Tower Poetry Society

Promoting poetry sine 1951

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Tower Poetry Society

Promoting poetry since 1951

TPS was born in the McMaster University tower

TPS was born in the McMaster University tower

When established at McMaster University in 1951, the members would meet in a room in the “Tower”, which is part of University Hall. Hence, the members decided that the name of the organization would be The Tower Poetry Society. Little did those early members know that the TPS would expand to include non-university members and hold its monthly meetings in other venues within the Hamilton community. In 2026, TPS will celebrate 75 years of promoting and publishing poetry. The Society is Canada’s oldest continuously operating poetry group.

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Read All About It! —

About our Last Poetry Parlour Open Mic

Tower Poet’s Talk Report

Our next Event…

  • Saturday, June 14, 2025 — Poetry Parlour Open Mic (Westdale Library, 2 -4 pm)

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Art Walk Booklets are making their way to contributors:) Art Walk PDF for online

THE TWIN COMMITMENTS OF TPS:

TOWER POETRY, published twice annually, receives open submissions during February and August.

Monthly poetry workshops are held the 2nd Saturday most months* at Westdale Library from 2 – 4pm (*see page for details and exceptions).

NEW for the 2024-25 Season — Introducing “Poetry Parlour Open Mics” 2-4 pm @ Westdale Library (Saturdays: Oct. 26, Nov. 30, Feb. 22, June 14)… Read  more.

Download & print your Schedule-at-a-Glance: Tower Poetry 202425 schedule 20240912

 

Publication Preview

Order from our Publication page

 

TPS 60th Anniversery Anthology

You can revisit all of the PoARTry dances…

Dances of Poetry & Art – online event

Tower Poetry Society

towerpoetrysocietycanada

Tower Poetry Society was established in 1951. We are the oldest poetry group in North America. We publish books twice yearly. We are a non-profit.

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Happening at 1 pm! Tower poets are reading poems i Happening at 1 pm! Tower poets are reading poems inspired by art @at_theagh #towerpoetrysocietycanada #ekphrasticpoetry #hamont
Come celebrate National Poetry Month with us on Sa Come celebrate National Poetry Month with us on Saturday, April 26th… Ekphrastic Experience Poetry Booklet will be available on the day. https://towerpoetry.ca/national-poetry-writing-month-2025/ #poetrymonth #towerpoetrysocietyevent
This post celebrates Poets and Writers… April is This post celebrates Poets and Writers… April is National Poetry Writing Month, or NaPoWriMo, for those in the know… Lord Byron, Shel Silverstein, Emily Dickinson…you? Honor one of the richest literary forms by writing or reading poetry, learning about poets, or joining a community. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/poetry-month/

Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day… Verses that dance in your mind, painting feelings with words, capturing the essence of life’s beauty and its tangled emotions. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/poem-in-your-pocket-day/

AND, National Encourage a Young Writer Day — Show some support and care for future generations by getting involved with this important day that helps to foster inspiration for the special craft of writing! 

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/national-encourage-a-young-writer-day/
Yesterday was National Unicorn Day – It’s a thing. I like to think this a day where one can unleash your creative energy and fun. So go forth & channel your inner unicorn. You ARE magnificent! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/unicorn-day/

 #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #poeminyourpocket  #EncourageAYoungWriter #nationalunicornday🦄 #NationalUnicornDay  #writing #poetry #poetrylover
Are you a poet? Come on out & celebrate National P Are you a poet? Come on out & celebrate National Poetry Month with us!! If you’d like your poem to be critiqued, please bring about 20 copies. If you’d rather just hang back & check it out, that’s okay too. More details here: https://towerpoetry.ca/workshops/ #localhamiltonpoetry
#hamontpoetrygroup
#poetryworkshop
Tower Poets at the Art Gallery of Hamilton to read Tower Poets at the Art Gallery of Hamilton to read the poems that the artwork in the permanent collect had inspired. Such fun! Print the Booklet from our website. And, we’re doing it again on Saturday, April 26 from 1 - 4pm… come join us for this unique experience! #towerpoetrysocietycanada #ekphrasticpoetry #napowrimo #welovepoetry #hamont
Come celebrate National Poetry Month with us on th Come celebrate National Poetry Month with us on the 5th & 26th… You can print out your accompanying booklet on our website. https://towerpoetry.ca/national-poetry-writing-month-2025/ #poetrymonth #towerpoetrysocietyevent
On account of the Merriam Webster dictionary aptly On account of the Merriam Webster dictionary aptly being "limerick" and it being St. Patrick's Day... I've made a wee Limerick!
Ekphrastic Experience — Come experience poetry & Ekphrastic Experience — Come experience poetry & art together during National Poetry Month 2025!

Art + Poetry
Visual Art + Auditory Art
Art Gallery + Poetry Society

It all adds up to a Cultural experience that is not be missed! Join local poets onsite as they read the poems aloud next to the very artwork that inspired them.

Two ways to enjoy Ekphrastic Experience: 
1. Take a self-guided tour with the accompanying poetry booklet on hand during the month of April. (You can download & print from our website. They may be available from the Gallery.)
2. Join us Saturday, April 5 and/or Saturday, April 26 from 1-4 pm at the AGH (Second floor permanent collections - always free!)

Poetry booklets will be available onsite on Sat. April 5 & 26, and on our website to download & print.  #hamiltonpoets #poetry #towerpoetry_events #ekphrasticExperience

We thank you for your support:)
Tomorrow (or today if you’re reading this on Sat Tomorrow (or today if you’re reading this on Saturday)… come on out! #towerpoetrysociety #hamont_poetry
Poet’s Talk, February 8, 2025 — with long-time Poet’s Talk, February 8, 2025 — with long-time TPS member, Bernadette Rule… “Seminal Poems: Poems that make People into Poets.”
Distinguished poet, Bernadette Rule, gave a brief talk on a poem’s effect on one’s creative spirit. As part of this interactive presentation, poets were invited to share a poem that had such an effect on them. Read All About It!:
https://towerpoetry.ca/tower-poets-talk-is-back-and-it-didnt-disappoint/
#towerpoetrysocietycanada #towerpoetrysocietyhamilton #readallaboutit #poetry #poeticinspiration
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Are you a poet? Maybe you know it, maybe you don't Are you a poet? Maybe you know it, maybe you don't. Come on out. If you'd like your poem to be critiqued, please bring about 20 copies. If you'd rather just hang back & check it out, that's okay too. More details here: https://towerpoetry.ca/workshops/ #localhamiltonpoetry
#hamontpoetrygroup
#poetryworkshop
According to Poets.org, ekphrasis is “the use of According to Poets.org, ekphrasis is “the use of vivid language to describe or respond to a work of visual art.” Poets.org has a brief history of the origins of ekphrastic poetry on their website, which includes the statement that “early ekphrasis was used as a vivid description of a thing.”

Tower Poetry has arranged with the Art Gallery of Hamilton to have poets view works from their permanent collection and create ekphrastic poetry in response for National Poetry month, April 2025.

There are FIVE galleries of pieces from the AGH Permanent Collection from which to choose: Nova Steel Ltd Gallery, Norval Morrisseau (all aboriginal art), Galbraith Memorial Gallery (contains sculpture), Bob and Maggie Gallery, and Milton Harris Galley (contains Group of Seven).

It doesn’t matter if your heart is lured by sculpture more than painting, or if your mind speaks to the modern or classical, there is something to inspire every poet.

For full details, please visit our Ekphrastic Experience page: https://towerpoetry.ca/poartry-2/

APRIL 2025 -- an opportunity to put our poetry into the public forum for the entirety of National Poetry Month.  Tower Poetry will produce a brochure that gallery visitors can take to read your poetry when they reach the permanent collection galleries during April.
All the best to all of you !!! All the best to all of you !!!
We hope you can join us - bring a supporter, or so We hope you can join us - bring a supporter, or someone who might want to be a member:) Feel free to bring a favourite holiday/winter poem or short story, either original or classic/traditional. #hamont #hamiltonliteraryevent
Introducing the 2025 TPS/AGH Ekphrastic Experience Introducing the 2025 TPS/AGH Ekphrastic Experience!!! Tower Poetry has arranged with @at_theagh (the Art Gallery of Hamilton) to have poets view works from their permanent collection and create ekphrastic poetry in response for National Poetry month, April 2025. For full details: https://towerpoetry.ca/poartry-2/

#ArtGalleryofHamilton #towerpoetrysocietyhamilton #ekphrasticpoetry #poetrycalltoentry
We hope you can join us - bring a supporter, or so We hope you can join us - bring a supporter, or someone who might want to be a member:) Feel free to bring a favourite holiday/winter poem or short story, either original or classic/traditional. #hamont #hamiltonliteraryevent
Today is our first ever Poetry Parlour - an open m Today is our first ever Poetry Parlour - an open mic. This is a chance to practise reading your poetry aloud & of course, a chance to listen to gather, listen to & support fellow local poets. The even is at Westdale Library from 2 - 4 pm. Come early to sign up to read. The length of reading time will depend on the number of participants. #poetryopenmic #towerpoetryparlour @hamiltonlibrary
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** The TPS Website was overhauled and simplified in 2014, which meant that many aspects of the old site could not be continued. Our historical (archived) Poetry & Information website towerpoetry.ca/poetryplus contains a wealth of information, history, poetry and commentary.