The Martlet

The Black Stilt Coffee House was packed full as patrons listened to local poets pay tribute to recently deceased poet P.K. Page, who died on Jan. 14.

Among the performers was Patrick Lane, award-winning poet, former UVic creative writing professor and long time friend of Page.

Before Lane took the stage, 16 local poets, many of them UVic writing students, read from either their own work or one of their Page favourites.

Some performers recounted their experiences with “P.K.” The memories ranged from her disapproving of the use of the word “shit” in a poem to telling a photographer to “hurry the hell up.”

Lane performed the poems “Passing in the Storm” and “Kids and Coke,” all the while peppering them with his recollections of Page — who he described as “a great dame.”

Lane chuckled when he recalled her saying: “I always hid the fact that I was a poet, because I didn’t think it would help me get any dates.”

Lane’s reading was cut short, to the disappointment of the crowd, but he wrapped up with his poem, “The King Fisher.”

The crowd responded with the applause and laughter reserved only for master performers.