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AT THE WRITER'S DESK:This past weekend Oakville poetsand beginners got together tolearn how to write form poetry ata Poetry Month event at theCentral Library branch. Picturedon the left is the workshop leaderEllen S. Jaffe, who is currentlyworking on her latest poetry book.Pictured on right are participantswith the teacher (l-r) Elka RuthEnola, Steve Wey, Jaffe and FrankCox. Poetry Month Oakville takesplace throughout April with freeevents around the town.DAWN BOSHCOFF / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVERWriters experienced and new learned art of form poetryBy Dawn BoshcoffDickinsons after great pain, aized mainly in France in the 16thof freedom to create what we wantyou add the water - the wordsSPECIAL TO THE BEAVERformal feeling comes,) was taughtcentury, and sestina three dif-to create - and to use a variety of being very resonant and powerful. by award winning author, Ellen S.ferent techniques were used byform. She went on to explain thatJaffe held up a strange piece of Poetry Month in Oakville began Jaffe. It didnt take long for partici-renowned poets Robert Frost,all poetry has form or structure,driftwood and a geometric shapedwith a poetic celebration of learning pants to learn that this smallElizabeth Bishop and Jaffe, in herbut all poetry does not need toquartz, a cup and clay pot to illus-and listening over the past weekend woman had a large amount of own works, Writing Your Way andrhyme. She compared poetry totrate different forms that helped toat the first of the highlighted events, knowledge, experience and creativ-Water Children, both of whichimprov - the structure being thedrive her point. There is a form inincluding a form poetry workshop at ity to share.received awards from Artsart itself, instinctual but using aeverything, that is not the same inCentral Library on Saturday and an With informal discussion andHamilton, andFeast of Lights,pattern that connects one'sanything. She went on to explainopen mic event on Sunday titled, poetry review, the group looked atwhich won a Moonbeam award forthoughts. Your writing shouldthat each person interprets poetryPoetry with a Conscience, held at several ways to use various formschildrens fiction. always surprise you, she said.differently, to find his or her ownthe Moonshine Cafor meaning in writing poetry.In pain or shock or grief, theIn writing, poetry and prose aremeaning. At the workshop, A Formal These include examples of sonnet,form can carry you along and itpresented differently. She com-Participants included publishedFeeling Comes (from Emily villanelle, a form of poetry popular-can be very healing, Jaffe said.pared the language in poetry to thepoets, authors and novices alike.We have a lotlikes of concentrated juice beforeSteve Wey, an experienced poet,traveled to the workshop fromHamilton to learn about formrules, however, Jaffe explained thatthere really are no rules in poetryand that form should not be con-sidered restrictive to creativity. ARNOLDS SPORTS BAR IS OAKVILLES LIVE MUSIC HEADQUARTERSPoetry falls somewhereSHOWTIME MATINEEEvery Saturdaybetween chaos and order, she said. AfternoonBy the end of the workshop, the2:30 pm to 6:00 pmgroup had constructed a form verseMICHAEL KEYS BAND with Special Guests together and had learned the mostevery week. important lesson, which was, theDont Miss best way to approach form is toDANNY Bjust have fun.April 9thPoetry Month in Oakville con-tinues this coming weekend with9 - DANNY Bevents being held Saturday, April 9,LIVE MUSIC EVERY APR16 - GEORGE OLLIVERFRIDAY AND 2011 at the Central Library includ-SATURDAY NIGHT23 - NEIL CHAPMANing a panel discussion from 10 a.m.until noon, The Future of thePrinted Word and an afternoonRegister now for Arnolds Summer Beach workshop from 1 - 5 p.m., titledVolleyball! Early Bird Deadline April 11th What Makes a Poem Poetry?All events are free. 485 MORDEN ROAD, OAKVILLE (exit Dorval Drive South, just north of Speers)For a complete schedule visit905.844.2613www.arnoldssportsbar.cawww.oakvillepoetry.org or contactElka Ruth Enola at ere@bell.net.BBQ GAS LINESNATURAL GAS PIPING FOR DRYERS, KITCHEN RANGES, sulPATIO GAS HEATERS, PATIO FIREPLACE.PSolvingExperience is the difference!ProblemsSince 1982905-845-0701 Email:scott@gasfi x.cawww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 8, 2011 34