The audience's eyes were shining like the Perseids that night. Not those of Geneviève Rioux, sharp and scathing; rather, those that flow like a shooting rain, filled with unfailing promises.

Readings, karaoke of poems and free verse on the fly under the marquee erected for the occasion, creative workshops in complete privacy in the tree house or within the walls of a cramped library… there was poetry galore, until the early hours of the morning. A crazy bet of twelve hours straight, to get drunk on words until you couldn’t take it anymore. And song too, “the little sister of poetry”, with Luce Duffault, Alexandre Poulin, Marc Hervieux, Amylie and Richard Séguin, offered as a bouquet for all these lovers of words, nestled in the nave of the village church, freezing at dawn, but with their hearts definitely burning.

Healing: words to say

“I believe that literary therapy is extremely effective,” said David Goudreault, the man of letters, who is above all a man of heart. The artistic director of the event, also a poet and novelist, was a social worker for several years. He has activism engraved on his chest. And the guy loves his tattoos.

The recipient of the National Assembly Medal, the World Poetry Cup, the Grand Prix littéraire Archambault, the Prix des nouvelles voix de la littérature, the Prix Radarts and Accès Culture, Roseq and Étoiles Stingray in addition to the prestigious Prix Clémence-Desrochers awarded by the Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec (take a breath here) has also been a spokesperson for the Mouvement Santé mentale Québec since 2018. He has met with young people for the documentary series Du Monde, des Mots on ICI-Artv and to give writing workshops as part of the “Culture at school” program of the Ministry of Education. Perhaps we should say of him that he is a cultural facilitator, which would sum up well the impact of his work with a whole section of our society in need of life… and words.

Evocative words, messengers, liberating words. Words that transport, words that resonate. That hurt, that tear, and that heal. Poetry is a tool of expression, but above all of emancipation. "I call on poetry [...] so that the word grows, all crooked and ... alive". Literature, as a lifeline.

Democratizing poetry

It's not for nothing that we talk about slam to make committed poetry, it's more pop and glamorous. "The idea is to have something very accessible, very human, and at the same time spectacular, through the effectiveness of poetry," said the muse of the Grande nuit de la poésie who manages to bring together a fascinating number of humans eager for tenderness and prose in the small Estrie village of barely a hundred souls where Richard Séguin lives, the instigator of all this panic. The next generation is impressive, and it inspires hope. The programming, young and eclectic, is evidence of this changing wind.

Even the financing of the event is touching. Naturally, and fortunately, there are sponsors and cultural partners. But many expectations are placed on the small wooden box that stands timidly at the top of the church steps to collect voluntary donations. "And what do you call the inhabitants of St-Venant-de-Paquette?" asks the bubbly David, who has become a friend to everyone, into the microphone. "Volunteers!" And the assembly laughs joyfully.

The evening was good. The audience, happy to commune again with the artists, almost sated with words and songs, but not yet stuffed with humanity, certainly made the little wooden box overflow. Drunk with words, the night ended up staggering in the early hours of the morning.

Back-to-School Reading Suggestions

Vivid Oblivion , David Goudreault

My forests , Hélène Dorion

Survivors , Geneviève Rioux

Pomegranate , Elkahna Talbi (Queen Ka)

Trier , Louise Marois

Pieces of memories , Mathieu Dubé

Radiophonic odes VI , Jean-Paul Daoust