Phoems = pho + poems

A little while ago Rachel Rose, Vancouver’s new poet laureate, put out the word that she would like proposals for food related poetry events — readings, workshops, whatever. This is part of Vancouver-wide programming she’s doing during her…laureateship? My dear poet-friend Adrienne Gruber asked me if I would like to bring our special method of workshopping our poems to the public. Of course I said yes.

For four years, Adrienne and I have workshopped our poems over Vietnamese pho. We have done this through multiple chapbooks and book launches between the two of us, and one baby, Adrienne’s daughter Quintana, who is growing into a healthy pho-lover. Sharing a meal is the best way to discuss and process our writing together and pho restaurants do not care how long you stay. Therefore PHOEMS was born.

Pho + poems = phoems.

On Sunday April 26th at noon, we will be hosting a public PHOEM workshop — the world’s FIRST phoem workshop, yes that’s right — thanks to the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the League of Canadian Poets. The pho is on the house and it is first come first served (literally!), with photicipation capped at 10. Location TBA. If you would like to use your noodle and soup up your poems, please join us! All are welcome, especially those who can tolerate my sense of humour. For all info on how it will all boil down (sorry) and how to register, email Adrienne at adrienne.d.gruber@gmail.com.

The Facebook event is here.

Also this event is free! Register soon — it is likely to fill up quickly! If you have never workshopped your writing before, this could be a good place to start.

Here’s a bit about Adrienne: Adrienne Gruber is the author of the full-length poetry collection This is the Nightmare (Thistledown Press) and three chapbooks, Mimic (Leaf Press), Everything Water (Cactus Press), and Intertidal Zones (Jack Pine Press). Mimic was awarded the 2012 BpNichol Chapbook award. Her second full-length poetry collection, Buoyancy Control, is forthcoming with BookThug in 2016. http://adriennegruber.wordpress.com/