Village Poets of Sunland & Tujunga: Happy Independence Day 2022! Village Poets are Baaaack in the Parade!

Happy Independence Day 2022!

from Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga and Friends at the California State Poetry Society and Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club - Joe DeCenzo, Elsa Frausto, Marlene Hitt, Alice Pero, Pamela Shea, Dorothy Skiles, Maja Trochimczyk, Susan Rogers, Bory Thach, Ambika Talwar, and Beata & Ella Czajkowska

It's that time of the year! The Independence Day Parade in Sunland Tujunga starts at 10 am on Monday, 4 July 2022 from the crossing of Mt. Gleason and Foothill. The parade goes down Foothill Blvd, and ends by Sunland Park. It takes about an hour to walk. Above is one of the previously decorated Poets' Convertibles (lent to the poets by Joe DeCenzo). Below a photo from the parade that featured Pamela Shea, then Poet Laureate as the Statue of Liberty, with her crown and torch Those were the days.... and now we are coming back to this patriotic fun!

Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga will be represented by the Poet Laureate Alice Pero riding in the Poets' Convertible driven by Joe DeCenzo (ST Poet Laureate No. 4), with guests Beata Czajkowska, Secretary of Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club, poet Susan Rogers, and Village Poets volunteer, Josephine. Walking along the decorated car, poets will distribute postcards with "America the Beautiful" and poems they selected for this occasion.

The "walking" poets will include Dr. Maja Trochimczyk, ST Poet Laureate No. 6 (2010-2012) and President of the California State Poetry Society, Ambika Talwar, secretary of the California State Poetry Society, Bory Thach, one of the Editors of the California Quarterly and member of the Board of CSPS, and Elzbieta Czajkowska, representing Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club as its volunteer web designer.

Maja Trochimczyk, Bory Thach and Ambika Talwar (2021).

Alice Pero started her term in 2020, however all public events were cancelled and her first public appearance in a large Village Poets event was at the Passing of the Laurels Ceremony held this spring. You can read her bio and a list of achievements on our site, and about the Passing of the Laurels on this blog.

Alice Pero

Some of the poems to be given out will be on the theme of the celebration, for instance Marlene Hitt wrote about the fireworks:

These are not bombs
up there in the sky
only fireworks
It's the Fourth of July!

Bursting to celebrate
freedom for all,
sparkling promises
begin to fall
(c) Marlene Hitt

Maja Trochimczyk's "Independence Day" poem that was given out as a postcard previously, received a new design:

Independence Day

Red - are the rocks of the Grand Canyon
White - are the mountains, covered with snow
Blue - are the waves of Pacific Ocean

Red, White and Blue - colors of all.

Red - is the Earth from which we come
White - is the Air that fills our lungs
Blue - is the Water inside us, with Stardust

Red, White and Blue - connected in all.

Red - is pure Love, deep in our hearts
White - is the Brightness of our minds
Blue - is the Peace of well-lived lives

Red, White and Blue - freedom for all.

(C) 2018 by Maja Trochimczyk

Maja Trochimczyk decided to also distribute one poem from her new book, Bright Skies - a version of a poem written for one person, now transformed from singular into plural - so it is a poem about all of US and our strengths, together. We are all perfect!

Today – For Us

We are a miracle of life
We do what we want
We want what we do
We are perfect
We are cosmic trees
We grow by the calm lake of light
Its smooth opal surface
Reflects the sun’s smiling face
Our roots drink liquid light
Our crown sparkles with stars
Our leaves are green with peace
Our flowers are gold with joy
Our fruit is ripe with wisdom
We are a living miracle
We are perfect
From noon to midnight
From midnight to noon
We love what we do
We do what we love
We are—we shine—
We are one with the One
We are perfect

Ambika Talwar follows the theme of "Today" with an excerpt from a longer poem:

…Today
laugh silently and aloud
for the winds are your messengers
spread your love
wherever these miniscule spores wander

Today
proclaim freedom for all those
who choose to give nourishment to
their inner hearts’ miraculous ways

Today
is the day we each promised eons ago
we would shift the ley lines
of our thoughts and ways of being

Today
my blessed beloveds, we are on the path
of discovery and new creation

Today … be free
     And freely choose life liberty wisdom…
        and happiness …

                                   ~ Ambika Talwar

Joe DeCenzo will bring his poem inspired by America the Beautiful, "From Sea to Shining Sea," that we previously published on this site: http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2018/07/village-poets-bring-poetry-to.html

Here are links to photos and stories from our previous parades. The last one of these was in July 2019:

http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2019/07/village-poets-and-guests-in.html

http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2018/07/village-poets-bring-poetry-to.html

http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2017/07/dorothy-skiles-marlene-hitt-saturday-22.html

http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2017/06/independence-day-parade-and-july-22.html

Joe, Marlene, Maja and Josephine at the Parade in 2018.

PHOTOS FROM 2022 INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

Happy Independence Day! We had the largest crew ever in the Village Poets entry in the Sunland-Tujunga Parade - two people to carry the banner (poet Joe DeCenzo and Josephine), three in the poets' convertible (ST Poet Laureate Alice Pero, poets Dorothy Skiles and Bory Thach who served as a driver), and three "walkers" to give out poems - myself, Ella and Beata Czajkowska! Then, a party at home and great conversations with another guest, India-born poet Ambika Talwar. So much fun!

In one group we had immigrants from Poland, Mexico, Germany, Cambodia and India, plus those born in the USA. A true celebration of freedom, diversity and friendship! I wore the gold scarf made by my Mom who died on the 4th of July 2013, and I always remember her joyous generosity and love on this lovely, happy day! Ella, a poet and "walker" giving away poems, said that people were moved to tears to get cards, especially the Hymn of Light I wrote new words for... America the Beautiful was the biggest hit on my side. I had people coming up to ask for extra cards... We'll have to print 800 for next year!

First, we gathered at my house on Sunday evening to decorate the Poets' Convertible - the car is lent for this occasion by Joe DeCenzo who, after the parade is over, has to remove the "goo" of glue from tape that melts into the varnish. Thanks a lot Joe! In some years, we totally overdecorated the car - see the photo on the top of this post. This year, I think we managed to stay classy!

July 3, 2022 Decorating Poets' Convertible with Alice trying out her seat

Almost ready - Poets' Convertible covered in silk flowers, bunting and flags!

Josephine and the stars

Bory Thach and the front grille, tricky job!

Alice and Josephine put the final touches on the front

Maja, Joe, Josephine and Alice so happy together!

Joe and Josephine attach the bunting to the front

We have some words on magnets, and the Poet Laureate picks up mini-poems

Two of Alice's choices are here.

I asked poets for some comments about the Parade and received the following from Alice Pero, our current Poet Laureate.

Alice with her special umbrella from Joe and scarf from Maja.

"Here is the story about me and the little girl today.

When I was waiting in the car to start off in the parade,
a man and little girl came and seemed very interested in
our car and the man asked what we were doing and I
said, "This is the Poet Laureate Car." I directly addressed
the little girl who was standing wide-eyed at me. I asked her,
"Do you know what a poet is?" She didn't answer, so I said,
"A poet is someone who makes poems. Here is a poem:
'The bright yellow sun is up high in the sky
will you be my friend today on the 4th of July?"

She smiled broadly at that point and then we got into
a conversation about how she could make up a poem herself,
maybe about the unicorn on her tee shirt.

These are the things that make being a Poet Laureate so much fun.
Thank you for including the Poet Laureate in the Sunland/Tujunga
4th of July Parade!

Alice Pero"