Ronnie R. Brown was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, on November 8, 1946. She moved to Canada in 1969 and has lived in Montreal nd Ottawa. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from Concordia University, where she taught from 1978 to 1984. She now teaches Creative Writing at Carleton University, and produces and cohosts the FM arts programme Sparks II. Her work has been presented on radio, television, and audio cassette. In 1986 a stage adaptation of On Falling Bodies premiered at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Awards
Board of Governors Medal For Poetry, Concordia University, 1975-76.
Festival of the Arts Graduate Poetry Award, Concordia University, 1979-80.
Anthos/Q101 Anthology Competition, prizewinner, professional division, 1987.
Canadian Authors Association, Ottawa Branch, first prize, free verse, 1990;
second prize, haiku, 1994; first prize, haiku, 1996.
Leacock Poetry Competition, top ten finalist, 1994.
Selected Publications
Re Creation. (Balmuir Books, 1987).
Decisive Moments. (Anthos Books, 1988).
Selected Anthologies
Open Set: A Tree Anthology. (Agawa Press, 1990).
Vintage 91. (Sono Nis Press, 1992).
Symbiosis: An Intercultural Anthology of Poetry. (Girol Books, 1992).
Poet in the School
(Ottawa)
phone: 613-226-3369
email: dq379@freenet.carleton.ca
Born in Massachusetts, Ronnie R. Brown has lived in Canada since 1969. She holds a BA and an MA from Concordia University, where she taught from 1978-1984. She now teaches Creative Writing part-time at Carleton University. She produced and co-hosted an F.M. arts programme; as well, her work has been presented on TV, cassette and, in 1986, at the National Arts Centre. Awards include two from Concordia and prizes in the Anthos/Q107 and Canadian Authors' Association competitions. She is the author of two books of poetry: Re Creation and Decisive Moments.
Grade Levels: 9 - OAC
Fees: standard
Classroom Approach:
Brown
begins by speaking about the imaginative origins of some of her poems, then
moves from the particular event(s) to the image or metaphor she has chosen to
universalize it. Brown likes to discuss the possibilities of broadening the
scope of student writing, and the value of rethinking and revising. Speaking
of the unexpected in poetry, she then shows students how they can work with
and alter the givens (rhyme, meter, etc.). Brown has prepared a booklet showing
poetry from the concrete to the nonsensical. Often classes conclude with the
students attempting a syllabic poem (haiku, cinquain), or a simplified variation
of one, and, when time permits, creating a poster poem - the syllabic illustrated
by a collage of magazine/newspaper images or student art work. Brown tries to
adapt both the work and the chosen poems to the students. It would be helpful
(though not essential) if the class had been discussing poetry. Books can be
made available and Brown donates a poster poem ("Nightfeeding", published
by Anthos) to the host school.