In the nine short days from October 30–November 7, 2005, poet Matthew Francis travelled with his wife Creina from west Wales for a mini promotional tour in Toronto and nearby environs, giving four readings, two lectures, and even fielding questions from a university undergraduate class.
Arranged by Máirín Nic Dhiarmada through the Celtic Studies department and at the University of St. Michael's College, Francis gave an informal lecture on the writing of Scottish poet W.S. Graham, whose New Collected Poems Francis edited for Faber & Faber (2004). The next evening had Francis reading at the Art Bar, Canada's longest running poetry-only series, alongside Gil Adamson and Souvankham Thammavongsa.
Wednesday proved a rather whirlwind day, with a lecture entitled "Why Doesn’t it Rhyme? Form and Freedom in Modern Poetry" given to a very enthusiastic audience as part of the University of Toronto's Continuing Studies Lecture Series, in Oakville. This was followed by a lovely lunch hosted by the lecture organisers Roberta A. Brookes and Christel Call. Back to Toronto, Victoria University beckoned, where Francis gave a reading and then headed up a flight of stairs to an undergraduate class taught by John Reibetanz. Closing off the evening, good food, good wine, good conversation, in a good atmosphere, was had at The Bloor Street Diner in the company of A. F. Moritz, Maureen Scott Harris, and hosted by John Reibetanz (via Victoria University).
At long last, Thursday brought with it the launch of Francis's collection of poems entitled Whereabouts, which significantly marked also the launch of rufus books. Hosted by the Hart House Literary & Library Committee, the launch took place in the beautiful second floor library with its glow of rufus-red couches and carpeting – along with a rather cantankerous radiator that added a real touch (bang?) of atmosphere, particularly in a reading of "Central Heating" and the lines therein of "…the pipes gonging/ in the walls,/ the unseen waters rising,/ its heart and stomach working…".
A quick walk across a darkened Queen's Park led to Club 22 at the Windsor Arms, where the reception was held in more rufus-red glow with delectable and seemingly never-ending trays of hot appetisers, cheeses, fresh fruit, and desserts.
After one day's respite, Niagara Falls and the enchanting town of Niagara-on-the-Lake came next, followed by a reading Sunday evening at LitLive, as part of the grit Lit Literary Festival, in steel-skyed Hamilton that essentially wrapped up Francis' mini book tour in Toronto and thereabouts.
