Ti MN ana ANGES hy Dr Richard lemm

Excerpts from the recently released biography of PEI's “People’s Poet,” Milton Acorn campus in down-

On 7 October 1969, Acorn again packed the house for a poetry reading. This time, however, he was

a receptive community

existed, which turned out in force to hear Milton Acorn, who was in the process of

town Charlottetown.

(The year before, ; newspaper photo Prince of Wales ; 5 shows Acorn in a suit College had

Edward Island” (“Native Poet”). A

and tie, with well-

absolutely packed and this extraordinary- looking guy finally arrived, went up the middle of the aisle, and took his place. We couldn’t believe how fascinating his face was. He had this gargoyle face. When he started reading, he

designated host. Milton and family arrived a little late, and Bob was quite nervous about their arrival. And when they got there, his mother was in her cups, and Milton himself was flying fairly high. Bob was

back in Charlottetown becoming the Island sponsored a reading groomed hair, looking

dedicated it to his really nervous and

to give his first public Poet, author of several series through The iti ; : ett:

eis on BEE Wie important eae Canada Council sat thas Se a Gi. rage es 2s,

had previously read including the ca with Al Purdy, F.R. Campbell. a C he shouted Nie aretha oe ly, Scott, and Alden Pole ee would respond, “Yeah and Ill take Milton up

only privately, to published /’ve Tasted individuals such as

Frank Ledwell or

Bretoner, looks over ‘rahe fon? Thare

was still a little space

Nowlan.) Asa Milton!”

eo at the back, so I

Adrien Arsenault. cea ‘ eerie From /n Love and Anger by Dr. | nite them oi whose mind had been 2 ‘ : aS Grips suitths ask mote 0 Sheer Richard Lemm, nage 0 . and English ie an oes re Mae One popular and another rebellious or 4 at UPEI, remembers had once been indisputable story iconoclastic Helen Cheering ridiculed and beaten about Acorn is that gesture, years before Milton on, and up for being “dreamy” he wore running this attire became 2 yelling at him to and “different,” and shoes both to the trendy fashion : s who had left the Island niece statement. “They ee in the early 1950s General’s _ made a big deal out of ee eee because there was ceremony and, the those sneakers,” says was shouting, “Read virtually no next year, to Mary Hooper, “and eee at community receptive receive his they always claimed ne ME - to a serious writer, Honorary icy be re the same G nal’ is sera a ae ‘i abialivone Doctorate from pair. I’ve got a trunk ae 8 aa hand like a giant bear concerned about the UPEI. Some load of them ae TAGIC oe eo clawing the air, trying tate oes people have upstairs.He bought ene oe eer to dissuade her from

id assumed this was more sneakers than his medal: “He wanted interrupting. But she critical of the to do that right.” icneseea ae establishment—now, he discoufantil< That pes noes pee local paper noted, he ‘ Frank Ledwell was one of the Gs ae ee had “ the poet's shoulder at explains that “This hall highlights of the night prominent Canadian The reading was 2 ee ihe I’ve Tasted My Blood. P Id have held 250 ; a : ag writer. Not yet the sponsored by the new wens wee nt Hilda EK: | wes ss , oo e si e People’s Poet, a University of Prince family in Woolnough, who had fiw oe aes : ates eee ms Governor-General’s Edward Island and the Charlottetown, recently moved to PEI ee ae . ny es medallist, or Dr. Canada Council, and during which time he 54 e+ nusband, gs whe, 2 ee Acorn, he was well on was held in has spoken on viinendiiecs tiie nihil a . “ AB Gs = culture that the his way to those Montgomery Hall, Canadian literature. the first time she hin 5 eet me: ee

distinctions. part of the old Prince classes at the saw and met Atom: — Be en . Po Of Wales College University of Prince is Sade wes ee = — time, _ pride.