The Toronto Bengali community will be hosting a literary festival on Saturday, July 20, at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event features honoured Bengali-originated authors now in Canada, writing in English or Bengali or both. Authors come from the Toronto area of course, but also from […]
Canadian Bengali Literary Festival Appearance Read More »
Evan Jones’ book of interviews with Canadian Poets, The Civilizing Discourse, is now in print with Véhicule Press. You’ll find my interview in chapter 8 of the new book: “A.F. Moritz, In Which The Journey Is A Dream.” Here’s what the publisher has to say about The Civilizing Discourse: “If I can impart one final
The Civilizing Discourse Read More »
On Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 2:00pm, I will take part in a sixty minute webinar with the Writers’ Union of Canada. Zoom in and celebrate National Poetry Month with this discussion between Poets Laureate from different cities across the country. At Poetry and Place: In Conversation with Poets Laureate, you will hear from myself,
Register for Poetry and Place: In Conversation with Poets Laureate Read More »
NEW DATE! On Thursday, March 23, 2023, I will be travelling to the Hazel McCallion Campus of Sheridan College for the launch of The Ampersand Review, Issue 3. Along with Naben Ruthnum and Ann Yu-Kyung Choi, I will take part in the panel on “Borders: Canadian Writing in Communities, the Country, and the World.” Our
Join me for the launch of The Ampersand Review, Issue 3 – NEW DATE! Read More »
On Wednesday, October 26, I will take part in a special lecture and reception to celebrate the Honorary Doctorate conferred on Dr. Blake Charles Goldring in 2021. Goldring is a long-time supporter of the VicOne Norman Jewison Stream in Imagination and the Arts. We will also be celebrating my retirement from my role as the Blake C.
Victoria University Special Lecture and Reception Read More »
This Saturday, October 15, I will be attending a one-day event entitled “A Symposium on Emma Goldman 82 Years After Her Death in Toronto.” In the evening, I will be introduced as the featured reader in the panel, “Remembering Goldman Through Poetry,” chaired by Franca Iacovetti and Cynthia Wright. I will read a poem and
A Symposium on Emma Goldman in Toronto Read More »
You’re invited to a special evening of readings and conversation with Victoria College Faculty and authors Adam Sol, Albert Moritz, Robert McGill and Sarah Dowling, “Crosscurrents Part 1: Vic Faculty Reading & Discussion“, on Tuesday, March 15, 6:00pm EST. The event will be hosted by writer, editor and teacher Canisia Lubrin. The event is open to the public! REGISTER HERE:
Join Me For Crosscurrents I! Read More »
I have a Craft Interview in the online publication, The Artisanal Writer. The Artisanal Writer is an online journal about the craft of writing and reading. It explores what makes great writing, how great writing happens and how writers we love to read, make great writing happen. The journal aims to address the forever open question
An Interview in The Artisanal Writer Read More »
Please join me this weekend, October 2 & 3, 2021, for the Virtual Edition of JLF Toronto: CanLitscape Poets & Storytellers. Register for free right now to gain access to 2 days, 8 conversations, and 7 poetry readings by 30 acclaimed authors, poets, thinkers and change-makers via https://jlflitfest.org/toronto/registration. My poem, “House,” will be featured amongst
JLF Toronto Virtual Edition: CanListcape Poets and Storytellers Read More »
I am happy to be participating in this year’s iteration of Toronto’s Word on the Street. On Saturday, September 25, at 11:30 am, I will take part in a live stream panel hosted by the Toronto Star’s Deb Dundas: Celebrating the 2021 Trillium Award Finalists. I will appear with fellow nominees Craig Davidson and Farzana
Word on The Street 2021 Read More »
Catch me on the CBC Ideas podcast with Nahlah Ayed, “No Feeling is Final, the Wisdom of Rainer Maria Rilke.” The podcast aired on May 13, 2021. And it was followed by a feature by Pauline Holdsworth on CBC Radio online, “Live the Questions Now: Reading Rilke in a Time of Uncertainty and Grief.” Listen
My new book, The Garden, a poem and essay, launches this Sunday! Join me for the Gordon Hill Press spring launch in collaboration with Knife | Fork | Book on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 3 PM EDT. Hear readings from Roxanna Bennett’s The Untranslatable I, Khashayar Mohammadi’s Me, You, Then Snow, my own book, The Garden, and Concetta Principe’s Stars
The Garden Launches with Gordon Hill Press This Sunday! Read More »
I am pleased to have two poems in Issue 4 (2.15.21) of Volume online poetry magazine. The poems printed in this issue are: “The Only Remaining Flower” and “Long Struggle and Float.” Additionally, you can read my interview with Communications and Features Editor [and former student!] Lauren Peat. I hope you’ll take a moment to
Two Poems and an Interview in Volume Read More »
For National Poetry Month, I thought I’d provide you with my hour-long interview with David O’Meara from a few months back for the Ottawa International Writers Festival, in partnership with VerseFest. I’ve also added this to the Audio/Video portion of my website! Enjoy!
Interview with David O’Meara Read More »
You are cordially invited to HERE IS ELSEWHERE, Literature in Translation on Friday, February 19, 2021, from 7 -8 PM. Together with LUCIANO IACOBELLI, I will discuss and read the poetry of LUDWIG ZELLER. Our moderator will be BEATRIZ HAUSNER. This event will air live on Zoom. Please contact info@attlc-ltac.org via email to register for the link. The
Here is Elsewhere [Updated] Read More »
Moritz’s sensibility is unique: melancholic, intellectual, comic, erotic, pitying . . . The emotional content of Moritz’s work is so abundant and accessible that the reader is never lost. National Post Join me on Sunday, November 8, at 2:00, for an online event co-sponsored by The Ottawa International Writers Festival & Versefest2020. I will be
Earlier in the month, I was happy to participate in the final group roundtable for Poetry in Translation, East Meets West, hosted by Anna Yin. Joining Anna and myself were Molly Peacock, Alice Major, George Elliot Clarke and guest, Michael Morolla. We participated in a reading together and enjoyed an Open-Mic for followers of the
Poetry in Translation, East Meets West, Group Event Read More »
Canada’s largest book festival has gone virtual! Please join me at The Word on the Street 2020, a national celebration of literacy and Canadian writing. Each September, WOTS hosts hundreds of author readings for visitors of all ages and a vibrant marketplace featuring the best selection of books and magazines in Canada. The festival and
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The Winnipeg International Writers Festival has taken their annual Thin Air Festival and made it into an interactive online experience. I am proud to be a participant in this year’s #ThinAir2020. This rich experience will be available and active online from September 20 to October 12, 2020. Go to Thin Air to register for free.
Thanks to Anna Yin, our interview and discussion session for her Poetry in Translation, East Meets West series are now online. Here’s the main discussion: And here’s the break-out session: You can access the entire series here. Enjoy!
Poetry in Translation, East Meets West: Videos Read More »
On Saturday, August 29, at 3:00 p.m., join me for Poetry in Translation: East Meets West, a zoom interview with Anna Yin. We will read and discuss poetry and translation, touching upon the myth of “lost in translation,” the art of re-creation, and the mutual exchange or benefits of the process. The audience will be
Poetry in Translation, East Meets West: One on One with Anna Yin Read More »
On Tuesday, August 4th, I appeared on HOWL, CIUT Radio 89.5 FM Toronto’s weekly 10-11pm music and spoken word broadcast. I had the pleasure of reading poetry and speaking with Valentino Assenza about current events and the role of the Poet Laureate. You can still access this interview until tomorrow night on Howl’s website:https://ciut.fm/shows/howl/ My
I am pleased to appear as the inaugural guest on the Different Boat, Same Storm Podcast. DBSS was created by Abhayjeet Singh Sachal, Atharv Agrawal and Eli Meadow Ramraj to cultivate empathy amidst the Covid-19 crisis. In this premiere episode, I spent upwards of 45 minutes talking with Abhay, Atharv, and Eli about “Poetry, Song,
Different Boat, Same Storm Podcast Appearance Read More »
The deep job of writing one-year-anniversary poems for the memorial services for the North York Van Attack Tragedy and for the Danforth Shooting Tragedy. Those were such important things and such noble events….It was just a wonderful thing to participate and feel how much people loved and wanted the poem there…You think, your poor poem….It’s
#onpoli Podcast Interview Read More »
‘They are full of courage, full of wit, full of resource and unremitting effort to survive,’ said Al Moritz, Toronto’s poet laureate. Catherine Porter, Canada Dispatch, The New York Times, May 18, 2020. I’ve been cited by Catherine Porter in her New York Times coverage of the Toronto Fox Family living down in the Toronto
Toronto Fox Family Mention Read More »
Towards the end of National Poetry Month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Power of CBC Radio’s Q about my poem “Thoughts in Time of Plague.” CLICK HERE to read about and listen to the interview: Here’s a hard link: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/tuesday-april-28-2020-avril-lavigne-a-f-moritz-and-more-1.5547890/a-f-moritz-reads-his-poem-thoughts-in-time-of-plague-1.5547894 You can also listen to the interview here: CBC Q also posted
CBC Q Interview with Tom Power, “Thoughts in Time of Plague” Read More »
Inspired by the #TolstoyTogether reading project hosted by writer YiYun in collaboration with New York’s A Public Space, CBC Radio’s Michael Enright canvassed Canadian writers for their book recommendations in a time of crisis. This weekend, at home, I recorded my thoughts on returning to Juan Ramón Jiménez’s The Invisible Reality during the corona virus
THE SUNDAY EDITION: BOOKS FOR SOLACE, PERSPECTIVE, AND CONNECTION DURING SELF-ISOLATION Read More »
I’ll be heading over to CP24 this Sunday afternoon, March 10, to be interviewed about my new role as Toronto’s Poet Laureate. The interview will take place in studio around 3:00pm. Tune in to CP24 Toronto via your television provider, stream on CP24.com/now [you might need a cable subscription to access this feed] or check
On Friday, March 8, I spoke with CBC Metro Morning’s Matt Galloway about my new role as the City of Toronto’s Poet Laureate. And I read my poem, “The Worm Picker.” You can listen to the segment here. CBC Metro Morning airs on CBC Radio One 99.1 Toronto, Weekdays from 5:30-8:30 am.
CBC Metro Morning Interview Read More »
When reading The Sparrow, Moritz’s latest selected poems, I was taken aback by how fluid it all seemed—it felt like reading a single, very long, very old sequence that is determined to smoke-out something from a thick, thorny brush…its target unknowable, yet still set in its ways. I have an interview with James Linsday available
Open Book Interview Read More »
Please join me on Thursday, October 5th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hinton Learning Theatre at the Toronto Reference Library for the next installment of Exchanging Notes: The Interviews. I will have a sit-down chat with John Miller of the Toronto Writers’ Co-Operative about my life as a poet and my work. And, I will
Exchanging Notes: The Interviews Read More »
Last year, Prism International published a selection from my interview with James Wood regarding my most recent book of poems, Sequence. Below, you will find a transcript of that interview in its entirety. Sequence : An Extended Interview with James Wood JWW: What inspired the writing of Sequence? AFM: I think that primarily it came
Sequence : An Extended Interview with James Wood Read More »
A person is a vow, a promise he makes to himself and others, a faithfulness to a love, and not in the sense that we usually give to making a vow, but in the sense of a decision which is an orientation of the total self. CNQ, Canadian Notes and Queries, has published Evan Jones’ one-on-one
This week, PRISM magazine published a conversation I had with James Wood, entitled: “In poetry, what is learned is of the blood”: An Interview with Award-Winning Poet A.F. Moritz.” Here’s a sampling of the questions Wood asked me: What inspired the writing of your most recent collection, Sequence (House of Anansi, 2015)? How do you see the new book’s relationship
My Conversation With James Wood In This Week’s PRISM Read More »