Do me some impossible thing
Never been heard or seen
before I have seen it. Awe shucks,
almost heard it, but I’m not wearing
my hearing aids. Nearly caught
a glimpse but I’m not wearing
my looking glasses, so lie to me
instead.I’ll believe you.
FROM THE LETTERWRITER
2020 Via Rail
Dear Poohbah
I can see how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected national VIA routes on your website. Nonetheless I live in the hope that at some point in 2021 the Canadian and the Ocean will be running again. Could you take me with you on your inaugral trips? It’s a win-win for both of us.
You’ve had poets and singers on the trains before, and that was and is a good thing. I have a special offer. In exchange for a pass, upgraded to include a sleeper, I will write about the journey for a magazine and/or a blog. Your blog my blog whatever works.
I received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts for my “Listen, Here” project, as a Deaf and Disabled Artist. I am writing poetry and prose about what I hear in several different settings. These include islandsn like Newfoundland and Vancouver Island, and Hecla just up the road from where Ilive in Gimli. I have a 50% hearing loss, wearing hearing aids to make up the difference.
My physical disabilities are mostly due to “lousy cartilage genetics” according to my foot surgeon who could not save my left foot. I have a below the knee amputation and a prosthesis to make up the difference. My need for a sleeper is because of my degenerative disc disease (cartilage gone) and a few other nnuances I’ll spare you. I can walk, using a variety of mobility devises from a cane to forearm crutches. I require no special atten tion as long as I can rest my back.
The second service I would offer is daily 2 hour listening sessions somewhere on the train. Anyone on the train with the time and the inclination can talk to me and I will acvtively listen. I’m good at this because I’m a writer, because I’ve been in treatment nlong enough to learn what that kind of listening looks like. I will offer NO therapy and say very little. I am unlikely to write about what I hear because that gets complicated and permissions would be needed. I will have waivers available if I the speakers want to offer the would hear many COVID stories. This service will be of interest to media, as will having a writer on an early train.
The third service is weighted towards Via Rail. I would review the experience of my travel as a dsiasabled person for your teams working on Accessibilty issues for furtue improvements.
To sumarrize I would 1)write 2)listen 3)review accessibilitry in exchange for a pass (free) upgraded to a sleeper (free). I will pay for food and incidentals. Would also be delighted to do two readings for the trip west which I imagine would be first, and the same on “the Ocean,” that stops in Halifax. I mention the pass because I will want to step off the train for a few days in Edmonton and one place east I haven’t thought of yet. I would likely need to fly to Toronto, and then depending on Covid and commuters, a train to Montreal which is where I understand the Ocean starts its journey.
I attach a resume, and I have a website www.victorenns.ca. Thank you for your consideration.