Three years ago this October, KFB launched HOA NGUYEN’s VIOLET ENERGY INGOTS (Wave, 2016) to a full house spilling onto the street in our brand spanking new digs at Rick’s Cafe, Kensington Market.
Hoa laughs, but I’ll always credit her for “putting us on the map.” There were many “larger” “established” places she could have picked, and she chose this barely out the gates nobody even heard of all-poetry shop “knife fork what?”
It was a gift.
This October, we’re about to enter year four in brand new, fully accessible space with a cafe all our own: k | f | b M E Z Z A N I N E at Artscape Youngplace (180 Shaw Street, Mezzanine Level).
And Hoa returns with a stunning new KFB chapbook,
Ask About Language As If It Forgets
100% of the chapbook’s sales goes directly in support of KFB’s new home.*
The cover, like Hoa herself, gold.
A gift. Her friendship. Her dedication to poetics. Community. Such riches.
This Sunday, I have the distinct pleasure of joining BÄNOO ZAN RON MCLENNAN and moderator KHASHAYAR MOHAMMADI on BUILDING LITERARY COMMUNITIES part of celebrating #WOTS30 ANNIVERSARY SERIES Vibrant Voices of Ontario Stage—Harbourfront Centre (11:30AM-12:15PM).
I’ll follow Hoa’s lead.
*1) BUY THE BOOK 2) Read [thank] Hoa.
PICTURED: Poet HOA NGUYEN at the new digs. Photo: Kirby
knife | fork | book 