story 'n poetics
I was once referred to as a “feminist folk poet” and I liked it.
My poetry and story telling practice include reflections on nature and the land, on interconnectedness, grief, Queer lived experience, aging and social justice. While I appreciate a great metaphor on its own, my favourite works weave story and poetry into something greater than the sum of their parts. I love collaborating and recording with other artists; layering poetry with hip hop beats, jazz conversations, urban and natural sound bites.
In addition to publishing and performing, I love working with groups to explore the power of personal reflection and collaborative story telling.
My visual practice is re-emerging, inspired by a childhood conversation with my grandmother in which she asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I told her I wanted to be an artist, she smiled and responded, “Oh no honey, you want to be a lawyer and drive a big car.” I’ve had the pleasure of visiting my visual art practice in fits and starts throughout my life, and only recently shifted toward a focus on poetry and art as my primary forms of communication. Today I marry my visual art practice with poetry, and I am currently embracing the innocence of childhood finger painting using mixed media including drywall compound, plaster, acrylic and latex paint, as well as metallic inks.
I claim nothing without first giving thanks to the influence of those who came before me: my parents, ancestors, mentors and collaborators over the years. My heart belongs to you all.
Care to collaborate? Please reach out - I'm open to commission work, events and workshop booking.
*Photo Credit: Stills stitched together from video captured by Tet Millare, during the 2017 Coming Out Monologues
sound bites
queer girl
purpose filled peace
purpose filled peace
sew a label on my skin
i'll tear it free and let it bleed
poke and prod to fence me in
i'll slip and slide and strip between
the lines will blur
this poet will scream
this fire bellied queer girl
will hurl her knuckles at the sky
all black and blue from years of lies
of who, what, where, when
of generation upon generation
until time, love, light eme
sew a label on my skin
i'll tear it free and let it bleed
poke and prod to fence me in
i'll slip and slide and strip between
the lines will blur
this poet will scream
this fire bellied queer girl
will hurl her knuckles at the sky
all black and blue from years of lies
of who, what, where, when
of generation upon generation
until time, love, light emerge
a gender fucking bender nation
girls will be boys
boys will be girls
any labels worn
will be chosen
not hurled
in innocence direction
not based on genetics
fear of infection
if definition
is your need
define yourself
you can't define me with...
dyke, lesbian, straight girl
woman, bisexual, homosexual
riotgrrl
butch, femme, in the middle girl?
sporty, granola
my she's a big girl
maybe you didn't hear me
just call me Queer girl
________________
This exerpt is from a long time favourite poem that served me well at Slam competitions. It's also a poem that is often requested during workshops with youth as it offers the angst of youngness and the demand to be accepted commonly felt by many.
Watch this poem performed at the 2007 Canadian Spoken Word Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
purpose filled peace
purpose filled peace
purpose filled peace
purpose filled peace
can be found
in artful living
rag wool sock making
haute couture wearing
second hand clothes buying
sun drenched, soft moment napping
crunching leaves under feet
hot and dry
make way for cool and wet
sand between pink, yellow
olive, brown
black naked toes
you can listen for it,
in the calm crystallized silence
of the firs
purpose filled peace
can be found
in artful living
rag wool sock making
haute couture wearing
second hand clothes buying
sun drenched, soft moment napping
crunching leaves under feet
hot and dry
make way for cool and wet
sand between pink, yellow
olive, brown
black naked toes
you can listen for it,
in the calm crystallized silence
of the first winter snow
in dew covered
green branch sitting
chickadee high chirping
open air pool splashing
summer children laughing
purpose filled peace
is to recognize
call out, realize and appreciate
the MAHATMA great soul
MAGNUM OPUS greatest art
in all of us
____________________
A personal highlight in my spoken word career includes a performance at Discovery House's Peace Panel event where I was humbled to share the stage with local and international peace leaders, including Mr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
The above excerpt is from the spoken word poem written and performed specifically for the Peace Panel.
spun strong
purpose filled peace
spun strong
every once in a while
I meet a woman
who reminds me of all women
I see in her
confidence, beauty, vulnerability
humour, motherhood
power, humility
every once in a while I meet a woman
who reminds me
how it came to be
I fell in love with all women
I see in her
survival beyond all odds
seduction, spice
sarcasm wisdom
wonder, curiosity
characte
every once in a while
I meet a woman
who reminds me of all women
I see in her
confidence, beauty, vulnerability
humour, motherhood
power, humility
every once in a while I meet a woman
who reminds me
how it came to be
I fell in love with all women
I see in her
survival beyond all odds
seduction, spice
sarcasm wisdom
wonder, curiosity
character beyond measure
her name is sweetness
and light
and music
it is Hazel
it is…
_______________
Created in honour of International Women’s Day for Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association’s Strong Women. Strong Leaders. Strong World. event.
Presented in partnership with Carolee Israel Turner singing Amazing Grace and Michael W. Smith's I hear Leesa.
March 8, 2012
What people are saying
“Tori was so thrilled, and impressed, and best of all - inspired.”
~ Parent of Grade 9 student at David Thompson Middle School
“She’s a no nonsense poet in the feminist folk poetry tradition, and it’s working for her.”
~ T.L. Cowan, Assistant Professor of Media Studies in the Department of Arts, Culture & Media and the Faculty of Education at the University of Toronto
“Your activities rocked, and your Virginia Tech poem blew me away!” ~ Bob, YouthWrite Summer Camp Student, Writers Guild of Alberta
“Thanks so much for sending us the poem and image that you created during the Western Skills Institute. It was such a wonderful component and activity of the Institute. I love it so much that I’m trying to figure out a way that we can do it again for the Ontario Skills Institute!”
~ Canadian Women’s Foundation