Dear Members and Supporters,

Last year, BR (Brett) Dionysius was our guest poet for our September pop-up poetry night. That night the heavens opened and as Brett delivered his poetry, the sky delivered vengeance. How Calanthe Collective or Brett had transgressed was beyond us but the rain gods of every culture, all sixty or so of them, (Wikipedia told me how many) sent their contemptuous, drowning and perverse but unfathomable justice. But oh, dear members and supporters, how truly fortunate were we! Brett not only writes fine poetry but is a powerful and entertaining speaker. He threw contempt back in the faces of the rain deities, and in a momentary lull, called on them to send their worst. The drama of the evening was tense but, as all David and Goliath stories end in David’s triumph, so too did Brett’s. We were privileged and enthralled to hear his fine work and thoroughly entertained.

And so Brett returns to us on the 23rd and 24th of September. First to reprise his place as guest poet – this time at the Zamia Theatre – and then at Under the Greenwood Tree Bookshop and Art Gallery, to have Vanessa Page, a favourite guest poet of ours and the writer of the Calanthe Press published Botanical Skin, launch his Critical State, the latest publication from Calanthe Press. 

Both these events will be poetry delights. 

“Critical State is an evocative ‘tour’ of Queensland, engaging deeply with place, and the nature of interactions between humans and the natural world. Birds – extinct, endangered and otherwise – feature. Humans frequently do not come off well. Arresting prose poetry, timeless and deeply topical.”

B. R. Dionysius was founding Director of the Queensland Poetry Festival. His poetry has been widely published in literary journals, anthologies, newspapers and online. He is the author of one artist’s book, The Barflies’ Chorus (1995, Lyrebird Press), four poetry collections, Fatherlands (2000, Five Islands Press), Bacchanalia (2002, Interactive Press), Bowra (2013, Whitmore Press), Weranga (2013, Walleah Press), a verse novel, Universal Andalusia (2006, SOI 3) and two chapbooks, The Negativity Bin (2010, PressPress) and The Curious Noise of History (2011, Picaro Press). He won the 2009 Max Harris Poetry Award, was joint winner of the 2011 Whitmore Press Manuscript Prize and was short-listed in the 2017 Montreal International Poetry Prize. He lives in Brisbane, teaches English and in his spare time watches birds.

EVENT ONE

IS WHAT?  Guest poet B. R. Dionysius reads his poetry at our Poets@Zamia Pop-up evening

Blackboard Poets before interval. A dozen spots for anyone to read a poem of their choice – their own or someone else’s. Bung your name on the blackboard. First in first served.

Music

IS WHERE?  Zamia Theatre, 22 Main St Tamborine Mountain.

IS WHEN?  Friday 23rd September. 6.30 pm for a 7.00 PM start.

ENTRY

By donation at the door. All proceeds go to the hire of the venue and the guest poet.

People ask how much is appropriate. That depends a little on how fat your purse and inclination are.

 Donations vary between $5.00 and $20.00 generally. It’s what you can afford. 

But please don’t put off coming if you’re skint this month. Make it up at a later pop-up night.

WHAT TO BRING

Nibbles and tipple of your choice. It’s a festive affair.

A lightness of heart and an openness to enjoying yourself.

Cash or card to purchase Brett’s and Calanthe’s publications that will be on sale.

BOOKINGS

This is pretty essential so we don’t overbook. 

And note, this is a different booking address from Event Two.

Email this address: calanthecollective@gmail.com

or

Text me on 0416 217 005

EVENT TWO

IS WHAT? The launch 

of B. R. Dionysius’ Critical State, Calanthe Press’ latest publication.

Vanessa Page, a treasured 2021 guest poet of Calanthe Collective and the author of the Calanthe Press publication, Botanical Skin, will launch Brett’s work.

IS WHEN? Saturday 24th September, at 3.00 pm.
IS WHERE? Under the Greenwood Tree, Bookshop and Art Gallery92 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain

ENTRY Free as the birds.

WHAT TO BRING – Cash or card to purchase your copy (or copies) of Critical State.

Wine’s laid on (Thank you, Janene!) so there’s no need to bring any.

BOOKINGS – Text or phone 0424 586 066. 

That’s the number for Under the Greenwood Tree, whose proprietor is Janene Gardner

AND WHILE I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION

Have you been onto the Calanthe Press website yet, or haven’t visited for a while? Its address is up the top there: www.calanthepress.com.au

It’s worth a visit, as by my reckoning (and the reckoning of myriad others) it’s a cracker of a site. It’s full of information about Calanthe, its activities, past and to come, its publications which you can purchase there and biographies of their authors and details of the Calanthe Collective Poetry Prize. It’s a poetry lover’s paradise, so do yourself a poetic favour and check it out. 

We’d love to see you at one or both of these events. And if you have any further questions, queries or quibbles, write to calanthecollective@gmail.com or get in touch with me, the Secretary Geoff Cartwright on 0416 217 005.