A Dance of Self-Isolation: COVID Poems from the Biggest Little City in Canada

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Through 2020, Windsor’s poets laureate responded to the COVID-19 global pandemic through poetry. Over 70 original poems have been published online, offering inspiration, support and understanding to the community during the unprecedented crisis. The poems are gathered into a collection that helps to tell the story of the pandemic in the City of Windsor. In this collection, Windsor’s poet laureate emeritus Marty Gervais, poet laureate Mary Ann Mulhern, youth poet laureate Samantha Badaoa (2019-2021), and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens reflect upon and respond to the pandemic through poetry. The poems included capture the impact of the crisis, as well as the hopes, dreams, challenges, triumphs and fears of an entire community navigating lockdown and recovery in truly unprecedented times.

Purchase a copy of the poetry collection: https://blackmosspress.com/product/a-dance-of-self-isolation-covid-poems-from-the-biggest-little-city-in-canada/.

In this virtual book launch (originally broadcast March 20, 2021), the poets are joined by community leaders to mark the one-year anniversary of the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex. Panelists share works from the poets and discuss links between poetry and how the global pandemic impacted municipal resources, isolation and recovery centres and supports for temporary farm workers and those experiencing homelessness, and pressures on existing hospitals infrastructure... to struggles faced by health care workers, and supports for food banks and other programs and initiatives aimed at lifting up vulnerable populations. The video includes musical performances from Nadine Deleury and The Bishop Boys.

A Dance of Self-Isolation is presented through the City of Windsor’s poet laureate program, in partnership with Museum Windsor and Black Moss Press. The collection is edited by Christopher Lawrence Menard.

Links

• A Dance of Self-Isolation blackmosspress.com

Organisateur

City of Windsor Poet Laureate Program

The City of Windsor's poet laureate program aims to promote poetry to a wide and appreciative audience, while strengthening the public's relationship to literature. The program helps celebrate poetry, writing and the contribution of poets to the cultural life of our community.