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 鈥渁stonishing鈥� 麻豆AV poet Jake Kennedy made the selections out of seven books of poetry Lent published from 1978 to 2019.
鈥淚t was fascinating to see what he chose,鈥� says Lent, whose published books also include one volume of short stories and two novels. 鈥淚 trusted him completely.鈥�
In fact, the idea for the collection was Kennedy鈥檚.
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鈥檇 already pitched the idea to the very enthusiastic editorial team behind the famous Laurier Poetry Series.
鈥淚 remember sitting there with my mouth open, not really knowing what to say except, 鈥楾hank you...鈥� It was such a beautiful surprise, one of the best gifts I have ever received in my life,鈥� says Lent, who鈥檇 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鈥檚 where the eeriness comes in: the 鈥渕ysterious unity鈥� in vision and form Lent could see in poems that had been written over nearly 50 years; the material that fascinated him, and 鈥渢he ways in which I had learned to use language to release that material as form;鈥� and 鈥渢he slow evolution of my own poetic eye and ear, and my slow pursuit of a 'daring' form鈥︹��
Indeed, Lent鈥檚 poetry is experimental and unexpected 鈥� 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 鈥渟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.鈥�
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.
鈥淏eing included in John鈥檚 book launch is very moving and joyous as this will be our first joint project,鈥� 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鈥檚 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. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled.鈥�
The Valley Voices John Lent readings take place in 麻豆AV 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 麻豆AV 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, 麻豆AV and Summerland that are filled with creative energy, joy and community.
