Zen poets gather for reading

To celebrate the release of their omnibus anthology “Cascadian Zen: Writings from Cascadia in the Here and Now, Vol. I,” Watershed Press and the Seattle-based nonprofit Cascadia Poetics Lab will hold two waterfront readings on the Lower Columbia.

The first reading will take place at Winekraft, in Astoria on Dec. 8; the second will be at Time Enough Books in Ilwaco on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Both events are free and everyone is welcome.

Cascadian Zen is an omnibus anthology featuring poetry and prose from writers throughout the region, including Gary Snyder, Jane Hirschfield, Tess Gallagher, Tim McNulty, and many others.

Presenting at each reading will be three of the book’s editors, Paul Nelson, Adelia MacWilliam, and Jason Wirth, with local contributors Cate Gable and Robert Michael Pyle. They will be joined at the WineKraft reading by Astoria poets Florence Sage and Jim Dott, and John Ciminello of Naselle. Books will be available for sale and signing at both venues.

Paul Nelson is a widely published poet and interviewer, and the founder of Cascadia Poetics Lab. Adelia MacWilliam earned her MFA at the University of Victoria and is a Founding Editor of Watershed Press.

Jason Wirth is a philosophy professor at Seattle University, a well-regarded author, and a Founding Editor of Watershed Press.

Cascadia Poetics Lab aims to empower people to practice poetry and deepen connections to their place and the present moment.

The organization maintains that self-knowledge, bioregionalism, and creativity converge through poetry. They host workshops and poetry festivals to expose participants to community and education through poetry. The anthology explores the nature of the Cascadia bioregion, Zen practice and questions that follow these topics.

Watershed Press and Cascadia Poetics Lab present a reading of “Cascadian Zen: Writings from Cascadia in the Here and Now, Vol. I.” First reading: Winekraft, Astoria, Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Second: Time Enough Books, Ilwaco, Saturday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m.