We are honoured to share a new chapbook titled WHAT’S IN A NAME? by Jan Jorgensen, Brian Campbell, Sherine Elbanhawy, Mark Foss, Ethel Meilleur, Claire Sherwood, and Blossom Thom.
“The poems within this chapbook found their genesis in two separate sessions of a four week workshop called ‘What’s in a Name?’ held during the Covid lockdown.
Our guide was Blossom Thom—brilliant, articulate, witty, proudly Black, an advocate of racial equity, and a champion of the arts—especially literary and visual. She introduced us to poets who themselves had invoked ‘names’ with literary weight, sharing poetry that would spark our own work. Blossom was an incomparable teacher, stimulating and encouraging, joining us in the creative endeavour.
Reminiscing about the quality of the poetry we’d heard during the workshop, Blossom and I discussed the possibility of a chapbook and she invited the participants to submit their poems. But life’s interruption came and went. After Blossom’s death it became utmost important to publish this collection as a tribute to her. We are incredibly grateful to Eleni Zisimatos, Kateryna Kobylianska, and Vallym for co-creating and publishing this chapbook.
Above all, Blossom was kind and generous. In our wide-ranging marathon phone conversations, I had learned how deeply she loved her two nieces. I saw how much pleasure it brought her to buy them books. With this in mind, our chapbook is dedicated to Olivia and Lio, in loving memory of their aunt.”
— Jan Jorgensen
Order a digital copy now, on our website.
For thoughtful reading and reflection.
