Dear Churchmice,

In the cultural weather forecast for this evening, watch for a storm or two at sea courtesy of Newfoundland bard Michael Crummey, a conversation during a blizzard (as reported by Gwendolyn MacEwen), a squall in the mind of Milton Acorn, and Patricia Young's defiant "Tornado in the Bible Belt," a poem that begins with an epigraph of writerly advice by Elmore Leonard: "Never open...with the weather."

We also detect signs of unsettled piano keys and a little "Stormy Weather" on guitar.

Please join us at 7 p.m. for the "Storm Chasing" edition of Churchmouse After Hours Coffeehouse. Bring a favourite poem, piece of short prose or song to share, or a tale of your own brush with stormy weather — or just come to listen and enjoy. Coffee, tea and snacks will be on hand to sustain you through the gale.

(See this blog on last month's edition if you missed it: After Hours October edition: Hauntings)

Churchmouse After Hours is a monthly neighbourhood coffeehouse with songs, stories, poems and prose on a rotating theme. All are welcome to listen or join in. Note: This is not a literary open-mic. Though local authors do participate, we are all readers sharing work we enjoy and admire. Fourth Wed of most months at 7 pm at Churchmouse Bookshop in St. Mary’s Oak Bay, 1701 Elgin Rd. 

*

Image: Ship in Storm by Robert Salmon, 1828. oil on cardboard. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Public domain.