Ariadne’s Notes: Happy International Women’s Day! A special celebration with Alara Bretanne and e-poets: Vani Pradeep, India, Ceri Naz, Philippines and Alaha Ahrar, Afghanistan , US.
Also included were Alfonso Pretel , Spain and Michael Collins, Australia. Super tech Victor Swartzman sang Happy Birthday to the women of the world. Missing was Craig Earqhart who was not able to join us since he was in the hospital but we played his UCLA heart transplant song . Music by John Lennon , Susan Cogan and Craig Earqhart. Thanks to Osiris Munir.
Sharon Rowe’s story, the Great Switch a Roo was dedicated to her friend Stuart who passed away recently.
For years we have had a special event for International Women’s Day but were not able to this year. However this radio show made up for it. Thank you all!
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW !
ALARA BRETANNE
At 15, Alara was introduced to poetry by an extraordinary English Lit. teacher from Trinidad. Through his encouragement, one of her poems was published in the local newspaper. While attaining her B.A., majoring in English Lit., at Western University in London, Ontario, she was strongly influenced by the poets of the “Romantic Era” such as Blake, Byron, Shelley, Wordsworth, Coleridge and Keats. The mystical and metaphysical orientation of their writing gave Alara an expanded world vision
Alara was involved with World Poetry, The Millenium Writers Group, and was featured as a guest poet on World Poetry’s radio station in Vancouver, BC. In 2011, upon moving to Vancouver Island, BC, she joined the Cowichan Writers Group and began writing short stories. Poetry and short stories were published in the Anthologies “One Brick Shorts” in 2013 and “Love Notes” in 2016.
She describes the background of the poem:
“The poem I selected to send was a “Goddess” poem to have a feminine style of prayer since much of our current religion is more masculine based, although I can see that changing.
Recently, in an on-line women’s group, a member had expressed her interest in my poem as she was having some difficulty in turning to a male God. I typed it on the Facebook page and it was quite well received. I’ve been involved in enough groups and can honestly say that these women want to get back to a more positive and sovereign form of empowered femininity that includes their sexual healing but not as ball busting feminists, although I think these brave women were very necessary in the early days of creating a path for women’s rights.”
FEMINESSENCE
(The Goddess Prayer)
My womb is bathed in golden light
Tiny stars swirling inside
Twinkling, laughing in the void
Peace, tranquility flowing through my body
Like mother’s milk
Ecstasy engorging my breasts
Nipples straining
For release, for touch
For light, for love
Body arched to give and to receive
The miracles of spirit
Born into flesh
My woman’s spirit in many guises
Soft, yielding
Hard, uncompromising
Seeker of Truth
Breast of Hope
Body of Life Eternal
ALARA BRETANNE
September 24, 1993, The Center, Kamloops. All rights reserved by the author.
Ariadne’s Notes: The World Poetry Café Radio Show, July 7, 1-2 pm CFRO 100.with hosts Ariadne Sawyer and Neall Ryon, Volunteer Sharon Rowe and sound engineer Victor Schwartzman, welcomed the knowledgeable poet and editor, Kozue Uzawa in a fascinating interview about Tanka and Haiku with tips for writing the two different forms in English. World Poetry theme music by the well known World Poetry Music Advisor, Yoshifumi Sakura and Tibetan Children in Vancouver. 
