These past two winters, I read poems nightly as a way of staying connected through the pandemic, honing in on my craft, and hopefully a comfort of sorts to reader and listener.
During KFB’s fundraising drive, for every donation received, [either through Patreon or by scanning the code below], I’ll read a poem and post it on my Instagram in thanks.
You may also be aware of a series of staged readings, Behold, I’m giving to benefit KFB. Two of the six nights are SOLD OUT, with few tickets remaining.
Help us continue what we do with panache. Poetry. Well-served.
The young had the choice to live quietly because of the bold fury of the old. . . , intrigued by the potential of living for more than LGBT domesticity as their fate.
Before the pandemic, I was rendering a stage adaption of THIS IS WHERE I GET OFF, slated to workshop that summer. Now expanded to include new writing, I’m giving a series of intimate staged readings this winter to benefit KFB.
Like most everything I’ve written, it’s a romance. – KIRBY
KIRBY Behold
Four intimate workshop performances to benefit knife | fork | book
An audience of ten per performance in a downtown Toronto living room setting. Address/es instructions will be shared with ticket holders on the morning of the performance; Approximate running time 1 hour 30 minutes.
For those bemoaning the loss of a generation of queer elders, I want to say that there are quite a few of us inconveniently still around. You just might not like what we have to say.
— 'Nayland Blake' is scary enough, thank you. (@naylandblake) October 28, 2022
“Like its author, Kirby’s stunningly good book Poetry is Queer defies categorization. It’s part memoir, part history of gay Toronto, part commonplace book (though—again, like its author—Kirby’s writing is anything but commonplace), part cultural travelogue, part guide for living (“If you’re gonna stew, make certain it’s not only edible, but delicious”), part queer manifesto, part meditation on the body, part poignant self-reflection, part celebratory self-examination, and absolutely always gloriously Kirby.”
In my lifetime, I belonged to a very brave few who travelled to university/college campuses in rural Ohio (circa 1977) so students could meet a real live homosexual. #PIQdiary#MOREpic.twitter.com/yrLQN2gNb3
from the set-list POETRY IS QUEER Toronto Launch BLACK EAGLE last night
The Full Moon of July 13 happens to be the biggest and brightest of all the Full Moons of 2022 — the ‘perigee’ supermoon!
Full moon. Black Eagle. Toronto. Last night. An encounter between particles resulting in exchange or transformation of energy. A perfect collision to launch the Purple Love Chunk.
It was well worth the wait.
Full moon, full receptive house, many familiars from treasured communities. My local. The street where I live.
To Carlos, Frank, the two Steve’s, and Jacob at the Eagle, Don Pyle serving music, Will Manning at the book table, Aimee & Jim at Palimpsest, and every face that shone back at me in attendance. “It has indeed been grand.”
Thanks for making it so.
DON PYLE PIQ LAUNCH MIX BLACK EAGLE TORONTO 13 JULY 2022
NOTE: The audiobook for Poetry Is Queer (Palimpsest Press) is OUT TOMORROW read in its entirety by me, recorded by Don Pyle . I’ll include link here once it’s active.
My first gig in Toronto was a solo show at The Rivoli, GWM performed naked in a bathtub, followed by Anal Pleasures, at the Cabana Room on Spadina, premiering The Battle of the Flesh at The Music Gallery, a few stints at Rhubarb!, launching Cock & Soul at This Ain’t the Rosedale Library, sitting in bath towels at the Spa on Maitland passing poppers for The World is Fucked and Sometimes Beautiful, She’s Having A Doris Day in Kensington Market with CA, doing a “buddy-booth” sex tour on the streets of Montreal (This Is Where I Get Off), with go-go boys at KFB, launching PIQ with a ukulele band in Harbourville, Nova Scotia, and now thrilled to announce the Official Toronto Launch of my newest Poetry Is Queer at my local haunt on the street where I live, The Black Eagle. The Don Pyle will serving music, and yes, I’ll be serving up Kirby. All are welcome [19+] Come. Celebrate with me.
Thrilled to be a part of 10×10‘s 10th thanks to the brilliant photographer THOMAS BRASCH for making it really easy & pretty. And, the inclusion of my favourite line in PIQ, priceless.
Gwendolyn Brooks, 1999: "Not a one of us has the time left that he or she supposes. We'd better laugh and sparkle and toil while we can. Laugh. Grieve. And GO ON." in "A Sassy End-of-Twentieth Century Spout" @YCAL_JWJhttps://t.co/yIkMEfbWyLpic.twitter.com/d804js1dVY
— Beinecke Library (@BeineckeLibrary) June 7, 2022
Thanks to BRUCE KAUFFMAN, host of finding a voiceCFRC 101.9fm for recording and posting our recent reading at Novel Idea, Kingston ON, along with other archival treasures to be enjoyed/downloaded.
June 3, 2022, 5-6pm – second hour of a two hour show, continuing with that May 25th Kingston book launch/reading at Novel Idea Bookstore you’ll then hear the remainder of that event with Sadiqa de Meijer reading from her books: Leaving Howe Island, The Outer Wards (Véhicule Press), and alfabet/alphabet (Palimpsest Press), Jim Johnstone reading from his Infinity Network (Véhicule Press), and Kirby from Poetry is Queer (Palimpsest Press).
First time I've actually seen #PIQ "In Library" @torontolibrary my home branch [Yorkville] in grand good company here. Take me out! And/or request at your local. pic.twitter.com/ry83SM7Z2z
London Days. Part Two. Everything you want on a successful roadtrip: Brilliant travel companions, Bee & Finner. A killer used bookshop with a 1/2 price basement sale. An invite to a famous local artist’s home to peruse through her work while devouring hot chocolate buns. A cordial host in a stunning downtown performance space. An expert in-house technician, Jack. A full-house of old friends and new friends. Two dear friends sharing portraits of lives that touched them, including each other. A warm reception. Michael Gira guiding us through a snow squall home.
Thanks to our hosts Kevin Heslop (42×81) and the team at TAP. To Emma & booksellers at the Attic. I love Angie V. Quick. The publishers at Rose Garden. David, Shane, Karen and all who held space with us. And my beloved friend Don Pyle, so glad we’re here to do this thing.