During one of the worst fire seasons City of Vancouver has experienced, the idea for award-winning poet Cynthia Sharp’s book, Ordinary Light, came to her. It was 2017.
"For 11 days, we had the worst air quality on Earth," said Sharp. "Yes, it was temporary, the skies became blue again, but I remember just waiting to see an ordinary blue sky, an ordinary yellow sun, ordinary white clouds and ordinary light; that's where the title [of my book] came from."
Sharp will be visiting the qathet region for the first time to present her eco-conscious-themed collection of poetry on Friday, April 4, at Powell River Public Library.
Sharp was dubbed the Mary Oliver of Canada due to her celebratory, nature-based and meditative poetry, yet she is a humble person, joyful, and despite all the world's problems, sees wonder and beauty wherever she goes.
"I've been writing poetry since I was a child," said Sharp. "I studied creative writing and about 10 or 15 years ago, I thought, I should start to publish."
Sharp said she entered a little poetry contest, and received some positive feedback, then found the confidence to publish her poems.
"Most of my poems are about celebration [of nature] and slowing down and appreciating what we have," said Sharp. "This book took a more sombre tone in some places, because it was written during the pandemic."
Despite Sharp's busy schedule attending festivals, writing and teaching, she always finds time to cherish and admire the natural beauty around her, especially British Columbia.
"[I think] how sacred the rain clouds are up in that sky today, and how blue the sky is," said Sharp. "This book is a combination of that Mary Oliver joyfulness, of celebrating life, celebrating who you are, celebrating peacefully, living simply, enjoying all the beauty."
At the same time, "let's protect this place," said Sharp.
Her poetry weaves snapshots of a moment in a garden, our place as individuals in a larger world and moments with her grandmother.
"I got to slow down [during the COVID-19 pandemic] of course, because we were all [forced] to slow down," said Sharp. "I would walk every day for longer than usual; I could amble around, and I could look at the mushrooms, look at the maple leaves, I could look at the sunflowers one of my neighbours planted."
Sharp said she appreciates how beautiful BC is, whether it's spring, summer or fall.
Sharp wrote Ordinary Light during strange and unordinary times, but she said she felt lucky to live on the top floor, with a balcony. With permission from her neighbours, Spark included many of them in her book.
"A little three-year-old across the street got a new umbrella, and it was sunny outside, but she was just twirling around; I thought she looked so peaceful and happy at that moment," said Sharp. "I was always looking at the orange tabby cat and watching the beautiful gardens of one of my neighbours that kept expanding as the pandemic went on."
In the forward for the book, she said: "We live in a complex decade where there is still time. What matters most is embracing the challenge to live simply and responsibility in all our engagements at every level of being."
Spark said she is always focused on the small steps people can take in the community when it comes to protecting the environment.
"I would consider myself an eco-poet and also a nature poet, because, while I really care about the environment, I also really care about having hope, keeping things positive and celebratory," she added. "At the library, I'm going to read poems that are relaxing, peaceful and just give us joy about where we live."
Sharp said she is bringing seed paper to the event.
"At the end of the reading, in the last little bit of time, I will give everyone in the audience a piece of seed paper to write down something small they're doing to help the environment. Like growing bee-friendly flowers, or growing their own food, or sharing something they are grateful for."
The eco-friendly seed paper can then be planted in a garden.
"You can plant your goal or your dream," said Sharp.
After her visit to the qathet region, she is travelling to Yukon.
"I love getting to visit all sorts of communities throughout the Lower Mainland and throughout BC. It's a really healthy thing for people in communities to get together and do art."
Sharp’s presentation at the library will start at 5 pm.
Join the Peak’s email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
