Battle of the Bards – REDUX!! Mama’s Battlin’ Again!

On Wednesday, March 30, I’ll be heading back to the stage at the Harbourfront Centre to compete in the Battle of the Bards. Hot dog! Last year I was a nervous wreck, and left the place feeling completely spent, discouraged and a little embarrassed. When I found out I didn’t get invited to participate in the International Festival of Authors (which is the grand prize if you win the Battle), I sat on my sofa and cried. #wealldoit. I vowed that I wouldn’t participate again. But that was then – this is NOW. I’m feeling ready and willing. I’m feeling confident and goofy. Having had the experience last year, and realizing that there is no need to get all competitive about it (I never do well in competitions…if I think about that part of it, I fall apart!), but just get up there, be ‘me’ and have fun.

I met some amazing poets last year who have turned into friends. That was a great gift of the competition. This year, I get to compete with my publisher, and Windsor’s Poet Laureate, Marty Gervais. What a riot that will be! He’s a man I’ve shared the stage with a 1,000 times before. We’re gonna have a blast. Plus, I’ve got all this new poetry that I’ve written that I can’t wait to share! And…with all my Mouth Piece Storytelling experience, I should have nothing to fear at all about being on stage!

Of course I’ll be nervous that night. But it’ll be positive-energy-let’s-have-fun nervousness. And I can totally handle that. Shikes – what will I wear?! 

Here are the details if you’re up for a drive to Toronto for some stellar poetry: