Eerie. Magical. Outrageous. These are just a few of the words the renowned Vernon writer and writing instructor John Lent uses to describe how it feels to hold in his hands Molecular Cathedral: The Poetry of John Lent (Wilfred Laurier University Press).

Magical, he says, because of the way the 香蕉视频直播渁stonishing香蕉视频直播� Kelowna poet Jake Kennedy made the selections out of seven books of poetry Lent published from 1978 to 2019.

香蕉视频直播淚t was fascinating to see what he chose,香蕉视频直播� says Lent, whose published books also include one volume of short stories and two novels. 香蕉视频直播淚 trusted him completely.香蕉视频直播�

In fact, the idea for the collection was Kennedy香蕉视频直播檚.

Two years ago, the two writers met for coffee one middle of the road, grey, late fall morning near the airport. They sat down and Kennedy told Lent that he香蕉视频直播檇 already pitched the idea to the very enthusiastic editorial team behind the famous Laurier Poetry Series.

香蕉视频直播淚 remember sitting there with my mouth open, not really knowing what to say except, 香蕉视频直播楾hank you...香蕉视频直播� It was such a beautiful surprise, one of the best gifts I have ever received in my life,香蕉视频直播� says Lent, who香蕉视频直播檇 once taught from the poetry series in his writing classes at Okanagan College.

Now, to see the poems of his that span a life, his life, that香蕉视频直播檚 where the eeriness comes in: the 香蕉视频直播渕ysterious unity香蕉视频直播� in vision and form Lent could see in poems that had been written over nearly 50 years; the material that fascinated him, and 香蕉视频直播渢he ways in which I had learned to use language to release that material as form;香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渢he slow evolution of my own poetic eye and ear, and my slow pursuit of a 'daring' form香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

Indeed, Lent香蕉视频直播檚 poetry is experimental and unexpected 香蕉视频直播� and also wonderfully accessible, conversational, lyrical (Lent is also a singer-songwriter).

What was outrageous about flipping through the pages of the whole collection? The 香蕉视频直播渟ense of how much time had passed in my life and how humbled I felt seeing that aspect of everything as one thing in a book...yikes.香蕉视频直播�

What Lent also sees when he looks at the cover of Molecular Cathedral is the vibrant and sensual abstract painting, Say Yes, painted by his wife, Jude Clarke.

Several of her paintings will be featured at the Valley Voices reading series celebrating the launch of Molecular Cathedral.

香蕉视频直播淏eing included in John香蕉视频直播檚 book launch is very moving and joyous as this will be our first joint project,香蕉视频直播� says Clarke, who paints water, land, and sky abstract images that often feature an expression of inner consciousness focusing on the dual meaning of gravity.

Clarke says she香蕉视频直播檚 always been influenced by Kalamalka Lake, and her Okanagan paintings are very different from what she painted the years she and Lent spent in France and Scotland, living the life of artists. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e thrilled.香蕉视频直播�

The Valley Voices John Lent readings take place in Kelowna on Saturday, Oct. 19, 7-9 p.m. at Sprout Bakery and Caf茅; and in Vernon on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2-5 p.m. at the Vernon Library.

Valley Voices is also hosting a fiction festival in Kelowna Nov. 1-2. Learn more at .

Valley Voices Okanagan is a reading series that celebrates local writing and writers at all ages and stages of their craft. Valley Voices began in 2022 with readings in Vernon, Kelowna and Summerland that are filled with creative energy, joy and community.