Issue 8 of Not Very Quiet Women's Online Poetry Journal will be launched by the editors, Moya Pacey and Sandra Renew, along with readings by poets published in this issue. The poems in Issue 8 - Mask are delicious, varied, subtle, and hard-hitting.

The theme ‘Mask’ derives variously from the mid 16th century French masque, Italian maschera, mascara, probably from medieval Latin masca, ‘witch, spectre’ but influenced by Arabic maskara, ‘buffoon’ (Wordflex app 1998–2008, using Oxford Dictionary data ). It is a word with widespread interpretation and meaning. It encapsulates all seven previous Not Very Quiet issues and still leaves scope for new ideas and explorations in Issue 8. ‘Mask’ has special resonance in gender discourses, and of course, had a special meaning in 2020 with bushfire smoke and the pandemic.

This issue launch is the opening event for the Poetic City Festival.

Entry is free but registration recommended as numbers are limited - REGISTER HERE. No Open Mic.