasons flit and fly in biblioheaven
they change with the turning of a page
sometimes one poem will encompass many seasons
and snow falls at Marvin's feet for a few seconds
followed by crisp leaves, perhaps
or a spring shower with the hint of freshened flowers

in his chair, on his cloud, book in hand
Marvin smiles, enchanted, whimsical
Biblioheaven!  few find the place
many hope they will

Chris Faiers



 
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That is SO comforting to envision.
Thanks for this Chris.  I hope Marvin saves a spot
for me.    Katherine.

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Andreas Gripp has left a new comment on your post "Marvin in Biblioheaven (poem)":

a very nice poetic tribute to Marvin, Chris. Thanks for posting!


Posted by Andreas Gripp to Riffs & Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens at 31 March 2015 at 05:59

        
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On 2015-04-07, at 6:53 PM, Honey Novick wrote:

Dear Chris;  I am so very sorry to learn that Marvin passed.  I have no words
Honey


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On 2015-04-08, at 6:51 PM, Ariella Orbach wrote:

Hi Chris,

Beautiful images! I can just see him sitting in his chair, surrounded by poet-butterflies and inhaling the smell of the pages. (Although he quit coffee many years ago.) I'd like to think that his Biblioheaven exists, and that's where he is now, just as you describe it. :-)

PS- sorry for the time passed before responding to such a meaningful poem. My time abroad has been much busier and work days much longer than I had (optimistically) expected.

Cheers,
Ariella


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Hi Ariella,
I'm so pleased you like my poem for Marvin!!!  Last week I received a newsletter post from Haiku Canada with the tribute/obit I wrote for Marvin. It must have appeared in The League of Canadian Poets newsletter as well, as I've had several poets express their email condolences, likely from this source (including Honey Novick & Kathy Figueroa - who visited me today). Some phone conversations with poets have also ensued with condolences & appreciation for Marvin's huge contribution to CanPo (e.g. Patrick Connors).

No probs with the time lapse - poets are always thrilled to receive a compliment, & I knew you were travelling because of work oriented duties.

Yes, whenever I visit ZenRiver Gardens this spring, to sit in my rocking chair on the deck of the shaman shack, I'll envision Marvin close at hand in his armchair, enjoying Biblioheaven !

peace, poetry power & an eternity in Biblioheaven  ;  )

Chris ... & Chase Wrfffffffffffffffffffffffffff!
    

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On 2015-04-16, at 6:49 PM, Gabriella Orbach wrote:

Hi Chris,

   I'm Marvin Orbach's wife. I apologize for not writing sooner but as you can
imagine I have a lot on my plate these days with paperwork,looking after the
house and general everyday chores.I wanted to tell you that after reading your
poem "Marvin in Biblio heaven" tears came to my eyes because you really
captured Marv's true spirit and his love for poetry.I intend to immortalize your
poem by framing it so that I can look at it everyday and remember Marv!
Thank you for creating such a beautiful tribute!!!!

         Peace be with you.

            NAMASTE

                     Gaby Orbach
   
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On 2015-06-22, at 1:54 PM, Susan Ioannou wrote:

Hi, again, Chris,

"Marvin in Biblioheaven" is truly lovely, as I would have imagined him, based on the warmth of his e-mails. I shall print a copy and save it with the rest of my Marvin Orbach correspondence.

Susan Ioannou


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From: Anna Pottier <noreply-comment@blogger.com>
Date: July 5, 2015 9:37:57 PM EDT
To: zenriver@sympatico.ca
Subject: [Riffs & Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens] New comment on Marvin in Biblioheaven (poem).

Anna Pottier has left a new comment on your post "Marvin in Biblioheaven (poem)":

Only today - 5 July 2015 - did I learn of Marvin Orbach's passing. It does not get much more surreal that sitting here under a whirring ceiling fan in the heat of Salt Lake City morning, stumbling upon the Sue Garter piece in Quill & Quire, and being knocked sideways at the words, "…he was…" .

Which prompted a frantic search, leading to his obituary in the Montreal Gazette. Marvin? Marvin of the undying enthusiasm and meticulous love of all things poetry? Marvin who came to our door on Monkland with a big bag of carrots from his garden, hoping to exchange them for a few signatures in volumes of Irving's books?

No, you see, this wasn't an ordinary man. If I may mangle a famous Layton poem, Marvin's devotion to poetry was perfect.

More than that, when Irving and I found ourselves embroiled in the disgusting but inevitable "Cameron Affair" (wherein only a few people dared join Irving in his battle against a shameful, error-fest of anti-Jewish shlock …..Marvin was stellar in simple but oh-so-important ways. I will never forget seeing Irving off towards the Vanier Library in all weather, clutching our newly minted samizdats. Irving, never good with machines, soon encountered photocopy trouble. His rescuing angel: Marvin Orbach. He made sure the paper tray was full; cleared up the maddening jams; and always made sure to have pockets full of change for Irving's paper money.

The sheer contrast between the entire nation's silence (when it was not aligned with Cameron against Irving) and Marvin's seamless, selfless help - I can tell you now though it is hard to see the screen as I type for the tears - it truly gladdened Irving's heart. Not only did the actual help make Irving's life easier, but just getting to know Marvin for his pure, pure soul, his kindness, and perhaps above all, his love of poetry, quite simply helped restore balance in Irving's life and heart during that horrible episode.

And the night we had dinner at Marvin and Gaby's, their beautiful little girl Ariella joining us for that perfectly cooked chicken (and my first taste of kasha and bows) also touched Irving. He and I recalled that night and Marvin quite a few times. Funny how a man can have friends who claim to have known him for 50 years, can have children, relatives, etc., but in a dark time, sometimes they all fall away, their absence made somewhat more acceptable by the appearance of an authentic, undivided, passionately kind and loving soul.

Marvin, I was looking forward to putting a copy of my memoir in your hands this September. Can't believe I won't get that chance, but maybe up there in Biblioheaven, you've already read it.

My deepest condolences to Gaby and Ariella, and to anyone in Canada for whom poetry is more than words on a page.
There will be no one else like him.

Anna Pottier

Posted by Anna Pottier to Riffs &amp; Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens at 5 July 2015 at 18:37


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Ariella Orbach has left a new comment on your post "Marvin in Biblioheaven (poem)":

Anna, thank you for your beautiful words about my father. I've always known that he was a very special person, but many of us feel that way about a parent - not a particularly objective opinion. To read so many others speak of their appreciation for his kindness, gentleness, and genuine interest in others has touched me deeply. Your words brought tears to my eyes as I sipped my coffee this morning; they were tears of happiness because I know that my father has left his mark here, in his own gentle way.

Although I was too young to remember your visit to our home, my parents always spoke highly of that dinner. Thank you for your condolences - I'm so happy that Marvin touched your lives as he did ours.

Ariella Orbach

Posted by Ariella Orbach to Riffs &amp; Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens at 6 July 2015 at 18:43

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Anna Pottier has left a new comment on your post "Marvin in Biblioheaven (poem)":

Ariella! He certainly was appreciated and loved by many. While I wish we could have come together again under any other circumstances, still, I am glad my words found their way to you.

He absolutely left his mark on this world, and you are surely his (and Gaby's) greatest legacy. He lives on in you, and the memories of many.

I've tried on occasion to make kasha and bows…never quite turns out like it did that night. If I recall correctly, you had been taking ballet classes and did a few sassy pirouettes.

Life, as they say, is for the living. We do our best, and that's all anyone can ask.

Anna

Posted by Anna Pottier to Riffs &amp; Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens at 7 July 2015 at 20:24

 

Marvin Orbach in Biblioheaven

This is great reading! :)

I'd like to think that he made it to biblioheaven and can enjoy beautiful words without all the interruptions of mundane life.

Thanks once again,
Ariella (& Gaby - we read and enjoyed this blog post together)

---
Ariella Orbach | MSc (MSPL)


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RIP Marvin Orbach
June 13, 1940 - February 8, 2015




photo of Marvin Orbach by Andrew Dobrowolskj


great Al Purdy anecdote by Marvin Orbach

from an earlier blog posting of emails between Marvin and Chris


On 2012-07-12, at 2:07 PM, marvin orbach wrote:

Namaste Chris,
   I hope your Milton Acorn event went well, and that  you
accomplished everything you set out to do.  You must have had some
interesting poets reading  Milt's poems.
 
 Thank you very much for  sending the pictures of your hideaway.
It looks like a real paradise. You are very lucky to have  such a
place.   Do you have a special spot for meditation, somewhere in the
woods next to a stream?

    And thank you for sending me Katherine Gordon's  endearing new
poems. They were a pleasure to read.  According to my records, she
sent me some  items in the year 2004. Her material in my collection
consists of : booklets of poetry, correspondence,  photographs, and
holograph and typescript  copies of several of her poems.

    Many years ago I corresponded very briefly with Alden Nowlan.
It was a shock to find out that he passed away at such a young age.
Think of all the great poems he could have written, had he lived to an
old age.

    I am delighted that you like my neologism, Biblioheaven.
Somehow I believe that after I pass into the other world,  I will be
sitting on my favourite armchair, on top of a big white, fluffy cloud,
reading Leonard Cohen's poems until the end of time.

    I would be pleased   to  add some of your manuscripts to my
archival collection. Perhaps one day  a western Canadian scholar will
be your biographer.  I am surprised   that  Ontario universities
haven't  come running after  you, asking for your papers.  Oh well!!
The University of Calgary Library has the papers of many prominent
authors from across the country.  It is an ideal location for your
mss.

   It is great that you and your frienda are actively engaged in
preserving our country's literary heritage.  Blessings upon you.   As
for me, I have always been  a bit of an archivist at heart.  While a
student at McGill, I did take a course in archives.
*
  Al Purdy,  one of our great People's Poets,    many years ago
spent the winter months at Loyola, as writer in residence.  This is
where I worked for many years.  I thought a little anecdote about
Purdy would be of interest to you.  Al Purdy was in the habit of
bringing   beer into the classroom.  He would throw the empty beer
cans out  of the window, and they would tumble down into the snow.
Come spring, after  the snow had melted,  a  pile of beer cans was
clearly visible on the grass next to the classroom where Purdy had
held court.  A fitting tribute to one of our great poets.  Purdy was
always  very kind,  and passed on to me several nicely inscribed
volumes of his poetry.

    I hope your return home is without incident.
    Namaste.   Peace.
    Regards to Chase.   Woof woof.
    Marvin, in a sunny and warm Montreal.

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July 23/12

Hi Marvin,
Back from a very successful & enjoyable visit to Toronto. The Acorn launch at the Parliament Street Library went very well. Our little 'poetry fellowship' gang managed another full room for the event - same as we did with the Runnymede Library Tribute to Raymond Souster last November.

I also attended TO poet Julie McNeil's 20th annual poetry soiree. She's a great hostess, & I knew just about everyone there. It was esp. nice to see two longtime supporters of Canadian poetry there - Don Cullen and Maria Jacobs - both must be up there in the 70s somewhere now.

Love your anecdote about Big Al. Think I'll post it on my blog ... trust this is OK - too great a story not to share!  :  )

I'm in the final stages of organizing PurdyFest #6 - this year we're naming it AcornFest in honour of Milton Acorn. At the Parliament St. gig I hooked up with some old comrades & friends, & Joyce Wayne, from Steel Rail Publishing days, now plans to present a paper on Milt at the Symposium.

I'm planning to mail you the manuscript for my 1986 book, FOOT THROUGH THE CEILING. I received the inaugural Milton Acorn People's Poet medallion for it in 1987.

There are some interesting and even quirky things about the mss and its development. I'm taking a quick poke thru the mss now, to see what might merit mention.

I had 3 poet friends help me select the poems for inclusion, & in that methodical way we librarians like to do things, I drew up a graph and had the 3 friends rate the proposed poems from 1 to 5. Two of the selectors are long gone - both sad situations, dead well before their times & before either achieved the literary reps they deserve. Jones (Daniel) was one selector, and another was Shaunt Basmajian. I published chapbooks by both of them with my Unfinished Monument Press. I believe the third selector was James Deahl, but it might have been Carol Malyon? That page is a photocopy (the rest are the original typings), and the dogeared photocopy has blanked out the name of the first selector ... argggh.

Another interesting footnote is that I originally dated the poems, but the publisher/editor, Bev Daurio, thought that this detracted from the collection. So in the book the dates, or "circa dates", weren't included. I think Bev's decision was right, but it might make for an interesting study if anyone ever does decide to do a paper on me and my poetry (!!!)

The mss is in amazingly clean, basically pristine condition. I'm surprised at how neat my typing was on my old Selectric typewriter.

Plan to put it in the mail today or tomorrow. Will dig around & see what else to include.

Hope we can stimulate other poets to donate as well.

namaste,
peace & poetry power!
Chris  & Chase ... Wrffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!
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Further inclusions today:

before I forget ... the chapbooks

DOMINION DAY IN JAIL (Chris Faiers)
WHITE RASTA IN WINTERTIME (Chris Faiers)

very rare copy (signed by all)
THE UNFINISHED ANTHOLOGY Vol 1
I didn't know I had any of these - found 2 or 3, and mailed you one

of the 6 poets, 3 died decades ago (David Reid, AIDS; Margaret Saunders, just got old; Shaunt Basmajian, heart attack after being stabbed while driving hack)

Thanks, Marvin, for encouraging me to donate to the Univ. of Calgary archives. While rummaging for a few more things to include with the mss mailout today of
FOOT THROUGH THE CEILING I found these. The signed (by all 6) copy of THE UNFINISHED ANTHOLOGY is a
very unique & special rarity & keepsake. Had no memory of them even existing.

peace & poetry power!
Namaste,
Chris ... and a heatstruck Chase ... wffffffffffffffffffff

Canadian Voices (for Marvin Orbach, RIP)

Canadian Voices
 
for Marvin Orbach

 
A daring grew to voice
the wonders of our own perspective:
the fierce of winter
the miracle of spring
sweet of summer, rage of autumn,
the restless politics of guarding wilderness
against the rape of oil,
our little heartbreaks
small triumphs,
against the backdrop
of a powerful geography.
A community of poets found their pride,
sometimes each other,
a rare and wonderful meeting
of inspired minds.
It took a genius of catalyst
to blend these voices and visions:
one man to appreciate and understand...
give us the encouragement
to see “that this was good”
a movement of confidence
chorus of voices blended
in affirmation....
we are the poets of Canada,
Marvin Orbach our flag of nation,
our founder, mentor, eternal emblem.
 
 
Katherine L. Gordon
love and gratitude always to Marvin Orbach
for his steadfast encouragement.

Special Collections

The Marvin Orbach Collection of Canadian Poetry

When I was a young teenager I collected butterflies. Then when I got older I started collecting poets. After all aren't poets butterflies? When they write, they take wing.

Thus Marvin Orbach, a book collector and a librarian at the Vanier Library, Concordia University, Montreal, writes of his passion for modern and contemporary Canadian poetry. He began collecting at the age of 17 and by 2002 had developed a collection of approximately 2400 books which he donated to Special Collections. This gift has been recognized by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board as being of outstanding significance and national importance.

Mr. Orbach wanted to keep the collection in his home city of Montreal but happy circumstances brought him into contact with Special Collections which houses important archival fonds of Canadian literary figures such as Alden Nowlan, Alice Munro, Mordecai Richler, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Aritha van Herk, and Robert Kroetsch. The gift of such a significant book collection is a perfect complement in presenting the published works of authors who are already represented in the archival holdings.

The Marvin Orbach Collection of Canadian Poetry has representative works from the 19^th to the early 20^th centuries but the greatest strength is in works by poets who began being published in the 1960s, the era which produced an explosion of poetry by such writers as Irving Layton, Ralph Gustafson, Miriam Waddington, Dorothy Livesay, P.K. Page, and Leonard Cohen. Many of these works are personally inscribed to Mr. Orbach and often contain a poem in manuscript. In addition, there are manuscripts, letters, and advertisements for poetry readings as well as translations into other languages by poets such as Margaret Atwood and Irving Layton. The collection is being continually strengthened by additional donations from Mr. Orbach.

In an article published in Concordia's Thursday Report (March 18, 2004), Mr. Orbach notes that his collection is his thanks to the country that accepted his parents after they left Eastern Europe. I love Canada. This collection is my gift to Canada.

It is indeed a gift which Special Collections shares with Canada. At the present time there is a finding aid for the collection available.

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Thanks, Sheila  ;  )
I sent my blog post to Quill & Quire, & the editor is going to do a tribute on Marvin!

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase wrffffffffffffffffffff!

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On 2015-03-17, at 3:22 PM, Sheila Martindale wrote:

Yes, wonderful stuff, both the poem and the special collections piece.  Thanks, and Godspeed to Marvin on his final journey.
Sheila

Website: sheilamartindale.com



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Hi Ariella,
I'm pleased you like Katherine's poem & the blog tribute to your dad  ;  ) Marvin was an inspiration for Canadian poets coast to coast to coast & generation to generation!

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase Wrffffffffffffffffffff!


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On 2015-03-17, at 12:41 PM, Ariella Orbach wrote:

Wow, beautiful...

Thanks for forwarding, and for sending along the other blog entries concerning my father. I'll be sending all of this to my mother as well, and I know that it will make her smile.

The question you ask me about the continuity of the collection at UofC is one that has been in the back of my mind. My father never mentioned anything about this, I imagine because his passing was not anticipated. I've posed the question to the folks at Calgary who take care of the collection, to see what they think. Unfortunately, neither my mother nor I inherited the expertise to continue in his name. I'll certainly keep you informed of any decisions, especially ones regarding forwarding of correspondence.

Thanks again for this!! and I'll be in touch with a photo + text soon.

Cheers,
Ariella

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On 2015-03-22, at 11:38 AM, Pearl Pirie wrote:

Hi Chris
What a shock that Marvin Orbach has died. Lovely man. Every death is a reminder to hug your loved ones.

Thanks for spreading the word. Hopefully Quill & Quire will get at that story soon.

Pearl

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Ice Storm Patrollers

Ice Storm Patrollers
a haibun for Marvin Orbach


For many years I was self-appointed inspector of snow storms and rain storms, and did my duty faithfully; surveyor, if not of highways, then of forest paths and all across-lot routes, keeping them open, and ravines bridged and passable at all seasons, where the public heel had testified to their utility.

Henry David Thoreau
from WALDEN, first section "Economy", 1854



A major ice storm hit Ontario last Friday, and for several days it was unwise, basically impossible, to drive. Exploring the beautiful results of the storm wasn't possible until yesterday, Monday. Chase & I visited one of our favourite trails on the rocky plateau above the village. I call these the water tower trails.

ice storm
fleshes the bones
of old tipi sticks

 
Walking was very difficult. Fortunately Chase and I found a snowmobile track sunken under the ice crust and were able to crunch along above it. After a half mile the snowmobiler had circled back, and hiking was far more difficult. I sank heel deep with each step, while Chase skidded on top, enabled by his 'four-wheel-drive'. Walking was so laborious for me we didn't continue far. On the return hike, I noticed an ethereal surprise in the unblemished snow:
 
each footprint
glowing
bodhisattva blue

 
Day 2: The Reeve's Trail

This trail is part of the greater trans-Canada Trail, which was originally the old CNR railroad tracks. The rails were removed decades ago, but fortunately the rail bed was acquired and turned into long stretches of our national trail. It is extremely rare for Chase and I to encounter another hiker. The only humans we see are snowmobilers whizzing past at high speed in the winter, and ATVers in the milder weather. Chase and I enjoy our daily exercise and appreciate nature at an enjoyable pace. The crazed riders enjoy bruised kidneys and the aroma of small whining engines. The fuel scent lingers for minutes after their passing in cold weather. 

 
stunted dogwood swamp
magick fairyland today


boring stretch of trail
transformed to crystalline
archway

facing the sun
the whole swamp glistens
crystal

 
Chase & I turn our backs on the sun to start the return hike to the car. Sadly, the magick crystal swamp has returned to its usual dross colour. How can this be? Without the sun's brilliant magnification, the ice no longer reflects. Also the sun has also melted the ice on the south side of the cattails and dogwoods. Same swamp, two visions.

 
sun behind us
the swamp returns
to dull browns

looking back
crystal magick returns
with the sun's eye

lone black wing
swoops off the slag heap
this magick day

On day two the ice surface has hardened enough to bear my weight. I think of the sweet bread pudding I baked last night with its brown sugar crust. Tonight the forecast is for 25 below - no melt forecasts more ice magick tomorrow. 

 
Day 3: Water Tower Trails Again

It's a Christmas Day tradition to hike a certain section of these trails before Christmas dinner with my friend Morley and his family. While I hike I remember the image of the Christmas Day Chase & I flushed a snowshoe rabbit from a brushpile on this plateau.


faint sun
makes new magick:
all is silver-white


 
Even the daily high temperature has remained far below freezing since the ice storm visited. These sub-zero temperatures are tempering the ice crust to a steel-like hardness. Now it is a rare surprise when I fall through the crust. The edges are knife sharp, and I have a gouge on my thumb from one of these stumbles.

I worry that small animals may be trapped in their burrows by this once-in-many-decades ice storm. It would be reassuring to see tracks, but

 
even humans
leave no tracks now
in the frozen woods

 
Chris Faiers/cricket
Christmas Day 2013


Sunday, Dec. 29 : Thaw Day

I took Chase for a great ramble at Callahan's Rapids Conservation. Haven't been there in a month. I tried to explore the 'haunted woods' section by the rapids, but the thaw was in effect today, & I realized I couldn't make the round trip I like to do because the little creek was no longer frozen. So Chase & I hiked back to the parking lot, over the bridges, & took the little side trail which comes out in Riverside Pines.

Because of the thaw birds & little animals were finally out & about today. The warmer weather created a mist which made the hike feel like we were walking thru some primordial soup. From the bridges:

thaw day
beaver's slap a monk's tap
awake
 
Lots of falling ice & snow in the woods. It sounded like large invisible beings were tromping around in the woods, & a few times large chunks fell dangerously close to us.

We hiked for almost 2 hours, & I was so hungry I went to the Ranch by myself for crispy chicken. When I got home at 4:30 there were emails from Jim & Virginia, & another one from Gail. So I left Chase to warm up & drove back to El Rancho for a holiday drink with Jim & Virginia.


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Ancestral Roofs has left a new comment on your post "Ice Storm Patrollers":

Thanks Chris for this lovely wander through the ice storm woods - such dangerous beauty and now all signs gone, just broken branches to remind us where the ice lay heavy.
You two keep well.
Lindi 

Posted by Ancestral Roofs to Riffs &amp; Ripples from ZenRiver Gardens at 30 December 2013 07:04

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Friday, January 10, 2014: Wraiths on the Water Tower Trails

Hi Marvin,

Thanks for letting me know the 2 UMBRELLAS arrived OK. I'm pleased I was able to feature the work of Martin Durkin in one, & that of Kathy Figueroa & Ursula Pflug in the other.
The small package of ephemera should arrive early next week. Chase & I were finally able to hike on our favourite trails for the first time in a week this  aft - first it was the ice storm & then the arctic vortex making hiking dangerous & unpleasant. Chase had a great time, it's hard to believe he's around 16 years old & not still a puppy sometimes. I'm still enjoying my time with HDT - about 90 pages to go.

Chase bounding
over fresh snow
and scary tracks  


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Arctic Vortex Aftermath

There are no gods in the wilderness
only wolves remain scavenging
in the four corners of the savage winds,
angels are made of black iron
refrain from kissing their frozen feet,
in the tangle of crushed trees
a flurry of fur and tails,
monkeys are returning.

Katherine L. Gordon
frozen January, 2014.

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Saturday, January 18, 2014: Changes

Hi Katherine,
Many thanks for your poem"Arctic Vortex Aftermath". I've done something a little different with it - I've been adding daily haibun to a posting I initially started about the ice storm, but then I have continued adding posts, including my last one about the arctic vortex. So what I've done is add your poem as another link to this 'renku' (linked) sequence. I think it works???
peace & poetry power!

Chris & Chase Wrffffffffffffffzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!  - both very full after a big dinner - today's hike was a major one way back to the 'shaman ponds' on the old quarry properties behind ZenRiver. We encountered a lot of wildlife for a change. Perhaps nature is also restless after the recent overwhelming wintery intrusions. At the start of the hike a young doe, perhaps 3 years old, bounded across the trail within 50 feet of us. Later, another startled adventurer:

ghost rabbit
boots over the trail
ears still brown


When we started the hilly & dangerous return journey from the distant ponds, a pair of crows noisily flew overhead (Milt & Al?). Close to where we saw the first deer 2 yearlings slipped into the woods. By the main quarry a woodpecker was busy tap-tapping for hidden snacks in low lying scrub thorn trees.

both trees I signed
by the shaman ponds
gone this wild winter 



  
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Sunday, January 19, 2014:  Sewage Bay Swamp


Today I took Chase for an hour hike on the Sewage Plant trails. It was snowing quite heavily, & we enjoyed our first annual visit thru the frozen swamp to 'sewage bay'. It's a haunting place - only accessible in the height of winter freeze-up, & even more haunting in the midst of an increasingly heavy & windy snow storm. There was a very ramshackle lone ice hut on the little bay - it would have made an interesting picture (by the marge/of Lac Labarge).

camo canoe
resting against
winter cut stumps

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Marvellous Marvin's CanPo Archives (update)

Hi Chris,
     Just a short note to say hello.  I trust all is well with you.
     I thought I would mention the names of several poets who have recently sent me material for the collection.  They are, among many others:  Paulos Ioannou,  Jeff  Seffinga,  Marco Fraticelli,  Anna Yin,  Lyndia Terre (artist and poet), Rachel Lebowitz,  etc.  I am expecting something from Terry Ann  Carter.
     It was good to see Bill Bissett's response to your e-mail. It is great  to know that he is doing well.  Did I tell you that, many years ago he sent me 5 handwritten (holograph) poems for my collection? 
      Once again, as always, many thanks for your continued support for my collection at the U. of C.  I think we are both doing our share  in helping to preserve  part of our literary heritage.  Thank you for your altruism.   Your librarian's heart is in the right place.
      Keep well.   May the Muse be with you always.
      Marvelous Marvin, a fan of yours in Montreal.
      

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Halloween 2013

Hi Marvellous Marvin  :  )
All well with Chase & me, apart from the usual mild aches & pains which signify our 'elder' status  :  )  That's great news so many poets have contributed - I know I played my usual Judas goat routine with Paulos, Jeff, Marco, Anna & Terry Ann. Pleased to see they've taken my suggestion & followed thru on it!

One of these years I'll start sending the folders I have of my correspondence with bill bissett (yes, it was very nice to hear from him - he sounds great!) & many others. There are also files for each of the annual PurdyFests. Terry Barker & I were discussing your special archives last night, & it was Terry who crucially further explained to Anna Yin the importance of having her poetic materials archived.

During our conversation Terry suggested you acquire a copy of Shane Neilson's new chapbook/review on Milton Acorn. I told Terry I understand your special areas of interest are haiku and CanPo in general. I said I'm not sure if our particular interest in Canuck People's Poetry, a la Milton Acorn, is of interest to you for your archive (as "Acornites", we assume everybody associated with CanPo is completely fascinated with Milt & his legacy!).

As always, it's a comfort knowing that such a large part of my own CanPo personal work, & that of other poets I've published, featured, promoted & hung out with, is now preserved for ever and ever.

peace & poetry power on this Hallowed Eve!
Chris ... & Chase ArrrrrrrrrrrOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowffffffffffffffffffffffffff!

Magnificent Marvin the Mangler: Aggro Archivist!

Hi Marvin,
Maybe you've discovered what's missing from Canadian poetry - the brag. Milt said this to me many decades ago when I chauffered him to a reading at Western University.

So I can be Bad Boy Chris (or we can come up with a better alliteration), & perhaps you can be Marvin the Mangler. About the only poet/literati I can think of who doesn't require a beefed-up literary tag is Jim Christy (I prefer to call him Christy, anyway). His gleaming gold incisors are enuff of an introductory rep for anyone  :  )

Of course at PurdyFests we've been calling Jim Larwill Raven King for several years now, which is a great shamanic tagline, & a tribute to our old comrade & mentor, Milton Acorn (there's another lit. who didn't need a hotted-up tagline - Milton Acorn already sounds like a literary creation, like bill bissett's notorious 'Wilbur Snowshoes' of many decades ago). Apparently Wilbur (bill) was nominated for some award, possibly indigenous - until it was revealed Wilbur was a nom de plume of bill's!

Aggie Maggie for Ms. Atwood (her nom de plume is A Toad something or other), - yeah & my haijin name is cricket - pretty wimpy & humble, which of course is what Zen haijin names are supposed to be.

Anyway, thanks, as always, for collecting our literary missives for the archives. It's a thrill to know that some doctoral student is perhaps currently pouring over reams of our blather as we correspond now, with hopes of discovering some hidden nugget of Canuck literary value.

Namaste,
peace & poetry power!
bad boy Chris and his Killer Canine Chase WRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! (man, my bark IS bigger than my bite, but what a doggy handle!)


On 2013-03-16, at 6:47 PM, marvin orbach wrote:




                                . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dear "bad boy" Chris,
  Just a short note to say that I continue to enjoy the e-mails you
send my way.  I am printing furiously and sending the material to its
Western destination.   The archive is growing, and will be a wonderful
resource for researchers specializing in poetry, for generations to
come. Did I tell you that recently a doctoral student spent a lot of
time with the collection  doing research for his dissertation?
   Namaste, from Montreal West.
   La paix & le pouvoir de la poesie.
  Marvin.