* a.k.a “Stupid Straight Shit”
Nath Ann + Bobbie
Bohemia. Barrie. Beauties. Behold.
Thanks to Caitlin McKenzie Helinski, the Barrie haven a.k.a. BOHEMIA and the sold out audience in attendance last night. We had fun (and that Barrie story)! Such a pleasure.
Special thanks to Isla for the safe journey home.
Deeper
Whalen
Plat du jour
I’ve been at this awhile. This one raised the bar, thanks to Rachele, Ry [& Christine] for holding such an extraordinary, essential setting, the Palace of Pleasure, Venus Envy on Barrington Street. Halifax. Bold. Queer. Liberation. Joy. She bows. Thank you x’s a zillion!
“…my book’s never been happier, or PRETTIER!”
KIRBY FRENCHYS TOUR NATIONAL POETRY MONTH APRIL 2023
THREE VERY DIFFERENT WAYS TO CATCH KIRBY IN NOVA SCOTIA THIS SPRING!
BEHOLD LONDON
LOCAL ARTIST/FRIEND ANDRÉS GARZON has graciously invited me and is hosting two nights of BEHOLD [31 March & 01 April 7pm] in an intimate downtown London living room setting with an audience of twelve each night. TICKETS are going fast and can be purchased online at knifeforkbook.shop
To fall in love again
A day for surprises. Thanks for your generous read, James. Cannot wait to perform Behold at your beloved destination [March 25].
“Brava!”
“This night was fire.”
Montrealers know how to winter. Warm house. Friends, Klara du Plessis & Dean Garlick, the perfect hosts to a glorious mix of artists, poets, writers. First time in a new living room/salon space. An exhilarating performance. Deep thanks. A night to behold.
What it takes
“and let us not forget”
Pure magic
“It doesn’t ‘get better.’ Read the queers who have lived before you. Gird your loins.” Kirby, Behold
“Let’s have a gay moment, shall we?”
TORONTO 20-23 Jan 7pm SOLD OUT [knife | fork | book benefit]
MONTREAL 18 Feb SOLD OUT [Private Salon Event]
BOOKING INFO TO BRING KIRBY TO YOUR LIVING ROOM OR INTIMATE VENUE CONTACT: knifeforkbook [at] gmail [dot] com Subject line: Behold
Coming to a living room near you.
“Let’s have a gay moment, shall we?”
TORONTO 20-23 Jan 7pm SOLD OUT [knife | fork | book benefit]
MONTREAL 18 Feb SOLD OUT [Private Salon Event]
BOOKING INFO TO BRING KIRBY TO YOUR LIVING ROOM OR INTIMATE VENUE CONTACT: knifeforkbook [at] gmail [dot] com Subject line: Behold
Winter fun[draising]
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.
This winter, we’re in the throes of raising funds for knife | fork | book, the press and mounting this year’s Fertile Festival of New & Inventive Ideas [11-20 August 2023 Remote Gallery Toronto] with Guest Curators Hoa Nguyen and Klara du Plessis.
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.
With her high heels
“The bold fury of the old”
What was once bold is now “sensitive content.”
KIRBY Behold
“How is it you and I are both still alive?”
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.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE SOLD OUT
20-23 January 2023 7PM SOLD OUT [Thank you!]
Limited Edition BEHOLD Poster & Pamphlet also available.
Two divans.
A beautiful book
Always a sweet gracious thing to have, hear from, readers. Thanks Jennifer [and all]. Means a lot. Warmly received.
“Survival can be its own affliction.”
a coincidence of beauty and suffering, / which I would learn is an old coincidence.
J. ESTANISLAO LOPEZ We Borrowed Gentleness (Alice James Books, 2022).
Lorde
“Feather Duster Badass”
Stunningly so
“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.”
Scott sings
Praying Mantis & Sister Moth
Crossing
This used to be my playground
MORE
The First Time
My new column, The First Time, debuts today at Send My Love to Anyone
Pictured above: HUGE by B. Dedora found at The Printed Word. Dundas, ON
One night only!
“Always argue for beauty.”*
Can you smell it?
PTBO PRIDE.
One step, two step, three step, four step
NOW ON AUDIOBOOK
It’s delightful, It’s delicious, it’s delectable, It’s delirious
– Cole Porter
It’s dilemma, it’s de-limit, it’s deluxe
It’s de-lovely
KIRBY POETRY IS QUEER [Palimpsest Press]
Produced and recorded by DON PYLE
Complete. Unabridged. Read by the author.
Glory
Lovely to meet you.
“I GASPED”
Full moon
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.
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.
“She takes you to all the best places.”
My local, on the street where she lives. Of course, I would love to see you! xo Kb
A teaser.
KIRBY PIQ BLACK EAGLE TORONTO JUNE 13 8PM
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.
KIRBY
POETRY IS QUEER
BLACK EAGLE
457 CHURCH STREET
OFFICIAL TORONTO LAUNCH
13 JULY 8PM
ALL WELCOME 19+
“dazzling cabbage. basic lez. good with metaphor.”
10×10
Yes, she’s 63 and having this much fun.
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.
Buy the book. Attend the reception/show.
On the street where she lives
Some things are worth the wait…
KIRBY
POETRY IS QUEER
OFFICIAL TORONTO LAUNCH
13 JULY 8PM
BLACK EAGLE 457 CHURCH STREET
GO ON.
Photos: QUEER LION
Here
KIRBY 