Good people, and poet-tea.
Whether you a veteran in verse, a poet and you don't even know it, or just enjoy hearing the works of others, then Lake Cowichan's new poetry club might just be for you.
Founder and organizer of the new club Mike Hammond is partnering up with Lil's Tea An-tiques owner Linda Henry, who will providing the venue for verse enthusiasts. Since opening her cool and intimate tea house last May, Henry said she has hosted a ton of successful special dinners and gatherings but this will be her first experience with a poetry club. Both agreed that Henry's space would be the perfect pleasant atmosphere for a creative meeting of the minds, and those who just like to take it all in.
"We've had a lot of response so far," said Henry. "I had people who came in earlier this year floating the idea of a poetry club, other people I mentioned it to seemed to like the idea, and then Michael and I spoke about it and have been working on a way to start it up since."
"I write poetry myself and thought a club like this would be a good idea," said Hammond. "We are not looking at people who just write poetry, but also people who like poetry."
While Henry is a fan but has never dabbled in it much herself, Hammond found his love for writing poetry through letter writing across the pond with a former sweetheart from his teens who lives in Surrey, England with whom he reconnected later in life.
"We were writing to and fro and my letters turned into poetic verse and that's what's started me," said Hammond.
Originally from England himself, Hammond spent his life working as an engineer and lived in the Cariboo region before moving to Lake Cowichan in 2017 in hopes of finding more like minded connection and started up a Lake Cowichan Club in 2023 to help others find the same, which has continued to be a success on Thursdays and Saturday afternoons inside Riverside Inn's Serious Coffee.
The initial poetry club meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on April 8 will be anything but serious, giving attendees the chance to voice what they would like to see out of the club going forward, including how often they would like to meet. Hammond, who has a published piece with the same title, will be asking those in attendance the question: What does poetry mean to you?
Hammond joked that his mom once said to him that engineers can't write poetry, proving that it is never too late to try one's hand at something new. If this could be you, and you desire more information on Lake Cowichan new poetry club email Mike at m.hammond@shaw.ca
Henry, who is always happy to host special events and functions at her tea house, is excited to spread the word, and the poetic ones of others. To learn more about Lil's Tea An-Tiques visit their Facebook page or email Linda at lilsteaantiques@gmail.com
"I hope people find enjoyment in the experience, as well as just getting out and meeting new people," said Henry. "Those who have poetry in common can share their poems and ideas, or just get together to have communication with one another, because there is a real lack of that these days."
