I fell asleep at 2:30 am last night, still posting, and woke myself up at 5:30 to get the last poems up & write a final response. When all poems were counted at the clock struck 6 am, we were at 156 poems. As I was hauling my tired self back to bed, I realized that was exactly 2 x 78. Will wonders never cease. I am so inspired by the work everyone has done to contribute to the blog, respond to the injustice being done in Quebec and stand with the people in the streets. It is humbling to see what came of this little idea, and nothing I attribute to myself. There is such a force behind this, such momentum and so many people willing to put their bodies, their voices and their careers on the line. Thank-you for taking part in this, whether it was through creating, reading, listening, helping to share the work. 

This work isn’t finished, and won’t be. The events in Quebec require recording, they need to stay present in our collective memory. When they tell us Canada is a place of quiet justice, we need to laugh and offer this in response. 

There were a number of submissions that did not go through when submitted through the blog, or that were sent without names. If you do not see your work posted, please resend it to poesie78@gmail.com and I will get it up there. If you are still completing a pledge, if you are inspired, if there is more work you would like to contribute, I will do my best to include it here. It may take time to post everything, but I’ll do my best! 

The next step is up to all of you. Please share the work, circulate it, send it where you like. The copyright of the poetry remains yours, of course. Do with it what you will! Get it out there! 

Much love to all of you out there. Thank-you for the inspiration. I’ve never been prouder to be part of this community of poets.

Alessandra