The travelers in the Stone Soup folktale creatively offer a share of the nourishment to come by inviting the townspeople to contribute whatever they can. This simple gesture dispels fear and forges connection. In a similar way, the cauldron of these inviting poems effortlessly blends ingredients both earthy and spiritual, jaunty and tender, compassionate and ecstatic. The poems wonder, take delight, grieve, and console, as they encompass generations of family and friends, and embrace a wide spectrum of cultures and traditions, to reveal heights and depths of our common humanity from fresh and surprising angles of vision.

Kate Marshall Flaherty’s recent books are Stone Soup and Reaching V. Her poetry has been published in journals such as CV2, Descant, Grain, Malahat Review and Vallum, was Shortlisted for Descant’s Best Canadian Poem, the Pablo Neruda Poetry Prize and Robert Frost Poetry Prizes. Co-founder of the Children’s Peace Theatre, she cross-pollinated poetry with dance to form “poetry in motion” performances that were recognized by the United Nations. She has travelled the world guiding yoga and writing retreats with InkSlingers. She was a “Random Acts of Poetry” Poet for three years, has been a beloved poet in the schools across Ontario, and is presently Toronto Representative for the League of Canadian Poets. She guides StillPoint Writers’ Retreats; writing is her lifeline. She lives in Toronto.

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