The poets met in the tightly-knit poetry community of Edmonton; especially important was the city's multicultural initiative called the Borderlines Writing Circle (2012-2014) to which all poets belonged.
Tiffany and Yukari quickly became good friends in April 2014 after Tiffany contacted the Stroll of Poets Society to post a notice on the society's newsletter in order to look for a local, collaborative opportunity with poets.
Pushpa and Yukari were initially thinking of making a simple chapbook of our poetry. As we talked more about this, Sharmila joined us. This was followed by the idea of combining visual art and poetry because Tiffany's lithographs and drawings were beautiful. It was natural that we decided to combine our arts in a book.
In our efforts to create this book, we received a funding from the Edmonton Arts Council to make this book come true. We are very grateful for this support from the city.
Tiffany created her images inspired by the poems (sections 1 - 3), and poets wrote pieces inspired by her existing body of lithographs (section 4). In addition, Sharmila and Pushpa each translated one of Yukari's poems into Nepali, and Yukari translated one each of Sharmila's and Pushpa's poems into Japanese.
The launch of the book took place on July 28, 2015, with generous support from the Borderlines Writing Circle and the Writers' Guild of Alberta. We are very fortunate to live in a city where artists are supported in such a way. Thank you!
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Sharmila Pokharel Sharmila Pokharel is a bilingual poet from the Himalayan country Nepal. Her bilingual poetry collection, My Country Foreign Land परदेशमा मेरो देश was published in 2014 (Co-translator: Alice Major). Her earlier poetry book, अस्तित्वनारीको Astitwa Nariko (1997) and अमिवा र कुन्तीहरु Amoeba r Kunteeharu (2000) are both written in Nepali. She has received the 2012 Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award from the Edmonton Arts Council. She credits her parents, Bala Ram Pokharel and Bimala Pokharel, for encouraging her to express what she feels in words. She is a graduate of the creative writing program at Humber School for Writers, and she holds a BE in civil engineering from Tribhuvan University Nepal. As of 2023 She is a graduate student at Simon Fraser University in the Writer's Studio program. She came to Canada in 2010 with her husband. She was selected as one of the six apprentices in the mentorship program run by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta in 2021. She was one of the participants of 2021 The Shoe Project. She was also a member of the Borderlines Writers Circle program (2012-2013) of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.
Yukari Meldrum is a poet/writer/creator/sew-ist/artist/interpreter. Words simply fascinate her. She finds that special space between the two languages and two cultures an intriguing place to be. She currently explores various creative paths. She was a member of the Borderlines Circle/Writer-in-Exile Programme at the Edmonton Public Library (2012-2013) and a recipient of the Edmonton Arts Council's Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award (2010). Her publication includes Will not forget both laughter and tears (2013, Edmonton, U of A Press; a translation of Wasurenai warai mo namida mo) and TransLit Volume 9 (2012, Edmonton, Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta, an edited book).
Tiffany Adair is a Metis woman, born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art degree, in Art and Design, from the University of Alberta (2014). As of 2022, she is pursuing a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, Ontario (2023). She expects to be a licensed Landscape Architect by 2025. This career combines everything she is passionate about: creativity, environmental healing, Indigenous empowerment and all the goodies of a highly technical, complex and challenging profession. She is forever a lover of adventure, travel, and exploration.
Pushpa Raj Acharya is a poet born in Nepal who writes in both Nepali and English. In 2013-2014, he was a member of the Borderlines Circle/Writer-in-Exile Programme at the Edmonton Public Library. His published poetry books include Chhayakaal, "The Phantom Time," (FinePrint, Kathmandu, 2006) and Dream Catcher (Vajra Publications, Kathmandu, 2012).Sharmila Pokharel Sharmila Pokharel is a bilingual poet from the Himalayan country Nepal. Her bilingual poetry collection, My Country Foreign Land परदेशमा मेरो देश was published in 2014 (Co-translator: Alice Major). Her earlier poetry book, अस्तित्वनारीको Astitwa Nariko (1997) and अमिवा र कुन्तीहरु Amoeba r Kunteeharu (2000) are both written in Nepali. She has received the 2012 Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award from the Edmonton Arts Council. She credits her parents, Bala Ram Pokharel and Bimala Pokharel, for encouraging her to express what she feels in words. She is a graduate of the creative writing program at Humber School for Writers, and she holds a BE in civil engineering from Tribhuvan University Nepal. As of 2023 She is a graduate student at Simon Fraser University in the Writer's Studio program. She came to Canada in 2010 with her husband. She was selected as one of the six apprentices in the mentorship program run by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta in 2021. She was one of the participants of 2021 The Shoe Project. She was also a member of the Borderlines Writers Circle program (2012-2013) of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.
Yukari Meldrum is a poet/writer/creator/sew-ist/artist/interpreter. Words simply fascinate her. She finds that special space between the two languages and two cultures an intriguing place to be. She currently explores various creative paths. She was a member of the Borderlines Circle/Writer-in-Exile Programme at the Edmonton Public Library (2012-2013) and a recipient of the Edmonton Arts Council's Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award (2010). Her publication includes Will not forget both laughter and tears (2013, Edmonton, U of A Press; a translation of Wasurenai warai mo namida mo) and TransLit Volume 9 (2012, Edmonton, Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta, an edited book).
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