‘Grounds for Break-up’ packs Raw Sugar

Posted by LTO on December 2, 2010 in Shayla Brunet | 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Sarah Anderson

Shayla Brunet was born and raised in sleepy town North Bay, ON, and moved to Ottawa in 2008. She is a Journalism graduate and a third–year Mass Communications student at Carleton University. She is part of ‘Grounds for Break-Up’ and is an avid poetry reader/writer.

The mood was chirpy and content last night at Ottawa’s favorite art café, Raw Sugar, when 13 poets from Carleton, calling themselves ‘Grounds for Break-Up’ filled the house. But contrary to the name , the poets weren’t a bunch of angst-ridden students crying over love. Although one poet, Fiona Mitchell, had a quote that fit in perfectly with the group name:

“You were always the rising action of my plot

but never the climax

Despite having given you the opportunity.”

Poems of charred-belly clouds, bird-baths, found art, and ekphrasis perked the brain and stirred potent mental soundscapes, sometimes haunting. Even though it was a first for many speaking at an open mic, their words rang witty and strong over the 50 audience members in attendance. They covered some of the usual topics such as youth, sex, death, love, hate; in a new, twisted, humourous or skin-prickling way.

The group, led by well known poet and author, Sandra Ridley covered many different styles and genres. With each new assignment Ridley presented the class, she would tweak it and make it different. Ridley with her workshop taught the students how to punch up a piece with sharp sounds and living words, often bringing in guest speakers and even a funky sound poetry group.

Many of the students agreed that it was very important for an aspiring writer or poet to participate in a workshop, saying that workshops “Help take the ‘I’ out of poetry, and make the piece less like a diary, and rather a sturdy, relatable, great piece of work.”

Here is a quick list of the poets in attendance at last night’s event:

Luke Sullivan
Fiona Mitchell
Caitlin Cafaro
Adam Kveton
Adam Chenard
Liam Burke
Nick Brulotte
Catherine Lewis
Codi Fortin Lalonde
Andria Marie
Jenna Jarvis
Cassie Nykaforak
Shayla Brunet