I just got an advance copy of this book of poems, Crushed Wild Mint, by Jess Housty, and they’re exquisite and so accessible I’ve been sending snapshots to friends, and dreaming of organising a poetry appreciation jam, maybe even inviting the poet along themselves so that the poet, as well as the poetry, could feel appreciated. In my mind (which tends to make things complicated), a bunch of people could get a copy of the book, and pick a poem that speaks to them, and read it in the circle and share a thought or two on what landed for them – a story it reminds them of, or a line that strikes them.

Here’s a taster of their gorgeous work.

Try sounding it out, out loud, to feel the smoothness and shape of those words in your mouth.

On their website, the poet, ​’Cúagilákv (Jess H̓áust̓i) introduces herself:

I’m a Haíɫzaqv parent, poet, and land-based educator living in my homelands and the community of Bella Bella, BC.

I’m the Executive Director of Qqs (Eyes) Projects Society, a Haíɫzaqv charitable non-profit focused on supporting our youth and families to thrive through community and cultural programming.

I also work in community organizing, food systems resiliency, and decolonial philanthropy through a variety of consulting and voluntary positions within my community and in the wider world.

Here’s how my imagined poetry appreciation jam could work. If you’re game, I will email you a photo of one or two of the poems. You can read it, between now and October 14. That is the day the book is released. That day, we will come together, and sit in a circle, and eat food, and drink drinks, and take turns being read to. You read the poem. (Maybe you perform it. Maybe you interpret it. Maybe you can barely get through it. It’s all okay. Maybe you write it up on a poster and have us read it with you. Maybe you translate it into your mother tongue and we let it wash over us in a new way.) And the invitation is to share something it made you think of, something about it you liked, some word or phrase that holds you.

I imagine us sitting on the floor or someone comfy and kids could be wandering around dropping in and out of our attention…

And at that evening, you’d get your own copy of the entire book. As a gift to you from the Wellness Almanac.

I need to know if you’re interested, so I can find a space for us to meet, and order the right number of books.

Drop a comment or reply or note to me at pembygrl@gmail.com if you’re curious, share this with a friend, and let’s set a date.