I first met Eli Clare in March 2008.  He was in town for a talk at the Ontario Institute for Secondary Education and agreed to be interviewed.

I heard Eli’s footsteps before seeing his smile. Once in front of each other, we said each others names simultaneously and then shook hands.

Before I could sit down and press record, Eli was already spewing off knowledge: the intersection of ableism with racism, how not all disabilities are visible and therefore ableism is experienced in different ways…

I was wowed.

It was Eli’s poetry that got my notice first.  I have heard his essays are amazing.  I know his talks are unbelievable. But it’s Eli’s poetry that speaks to me, holds my attention, and teaches me something new every time I re-read his book.

Eli is a kind soul whose words feel like a punch to those he is challenging: ableists, racists, homophobes, and all those who keep their company.

This past August (2010) I was given the pleasure to hang with Eli again.  I interviewed him for XTRA! and asked if he’d read some of his poetry for the magazine.  Please enjoy Eli’s inspiring words.

Tune in to Black Coffee Poet next week for a review of Maya Angelou’s poetry collection, and an interview and reading with local artist Zainab Amadahy.