FEATURE POETS:

Ivy Rahman: a writer, poet and social worker who was born and educated in Bangladesh and has lived in Canberra for over 3 decades. She has been writing since her school days and has published several books in Bengali and one in English: ‘Heart on Fire’. This non-fiction book was published in 2019 in Kolkata India, and proceeds from its sale support a charity that assists women victims of acid & rape in Bangladesh. Ivy has performed at Smith’s once before and also at Tuggeranong Arts Centre and at the Multicultural Festival in Civic. Ivy will share some of her poetry in the Bengali language.

Vesna Cvjeticanin: a poet, auto-biographical blogger, story-teller and radio-producer. Her Radio Program, 'Serbia in My Heart', on local community radio 2XX FM is entering its sixth year. Vesna writes poetry in both English and Serbian and has performed in theatres and at poetry festivals across Australia and Serbia. Her poems have been published in the online magazine 'be:longing' and in an Australian anthology of childbearing poetry. In 2018, her poem 'Memories' won first place at an international Serbian-language poetry contest. Vesna’s first poetry book, 'Otkrivanje Duše' [The Discovery of the Soul], was published by the City Library of her hometown Sombor, Serbia, on 19 September this year. She will recite several poems from this poetry book.

OPEN MIC: To sign up for a spot in an open mic segment: email mothertonguemic@gmail.com.
You will have 4 minutes to present a poem wholly or partly in another language, with an introduction or summary in English. All styles from traditional to contemporary slam are welcome, and you can read or recite an original poem or piece by another poet.