In Open Heartspace: A Poetry Anthology
By Members of the Short Order Poetry Collective
Copyright 2026
About the Book & The Project
"In Open Heartspace" is a unique, community-focused poetry chapbook born during the summer of 2025 in Port Hope, Ontario. The collection brings together local, emerging, and seasoned Canadian voices from the Short Order Poetry Collective.
The poems inside were written using a fascinating pop-up art concept: collective members set up typewriter stations at public outdoor gatherings—primarily during the Cultivate Festival and "Road to Cultivate" concert series. Passersby would stop to have deep, mindful conversations with a poet, who would transform those fleeting moments, personal memories, and shared human connections into original verses typed out live on vintage manual typewriters.
This 36-page anthology serves as a beautiful time capsule of community storytelling, offering readers a reminder of slower presence, genuine connection, and shared human experiences.
Featured Poets & Contributors
David Sheffield (Northumberland County):A long-time local resident who reflects on how shared stories connect people to one another and the places they call home. He views poetry as a space to anchor thoughts that are difficult to process in the moment.
Judita Pamfil (Port Hope):Settled in Ontario after a life in transit across the ocean of geopolitics. She values the collective as a hub of creativity and caring that softens social barriers.
Angie Morrison (Local Festivals)A self-described "untamed, untethered poet" who thrives in wild festival landscapes. She is deeply drawn to soulful conversations with strangers to capture their unique individuality. -
Gareth Vieira (Cobourg): Writes stories and poetry focused on city streets, small towns, hospital rooms, and late-night bars, aiming to capture the raw reality of life where beauty and ruin coexist. -
Jane Storie (Port Hope): Discovered her love for poetry at a local coffee shop reading series. She finds her greatest joy in writing live for Short Order Poetry and interacting face-to-face with the public. -
Sophie Kneisel (Port Hope):A professional magazine writer and editor who transitioned from writing family holiday verses to capturing "sparks" from festival conversations as free-verse miniature portraits.
Bob LeDrew (Cobourg):A writer and fair trader originally from a small town in Cape Breton who has found a safe, creative harbor for his next chapters in Ontario.
Grace Young: An intuitive writer who avoids small talk, viewing poetry as an intentional doorway to engage and connect. She deeply values holding and honoring the personal stories trusted to her by strangers.
Laura Brown: Primarily a visual collage artist who writes poetry to process compelling personal experiences. She works intuitively, letting whatever catches her eye or ear inspire the poems she writes for others.
Michelle Carr: A writer with over 40 years of experience, mostly within private journals. She views the Short Order Poetry project as a beautiful vehicle to engage people in a vibrant, immediate, and unexpected way.
Item Details:
Format: Softcover / Chapbook / Paper Wrap -
Size: 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches
Page Count: 36 pages
Origin: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Features: Includes a mix of collaborative community poetry and local writers' work.
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