January is the month for celebrating Robbie Burns Day – the birthday of the great Scottish poet. So for this month’s poetry event at Café Tiramisu, the Edmonton Poetry Festival will take an unorthodox approach to the elements of a traditional Burns celebration.

Sound poet Jeff Carpenter tackles the address to the haggis. Mike Gravel proposes the Toast to the Lassies, and Jannie Edwards will counter with the Toast to the Laddies. Alice Major digs into her Scottish roots to present the ‘immortal memory.’ And, since participation is the spirit of the occasion, there will be an opportunity for those present to sign up and deliver a brief poem of their own (inspired by Burns) or to read one of his own. Brogue strictly optional.

So it’s afternoon and coffee rather than supper and scotch. No piping in of the head table and no exploding haggis. But it’s going to be fun – drag out your tartan heart and come on down.

When: Saturday, January 26, 2013 – 3 to 5 pm
Where: Café Tiramisu, 10750 – 124 St.
Cost: $5.00 – also gets you a coffee!