staircase poem 38

i remember irving
layton from readings
in toronto in
the early 1980s
can't recall where
but remember
his intensity
his head shaking
big eyebrows
barrel of a man

today would
have been his
100th birthday
so i'm cohost
of a centenary
community poetry
reading in alden
nowlan house on
unb fredericton
campus tonight

[but grad house
is closed
unexpectedly
so we relocate
to lorna drew's
living room with
barkus the guard
poodle & glasses
of water all 'round]