Join two of Kitc hener-Waterloo&rsquo\;s best-known poets and hardest-working poetry educat ors for a double book launch and conversation about why poetry is more nec essary than ever. Chris Banks will launch his eighth book of poetry\, \;Bureau of Useless Splendour \;(ECW Press)\, with poems that are immersed in what is wondrous and strange about human connec tion\, pop culture\, and most importantly\, the elusive search for underst anding and hope in an accelerating century. Tanis MacDonald will launch he r fifth book of poetry \;Tall\, Grass\, Girl \; (Bookhug Press) with poems that examine living in the space between belong ing and non-belonging\, with an emphasis on bold survivorship. \;Both books \;will be available to purchase following the event.
\nPre sented in partnership with \;Words Worth Books.
\nA feminist crow at a history of violence\, \;Tall\, Grass\, Gi rl \;is essential reading for those who are tired of healing narr atives that ring hollow\, but who also believe hope is curative. In this s earingly honest lyrical collection\, Tanis MacDonald examines living in th e space between belonging and non-belonging\, between victimhood and bold survivorship\, eventually\, into full-feathered survivor joy. Surviving th e past can be hard work\, and to grow tall\, to push past expectations\, i s to become a person who can refuse and thrive. These poems are a moving t estament to remembering oneself via harsh and beautiful terrain\, to trans muting past violence\, and to finding one&rsquo\;s way back to being a tal l\, grassy girl self.
\nTanis MacDon ald \;(she/they) is the author of eight books\, including the most rec ent\, \;Tall\, Grass\, Girl\, \;and the essay collection& nbsp\;Straggle: Adventures in Walking While Female. She has twice won \;The Malahat Review&rsquo\;s Open Seasons Award: in 2021 for her essay &ldquo\;Mondegreen Girls&rdquo\; on female friendship and fandom\, and in 2026 for &ldquo\;Singularity Packet.&rdquo\; Tanis is Professor Eme ritus at Wilfrid Laurier University\, an adoptee\, and a dedicated walker who lives as a grateful guest on the traditional territories of the Anishn aabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. Her longest-standing relationship is with poetry.
\nIn&nb sp\;Bureau of Useless Splendour\, Banks lets his imagination roam across the science of DNA sequencing\, internet memes\, space-time physic s\, Canadian nationalism\, a lunar discussion between Canadian poet Gwendo lyn MacEwen and American poet Frank Stanford\, and even reimagined fortune cookie &ldquo\;fortunes&rdquo\; &mdash\; as if to illustrate that tucked away among the allusions to pop culture and Shakespeare\, poems about Joha nnes Gutenberg and the Martian mountain Olympus Mons\, there exists a dust y old office where the poet sits\, creating vivid\, delightful pieces and mischievous &ldquo\;invoices&rdquo\; dedicated to the beauty and wonder of this world.
\nChris Banks is an award-w inning\, Pushcart-nominated Canadian poet and author of eight collections of poems\, most recently Bureau of Useless Splendour with ECW Pre ss (Fall 2026). His first full-length collection\, Bonfires\, was awarded the Jack Chalmers Award for poetry by the Canadian Authors&rsquo\ ; Association in 2004. Bonfires was also a finalist for the Geral d Lampert Award for best first book of poetry in Canada. His poetry has ap peared in The New Quarterly\, Arc Magazine\, The Antigonish Review\, Event \, The Malahat Review\, The Walrus\, OnlyPoems\, American Poetry Journal\, The Glacier\, Best American Poetry (blog)\, Prism International\, among o ther publications. Chris was an associate editor with The New Quarterly\, and is Editor in Chief of The Woodlot &ndash\; A Canadian Poetry Reviews & amp\; Essays website. He lives in Kitchener\, ON.
\nPhotography Notice: Please note that photographs and videos may b e taken at this event and may be broadcast\, reproduced\, and/or made avai lable in print or online. For individual or small group photos\, staff wil l make attendees aware of their presence and will ask permission before ta king photos. \;
\nFor larger public events\, please note that by attending\, you are consenting to the use of your appearance\, image\, an d voice in print or digital productions created by the Waterloo Public Lib rary for promotional use only. Please speak to library staff at the event if you&rsquo\;d like to be excluded from any photo/video. \;
\n< strong>Staff: Maddy
\nhttps://wpl.libnet.info/event/17193453 URL;VALUE=URI:https://wpl.libnet.info/event/17193453 ATTACH:https://static.libnet.info/images/events/wpl/Tanis_MacDonald__amp__ Chris_Banks_FALL_2026.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR