tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43329016685171917252024-03-14T03:03:17.799-07:00Village Poets of Sunland & TujungaNews about poetry activities in the foothills, including monthly Bolton Hall Museum Poetry Readings, the Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate Program, and more...Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-86595321240368843632024-02-28T11:24:00.000-08:002024-03-03T18:03:42.798-08:00Crystal Fire Lights Up Village Poets on Sunday, March 24<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhKV6i4K3qb11whVR7gjHK1mOOOowcjAs_mh8nS4GTYSoX5etn7w0Umpm_SDEbkAp5IwPSN2AMkV4nO903tO_0TnApNef3HoBy_yQ7bYNLko_nnl7NWNvVEp_gDzBBjZ5Y6bOg2ZvoZqAy25tCUUBxTB6Tq1glBfezimHp_A99E-YfGi1Xn3V_QV_IXk/s336/crystal-fire-cover-front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhKV6i4K3qb11whVR7gjHK1mOOOowcjAs_mh8nS4GTYSoX5etn7w0Umpm_SDEbkAp5IwPSN2AMkV4nO903tO_0TnApNef3HoBy_yQ7bYNLko_nnl7NWNvVEp_gDzBBjZ5Y6bOg2ZvoZqAy25tCUUBxTB6Tq1glBfezimHp_A99E-YfGi1Xn3V_QV_IXk/s320/crystal-fire-cover-front.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgbe578zYxezCkSVhJmdBfk6LT8X5sFqSRDoc_nwWcCh6tGMwuaHJXX5LcJ2tsiGzVWDmUaaJMG_rRgA62DZD1gXZuDE5Sff45oA4yWR15YCKYYt6x-k_8PdflFA1JPbGK2Pfk9IMpBDkGaT8eSMtVUUSr2o2oV0hrmxcSTMe742sz2G9m6uqWJvWcxQ/s1100/crystal%20fire%20group%20shotoct16_orig.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1100" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgbe578zYxezCkSVhJmdBfk6LT8X5sFqSRDoc_nwWcCh6tGMwuaHJXX5LcJ2tsiGzVWDmUaaJMG_rRgA62DZD1gXZuDE5Sff45oA4yWR15YCKYYt6x-k_8PdflFA1JPbGK2Pfk9IMpBDkGaT8eSMtVUUSr2o2oV0hrmxcSTMe742sz2G9m6uqWJvWcxQ/s320/crystal%20fire%20group%20shotoct16_orig.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Village Poets</b>
presents the anthology, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crystal Fire, Poems of Joy and Wisdom, </i>(Moonrise
Press)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i> as our <b>March 24th</b> feature at<b> 4:30 pm</b> and
we welcome eight of the contributing poets to Bolton Hall. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will
be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to
donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, CA 91040. Bolton Hall is a Los
Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span> <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maja Trochimczyk’s
remarkable new anthology, “Crystal Fire”, pulls together many poetic gems from several
writers. The focus of the book is laser-tight on joy and wisdom, but the kaleidoscope of poetic
imagery and insight ranges from the natural world to divine shadows to human
relations. Beautiful artwork by Ambika Talwar further enhances and unifies this work,
with such paintings as” Meridians” and “Serenity at Dusk” brightening its pages. Poems such as
”Snow Flower” by Jane Stuart and “What is Important?” by Alice Pero further expand
the cosmic scope of these works. Do yourself a kindness in these challenging times and
refresh your soul with this lovely volume. </i>~~Kathi Stafford, author of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Blank Check</i> (Finishing Line Press, 2016)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Edited by Maja Trochimczyk, and illustrated with paintings
by Ambika Talwar, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crystal Fire</i> anthology
gathers poems of joy and wisdom by twelve poets, eight women and four men:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elżbieta Czajkowska</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joe DeCenzo, Mary Elliott</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeff Graham</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marlene Hitt, FrederickLivingston</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alice Pero</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Allegra Silberstein, Jane Stuart</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ambika Talwar</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bory Thach</b>,
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maja Trochimczyk</b>.
The poets span all ages and diverse life experiences. They includeémigrés from Poland, Cambodia, and India, and those born in
the U.S. College professors join community poets. Native speakers appear alongside those
for whom English is the second, or even the third language. The ”joy and wisdom” they
write about are also different, as each poet follows their own path and gathers
unique reflections to share with their readers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Selections from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crystal
Fire</i>:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bantam Hours 74</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>To see the same tree a thousand times</p><p class="MsoNormal">is to see a thousand trees</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and see a thousand trees at once,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">is to see the same tree a thousand times</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the same
time,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">or say, is to ask the world who am I?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the world to respond:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you are here;
it is now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Jeff Graham</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Begin Again, Summer
Solstice</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a long run down the strand</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">her limbs untangled</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thoughts flew off</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">no time to reassemble</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beach trash cleared itself</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wind blew away bottles and cans</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seagulls swooped, seemed to understand</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">no need to explain where she was going</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heart beating faster</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">soul slowing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to a universe she saw, old and unmoving</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dare she think of dying</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">when life unfolded in colored splendor?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tiny grains of sand fell from her</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Begin again, she said</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and fell down laughing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Alice Pero</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alchemy in the Hills</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rarefied air opens up to reveal</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">rocks in the mountain stream,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">scattered sparks of reflected sunrays,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">shimmering golden waves of water</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">spreading in circles from where</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I stand on thick grains of sand. I watch</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a wild sunflower unfurl its petals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I smile at the aerial acrobatics of sparrows</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">orioles and the small yellow-gray</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">birds of unknown names. The scents</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of white sage and sumac fill the valley,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ringing with the buzz of a myriad of </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">bees hovering about cotton-ball arrays</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of wild buckwheat. It is not much,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but it is enough: rock, sand, and leaf enough.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Children’s laughter flows towards me</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">from another wading pool, upstream.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They splash and laugh, laugh and splash,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">amused by every droplet. I rest in</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the center of my universe, at a still point</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of my turning world, where all elements--</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">air, rock, sand, water, sunfire—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">merge into one blessing of being here,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">sharing this space, this time with</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">children’s laughter, with lily-white</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">yucca blossoms stretching to the sky,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and a single blade of grass guarding</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">its spot between stones on the creek shore. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Maja Trochimczyk</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fig</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mora, Costa Rica</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>like you</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">true fruit</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>succulent</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">at inflection</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of senescence</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but an inflorescence</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of sweet</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">swelling dreams</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>encircling a
buzzing</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">stinging</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>winged being</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">except you </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>know
precisely</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">when to bloom</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for all
those</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who need</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and are needed</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">by you</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> ~Frederick Livingston</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In the Deepest Parts….</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the deepest parts</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">is fire</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">miles of flame</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">carefully surrounded</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">by molten stone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hot breath</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">singes tree tops.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Islands are built</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in a cold sea.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All this is necessary</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Marlene Hitt</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reflecting</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They dance on moon spots</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">on a slippery floor</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as a hard breeze blows the willow.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That once, when the sun itself</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">was in shadow,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">there were crescent suns</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">on the wooden floor.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Marlene Hitt</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Kyrielle</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Green holly shines in winter snow</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that glistens on its prickly leaves.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The holly leaves jab at the wind,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">its berries feed the hungry birds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At night, the holly tree is dark,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By day, it shines in winter’s sun</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that sparkles on the holly leaves</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and warms the coldest winter birds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rain greens the holly even more—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the berries grow and turn bright red.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The owls cry in winter’s wind,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the holly greens and glows.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> ~Jane Stuart</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #8d2424;">MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK: <u><a href="http://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/09/moonrise-press-publishes-crystal-fire.html" target="_blank">moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/09/moonrise-press-publishes-crystal-fire.html</a></u></span></span> <br /></p>
Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122792840419636352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-52455916867507625882024-01-30T17:31:00.000-08:002024-01-31T20:22:48.887-08:00Village Poets Welcomes Two Celebrated Poets in February<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDk9fM9Ehu7eJqMFTVMfn5dejQWOPEi-LSbp5G78GQoQKmoDZHTH39rpGdiPGXTYzyby_YgbCAXqWiMDXjdCnfdBW19Ws8tJFukFGxwWIF9isXXglhEPiPPCmcUovgpRy06EV_vR2DKRRPvF1606jT2qsEK5ok2nJqnpofO4uT8ClgY67qUaIDnRMr8FY/s793/20160107_152220_resized.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="793" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDk9fM9Ehu7eJqMFTVMfn5dejQWOPEi-LSbp5G78GQoQKmoDZHTH39rpGdiPGXTYzyby_YgbCAXqWiMDXjdCnfdBW19Ws8tJFukFGxwWIF9isXXglhEPiPPCmcUovgpRy06EV_vR2DKRRPvF1606jT2qsEK5ok2nJqnpofO4uT8ClgY67qUaIDnRMr8FY/s320/20160107_152220_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"> Village Poets Welcomes Two Celebrated Poets in February</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga</span> </span></b><span style="color: #222222;">is delighted to invite
poets and friends of poetry to our monthly reading held in person, on the 4th Sunday,
Feb 25, 2024 at 4:30 pm. at Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110 Commerce Ave,
Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA 91042-2313</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">In February we are honored to have internationally celebrated
poet, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">James Ragan</span></b>, as well widely
acknowledged poet, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amy Gerstler</span></b> for
this special reading. Come celebrate the month of love with two amazing writers
and join in the open reading or just come to listen.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will
be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to
donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, a Los
Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPplp564iveLm02r0uP0bTZN6J02ZiTnIeoKewyoYR7mQKCN9Z4g3c2OQoj2u5eNTUkpJJwsN793ezfPWpA1QujFWqvE2tNxzTJI7kQ_4RW4AvTIVZ4hPJfvLny_eOgFlljKJ93iis9Cu6khhBONtRI_UpNsAv1J25Pe3KLeFckkFrWaT5NtOGsBTz6cg/s817/James%20Ragan%20(2)1.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="763" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPplp564iveLm02r0uP0bTZN6J02ZiTnIeoKewyoYR7mQKCN9Z4g3c2OQoj2u5eNTUkpJJwsN793ezfPWpA1QujFWqvE2tNxzTJI7kQ_4RW4AvTIVZ4hPJfvLny_eOgFlljKJ93iis9Cu6khhBONtRI_UpNsAv1J25Pe3KLeFckkFrWaT5NtOGsBTz6cg/s320/James%20Ragan%20(2)1.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Appearing
in 36 anthologies and 15 languages, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">James
Ragan</span> is an internationally recognized author of 10 books of poetry,
including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hunger Wall </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chanter’s
Reed,</i> and 3 plays staged in the U.S, Moscow, Beijing, Athens etc. With
poems in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poetry, The Nation, World Lit
Today</i> etc, he has read at the U.N, Carnegie Hall, for CNN, NPR, PBS, BBC
and 7 Heads of State including Vaclav Havel and Mikhail Gorbachev. Honors
include 2 Litt.D’s, 2 Fulbright Professorships, an NEA Grant, Emerson Poetry
Prize, 9 Pushcart Prize nominations, Swan Foundation Humanitarian Award, a
Poetry Society of America citation, finalist for the Walt Whitman Book Award,
London’s Troubadour Int. Poetry Prize, etc. He’s the subject of the Arina Films
documentary, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flowers and Roots, </i>awarded
17 Int. Film Festival recognitions, and Platinum Prize at Houston’s Int. Film
Festival. He directed USC’s Professional Writing Program (25 yrs), served as
Poet-in-Residence at Cal Tech (3 yrs) and 26 summers as Dist. Professor of
Poetry at Prague’s Charles U. Czech President Vaclav Havel honored him as <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ambassador of the Arts” at the 1994 World PEN
Congress. Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney praises his poems for “sparing no
passion in believing they sing,” and Nobel nominee Miroslav Holub lauds his
“domination of the art of poetic narration with insight that marks major
poets.”</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span> <span style="font-size: medium;"> Poems by James
Ragan</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span> The River in the Tree</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span> </span></b><span>In the
hollow where the dark spits up</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">cat’s
teeth in white and alder green,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hear
the wind click down along the willow spars</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">like
crackling leaves in chimney fire,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and know
the river in the tree.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is
May always and the same willow</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">sprays
its haunt of lilacs down the watercourse.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All
month the dozers sweep the hillside up</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and toss
it down in puddles. It is said</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the
stream is swamp and old for rooting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In sleep
I hear its false voice calling</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">like the
dance of air when the crickets sing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All
night the swish slag pours into my ear,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and
sparks of evergreen and potato pokes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">drip in
mud pouched like melting butter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above
the iris path I hear the quiet passing</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the
swing rope slicked by finger oil.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With
bony child’s feet I served the sky</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and
leaped for the greater good</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to the
solid slag of the city side.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know
the past needs leaving like the river</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">my body
makes to root all grounding leaves.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today my
neighbor tilts his finger to the air,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and
praising axe handles, fells the windless willow.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It lies
old for rotting, the good for nothing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">from
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Womb-Weary,</i> Carol Publ. 1990, Finalist,
Walt Whitman Center Book Award 1987</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>The Pacific</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Its mind
has from the little bark of thinking</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">created
the whale, a water tree, a floating</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">paradox.
The ocean seems to believe there is no shore</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">worthy
of thought and beyond the thought no memory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It has
seen the otter’s sand diminished, the sea mews tarred,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the
mountain space above the beach a swale of fire</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">burled
out of poppies or the greens of weed and kelp</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as if
persistence by a larger will were reigning,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as if
from whales a long thick oak were being carved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From any
distance where the rower steers the waves</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">away
from ground, a reflection enters, breaks apart,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and on
the stirruped shafts of light, a whale dives up</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to
branch the shores of memory extinguished in our hearts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">from<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The Hunger Wall </i>Grove Press, 1995</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>Motherskin</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to a Slovak mother</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Born of
wheat root and summer rusk,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">born of
rain, sheened gold as hair swirled</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">in the
soft comb you rake and truss,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">you
delight in a mirror or photograph</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">or the
touch of any son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you bale</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">bread
one by one with prayer hands,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the heart
of hair on every child’s arm lingers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You
blush at a wedding dance</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and love
counting fingers</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">when I
play the boy and promise to die young.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All day
in the shadow wood of the green martyr,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">you
kneel, your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">babushka</i> slung</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">high
across your shoulders. You can never die.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
earth would cease to grow and only know water.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
shale beneath the house has claimed your hair</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">possessively,
the way spring water fawns moss</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">for
breath or the wash of fresh air,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the way
childskin seeks a bed to smoothly lie across.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Published
in the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Los Angeles Times </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on Mother’s Day, May 14, 1989., From
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Womb-Weary, </i>Carol Publ. 1990</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>If For Each of Us</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a rope
could swing us</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">long and
light across a widening trough</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of all
that fails us in our lives,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would
want to land upon the Isle of Echo,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">lush
with repetition, green with being</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">original
in birth and twice the twin</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a wave
might dance along the skerry.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would
want a canyon tall for hawks to carry</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">long the
deep tattoo of voices on the air.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would
want an ear to hear </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">what
words to read again to memory,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">what
verse to carol, thoughts to root</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">before
the sparrow’s flight the mind has taken</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">comes to
rest on truth. I would want</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to hear
a vowel repeat in consonance</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">with
alliteration’s frothy throat. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
should the landing fail its footing,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would
want to know what inspiration</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">in
shorter flight one syllable might repeat</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as in
the swash the flat-stone makes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to skip
across the light in water</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">or the
voice a wind gives to birch and linden.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would
want the distance to all understanding</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to
narrow just enough to fail at failure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would
want a melody of chances</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to learn
to love again what first I dreamed,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">free as
wonder, soft as touch,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and of
all things simple </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to care
again for them as much.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">from
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Too Long a Solitude,</i> Oklahoma
University Press, 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finalist,
Oklahoma Book Award 2010)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>originally
appeared in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poetry Magazine</i> Pushcart
Poetry Prize Nomination, 2005</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">©</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 2024 James Ragan<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzFzulj5sBbP7N_QPFZtmOS10IWrH0FfqWNg3U6GItBmWXdu8qa1vDvMwm7e4uJkvHn7K-4MUTNBnb0Z0DBpn1krqFOKqObbQKo6MN-Ghd53l8PoyB4HvD2DX717QXlBZRegfys7eqSl-Qobk9szwH7NPO-TXLOUDsvOFtX4iGuKMf-SZuLs-nCzVLVA/s430/Amy%20Gerstler%20Photo.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="430" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzFzulj5sBbP7N_QPFZtmOS10IWrH0FfqWNg3U6GItBmWXdu8qa1vDvMwm7e4uJkvHn7K-4MUTNBnb0Z0DBpn1krqFOKqObbQKo6MN-Ghd53l8PoyB4HvD2DX717QXlBZRegfys7eqSl-Qobk9szwH7NPO-TXLOUDsvOFtX4iGuKMf-SZuLs-nCzVLVA/s320/Amy%20Gerstler%20Photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amy
Gerstler's</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> most recent book of poems is <i>Index
of Women </i>(Penguin Random House, 2021). Her work has appeared in a variety
of magazines and anthologies, including the <i>New Yorker </i>and <i>Paris
Review</i>. She is currently collaborating with composer, actor, and arranger
Steve Gunderson on a musical. Her previous books of poems include <i>Scattered
at Sea, Dearest Creature, Ghost Girl, Medicine, Crown of Weeds</i>, <i>Nerve
Storm, </i>and <i>Bitter Angel</i>. In 2019, she received a Foundation for
Contemporary Arts CD Wright Grant. In 2018, she was awarded a Guggenheim
Fellowship. Her book <i>Dearest Creature </i>(Penguin, 2009) was named a <i>New
York Times</i> Notable Book, and was short listed for the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>
Book Prize in Poetry. Her book of poems <i>Bitter Angel </i>won a National Book
Critics Circle Award. In addition to poetry she also writes fiction,
nonfiction, plays, journalism and art criticism.</span></b></p>
<p>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>Ode to the Pillow</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Must a
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no higher ambition than to impersonate a marshmallow? Might a pillow never
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sharpness, remain nothing but slump and mush, never displaying its anger or will?
The sad fact seems to be that for all its virtues the pillow lacks backbone. Smooth
and cool to the touch, clad in a fresh pillow slip, my pillow for tonight exhales
a whiff of the steam iron's disciplinary rigor, but transformed, its cotton sweetening
the iron's hot metal breath---the breath of a prison matron--into something
more like the breath of a meadow. A shock absorber, a pillow is more forgiving
than a priest (much is spilled onto it: think dream leakage.) And a pillow
functions well as a confessional. The sick and the helpless may be buoyed up,
as if by a life raft, in clinging to their pillow, or they may be smothered with
one into a final goodnight. Like the uncomplaining potato, the pillow is willing
to take shape according to people's needs, enduring mashing after mashing. Pillows
have no sense of their own splendor. Employed as ineffectual weapon a pillow
can of course burst and snow feathers, drizzle fluff or rain buckwheat husks...and
herein lies the pillow's mysterious connection to weather. It's believed
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Published in
“DMQ Review”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Siren</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">I have a fish’s tail, so I’m not qualified to love you.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">But I do. Pale as an August sky, pale as flour
milled</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a thousand times, pale as the icebergs I have
never seen,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and twice as numb–my skin is such a contrast to
the rough</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">rocks I lie on, that from far away it looks like
I’m a baby</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">riding a dinosaur. The turn of centuries or the
turn</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">of a page means the same to me, little or nothing.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I have teeth in places you’d never suspect.
Come. Kiss me</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and die soon. I slap my tail in the
shallows–which is to say</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I appreciate nature. You see my sisters and me
perched</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">on rocks and tiny island here and there for
miles:</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">untangling our hair with our fingers, eating
seaweed</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Published in
<i>Bitter Angel</i> (North Point Press & Carnegie Mellon Press)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>The Cure</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doing
fantastic, thanks for asking! I just chugged </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a glass
of dinosaur urine and feel new-baptized!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you're ever lucky enough get your hands </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">on a
quart of this stuff don't be squeamish.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It makes
penicillin seem like skim milk! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No virus
can slay you with dino piss in your system.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last
night I participated in the 8 pm scream-out</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">again.
For a quarter of an hour the two halves </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of my
neighborhood yell as loud as they can </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">across
our little canyon to prove to ourselves </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as well
as the folks we can't see anymore </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">that
we're still kicking after nine months </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of
pandemic lockdown. Now my throat feels </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">strip-mined,
but I'm glad cause my sense </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of
connection got fed--not a whole meal, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">just a
handful of crumbs--but hey, that's way </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">better
than nothing. After yesterday evening's </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">hoot and
holler session, a dude on the far side </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the
ravine lugged a pair of ginormous speakers </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">up to
his roof and blasted excerpts from two </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of Dr.
King's famous sermons, plus some lines </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">from a
Cesar Chavez speech I could understand </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">only
half of because alas my Spanish is not what I </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">might
wish. Then he proceeded to DJ a weirdass </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">menu of
songs, so loud the balcony was quaking </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">under my
feet, ranging from "Stayin' Alive" by </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the
squeaky-voiced Bee Gees (who do sound like </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">insects)
to Aretha Franklin belting "Chain of Fools" </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(a
comment on the hopefully outgoing government, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">was my
guess). Joan Baez sang "We Shall Overcome" </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">in her
reedy soprano. Then Aretha again with </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Amazing
Grace." When realized I could actually </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">see the
ant-sized guy responsible for curating </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">this
spoken-word-and-song broadcast from across </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the
arroyo, shirtless on his roof with a quartet </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of
friends, I admit I cried a little bit. Then I went </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">back
inside and downed another mug of sauropod </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">pee.
It's a lovely amber color, with notes of </span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">gingko, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">horsetail and fern. That drink sure
has kept me </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">going during this dark time. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Published in
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Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122792840419636352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-50879357468830797132023-11-30T14:48:00.000-08:002024-01-09T20:00:35.386-08:00Village Poets Starts the New Year with Judith Terzi & Karen Greenbaum-Maya, Jan 28, 2024<h1 style="margin-left: 160px; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5_Faz4HAoo7BoP25D9M9EXsYrbaSJGuSWnmlw3ID552At4ECC8xCb2q2Axc_en_F24GPcuAJ6_hJBlC7EmGXfVlKAAFmAh2qFTuDl8jSXDcgag-_eBt8JzjbaDSVnr6_HCGxvQ05M5gTSSQehQS7ewFAZY5QlASSygYd-GSJldkK-jUhPNFfSeBknXA/s381/Wash%20rock%20bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5_Faz4HAoo7BoP25D9M9EXsYrbaSJGuSWnmlw3ID552At4ECC8xCb2q2Axc_en_F24GPcuAJ6_hJBlC7EmGXfVlKAAFmAh2qFTuDl8jSXDcgag-_eBt8JzjbaDSVnr6_HCGxvQ05M5gTSSQehQS7ewFAZY5QlASSygYd-GSJldkK-jUhPNFfSeBknXA/s320/Wash%20rock%20bridge.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b>Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga </b>is pleased to invite poets and
friends of poetry to our monthly reading held in person, on the 4th </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">Sunday, Jan 28, 2024 at 4:30 pm</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">. at </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110
Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA 91042-2313</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"> In January our features will be <b>Judith Terzi</b> & <b>Karen Greenbaum-Maya</b>.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will
be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to
donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, a Los
Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0_Vmc2vuZwOJH7mRygOkfBh856qlNCFStc4RlQNgQo5XvpvY1ZNDznQeZiLeINPWziTjMfgtHIG84UlvZ9ktibJYUTy4QQqydv0VKIHhgFZFXpk9R4Ekv0ZvYfz4Rsimm-h2tDB9LN6r3QBbJBZsaVmKMXam6Zdp4TadVx_aqyu3JcPJwYhjuNf5gD0/s547/IMG_2579.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0_Vmc2vuZwOJH7mRygOkfBh856qlNCFStc4RlQNgQo5XvpvY1ZNDznQeZiLeINPWziTjMfgtHIG84UlvZ9ktibJYUTy4QQqydv0VKIHhgFZFXpk9R4Ekv0ZvYfz4Rsimm-h2tDB9LN6r3QBbJBZsaVmKMXam6Zdp4TadVx_aqyu3JcPJwYhjuNf5gD0/s320/IMG_2579.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Judith Terzi</b> is
the author of <i>Museum of Rearranged Objects</i> (Kelsay), as well as of six
chapbooks, including <i>Casbah</i> and <i>If You Spot Your Brother Floating By</i>
(Kattywompus) and <i>Ghazal for a Chambermaid</i> (Finishing Line). <i>Now,
Somehow</i> (Finishing Line) is her latest chapbook, a collection of poems
about confronting a pandemic, cancer, and other health-related urgencies. Her
poems have been included in literary journals and anthologies such as the <i>Atlanta
Review</i>, <i>The Examined</i> <i>Life Journal</i>, <i>Lunch</i> <i>Ticket</i>,
<i>The Main Street Rag</i>, <i>Solstice Literary Magazine</i> where she was a
finalist for the Stephen Dunn Poetry Prize, and <i>Times They Were A-Changing:
Women Remember the</i> <i>'60s & '70s. </i>BBC/Radio 3 featured her poem
"Ode to Malala Yousafzai" in an episode of <i>Words and Music</i>.
She holds an M.A. in French language and literature and taught French for many
years at Polytechnic School in Pasadena as well as English at California State
University, Los Angeles, and in Algiers, Algeria.</p><div style="margin-left: 40px;">
</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><b> Four Poems by Judith Terzi</b><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"> <b>Dancing Like They Did</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b>-<span style="font-size: 9pt;">after viewing the Oscar-nominated short subject
documentary<i> Walk Run Cha Cha</i> (Directed by Laura Nix, 2019)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span>She wears a handmade dress. Sky blue chiffon. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her high heels sparkle. Rhinestoned ankle straps. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dancing now at sixty like she did in Vietnam.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> She slides into her husband's arms. A fluent bond.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He lifts her up––they twirl, her legs akimbo, no holding</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">back. She wears a handmade dress. Sky blue chiffon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They practice moves they've learned at the dance salon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her husband looks sharp. Shirt and pants all black.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dancing now at sixty like they did in Vietnam.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six years of separation before her papers were drawn.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before she joined him in California, started from scratch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She wears a handmade dress. Sky blue chiffon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It's Lunar New Year's Eve. Celebrations are on.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The couple's at home when the Ballroom's attacked, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">dancing at sixty like they did in Vietnam.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friends, partners are shot. Eleven dancers gone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cha-cha-cha. Mambo. Run. Fear that memories </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">unlatch. She wears a handmade dress. Sky blue chiffon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dancing now at sixty like they did in Vietnam.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">-Appeared in Schuylkill
Valley Journal<br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><b>Fountain</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"> -after
"The Automat" (Edward Hopper, 1927)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">"Kind regards," he wrote. The letter arrived</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">yesterday. "Kind regards!" We'd made plans: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paris, marriage. This coat his gift from last year's </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">great December sale at Wanamaker's, near</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the automat where we met. Horn & Hardhart––</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">its sparkling floors, table tops of marble<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he loved. He'd hand bills to the nickel thrower, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">rubber tips on every single one of her fingers. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He'd put nickels into the food window slots. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, he knew my favorites: meat loaf or Salisbury </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">steak, creamed beets, lemon custard pie. Two years </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of bliss now gone with "kind regards." How we'd </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">linger over H&H drip-brewed coffee that flows </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">from the mouth of a dolphin. Like a fountain in Rome.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">-Appeared in <i>MacQueen's
Quinterly</i></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: DengXian; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span><b>Nostalgia
</b></div><p class="MsoNormal">Like I'm waiting for kismet. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maktoub</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Waiting for a number, a letter––cryptic </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for stage, grade. How many nodes </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">did she twist away? How many, how </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">many... Tell me to focus on healing. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friends bring guavas, mini pumpkins, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">t-shirts, pens, soup. The house </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">is a garden: five white orchids, purple </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">tulips, yellow roses, irises. Red </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">bromeliad clinging to bark, shape </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of a seahorse, air plants cresting on two </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">heads. Rearrangement happening </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in cachepots. Rearrangement of a colon, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">color of geranium in a Casbah courtyard. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Animal on hooks in back rooms </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of butcher shops where my grandfathers </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">blessed meat. How did she swing my </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">transverse meat around to greet my </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">small intestine, my distal ileum? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to catch the now-missing </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">slice as it slipped through her slick </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">incision above my navel. To feel <br />
the surgeon's finesse navigate inside me, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">caress my organs, then choke the cecum, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the appendix to death. How will the new </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">partners jibe? How will they groove </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with no past in such diminished time? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No memory of all the little madeleines </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and Sunday's flow of hours. Slippery </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">fingertips straining to hold onto a waltz.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">-Appeared in <i>Solstice
Literary Magazine</i> (finalist</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">for Stephen Dunn Poetry
Prize) -Appears in author's <i>Now,
Somehow</i></span></p><p style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: DengXian; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span><b>Russet</b></p><p><b> </b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for Jaime</span></i>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">He warms his hands to textured skin of cup,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a first embrace of morning. Rustic cup.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He threw it, swirled it into a jumbo cup</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of porcelain, he glazed his earthy cup</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a rugged russet shade, endowed the cup</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with sturdy, curvy arm. Not round, his cup,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but oval-shaped––a spacious coffee cup.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His lips regale the thick-lipped rim of cup––</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the only lips the rim permits to cup.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If ever he falls ill, his artsy cup</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">will take a break. A manufactured cup</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of glass for chamomile or mint, no cup</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to match the chemistry of homespun cup––</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">high fire flesh he'll ache to stroke, to cup.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">-appears in author's <i>Now,
Somehow</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S4RxpK5xm1T_4sXckCUz2TbVMZxbMdPSsxCP14nqjtP2MG-jnd-VPfPE8fyEpu4v1CxYhWSJ280PzKcqGZ4itERZd3XwHXtwYQXKqydV4bVHX3nqgI4LlQprYdJpy0dAmN4rv5kp2jjBy2O1wI8Jz-ywXcTYEKWblMihXPUJKRBnldXqCmDBafRPzMQ/s1387/Karen%20Annie%208-20%201_edited-11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S4RxpK5xm1T_4sXckCUz2TbVMZxbMdPSsxCP14nqjtP2MG-jnd-VPfPE8fyEpu4v1CxYhWSJ280PzKcqGZ4itERZd3XwHXtwYQXKqydV4bVHX3nqgI4LlQprYdJpy0dAmN4rv5kp2jjBy2O1wI8Jz-ywXcTYEKWblMihXPUJKRBnldXqCmDBafRPzMQ/s320/Karen%20Annie%208-20%201_edited-11.jpg" width="295" /></a></i></div><p></p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Karen
Greenbaum-Maya</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is a retired </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">clinical psychologist, former German major and restaurant
reviewer, and three-time Pushcart and Best of the Net nominee. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her work in fairy tales and dream
interpretation, and her obsession with Kafka and flirtation with Buber have led
her inevitably to prose poems. Her poems have received Special Merit and
Honorable Mention in the Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial contest from Marge Piercy
and from B.F. Fairchild. <span style="color: black;">Her work has appeared in
journals including <i>Comstock Poetry Review, B O D Y, Rappahannock Poetry
Review, CHEST, </i>and<i> Spillway</i>. Kattywompus Press publishes her
chapbooks <i>Burrowing Song, Eggs Satori</i>, and, <i>Kafka’s Cat</i>. Kelsay
Books publishes <i>The Book of Knots and their Untying</i></span><i>. </i>She
shared her life with her late husband for 34 years, which were not enough. <i>The
Beautiful </i>Leaves, a collection of poetry about his diagnosis, illness,
death, and her grief, has just been published by Bamboo Dart Press. She
co-curates Fourth Saturdays, a poetry series in Claremont, California<span style="color: black;">. Her first complete sentence was, “Look at the moon!”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 160px; text-align: left;"> <b>Three Poems by Karen Greenbaum-Maya </b><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b> Sonnenizio
from a Pawnee song*</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Over the line where the sky meets
the earth:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pleiades!</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Overwhelmed
and drunk on stars, we return to find</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">a brown
bear skulking over by the garbage cans,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">drawn
over by sun-ripened smells</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">swirling
low after the day is over.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pick-up
is at least a week overdue.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Our
headlights sweep over him,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">not a
big one, scarcely over 600 pounds,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">and he
looks us over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The set of his solid
head,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">paws on
the hips, he’s cool, nothing overheated</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">about
him:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
do you mean, ‘move over’?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Why shouldn’t
he pick over our garbage,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">our
leftovers, nothing we wanted any more?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We inch
over to the cabin, burst through the door.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">*In
their Hako ceremony, the people of the Pawnee American Indian Nation sing a
prayer of hope to the Pleiades during their November rising. Kathleen L.
Nichols, a university professor in Kansas, provides the English lyrics: </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Look
as they rise, rise<br />
Over the line where sky meets the earth, Pleiades!<br />
Lo! They, ascending, come to guide us,<br />
Leading us safely, keeping us one;<br />
Pleiades, teach us to be, like you, united.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span>I Help My Husband Sleep<br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Your
head rolls onto my shoulder, crushes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">my hair
so it rasps in my ear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I smell
your silver hair, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Einstein-wild
from hospital sweat,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">waxy
under my hand.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Me
almost under you, offering myself</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">as a
better bed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>compressing</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">the
single-use egg-crate mattress.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’m here
to let you let down.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stop
fighting your eyelids’ pull.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Burrow
your heavy head into my breast.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’ll
hold on while you take up your dreams</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">like a
tired dog who feels the grass</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">under
his paws, twitching in his sleep</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">at the
flicker of abundant rabbits.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I lie
braced in the narrow bed</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">that
keeps me from cradling you enough.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Soup Pot </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for Wisława Szymborska</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Her
sister’s soup, steaming in a poem,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">simmers
here in the pot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wisława
takes soup seriously,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">considers
how much salt for the barley,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">how
fine, how coarse to slice cabbage,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">how long
caraway seeds may cook before turning bitter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
soup took two, or maybe twenty lifetimes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Being
famished helped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In that
War, she worked for the railroads</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">rather
than be sent out to build them,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">to
starve slowly in forced labor</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">while
her voice suffocated from silence.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
learned when to hold back, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">how much
is too much.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Deep in
the soup, she stirs in step with Aubigné.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wisława
reaches for the bison grass,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">finds it
without having to look,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">translates
into French without thinking</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">as she
sniffs at the jar. (More salt?)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Each
boxcar held neighbors who died.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now the
fresh mushrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the dried.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A soup
should be as full of mushrooms</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">as
Polish of consonants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At
night, the flame’s slow breath </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">condenses
on the window, freezes to ice,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">glass on
glass, a clear inch thick.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">These
days, Wisława prefers oxtail over ham hock,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">balances
out turnips with carrots.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
knows what all went into the pot,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">but not
what will emerge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yeti
will show up for a bowl, praise</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">each
grain of barley, every shred of cabbage.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Karen Greenbaum-Maya Publication credits:</b></span></p><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i>Sonnenizio on a Pawnee Song: The Literary
Bohemian, 2012</i></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i><br /></i></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i>Soup Pot: Tiger's Eye, 2011; reprint in
Comstock Poetry Review in 2012 and in Sow's Ear Poetry Review in
2014</i></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i><br /></i></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i>I help My Husband Sleep: Algebra of
Owls, 2017 (and of course in The beautiful Leaves)</i></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i><br /></i></div>
<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><i>Robert Shushed Me: Lighten Up,
2020</i></div>
<div><i><br /></i></div>
<div class="ydpbd0c42asignature"><i>http://www.cloudslikemountains.blogspot.com/</i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><i><br /> </i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></p>
Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122792840419636352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-64153645445028628012023-09-24T20:26:00.001-07:002023-10-03T21:33:32.952-07:00Village Poets Welcomes Ambika Talwar and Susan Suntree on October 22 at 4:30 pm<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs6k56WzH5TPeBzpyF0u_NNF7UNWMdPha1_ooKHp9YewlwrHn8KfRezNkOU6iTmHl5jjgMLoG6bZI1DIB8wZudhDMYoHj4Z_lKxKAwvqa6UCg8DUT-yUryw6ovQ-sGHK3HM7gr9GVamInTjmUV4Xyd_PNT2z6rSwy-nRAuNjqLYMyI9CPHf5V-zsZj-Q/s4608/DSCN4396.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2843" data-original-width="4608" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs6k56WzH5TPeBzpyF0u_NNF7UNWMdPha1_ooKHp9YewlwrHn8KfRezNkOU6iTmHl5jjgMLoG6bZI1DIB8wZudhDMYoHj4Z_lKxKAwvqa6UCg8DUT-yUryw6ovQ-sGHK3HM7gr9GVamInTjmUV4Xyd_PNT2z6rSwy-nRAuNjqLYMyI9CPHf5V-zsZj-Q/s320/DSCN4396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga is pleased to invite poets and
friends of poetry to our monthly reading held in person,on </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">Sunday, Oct 22 at 4:30pm</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">. at </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110
Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA 91042-2313</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">In October our
features will be</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> <b>Ambika Talwar </b>and <b>Susan Suntree.<br /></b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will
be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to
donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, a Los
Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxi-qP6Tm3qj8ugMd9NBPwoXBSOABSKsSzOEU6JMKmGot5QSxhXNCr7_qVBzNYbSjG0t-Cd4BNSfVid9QdJwP_uf8qCnWdr2U_zd6cog9Z1vaGZKKgRLGSkSlYZSEjcFgDJIUjEPHLXL_WpA-zHcICD0-J9pcmaRNgwOA9gs7UruUJBMoSlKb7SN-YvoA/s1000/Ambika%20Talwar%20better%20photo.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxi-qP6Tm3qj8ugMd9NBPwoXBSOABSKsSzOEU6JMKmGot5QSxhXNCr7_qVBzNYbSjG0t-Cd4BNSfVid9QdJwP_uf8qCnWdr2U_zd6cog9Z1vaGZKKgRLGSkSlYZSEjcFgDJIUjEPHLXL_WpA-zHcICD0-J9pcmaRNgwOA9gs7UruUJBMoSlKb7SN-YvoA/s320/Ambika%20Talwar%20better%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Ambika
Talwar</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, professor emeritus, is an India-born author, wellness
consultant, artist, & educator here to realize her sacred destiny. Her
mystical and ecstatic poetry are a call to action, a “bridge to other worlds.” Of note is a recent anthology <i>Crystal Fire</i> (2022), which includes her
poems and paintings. Ambika's poems appear in <i>The Force is With You</i> – a
collection honoring the Indian defense forces (her poem honors her father and
his batch mates) (2022): <i>Ruddy Ravens Cheshire Cat & Rusty Rats</i>;
<i>Beyond Words; </i>and <i>Breathe Poetr</i>y (2021): <i>Roseate Sonnet</i>
(2020); <i>Grateful Conversations</i> (2018). Twice Pushcart nominee, she
earned Commendable Mention in The Great India Poetry Contest (2018).Ambika shares the <i>Poiesis Award
for Excellence in Literature</i> (2021-22) for a short story and received the <i>Nissim
International Poetry Prize</i>. She has authored <i>4 Stars & 25 Roses</i> (poems
for her father) and is published in <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Glo-Mag;</span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Timeless Inspirations;</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Breathe Poetry;</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Paws, Collateral Damage;</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Kyoto Journal; InkwaterInk-v3; Chopin with
Cherries; Meditations On Divine Names; VIA-Vision in Action; in Poets on Site
collections; St. Julian Press; Tower Journal; Enchanting Verses; Quill &
Parchment<i>; </i>California Quarterly; Life & Legends</span>, and others. Ambika published <i>My Greece:
Mirrors & Metamorphoses</i> – a poetic-spiritual travelogue that
questions our collective human purpose. She asserts it is time for creatives to
offer new narratives. She made a short film titled <i>Androgyne </i>in
2000 earning the Best Original Story Award in Belgium. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Ambika practices
Intuition-Energetics™, a powerful fusion of modalities for speedy recovery from
stresses and ailments. “Both poetry and holistic practices work beautifully
together – language is intricately coded in us.” Ambika makes her home in Los
Angeles and in New Delhi, India. <a href="https://creativeinfinities.com">https://creativeinfinities.com</a> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Film: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCHiQuAAfEo&t=3s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCHiQuAAfEo&t=3s</a></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Three Poems from Ambika:<br /></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">From
the Shadows </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From
the shadows,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">comes
the drama of a red birth</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">quiet
softened with flutes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">of
time mending the new world</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">before
it is born.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From
the shadows,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">we are
reminded of old tales</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">woven
in our fabric tattered</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">like
forgotten truths – awaiting</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">glory
of our arrival.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From
the shadows,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">we
know we will return some day</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">blessed
with soundless music of</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">wisdom
– waiting laughing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">our
bones restructuring…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From
the shadows,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">before
the delivery of 1,000 names</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">reminding
us of that </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">which
we were born for: to sing</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the world
into beatitude—</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">sweet
courage equals love</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">hues
of peacock blue<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">wings
over sky when trees turn green</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">rivers
dance to earth, food is a-plenty:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">life
shines with generosity…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From
the shadows</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">emerges
drama of a new birth…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though
wisdom’s robes be tattered</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and
babies wail wondering, we unfold</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">new
architectures that grace spirit!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drums
of heart beat fluted with </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">cosmic
tones…Wise Ones</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">in our
midst emerging from shadows…!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why
are we still in search?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: inherit;"> Published in <u>The Shadows</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Devotion
– The Fruit of All Wisdoms</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh
tender fruit, not one but many <br />
on a loom – petalled, infinite, fractal</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as Devi
made it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She’s
seated in center, infinitely <br />
disappearing – <i>She! </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Handpick
for her delight watermelon<br />
guava, radish of a singular night <br />
of a ponderous, full, golden moon sailing<br />
with love’s red, lush, wisdom <br />
for creation <i>She </i>is –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tenderly
carve fruits spherical as cosmos <br />
for Her dance never ends – <i>Om sukhi </i>magic<i> <br />
</i>everything comes to a point. <i>Om shanti.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Taste
this blessing if you can without juice<br />
running over – or let melon water fill<br />
a river thirsty for Her favors.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tender
fruit of an earthly loom –</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Devotion
is all She cares for. Are you ready? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you
want to take her place<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>en
pointe </i>centerless
as eternity?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
Know Her
knife is sharpest when you</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">love. <i>Om
shanti! Om Peace! <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Birthing of
Seed</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mother awakening in our awareness </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is birthing of
seed</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">from all time
into no time –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a birthing what
was ever-present</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">holy, profane,
transcendent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rooted we are –
yet rootless we wander.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If dust cracked
under our feet,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">would it feel
the same as <br />
digging a cave <br />
a little above seed-rich soil?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tender, fierce
dance sweetens the air around</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">desperate
passages wary, wanting, winsome.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See everything
in an instant.<br />
Oh dear heart.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An inner smile
is way of Cosmic Love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our clarifying
perception and Time's boundless <br />
sagas reveal laws of wholeness. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do we remember?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSss_4yXkJcrKJVxGO8dLMU-U3MuekD8lANpWlGQbmnBkT1AhaRE6ZDkT6F6KxB10Tvn-CFr0HM5ha1M4_L-nynh6SxL5GqsOb3t1lWQkTtThiCpdCG8x3zpYsXInU0CEzMCHBsXBuoivJnXi_Mg9zBv5jORJ7LlaL9sPbrqG7TcReU7eh_NwhrRQXcw/s3008/Rich%20Schmitt%20Photography%20001.JPG" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3008" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSss_4yXkJcrKJVxGO8dLMU-U3MuekD8lANpWlGQbmnBkT1AhaRE6ZDkT6F6KxB10Tvn-CFr0HM5ha1M4_L-nynh6SxL5GqsOb3t1lWQkTtThiCpdCG8x3zpYsXInU0CEzMCHBsXBuoivJnXi_Mg9zBv5jORJ7LlaL9sPbrqG7TcReU7eh_NwhrRQXcw/s320/Rich%20Schmitt%20Photography%20001.JPG" width="209" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Susan
Suntree</b> is an
award-winning poet, performer, essayist, and activist whose recent books of
poetry included <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dear Traveler</i> and the
updated paperback and audiobook releases of her<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>non-fiction epic poem<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Sacred
Sites: The Secret History of Southern California, </i>written over three
decades under the guidance of indigenous Southern California Culture Bearers.
This book won the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association Award
for Nonfiction, the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award for Narrative Poetry, a
Mellon Foundation Elemental Arts Award; the audiobook was a finalist for a
Society of Voice Arts and Sciences prize. Other books include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eye of the Womb, </i>also<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>published in Madrid as a bilingual
edition, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Ojo de la Matriz; Tulips, </i>a
bilingual chapbook of translations of Spanish poet Ana Rossetti; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rita Moreno</i>, biography<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">; Wisdom of the East; Stories of Compassion,
Inspiration and Love </i>for which the Dalai Lama wrote the foreword.
Site-specific performances include the quartet, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seed to Snow: Plays for the Seasons</i>; works exploring Los Angeles
include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Origins of Praise</i>,
commissioned by the Manhattan Theatre Club;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Skins </i>performed in the store
windows of Playmates of Hollywood, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking
to the Sun </i>for the Fringe Festival<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i>
and the eco-political street theater works <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wetlands
Land, Saving Private Pickle Plant, </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
Earth Water Air Los Angeles</i>, a four day Giant Puppet trek following the
path of the LA River to the Ballona Wetlands. Her work-in-progress, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Undertakers</i>, confronts the war roots
of the climate crises. She often accompanies her readings with the dulcimer and
harmonica. <a href="http://www.susansuntree.com/">http://www.susansuntree.com/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Three Poems from Susan Suntree:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Traveler:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Beside old stagecoach ruts</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">oak cracks pink sandstone</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">the trunk grows</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>straight
up from the seed </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>roots
drawn down</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">tracking fractures </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">in hardened sea dunes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">to water</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>an
oak bonsaied by </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>natural
limits rewarding </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>vigor
and good luck.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Traveler: Will you demand </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to know the heart</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of this rock-captured tree</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">make it your preacher</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>force a parable </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from its stone splitting
root?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Fighters from the northern bases</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>drive
through flimsy clouds</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>laying
tracks</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>exhausted
fumes </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>rolling
roars blown behind</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>engines
combusting forests</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>long
dead and decayed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">What you breathe is the tree's breath</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">What the tree breathes is your breath</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Breath of a fevered civilization. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Traveler:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The boundary of hell</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>is
the shape of your skull.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Rest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Published
in </span></i><i style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Dear Traveler</u></i><i style="font-family: inherit;"> (Finishing Line
Press)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Wealth in a Gilded Age</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is
wealth in a gilded age?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Stockpiled Italian
furnishings?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Houses larger than
hospitals?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Owning more than
everything?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Has it
always been the course of blood </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to
heat a power suit?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To drip
down the channel of a red tie</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> from
chin to glans?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To
amplify fat luxury lips to a wet red slash</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> above a tightened neck? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> If
sparks from the stars grinding by overhead</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> have
nothing to do with it</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> what are these sparkling
treasures</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> boxed in
black velvet</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> secured
by military dragons</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> flashing
the mirrors of fear?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wherever
light might escape</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the power grid keeps the doors sealed.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Wealth
in gilded age hides itself with itself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only
dust can put a finger on it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: inherit;">From work-in-progress: The
Undertakers</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: inherit;">*********************************************************************************** <br /></i></p><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Village Poets Readings will resume in January 2024</b> <br /></i></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122792840419636352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-58680762887323771322023-08-28T16:41:00.009-07:002023-09-14T20:02:52.121-07:00Village Poets Welcomes Poet Laureate, Marlene Hitt & RG Cantalupo on Sept 24, 2023, 4:30 pm at Bolton Hall Museum<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4OKY-SunXCiSedM6CS2zVRIoBrZhRLBUYZ-j0d_5Vf2gq4Qd3Vt6PHMAcYqy--JZwSd1NqYSCsLCn76iOas0XwudrqOlZGAU63-8-A6dufh5MpJkuszDYVe-gL1R3MGa4SQiMZQqePNDDptWthGXktRXxyQEKTWmDy0yipCAaoO8aiHJfC7OUA8-ap-L/s4032/IMG_7598.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4OKY-SunXCiSedM6CS2zVRIoBrZhRLBUYZ-j0d_5Vf2gq4Qd3Vt6PHMAcYqy--JZwSd1NqYSCsLCn76iOas0XwudrqOlZGAU63-8-A6dufh5MpJkuszDYVe-gL1R3MGa4SQiMZQqePNDDptWthGXktRXxyQEKTWmDy0yipCAaoO8aiHJfC7OUA8-ap-L/w400-h300/IMG_7598.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">l</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga is pleased to invite poets and
friends of poetry to our monthly reading held in person,on </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">Sunday,
Sept 24 at 4:30pm</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">. at </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"> Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110
Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA 91042-2313</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">.</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"> </b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">In September our
features will be </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">Marlene Hitt</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"> & </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">RG Cantalupo</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will
be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to
donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, a Los
Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOkhlKwqCHiwQCeJx4gYfxGoyxGjeI5jo32wT-Ql6bnAEPQHkxvD0eW__8KP7sByNB_FuwCiLCnGXBOVIjQcQOjtdWB7odMXhVX8oweA4iNcTv5SW997U1grkcpIUmMFh1i_lO1XKJwhczYAwS0Xpp6uH_heMZs3ufRA_-iHOWBHoCQCuFRFBKapPN8Fj/s400/marlene.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="400" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOkhlKwqCHiwQCeJx4gYfxGoyxGjeI5jo32wT-Ql6bnAEPQHkxvD0eW__8KP7sByNB_FuwCiLCnGXBOVIjQcQOjtdWB7odMXhVX8oweA4iNcTv5SW997U1grkcpIUmMFh1i_lO1XKJwhczYAwS0Xpp6uH_heMZs3ufRA_-iHOWBHoCQCuFRFBKapPN8Fj/w400-h286/marlene.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Marlene Hitt, </span></b>Sunland Tujunga’s first
Poet Laureate, active member of the Sunland-Tujunga Village Poets is one who
loves books, especially books of poetry. Having been included in several
anthologies, she has published two books of poetry, <i>Clocks and Water Drops</i>
and <i>Yellow Tree Alone,</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> (2023) both
from Moonrise Press. </span>Other published materials are recorded in the
archives of many newspapers. From these articles came the nonfiction local
history book <i>Sunland-Tujunga from Village to City. </i>Poetry has been
Marlene’s private love since childhood with one elementary school poem
published. When The Chupa Rosa Writers began to meet at McGroarty Art Center,
1985, she joined the group. The Chupa Rosa group which met for 20 years,
introduced the Poet Laureate Program which resulted in Marlene being elected
the first Poet Laureate of Sunland Tujunga, 1999-2001 on the bridge of the
millennium. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a member of the John Steven
McGroarty chapter of the California State Federation of Chaparral Poets, more
submissions led to awards and inclusions in anthologies. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">After writing cut-and-paste chapbooks,
taking part in the group-published daybook, she began to send poems out to publications;
</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Psychopoetica </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">of University of Hull, England was the first. In the
meantime, as a volunteer in the local museum, she enthusiastically wrote
articles for The Foothill Leader and Glendale News Press. Several other local
papers published her weekly articles about history. The enthusiasm generated by
the stories of settlers in the sagebrush to citizens of the City of Los Angeles
led to </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Sunland-Tujunga from Village to City, 2000.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0DYl3GVmOabyU6NfT9yBVeq2rn55NNhYnf73GU6dTSbYxWEOnSYsLQMGck60PfcQkhi56I65PQTNEwglTB-mLnD6b-2EHaOjByej2q1bjLLPEVwneE_QLnQ-ZyQaUhFH65PsACXhWqB5zQiaRSN8bAJjOVwpH2Sk3_jeoSfMMwohaxOeLs-5zK273O1_/s400/MarleneTreeKarenCoverLg4paintFIN41823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0DYl3GVmOabyU6NfT9yBVeq2rn55NNhYnf73GU6dTSbYxWEOnSYsLQMGck60PfcQkhi56I65PQTNEwglTB-mLnD6b-2EHaOjByej2q1bjLLPEVwneE_QLnQ-ZyQaUhFH65PsACXhWqB5zQiaRSN8bAJjOVwpH2Sk3_jeoSfMMwohaxOeLs-5zK273O1_/w268-h400/MarleneTreeKarenCoverLg4paintFIN41823.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">With guidance from Maja Trochimczyk,
Moonrise Press, she was included in <i>Meditations <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> on </span>Divine</i> <i>Names </i> and<i> Chopin with Cherries </i>anthologies. She also served as co-editor of <i>We Are Here: The Village Poets Anthology </i>celebrating the 10th anniversary of our readings in 2010. She has
been included in <i>Poetry Corner, Colorado Blvd.,</i> <i>Quill and Parchment,
Altadena Poetry Review Quarterly, Four Feathers Press, </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Quill and</i> <i>Parchment, Sometimes in
the Open, California Poets Laureate, Sacramento, </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">and<i> Cowboy Lariat on line.</i></span> Her poems also appeared
in<i> Coiled Serpent and When the Virus Came Calling</i>, an award-winning
anthology edited by Thelma Reyna. Now, as Poet Emeritus of the Sunland Tujunga
Village Poets, she is honored to continue to be inspired, to write and to
participate in open mic readings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUi7Fz5gB_lvZ9HDgf4wWrf4hIGBCNkbtYt6WAVawa8nICwNB-gvqzvghrtA6WapGtqyR3XXEaTCvAgdx4KxvHer5UkiCJR5tDdeldXidiXWNNmh5svwAzWHrLW0RgOg7x0v1jmoQpR6H474a1fO1eamjHj7iS3mPuwfMMwYvYoHBzJYGAZzVoF97waMj/s3044/IMG-4632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3044" data-original-width="2842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUi7Fz5gB_lvZ9HDgf4wWrf4hIGBCNkbtYt6WAVawa8nICwNB-gvqzvghrtA6WapGtqyR3XXEaTCvAgdx4KxvHer5UkiCJR5tDdeldXidiXWNNmh5svwAzWHrLW0RgOg7x0v1jmoQpR6H474a1fO1eamjHj7iS3mPuwfMMwYvYoHBzJYGAZzVoF97waMj/s320/IMG-4632.jpg" width="299" /></a></span></div><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Purple
Robe</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> am the queen<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of
a world of small things<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
button to sew<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">lost
papers to find.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In
this place<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of
royalty<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
fold and freshen<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">steer
and carry<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">suggest
and correct.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
struggle with words<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">mold
them and taste them<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">each
syllable one at a time<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">until hundreds
cover a page<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in
the story of my days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My
stage<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is
a vegetable patch<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">my
throne a stone<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">lizards
are my footmen<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
puddle my mirror.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">By
the authority vested on me<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">as
majesty of myself<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
proclaim all in my kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to
be happy. Be free.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Do
not bow before me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof12gkLoUJmoaQDtrZrRM3JglRoSUZqdA8JBTkOG3HN7p4acreaT5fQmolwCRraczFkPz19vdVwoQ-XKKn4xHKsgP-w-UGBjLvmRsxiLc20opH61QY-XUAr75bMKC9YvDOVqvQGnY-F3wQqbPuovCsLBt8eeIi5mN9IOHItVh7oqhmHQomDOFuVjF7bUH/s3024/IMG_7987.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof12gkLoUJmoaQDtrZrRM3JglRoSUZqdA8JBTkOG3HN7p4acreaT5fQmolwCRraczFkPz19vdVwoQ-XKKn4xHKsgP-w-UGBjLvmRsxiLc20opH61QY-XUAr75bMKC9YvDOVqvQGnY-F3wQqbPuovCsLBt8eeIi5mN9IOHItVh7oqhmHQomDOFuVjF7bUH/w320-h320/IMG_7987.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
Am<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
am an open face marked with hours<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
gentle smile stretched over<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
bridled tongue<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
cauldron stopped up with <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
melting stopper<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
am ripples in a still pond<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the
pebbles in its bottom<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the
compass whose needle<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">points
the other way<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
am the hiding place <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">found
then lost<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
am the weaver, I am the cloth<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the
photograph with no one in it<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
am the shadow in the night <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the
brilliance of dawn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Come,
walk with me to see<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">if
I am believed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU64JFSinjoFXaLRCpu0KtHQklnF-vIxSvBL7hivsSk1H21XCv33tyRW4V88NzDdg6Kzfh7ZsfL78T1kHqASkitCE2YKM2wqtBSucWM3_kwA7HdTupWaH0gxCxmX9VHhxmUZHrJcTKA_gwRxiqJbY3aFDNwpAs-lVpcMVlocaGFrvxxOM7nS3F4bxbGYUY/s4032/IMG_7114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU64JFSinjoFXaLRCpu0KtHQklnF-vIxSvBL7hivsSk1H21XCv33tyRW4V88NzDdg6Kzfh7ZsfL78T1kHqASkitCE2YKM2wqtBSucWM3_kwA7HdTupWaH0gxCxmX9VHhxmUZHrJcTKA_gwRxiqJbY3aFDNwpAs-lVpcMVlocaGFrvxxOM7nS3F4bxbGYUY/w400-h300/IMG_7114.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Curb Appeal</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No
curb appeal is needed in prairie dog town<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">for
the burrows deep underground<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">give
no excuse for not having<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a
tiled roof, a specimen tree.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In
human habitats neighbors complain<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">that
those are shakes on dormers<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> a
garage door is different not allowed here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
see beneath this window rooftop<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stained by
storms where inside<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stories
hide with secrets beneath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In
old Ireland, peat, lashed below thatch<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">kept
out grey cold and crystals of frost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I
toast the wisdom of prairie dog town<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">where
winter below needs no roof<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">slate,
thatch, wood or willow, sod<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">or
a shelter on a draped park bench.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Under
the safe places are kept secrets <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in
the burrows of dark souls<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">inside
the house with curb appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There
needs to be no curb appeal <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in
prairie dog town.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85StWR-9d5fbPpT8hw-O6VKXVRHFKUvZaYcXPv4WJ22HKnkTwnk2O50qG_GUufxO9gKRHho9VhwaKjqBVtO32GvdKLMn8BJ42ULpzx8Mlrg3NxOivXzv13E-cVqgTvlGHj4ht_ZbmRm4hKUuJMsa5IKckBpZSR6sUPozSESxaaO9_fFe-tJ830JyiHr3d/s1650/bio%20photo3-page0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85StWR-9d5fbPpT8hw-O6VKXVRHFKUvZaYcXPv4WJ22HKnkTwnk2O50qG_GUufxO9gKRHho9VhwaKjqBVtO32GvdKLMn8BJ42ULpzx8Mlrg3NxOivXzv13E-cVqgTvlGHj4ht_ZbmRm4hKUuJMsa5IKckBpZSR6sUPozSESxaaO9_fFe-tJ830JyiHr3d/w309-h400/bio%20photo3-page0001.jpg" width="309" /></a></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RG Cantalupo</b> is a
poet, playwright, filmmaker, novelist, and director. His work has been
published widely in literary journals in the United States, England, and
Australia. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He graduated from UC Santa Cruz where he studied under such
luminaries as George Hitchcock, editor of Kayak, Gregory Bateson, and Norman O.
Brown, and received his MFA in Poetry and Non-Fiction from Vermont College of
the Fine Arts. His books of poetry include </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Involving
Residence, </i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">No Thanks</span>, </i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Walking Water On Earth</span>,
</i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Art of Naming</span>, Remembrances, </i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Endurance: Journey To Worlds End, (a lyric novel), Never To Die,
Graces For The Wonder, Words Kill, </span></i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">and <i>Private Entries</i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">He is also the author of <i>You
Don’t Know Me</i>, (a five book young adult series), <i>The Light Where Shadows End</i>, and <i>The Shadows In Which We Rise</i>, memoirs, <i>American Patriot, Surviving Covid</i>, and a number of plays and stage
adaptations including the musical versions of <i>The Giving Tree</i> and<i> Where The
Wild Things Are</i>. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Stages in Santa
Monica, a performing arts center, and founder of Poetry-Films.com. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His books can be purchased through New World
Publishers or through the author at </span><a href="mailto:rgcantalupo@gmail.com" style="font-family: georgia;">rgcantalupo@gmail.com</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexLjMNStXZ5od-ktHR3Taqj_U3M-VId8yF4Gmjeyokxd_45tX7T0xbIMse-SmyhqqUv8BNTMvsBCnoBmcDqT7AYlKMYlsq4UEAQnywrGE1STCskm2D2EOwD34mrFStb0J8ZyUl2lE68K72wCu4pemuUrcgEUZ_SjgR3EepDTXryM9lYG4pS05CRuJ1ZWl/s3024/IMG_7898.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexLjMNStXZ5od-ktHR3Taqj_U3M-VId8yF4Gmjeyokxd_45tX7T0xbIMse-SmyhqqUv8BNTMvsBCnoBmcDqT7AYlKMYlsq4UEAQnywrGE1STCskm2D2EOwD34mrFStb0J8ZyUl2lE68K72wCu4pemuUrcgEUZ_SjgR3EepDTXryM9lYG4pS05CRuJ1ZWl/w320-h320/IMG_7898.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Courage</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(for my mother)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 6pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I thought Vinny running through explosions, Vinny <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">firing mortars back while bits of flesh rained down, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">took a rare courage, but lately I’ve begun to see <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">how you, battered in ‘58, before there were shelters,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">before beating your wife was even a crime--one eye <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">red-blue-purple as a smashed plum--with money<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">borrowed from your sister only enough to escape <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with your youngest son--you running away from <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">this man who you’d served for twenty-two years, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on whose plate each night you’d prepared the good<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">meals, spooning the gravy quietly, calmly, clenching <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the hurt inside like a fist--this man whose clothes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">you’d washed clean of the vomit and beer, ironing <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">his shirts even on the morning after he’d suffocated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rose, your infant daughter, by drunken accident--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">this war-haunted man who could fix anything, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">could only break the ones he loved--you a poor, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">white, Jewess without skills, without a high school<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">diploma, running away to God knows where, as far <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">as the Greyhound facing the sun would take you, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">as far as the road ahead would go--you who saved me <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">from becoming my father, teaching me about wounds <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">that remain purple under the skin, inside the eyes, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">became, years later, in Vietnam, when I was dying <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">each day from the killing, a kind of hero, realizing how <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">you’d endured a lifetime of daily deaths, how my sister <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rose was a stone resting on the bottom of a red pool <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in your heart, how my brother Eddie was a black sin <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on your unforgiven soul--you became, as you become <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">now, when I see how your courage to leap bleeding <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">into the abyss, to gnaw off one leg when love held it <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in a trap, was far braver than Vinny’s courage, that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the courage to bear life is more heroic than the courage <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to kill.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></i></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihD_UhW3VQ4u5YRaJjDSxKjOBSzc8ze-IGrdDvN-Efr_sLO0MLbFgAOAsOkyxxI4NAeDXOXuDAE-Jdu7sR_PUXbpYpk3RGYJCk-d4ceEq_u4EezHj6kgqCojN3oJKYeMucHwES8MNMnAu3r3pFOu8aXdWc6P1-fWz-FRwTZs6oauvJEzqLvYO0q06xQPo-/s3024/IMG_7994.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihD_UhW3VQ4u5YRaJjDSxKjOBSzc8ze-IGrdDvN-Efr_sLO0MLbFgAOAsOkyxxI4NAeDXOXuDAE-Jdu7sR_PUXbpYpk3RGYJCk-d4ceEq_u4EezHj6kgqCojN3oJKYeMucHwES8MNMnAu3r3pFOu8aXdWc6P1-fWz-FRwTZs6oauvJEzqLvYO0q06xQPo-/w320-h320/IMG_7994.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For A Young Poet<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Already at seven, you’re naming the garden,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">writing “rose”, “lilac”, “daisy” along the walkway <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with colored chalk. We watch you, say how <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">this world we live in, this green patch in Angel City,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">will be yours soon, then we let you take our hands, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">guide us through your creations, show us how <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">even the prickly weed “thorny” has a home here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Out beyond us, where our sight ends, are predators, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know. I know. They peer out from inside shadows <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">like frightened cats, drive by stalking behind glass. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And that too, you must name, write in red so those <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">after you know what else lurked here. Remember, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">even leeches rise in this earth. Remember also, how <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">yours must be the words we long for, for without them <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">there is only this dying garden without colors or <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">sounds to sing. Look at your fingers, green from <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">leaves and grass. Let that be your guide. Look at how <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">your eyes reflect the sun’s light. Just so. Just so. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Light is a prism there, shoots off sparks igniting <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">whatever it hits. Take it in. Take it in. Let your heart <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">be the diamond that bears our light<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQRyM9MFDzjrs6ZP7BUQk5MWrIaM3R1Yk5L7icxE2WsCoDrKAnzDTXpqyYKvUWRJ44FQ9S2N0fptxjLOCacLwgUTf5zK_KUinA1HIh2IYg6L5Wy1sEzMra7LXK2vY-4WNgWYYlSJSsWZGaVFbHEcp4SM7Vn_KOMgiMIf8OqSQPgxv4tAx9Xmr3E6Ethm2/s4032/IMG_7590.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQRyM9MFDzjrs6ZP7BUQk5MWrIaM3R1Yk5L7icxE2WsCoDrKAnzDTXpqyYKvUWRJ44FQ9S2N0fptxjLOCacLwgUTf5zK_KUinA1HIh2IYg6L5Wy1sEzMra7LXK2vY-4WNgWYYlSJSsWZGaVFbHEcp4SM7Vn_KOMgiMIf8OqSQPgxv4tAx9Xmr3E6Ethm2/w400-h300/IMG_7590.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scene From The
Promenade<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Evening, late, the lights<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of the promenade<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">dimming to dark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I walk out of a movie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">into the reality of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">storefront windows,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stop in front of a <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">billboard-sized snapshot <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with the name J. C. Crew. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Shot in some exotic, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">third world country, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Guatemala maybe, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">or Paraguay), it sells<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">adventure: an exotic tundra,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a dirt road leading to an<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">endless horizon, warm,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">earth tones drifting off<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">into matching mannequins. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Up close, an enormous, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">furry, white dog getting out<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of a sand-colored Land Rover, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a man in khakis unloading<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">rattan suitcases, a woman,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">also dressed in khakis,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">standing nearby, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They are both rugged, slim,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">blond, beautiful as angels<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">looking down from two stories <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below them,
humans, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">me, a homeless couple <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">vacationing in the alcove—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">two writhing lumps <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">under a newspaper and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a gray, tattered army blanket, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">grunting, then moaning <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">as I pass.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> __________________________</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Text: Alice Pero, Photos: Maja Trochimczyk</span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-67945237275285984752023-07-04T19:45:00.000-07:002023-07-04T19:45:27.134-07:00<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Village Poets Welcomes Beverly M. Collins & A. Jay Adler on Sunday, August 27, 4:30 pm at Bolton Hall Museum </b></span></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #222222;"><span>Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga is pleased to
invite poets and friends of poetry to our monthly reading
held </span>in person, on <b>Sunday, August 27 at 4:30pm</b>. at <b>
Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA
91042-2313</b>.<span><b> </b><span>In August our features will be <b>Beverly M. Collins & A. Jay Adler</b>.</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #222222;">Two segments of open mic will be available and
refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of
refreshments and to donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton
Hall Museum, a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqJOmq_ex0BuifA6WJA8dfW41XhgJIt9ESQ9wCYvmlNS5a9yyhKS2aHxV74MTmepzUYLQItP2-WEtxtQSaS0p2TEVa9KyU1iBTbWpValMq4hZ_Bret5NjUFbyT-MYUwww1Lh0XKE7tPonEXty3jBlpCTsvd7XD0kiJbqnHC_bQ1QyW9UxLKFFyu7jO3c/s1145/IMG_3288%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1145" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqJOmq_ex0BuifA6WJA8dfW41XhgJIt9ESQ9wCYvmlNS5a9yyhKS2aHxV74MTmepzUYLQItP2-WEtxtQSaS0p2TEVa9KyU1iBTbWpValMq4hZ_Bret5NjUFbyT-MYUwww1Lh0XKE7tPonEXty3jBlpCTsvd7XD0kiJbqnHC_bQ1QyW9UxLKFFyu7jO3c/s320/IMG_3288%20(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #222222;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Beverly M. Collins</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"> is one of
3 Winners in the Wilda Morris June 2021 Poetry Challenge (Chicago), a 2019 Naji
Naaman Literary Prize in Creativity (Lebanon). Collins is also a prize winner
for the California State Poetry Society, twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize
and short listed for the Pangolin Review Poetry Prize (Mauritius). Her
photography can be found on the cover of Peeking Cat 40 (UK), displayed online
by The Academy of the Heart and Mind, printed on Fine Art America products,
iStock/Getty Images, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Spectrum, and others.<span> </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Website: </span><a href="https://beverlym-collins.pixels.com"><span style="line-height: 107%;">https://beverlym-collins.pixels.com</span></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/beverlymcollinsnow"><span style="line-height: 107%;">www.facebook.com/beverlymcollinsnow</span></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Instagram@beverlymcollinsartist</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Three
Poems by Beverly M. Collins</span></b></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Journey</span></b></span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Clouds
move brisk on their way to</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">a
gathering. All precipitation-on-deck!</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">There
will be rain storms to tend to </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">and
strikes of lightening will be needed.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">While
I relaxed on the grass with my friends,</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
watched intently as a cloud with the</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">appearance
of an elephant-with-a-</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">giraffe’s-neck,
spun its way into their meeting.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Do
clouds look down and wonder what we</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">really
are or can they see through our disguises?</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Do
our biggest dreams hover in plain view?</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Can
clouds detect that a waitress running down the </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">sidewalk,
is really a dancer?</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">When
they retire into a drought periodically, is it</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">to
remind us of the water that we’ve wasted?</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Do
they smile at our rain dance and forgive?</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">When
I am flying in a plane, I am in awe to be on</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">their
level without the slightest thought of ever </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">being
their equal.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>published
by the Trouvaille Review</i></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Current
Affair</span></b></span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Water’s
eyes can change from blue to black.</span></span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">It
can stare directly into the sun until the</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">sun
fades from its gaze like a challenger</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">that
retreat.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 371.25pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Waters
long tongue can lick the back walls of<span> </span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">under
ocean caves like an ant-eater on a quest</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">to
plunder. Yet, pull away with its hunger intact.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Remember,
ponds can settle to complete stillness,</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">like
a mirror for the heavens to dress itself to,</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">and
fane obedience…until touched.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Which
way is up? Just ask water!</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">If
angered by heat, water can “ghost” landscapes,</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">swirl
within a circle of clouds then dive earthbound</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">And
join a new river whenever it pleases.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Where
would we be without water?</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Probably
on Mars. Camped like nomads in worship</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Of
water crystals near some upper region with spoons, </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">dippers
and all of our thimbles-of-hope.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>first published by The Writers
and Readers’ Magazine, England</i></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Those
Delaware Times</span></b></span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Street
lights and telephone poles</span></span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">lined
our journey down the New</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jersey
Turnpike. A 3-hour ride that</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">felt
like an anticipation-eternity to 10-</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">year-old
me. In the back seat with me, were </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">my
sisters and a cooler full of cold drinks.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">On
our way from Central New Jersey</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">to
cousins, summer fun, night air speckled </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">with
lighting buds, the salt scented breezes,</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">and
the ground sandy under our feet.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">We
rode the highway with the car windows open.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Wind
blasted my face. At times, it was hard</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">to
breathe. I closed my eyes and listened</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">to
the music on the radio while a happy</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">feeling
of “I-can-hardly-wait-to-get-there”</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;">filled
my stomach.</span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>
</i></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><i>published by Wilda Morris Poetry
Challenge</i></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyRzAQjAa1D0NKOGxuo2owzukzy-XDO8cw-QzUC4Mx0WxQ4hUND1pesgfiPNVWMOTBDOaNpVqWXjCMU5aN54jISdYVn9GEbsMMP4uDn8eL5RtIzB4NnrruKMdU07HexPjAl8l6Mpv81_wFZZnQhK4wCIII1RkYaZ5a5-y-d49i0Epufyg76rfPynJsJE/s667/Jay%20Adler_2023_04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyRzAQjAa1D0NKOGxuo2owzukzy-XDO8cw-QzUC4Mx0WxQ4hUND1pesgfiPNVWMOTBDOaNpVqWXjCMU5aN54jISdYVn9GEbsMMP4uDn8eL5RtIzB4NnrruKMdU07HexPjAl8l6Mpv81_wFZZnQhK4wCIII1RkYaZ5a5-y-d49i0Epufyg76rfPynJsJE/s320/Jay%20Adler_2023_04.jpg" width="285" /></a></i></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /> </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</span></span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">A.
Jay Adler</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> is professor emeritus of English and former department
chair at Los Angeles Southwest College. He has also taught at Fordham
University, Queens College-CUNY, and California State University-Dominguez
Hills, among other colleges and universities. He earned his M.A. and M. Phil.
degrees in English Literature from Columbia University, where he was nominated
in 1989 for a Junior Fellowship in the Harvard Society of Fellows. Adler writes
and publishes in every genre including poetry, fiction, screenwriting, drama,
memoir, nonfiction, and literary, film, and cultural criticism. His screenplays
have won awards from the Maui Writers Conference, the Best of the West
Screenwriting Competition, and the Los Angeles Scriptwriters Network. His
writing on Native America has been variously published and anthologized by
Greenhaven Press. He was also a featured writer in Alternating Current Press’s
2015 premier issue of <i>Footnote, a Literary Journal of History.</i> Adler’s
most recent publications are the essay “Hemingway in the Twenty-First Century,”
in the fall 2022 issue of <i>The Hong Kong Review</i>, and the poem “The
Hard-skinned Fruit,” in this year’s spring <i>California Quarterly</i>. Awarded
a 2002 residency grant in poetry from the Vermont Studio Center, Adler’s first
collection of poetry, <i>Waiting for Word</i>, was published by Finishing Line
Press in 2021. He publishes weekly personal essays on culture at his Substack, <i>Homo
Vitruvius</i>, and he is currently at work on <i>The Dream of Don Juan de
Cartagena</i>, a novel of the Magellan expedition’s circumnavigation of the
earth.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Three Poems by A. Jay Adler</span></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Interstate</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">To
swerve is to miss</span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">To
miss to long for: </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">A
receding highway light</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">In
the middle of the country</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Through
the center of the night.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">How
distance beckons and turns away.</span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">This
starry billboard rises</span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Along
the road, through every county</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">It
chances one may go. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">To
miss is to fail</span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">To
reach or contact. The tire </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Misses
the road. In the general vagueness</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">In
the general night, the rest stops </span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Blink
and sigh over cup and saucer</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Above
the glum Formica – </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The
accidental faces.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The
windows mirror the way.</span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">A
stretch of darkness, like longing’s light</span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">How
far I must have traveled</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">When
you rise up quickly, surely</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">It’s
always the center of the road</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">And
I swerve and miss you, miss you.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Originally
published in Pebble Lake Review</span></i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Lives of the Poet</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
see them all</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">succumb
to the electric choke of the coffee drip</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">the
dogs at my feet moan for the bone</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">this
tenor’s lyric flight</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">lands
on the baseboard dust</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">a
wash of light in the afternoon’s </span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">hushed
diminuendo</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">at
the sink before me</span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">and
I, in the end-day yard through the window</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">journey
back across this bounded place</span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">to
my only fleeting self.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Originally
published in Adagio Verse Quarterly</span></i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">A Lexicology of the Middle Year</span></b>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Tracing
the form of the last thing she says to me</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">how
the lips round like ohs</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">sound
bounds from bottom to top –</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">cavernous
cry of the bone –</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">digging
etymology </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">out
of anger, the origin of the flip </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">concluding
word, the yet unspoken </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">plea
for kindness </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">seeking
in my vocabulary </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">some
cognate for this long transmission </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">of
intimacy, still I think:</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
have no ear for the young words</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">all
buff and shiny, and not a thing to say at the bar.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Let
me hear them spoken around the block</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">a
time or two, their vowels longing for consonance</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">what
gives them meaning – prefix of desire </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">suffix
of regret – inflected now only by time</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">the
history of their enunciation deeper </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">than
any beginning I can know.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Originally
published in West Magazine</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">UPCOMING READINGS</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">September 24: Marlene Hitt & RG Cantalupo</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">October 22: Ambika Talwar & Susan Suntree </span></b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><i> </i></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></h2>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-20276176370321288702023-05-11T10:10:00.008-07:002023-05-20T12:32:15.332-07:00<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Village Poets Welcomes Lois P. Jones
and William O’Daly on Sunday, June 25</span></b></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif";">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif";"> is pleased to invite poets
and friends of poetry to our Monthly Reading held </span><span style="color: #222222;">in-person, on <b>Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 4:30 pm</b>.
at <b> Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los
Angeles, CA 91042-2313</b>.</span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Courier;"> </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif";">In
June our features will be celebrated poets </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Lois
P. Jones</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif";"> and
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">William O’Daly</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times","serif";">.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #222222;">Two segments of open mic will be available and
refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of
refreshments and to donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the
Bolton Hall Museum, a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoOVM8LI6iTgESsddquYwrpWsk__4Qbv3ZnsuEFaSS7Z8XMtWjmKrFC7rqVODdnrZZYrYNsmnQhW2uPpPjOH4oEv9EkCGIgUSvWPJ23YxjEKKqTZwmOLg9HyJduo68loeC26w3357b9CLhvZI2b-T4xh9P0qhDFvqWD2i7ZLQ4Sp9cByuD6nwf-jm/s1286/Lois%20Bath%20Pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoOVM8LI6iTgESsddquYwrpWsk__4Qbv3ZnsuEFaSS7Z8XMtWjmKrFC7rqVODdnrZZYrYNsmnQhW2uPpPjOH4oEv9EkCGIgUSvWPJ23YxjEKKqTZwmOLg9HyJduo68loeC26w3357b9CLhvZI2b-T4xh9P0qhDFvqWD2i7ZLQ4Sp9cByuD6nwf-jm/s320/Lois%20Bath%20Pic.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p> </p><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lois P. Jones</span></b> was
recently awarded the 2023 Alpine Fellowship which this year takes place in
Fjällnäs, Sweden. She was a finalist in the annual <a href="https://mslexia.co.uk/">Mslexia Poetry Competition</a> judged by Helen
Mort and will be published in Spring 2023. In 2022 her work was a finalist for
both the Best Spiritual Literature Award in Poetry from Orison Books and the
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Other honors include a Highly
Commended and publication in the <a href="https://bridportprize.org.uk/results/2021/">2021 Bridport Poetry Prize
Anthology</a> Jones’ awards include the <a href="https://poetrysociety.org.uk/news/poetry-society-members-1st-2nd-3rd-in-bristol-poetry-prize/">Bristol
Poetry Prize</a>, the Lascaux Poetry Prize for a single poem, the Tiferet
Poetry Prize and winning finalist for the Terrain Poetry contest judged by Jane
Hirshfield. In collaboration with filmmaker Jutta Pryor and sound designer
Peter Verwimp, her poem <a href="https://vimeo.com/328643972">La Scapigliata</a>
won the <a href="http://liberatedwords.com/2022/04/05/la-scapigliata-wins-the-first-frame-to-frames-your-eyes-follow-prize-at-lyra-2022/">2022
Lyra Bristol Poetry Film Competition</a>. Her work appears or is forthcoming in
the <a href="https://poets.org/poem/between-fulmination-and-adoration"><i>Academy
of American Poets</i></a> - <i>Poem A Day, Poetry Wales, Mslexia, </i><a href="https://plumepoetry.com/housekeeping-fridas-future-kiss/"><i>Plume</i></a><i>,
Guernica Editions, Terrain, Vallentine Mitchell of London; Verse Daily</i>, <i>Narrative
and others</i>. Jones’ first collection, “Night Ladder,” was published by Glass
Lyre Press and was a finalist for the <a href="http://jacarpress.com/suk-award/">Julie
Suk Award</a> and the Lascaux Poetry Prize for a poetry collection. Since 2007
Jones has hosted <a href="https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/poets-cafe/">KPFK’s Poets
Café</a>, and acted as poetry editor for the Pushcart prize-winning <a href="https://www.kyotojournal.org/">Kyoto Journal</a>. She is a screening
judge for Claremont University’s <a href="https://arts.cgu.edu/tufts-poetry-awards/about/judges/">Kingsley-Tufts
Awards</a>. </p>
<h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Three
Poems by Lois P. Jones</span></span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Housekeeping:
Frida’s Future Kiss</span></h1><p>After the palm
reader told her no man would ever claim her, she asked to be claimed by the
white horse she dreamt of each evening. It always began with a nuzzle, a warm
breath, like a kiss made of clouds that hovered and finally released its rain.
As if life only existed in the closed rooms of her eyes. And there, the scent
of crushed grapes and the white shadow of a horse becoming human. Not a satyr
but a transmogrification like a moon-impersonating streetlamp. A tenderness
that lived inside the small of her waist, his hand, this gentleness, and the
tongues that mixed their silence. She does not need her knees, fingers, thighs,
saliva – only this window where she looks into the mind’s vanishing frame. A
flutter like a valve opens and he turns to her. Their love like silk sheets toppling
over the wicker basket.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></p><p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">~Published in
Plume</span></i>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Big Sur Redwoods by Full Moon: Shifting
Voices, October 2020</b>
</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">After Joanna Klink’s Sea by Dusk</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">Comes to you from titans and
says be<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> shadow</i>, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">be<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> silence</i>. Gathers the length of longing </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">and says <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">crown
the sky with impermanence</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">Comes in the middle of caution, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">an October felled into acres </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">of loss. Drinks the light, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>lulling the waves </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">of disaster that brought you
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">Enters the path at midnight when
the deer’s eyes empty </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">into trembling. Says <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you who know strength, keep standing</i>, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">no fires will catch the
heartwood </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">where you live. No oceans will
drown you </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">in their history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dream,</i> the path calling you </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">beyond evening’s bleed of wood
smoke into the clearing. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be </i>somnambulant, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">walk in the certainty there is no blindness, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">only what comes between you and
this act of knowing. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall</i> like a nocturne in to the river,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">rushing like grain beneath your pillow, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">shifting the rhythm of your breath beyond the newly dead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">Tonight is a long hour without minutes,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">this blue bead of moonlight on your brow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be</i> the spirit girl who stands in clear
water </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">stilling everything – trees, stones,
root skin, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">invisible creatures who pause as
you think of them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shelter </i>in the mirror of her image, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">her cape of grey doves, dense as
the moss that surrounds her, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">be stunned as the shaft of light
on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">Move like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a hymn</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in the hidden worlds, </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be here, only here.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><i><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 11pt;">~Published in Tiferet</span></i>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Toc102308981"> </a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc102308981;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Frida Travels by Train to Meet Rilke for
the First Time</b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc102308981;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"></span></b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 3pt 13.5pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Against all expectations, I, a young and
inexperienced girl, was selected out of many applications …to keep house for
the poet Rainer Maria Rilke at Muzot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>~ Frida Baumgartner, October, 1921</span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The sky is complicated and flawed and we’re up
there in it. </span></i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opening its letters. Crossing countries to
clean someone’s clouds. Crossing mountains stacked with chanting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stacked with secrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange tongues that want to define us, that
refuse to taste us. As in tasting the last honey-dipped slice of apple on this
train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watch the sun spark rivers
without faces. Watch my face disappear in the passenger window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disappear like Borges and never return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He won’t believe I’ve read Borges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Won’t believe I can attend to his silence.
Silence is a letter you never open. A ball of yarn knitting sky in a corner.
What we want, we fashion. Fashion the proper weather for our wanting. Wanting
what is always made of what we cannot make ourselves. There are his blue eyes
in the window. He makes what I want, I will fashion what he needs. I will make
a cowbell of wishes. I will not ring it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*With a line from Lisa
Robertson.</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <i>~</i><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Published in Mslexia</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO6qW4BA8fWdW6IgRiZ9i_9d-FqYanZG27ZWy8fB0PhRIwKhO7aJLxKbVkO7gKBMPa8jNqrkRkq9nBKF-OTKLsdxMBddal8vTR-Ov8uJycSsUk8bUte6Z5PTQMMyexTbj4tDGuD41KY2S9qoc2SCPr7Z5zEQ-gfg3qKYAx1fSkTiITyQkZX_i3dLj/s1034/William%20O'Daly%20photo%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1034" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO6qW4BA8fWdW6IgRiZ9i_9d-FqYanZG27ZWy8fB0PhRIwKhO7aJLxKbVkO7gKBMPa8jNqrkRkq9nBKF-OTKLsdxMBddal8vTR-Ov8uJycSsUk8bUte6Z5PTQMMyexTbj4tDGuD41KY2S9qoc2SCPr7Z5zEQ-gfg3qKYAx1fSkTiITyQkZX_i3dLj/s320/William%20O'Daly%20photo%202023.png" width="320" /></a></i></div><i> </i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">William O’Daly</span></b> has translated eight books
of the late-career and posthumous poetry of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda
and most recently Neruda’s first volume, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Book
of Twilight</i>, a finalist for the 2018 Northern California Book Award in
Translation. The author of four chapbooks of poems, he published his first
full-length volume of poems, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New Gods</i>,
with Beltway Editions in September 2022. In March 2023, the Los Angeles Master
Chorale including three poems from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
New Gods</i> and one from his chapbook, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Waterways</i>,
in the world premiere of Reena Esmail’s “Malhaar: A Requiem for Water,” at the
Walt Disney Concert Hall. A National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, he received
the American Literary Award from the bilingual Korean American journal <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miju Poetry</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poetics</i> in September 2021. Currently, he is Lead Writer for the
California Water Plan, the state’s strategic plan for sustainably and equitably managing water resources.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>Three Poems by William
O’Daly</span></b></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p><a name="_Toc100485660"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Love
in a Changing Climate</b></a>
<p class="MsoNormal">Touching your absent hand, I am like the saint
</p><p class="MsoNormal">who wanders with the first yellow leaf,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the ease of what might be mistaken</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for our familiar love. It’s never easy</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to sustain in the eyes what changes inside,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to feel the fear, the abandonment, and shame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listen . . . the wind is scattering our names. We are</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the question the stone and the river ask.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Had I been with you when you died, I’d know</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">him who knows how to shepherd the dying home.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Illiterate birds ravel our lives with twelve strings</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and we find love that takes the leap with us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">stays to clean up the birth of the cosmos,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the benevolent trees that burn like us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">~from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New Gods</i> (Beltway Editions, 2022)</span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Toc4877095"></a><a name="_Toc14611738"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc100485689;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
Eastern Sea</b></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">Like you, I have
sought</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">the fate of the wave,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">the burnt mast, the
water birds</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">gliding near as a prayer.
And so</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">as the eastern sea
passes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">its ring of opal
light to the sky,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">I promise I will pass
the ring</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">of the sea to my
daughter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">Always, the mermaid
speaks of love.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">The beggar cries that
his sandals</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">were stolen by Jesus.
My daughter</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">asks me to hold those
fragile rings,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">to hold the sea that
breaks with gravity’s secret</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">and washes over our
cold bare feet</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;">until she has a song
to sing to it.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;"> </span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc4877095;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">~from <i>The New Gods,</i> (Beltway Editions, 2022)</span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Toc100485690"></a><a name="_Toc14611737"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc100485690;"> </span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc14611737;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Toc100485690;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heron
Dances Over the World</b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even you’re not watching
</p><p class="MsoNormal">as you spread your black tattered wings</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and step among the colors of the physical world—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">spindly legs conjure the symbol for infinity</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in red earth, in fresh blue snow and white mist.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Endangered islands bloom, the wetland fills</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with mountain shadow. In a parallel universe</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">your reflection moves to its inner calling,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to folded granite, music of the waterfall.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You live as hidden origami, with creases</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and abandon, intricate patterns that resist</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the receding shore. You circle, an equation</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">neither eyes nor lips can touch—motion that can’t be solved</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">or written on the tongue. You do not stop to preen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">among the battered dunes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your cry wrings iron from irony,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">recalls the silent bells, laments the love</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve forgotten. You breathe closer to the swaying aspen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">than to the orphaned moon and the tide’s pull.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this dance you create, like a beetle,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">your own being.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">~from <i>The New Gods</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> (</span>Beltway Editions, 2022)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> PLEASE NOTE OUR "ALMOST" MONTHLY READINGS CONTINUE IN 2023:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25 June (4th Sunday) Lois P. Jones & William O’Daly </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27 August (4th Sunday) Beverly M. Collins & A. Jay Adler </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24 September (4th Sunday) Marlene Hitt & RG Cantalupo <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22 Oct (4th Sunday) Ambika Talwar & Susan Suntree </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No dates Nov/Dec due to holidays</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-19542721731517924982023-03-27T10:44:00.006-07:002023-04-10T21:35:06.173-07:00Village Poets Features Brendan Constantine & Alice Pero on April 30th for National Poetry Month<p> <!--[if !mso]>
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</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelEwY6OC2yegi4k0gK6zBwjkuEQIK_XZHpP_VW0kcfaj9I48diLwPmInD20UT0qig85MwjlnqlbhYe4AxjLk2RVRJ7J0JDeIgY3vwIwVok8tHErUuyaotrvjUCIBL7pZJoFtpKvYKAaRuGDlMHzFDJLheOqghF4jxhGtnIw3GWZTtA-rczeLwsLvb/s829/Village%20Poets%20mantel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="829" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelEwY6OC2yegi4k0gK6zBwjkuEQIK_XZHpP_VW0kcfaj9I48diLwPmInD20UT0qig85MwjlnqlbhYe4AxjLk2RVRJ7J0JDeIgY3vwIwVok8tHErUuyaotrvjUCIBL7pZJoFtpKvYKAaRuGDlMHzFDJLheOqghF4jxhGtnIw3GWZTtA-rczeLwsLvb/w400-h195/Village%20Poets%20mantel.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga is pleased to
invite poets and friends of poetry to our Monthly Reading
held </span>in-person, on <b>Sunday, April 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm</b>. at <b>
Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA
91042-2313</b>.<span style="font-family: courier;"><b> </b><span style="font-family: times;">In April our features will be <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Brendan Constantine</span></b> and <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Alice Pero</b></span>.</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #222222;">Two segments of open mic will be available and
refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of
refreshments and to donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton
Hall Museum, a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fKRF0CXx7K3RtQ6mOMWhselR7WuNloVt0Fg-NF6mv7oGNkkGRN-Ta--zdr4RbLXnBlwbp-PbWIn6odVWLVn06zzTpIYYZpAOPpC8dVbki5GIGoRkWu3CfWh92xdF6TA-Lyjh-rL24UPwMe5wMLn0GNIr8aoeb3zypexjztL5pfyBnAir8GdO3Moy/s1946/Brendan%20best%20photo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1946" data-original-width="1677" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fKRF0CXx7K3RtQ6mOMWhselR7WuNloVt0Fg-NF6mv7oGNkkGRN-Ta--zdr4RbLXnBlwbp-PbWIn6odVWLVn06zzTpIYYZpAOPpC8dVbki5GIGoRkWu3CfWh92xdF6TA-Lyjh-rL24UPwMe5wMLn0GNIr8aoeb3zypexjztL5pfyBnAir8GdO3Moy/s320/Brendan%20best%20photo.png" width="276" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b><p></p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Photo by Jun Takahashi</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Brendan Constantine</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> is a poet based in Los Angeles. He is the
author of numerous collections and his work has appeared in many literary
standards, including <i>Poetry, Best American Poetry, Tin House, Ploughshares,
Poetry Review (UK)</i> and <i>Poem-a-Day</i>. He has received support and
commissions from the Getty Museum, James Irvine Foundation, and the National
Endowment for the Arts. A popular performer, Brendan has presented his work to
audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe, also appearing on NPR's All Things
Considered, TED ED, numerous podcasts, and YouTube. Brendan currently
teaches at the Windward School and, since 2017, has been developing poetry
workshops for people with Aphasia.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Three Poems by Brendan Constantine</span></b>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">World’s End</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My mother is sleeping
while you read this</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">white hair spread
across a pillow</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She’s on her back,
mouth open, and—you </span>
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this—her teeth are gold </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and china. The radio
is playing, low,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a classical station,
some opera or other</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">where people die
believing love can be lost </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">in a crowd. My
mother breathes </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">like a gallery, like
a hundred paintings </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">of old ships. This
really does concern you</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">because the sea is
at your door. Because </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">my mother sleeptalks
on your behalf.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Because it gets late
so early now. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This poem originally appeared in The Poetry Review
(UK), <span style="color: #1d1d1b;">Vol 112, No 4, Winter 202</span></span></i>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><b><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Psalm</span></b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></p><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You're
on an elevator with God and afraid</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">to ask which floor They want – for surely</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">God's pronoun is They - because deep down</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">you know God is already on every floor and</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">how long is this going to take? God says,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I never get tired of
The Girl from Ipanema.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">You smile and agree, though only now</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">do you notice the music. You start pushing</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">buttons in no sequence, feel the earth fall</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">away. Is this what it’s like to be a prayer,</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">or rather, what it’s like when one arrives?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">... like a samba that
swings so cool</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">and sways so gentle …</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">You remember something you read about</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">the first elevators, how they were powered</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">by animals and, later, water. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">And children,</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">They say, <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">don’t forget children</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">At every stop God gets on again, but you</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">don’t notice, you’re too into the song now.</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Surely joy and apprehension shall follow you</span><br />
<span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">all of your days.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This poem originally appeared in The International
Literary Quarterly (InterlitQ),<span style="color: #1d1d1b;"> Winter 2022<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Tralee, Ireland, Days Ago</b><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> I’ve been
traveling so long</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I forget what
country this is. I can read all the signs </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">in the hotel, but
it’s not enough. It could be Ireland, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">or Heaven, or Mars.
A black dog sits next to me </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">with a white bib, wary,
curious. I ask the concierge, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Is this a member of
your staff?” “Ay,” he says, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“A stray. Showed up
days ago.” I finish checking in, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">drag a bunch of
America to my room, take a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Later, when I step
out for a walk, I find the dog </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">waiting in the hall.
“Days Ago,” I say aloud. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your name is Days
Ago.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> He follows
me to a park </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">across the street,
not quite at my side, but with me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I speak to him in a
full voice, ask questions, give him </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">time to answer, and
interpret his silence. No one </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">pays much attention,
though a policeman tracks me </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">for a moment. Likely
because I’ve used the word </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“terrorism” a few
times, loud enough to be heard </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">across the fish
pond. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Days Ago,
like all dogs, </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">can’t talk or is
choosing his moment. He withholds </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">any opinion on
terror, foreign or domestic. When </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I mention poetry, he
yawns. Yeah, tell me about it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We find a bench and
claim it. “You’ve done this before,” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I say. It gets a
smile. He does that donut thing his kind </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">are so good at—cats,
too—where they can lie on one side </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and still be sitting
up. I naturally start stroking his neck </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and shoulders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Did’ya
hear about Mars?” I ask. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Once again, they
think they found life but aren’t sure. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Apparently, it’s
harder to spot than anyone guessed.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">His fur is so black,
it hardly shines. I lose my hand in it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s tracking the
policeman now. I’m thinking about </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">space, how
astronomers say almost a third of it is made</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">of something called
Dark Matter, mass that swallows</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">light. Or drinks it.
Or, I think now, loses light in its coat. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You know, Days Ago,
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> whenever they don’t find life</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">on other planets, I
can’t help but think it means they </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">also can’t find
death. So far as we know, there’s no </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">death anywhere on
Mars. None on the moon, for that </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">matter. A few people
have died in space. But how </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">do we know they
didn’t bring death with them? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They were people
after all.” Days Ago is looking </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">at me, right into my
eyes. He clears his throat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This poem originally appeared in Rattle #78, Winter 2022</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAzGQGWON74zvZHpzT8BSjf_fMaYJD4vDBBFq-TF6boDzXJ9iGsTPzK7C3LWeSBV1fxzmjskCXI_2uRjme5i7S2m3fv0aA2JgNmPFCerscaPX8MKnjrNjUYjSIkM9ypZ4HZ5HvXPmB0OnobU7oHpiFYPgfwfeGDNbvtSO-hhkjV3umQMCFXXAFxyp/s3600/DSC_4792R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAzGQGWON74zvZHpzT8BSjf_fMaYJD4vDBBFq-TF6boDzXJ9iGsTPzK7C3LWeSBV1fxzmjskCXI_2uRjme5i7S2m3fv0aA2JgNmPFCerscaPX8MKnjrNjUYjSIkM9ypZ4HZ5HvXPmB0OnobU7oHpiFYPgfwfeGDNbvtSO-hhkjV3umQMCFXXAFxyp/s320/DSC_4792R.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photo by Irene Kalents</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p><b>Alice Pero’s</b> poetry has been published in many
magazines and anthologies including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nimrod,
National Poetry Review, River Oak Review, Main Street Rag, Poet Lore, The
Alembic, North</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dakota Quarterly, The
Distillery, Fox Cry Review, The Griffin, and G.W. Review</i>, “Coiled Serpent,”
“Wide Awake,” “Altadena Poetry Review,” and others. Her book of poetry, “<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thawed Stars”,</span> was praised by Kenneth
Koch as having “clarity and surprises.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize four times. She is the 10<sup>th</sup>
Poet Laureate of Sunland/Tujunga. A passionate dialoguer, she has created works
with over 25 poets. Her book, “Beyond Birds & Answers” is a collaboration
with New York artist, Vera Campion and “Sunland Park Poems” with Los Angeles
poet Elsa Frausto. In 2002 Pero created the popular reading series, “Moonday”
which continued for another 16 years with Lois P. Jones as Co-Producer. She is
currently curating the Village Poets reading series and also is the Monthly
Contest Chair for The California State Poetry Society. Alice is also a flutist
and former dancer and her chamber music group, “Windsong” has performed around
the LA area since 2015. Alice is a member of the California Poets in the Schools since 1996 and has been teaching poetry to school children since 1991.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three Poems by Alice
Pero</b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Directions for an Important Display</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Look for small
things,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a nail, a pebble, a
drop of rain,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a snowflake, even
after it has melted</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Put them in a
collage, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">an intricate
arrangement</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">with subtle colors,
barely</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">discernable texture</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hang it up</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It may need to dry</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">for several
centuries</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">cured by weather</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Take it out again</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and view it with
great</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">admiration</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Add a sound track</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You may or may not</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">get an audience</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If not, show it in
sunlight</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Let it gradually
fade</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">then start over</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Published in Vilas Avenue</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Advice</span></b>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When
crocheting a poem</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">be
sure to be awake</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do
not use Alexa</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She
is forever asleep</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She
has no dreams</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She
will take your words</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and
insert them in her circuits</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and
her machines will whirl</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">in
random patterns</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">producing
a million monkeys</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">on
typewriters</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">quoting
Shakespeare</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Look
at the clouds</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">blow
a ghost fantasy</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">dream
that school of sardines alive</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Use
the wrong punctuation</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Drop
a few and purl one</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fall
asleep to wake again</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and
let the words fall out of your mouth</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">like
pearls</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">String
them and wear to a Dodgers game</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">with
an evening dress</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Flaunt
your aliveness</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Smile
at everyone you see</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If
you decide to knit the poem</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">refer
to a pattern </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">but
add ropes and daisies</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If
you begin to fumble</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">refer
again to the pattern</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">but
do not follow it</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
will only confuse you</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Know
that the poem</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">comes
from </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the tiniest of nothingness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you spin with your own magic</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My Mother</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
mother fell</span>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">small
and wrinkled</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">on
the morning</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and
the moon slipped</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">off
into some hidden darkness</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Coffee
steamed us awake</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and
the cups chattered</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">in
the cupboard</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
mother dropped</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">like
an ancient stone</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">into
the blue light</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of
dawn</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
day rolled out</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">like
a newspaper</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">with
tiny important print</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">we
had to read</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">to
know</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
mother</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">heaved
away the sky</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">left
clouds loaded</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">with
rain</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There
would always be enough</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">for
flowers</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">we
could grow</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
mother left the kitchen</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">covered</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">with
cups and papers</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
were dizzy with words</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
drowned in heavy milk</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
lay muffled</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">like
shifting sand</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">curious
with the weight</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of
dreams</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">waiting
for the delicate</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">shadow
of the moon</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">to
release us back</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">into
buoyant darkness</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Published in Thawed Stars and Dodging the Rain</span></i></p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-3415925870253761812023-02-10T18:15:00.004-08:002023-02-11T16:34:43.872-08:00Village Poets Readings Continue with Toti O'Brien & Linda Dove on March 26, 2023 at Bolton Hall Museum<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZGEiqabBzw8c_yoths-45uhoDaV5ln6GhvwthZ17gekTYs3vDEnU4Hl0QpVtH-IKUVOR9AGkxuezznOKE4JcRUR_Ozft_0hypxFi2-Ee12lS6AlJbHBUYvBYTWGEjprHDVSglEdyvbTSxZZMQ6olvWD4S3XazWR5-wTS-RNFPuKEKanPPlDG4vVo/s977/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="977" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZGEiqabBzw8c_yoths-45uhoDaV5ln6GhvwthZ17gekTYs3vDEnU4Hl0QpVtH-IKUVOR9AGkxuezznOKE4JcRUR_Ozft_0hypxFi2-Ee12lS6AlJbHBUYvBYTWGEjprHDVSglEdyvbTSxZZMQ6olvWD4S3XazWR5-wTS-RNFPuKEKanPPlDG4vVo/w400-h194/Picture1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<p></p><p><span style="color: #222222;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga is pleased to
invite poets and friends of poetry to the second of this year's Monthly Reading
held in-person, on <b>Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 4:30 pm</b>. <b>at the
Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA
91042-2313</b>.<b> </b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In March our features will be poets <b>Toti O’Brien</b>
and<b> Linda Dove.</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #222222;">Two segments of open mic will be available and
refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of
refreshments and to donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the
Bolton Hall Museum, a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMZGe5YuZb_C2eTVt__QhZRQI3y-71ODR2d3-aa2y2NXpBdETsJFIttpvK4EvowupjsLdBf_HEdGmnTLsLDSnhjSGBvTcMYoG8cfd09xiKitMNLgv9TsxDO1dBHFrLiRsFIpPgFFD02a2p4PmBhD3JVkxEY1Zz6muFZGNLrXG61FU_EmZHFa_J-vi/s502/Picture2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMZGe5YuZb_C2eTVt__QhZRQI3y-71ODR2d3-aa2y2NXpBdETsJFIttpvK4EvowupjsLdBf_HEdGmnTLsLDSnhjSGBvTcMYoG8cfd09xiKitMNLgv9TsxDO1dBHFrLiRsFIpPgFFD02a2p4PmBhD3JVkxEY1Zz6muFZGNLrXG61FU_EmZHFa_J-vi/s320/Picture2.png" width="305" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="color: #222222; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Toti O’Brien</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is the Italian
Accordionist with the Irish Last Name. Born in Rome, living in Los Angeles, she
is an artist, musician and dancer. She is the author of <i>Other Maidens </i>(BlazeVOX,
2020), <i>An Alphabet of Birds </i>(Moonrise Press, 2020), <i>In Her Terms </i>(Cholla
Needles Press, 2021), <i>Pages of a Broken Diary</i> (Pski’s Porch, 2022) and <i>Alter
Alter</i> (Elyssar Press, 2023).</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three Poems by Toti
O’Brien</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Taro San</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And the boy named river </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">unfolded. Gently, yet </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">irreversibly he sprouted</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">like corn, tall, invincible, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">like a newly built boat </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">bound to meet the ocean. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boy was named river. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Boy with willow-dark hair </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">fit for making brushes </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and brooms, with the pure </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">gaze of volcanoes</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">long-extinct but still warm </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">inside their hollow, deep core. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the wisdom </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of infinite seasons and </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the cheerful trill of a bird. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His miniature index a compass, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">long knitted cap flapping </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">like a sail in the breeze.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chubby legs </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">knotted around her waist </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">like a leather belt, like </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a sash, an obi. Tiny feet </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">tickling the small </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of her back. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">First
published in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cholla Needles</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joan of Arc, 2</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, what did the forks say, she was asked. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not just forks, she replied, but all the silverware. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps, forks in particular. Problem was</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">she couldn’t make out the words, and it didn’t matter. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She could not because the voices were distant. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Somehow loud, but remote. Simultaneously shrill </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and soft, those voices were turned backwards, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as if speaking of something that occurred and </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">she should know about, perhaps she should fix. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The voices seemed to beg. Rather helplessly. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sharp, insistent but small, trapped among </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the prongs of the forks like hair stuck on a comb. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those voices had long hair, corkscrews, curls,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">floating ribbons moved by the breeze</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">across distant skies filled with swallows. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Voices, like the voice of the swallows. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She was asked, what did the swallows say?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She couldn’t hear words, just the exhilaration. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Swallows, she knew, talked about the future. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Future plans. Departure. Return. Mother leaving</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and coming back, said the swallows, picking up </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">fragments of what the forks (all the silverware) </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">said already, as if echoing rhymes of a song </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">played by an obsolete radio set. Maybe </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">an advertising for milk. As if they (the swallows) </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">recalled an old tune and screamed it out loud, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">louder, louder, drunk with spring and sunshine. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">First
published in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ZIN Magazine</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Odd Bird</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deep green of the mangrove, nest of shade</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">cupped hand, branches like fingers. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A release of pelicans in the sunset. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why do you say “breathtaking” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">each time a flock scatters in concert? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Expansion of ribcage. Inhale, hold, exhale. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Something about joy is centrifugal</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">overflowing like foam from a bottleneck</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">firework, fountain, cascade of confetti</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">rice thrown over a bridal train</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">shine on shine, a sparkling exuberance. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fluttering of a thousand of feathers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Angels don’t exist, but birds do.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of happiness happens</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and that part is brisk, sudden. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What remains of happiness is. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">First
published in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific Review</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrK864My5mKd1iudhZKhUzQeL6VyGr5LKx8fOYWfFEcDV9112VjJFTBzE8amIZYK67UosZnHXK3zp_fOTQbmFrlVVksOXqXn93Ozw4jjSod59rtN6n_on44NwC6SL7yD4gJccwYiXrE1CJUQ7MG8O8dt3X81wcH--y9w4XfNhpKK_aS_g6NWWAU_h/s1350/Picture3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="916" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrK864My5mKd1iudhZKhUzQeL6VyGr5LKx8fOYWfFEcDV9112VjJFTBzE8amIZYK67UosZnHXK3zp_fOTQbmFrlVVksOXqXn93Ozw4jjSod59rtN6n_on44NwC6SL7yD4gJccwYiXrE1CJUQ7MG8O8dt3X81wcH--y9w4XfNhpKK_aS_g6NWWAU_h/w271-h400/Picture3.png" width="271" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /> </b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Linda Dove</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> holds a Ph.D. in Renaissance
literature and teaches college writing. She is also an award-winning poet of
four books: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">In Defense of
Objects</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(2009), </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">O Dear Deer,</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (2011), </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">This Too</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (2017), and </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">Fearn</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (2019), as well as the scholarly
collection of essays, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">Women,
Writing, and the Reproduction of Culture in Tudor and Stuart Britain</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Poems have been nominated for a
Pushcart Prize, the Robert H. Winner Award from the Poetry Society of America,
Best of the Net, and Best Microfiction. More recently, she has acted as a
cultural critic, writing reviews and editing creative work for several
internationally-recognized visual artists. She lives on the eastern edge of Los
Angeles, where she serves as the faculty editor of </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">MORIA</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Literary Magazine at Woodbury University.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three Poems by Linda Dove</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sometimes Lines
Repeat Loss Like a Wave</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%;">based on
artist Samuel Erenberg’s <i>Apparitions Ghost Image #40</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the life before this one, you knew the crow</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">would return to whatever shine caught the sun—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a silver bell, a tuna can, a hubcap lost to the exit</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ramp. The way your heart went up and down</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">on the EKG like mountains, every spike</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the reach for my name. Now the bird can’t find</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the object. The lines are drawn, rows pulled</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">across a metal field, where nothing grows</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but ghosts. What <i>next</i> should have meant.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How we should have spent the time between</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>then</i> and <i>now</i>, as a pattern moving in a blue
wave,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the way <i>shibori</i> changes a piece of plain fabric</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">into the sea. Sometimes what slips through </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the lines our fingers make could never be held.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Sometimes Lines Repeat Loss Like a Wave.” <i>observant touches</i>
[exhibition catalog]. March 2022</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I Learned This
Week About Desire</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saffron found its way north before oranges, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">before the color <i>orange</i> was a word: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">English had only <i>yellow-red</i>, after the stigma </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of the crocus. Then Seville oranges</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">were sunk in salt water all the way to Dundee, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">mixed with sugar, boiled translucent</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">into marmalade, spooned on tongues </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that were inventing the color, the word </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with no rhyme. This week I learned </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that desire floats like a life raft, an orange</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">bubble on the surface of an hour, bittersweet</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">reminder that the world can suddenly</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">flare into an S.O.S. or a spark or the heat</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of spice in a finger cut. It isn’t trying </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to save me—it wants to peel me back </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">until I can see through myself, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">back to when I swore <i>never again</i> and </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">said <i>I’m so much happier without.</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the truth is we travel, the word <i>naranga</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">becomes <i>arancia</i> becomes <i>orange</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Look at what we’ve misnamed—the red fox,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the robin’s red breast, red-heads—as if</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the colors of fire are interchangeable,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as if we forget that each burn is its own.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What I Learned This Week About Desire.” <i>Under a Warm
Green Linden</i>. Issue 9, June 2020.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lettuce Is My Hair—A
Love Song<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adapted from the translation
of an ancient Sumerian chant of the same title, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>written about 2350 B.C.,
probably by a priestess of the cult of Inanna, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and only extant in
fragment. The italics indicate lines of the original poem </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in translation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She is washing her hair in the river, and it is older</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">than the shale cavern, than the dark line of the horizon</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that halves the olive belly where she rests her hand.
Her hair</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">will fall in with the reeds and rushes, watercresses,
lettuces,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">gathering in the cool pools of moss around her shin</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and thigh. Curls of arugula, locks of endive and </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">mesclun chignon at the nape of the world’s wet place.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>My hair is lettuce, planted by the water . . .</i> <i>It
is</i> <i>gukkal-</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>lettuce, the most favored of plants . . .</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crenelated green and deep purple fringe of scalp silk </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">draped across the terrible knowledge of the heart, the
voices</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of the women call to the vegetable muscle from beyond</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the wind of the quartz desert. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Without end</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She mouths</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the language of the song, the dry words rinsed with her
saliva</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and her tongue wounds as she drags the small rocks across</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">her leafy strands, forehead to shoulder.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The brother has called me to his refreshing . . . For him</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>who is the honey of my eye, who is the lettuce of my
heart,</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>May the days of life come forth . . .</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her voice has become his companion, her dark blood sound</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that leaks into the shallows, that feeds the
vegetation. What follows </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">will leave her lighter. She will sing the words that
grow </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">near the banks of the river with her sisters. She will
think of the one </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with whom she is not alone. He has taken her wet hair
in his mouth, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">felt the relief of his thirst, <i>the lettuce of her
heart</i>,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
the spring’s first food.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When there is nothing else pushing up from the earth’s cold
skin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Lettuce Is My Hair—A Love Song.” <i>Clackamas Literary
Review</i>, Vol. X (2006): 51. Reprinted in <i>In Defense of Objects</i> (Bear
Star Press, 2009).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our January reading was a joyous event with our two features
Sharmagne Leland St. John and William Scott Galasso as well as an excellent
group of open readers. Sharmagne illustrated her beautiful poems with a slide
show from her recent book, <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IMAGES: A Collection of Ekphrastic Poetry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maja </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Trochimczyk, who is retiring from Village Poets this month, received
numerous awards from political dignitaries for her contributions to the
artistic community over the last 12 years and we received a surprise visit from
CA State Senator Anthony Portantino who presented her with an award and
delighted the audience with a performance of two of his own poems. Awards were
also given to the two features.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDZLl3HXEqz-h2vSNx7v_dRPV7UEU7DlF1z-xNKDtvE7HRMtZVhi958EqunBRTneE3NZBqSkpEacHvjovnMIwx_FlA0q83cu1q0C5HzyU_6oUZeKz4_C45k1k-owYICy1jsUsr9_O_9wLn8VXFrbNpyk55iMkG7L5BaLxci4tq0zLzvNkckkER69d/s977/Picture4.png"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="977" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDZLl3HXEqz-h2vSNx7v_dRPV7UEU7DlF1z-xNKDtvE7HRMtZVhi958EqunBRTneE3NZBqSkpEacHvjovnMIwx_FlA0q83cu1q0C5HzyU_6oUZeKz4_C45k1k-owYICy1jsUsr9_O_9wLn8VXFrbNpyk55iMkG7L5BaLxci4tq0zLzvNkckkER69d/w400-h194/Picture4.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our 2023 series is now completed booked with the
following excellent poets as features. Please mark your calendars for these
coming events. Please note that we are not now having readings every month of
the year.</span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Village Poets at Bolton Hall Calendar 2023</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jan 29 (5th Sunday) Sharmagne Leland St.John & William Scott
Galasso<br />
26 March (4th Sunday) Toti O’Brien & Linda Dove<br />
30 April (5th Sunday) Alice Pero & Brendan Constantine<br />
25 June (4th Sunday) Lois P. Jones & William O’Daly<br />
27 August (4th Sunday) Beverly M. Collins & A. Jay Adler<br />
22 Oct (4th Sunday) Ambika Talwar & Susan Suntree<br />
No dates Nov/Dec due to holidays</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-25041588673353936422022-12-22T04:23:00.007-08:002022-12-22T10:24:30.059-08:00Happy New Year! With Leland-St. John and Galasso, 29 January 2023, Bolton Hall Museum, Tujunga<p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpPW-sxewGK7gd_uH-M_9cZbO00Ez3hLRAYUIqop-Th8Mz-S2DlufNtt6xn8ogm2_EOZTubz-ee8tDf3yioyoglFLFN_Hz92bdOlsbFzgWf8eEmOZd5UIFl1ba9PszGL5cj81mgS9ScPZuvx8_4-ljIaZgCV4hZy_-UzfeV-mRIN6fnrNQhKvw2JeTw/s4032/IMG_9637.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpPW-sxewGK7gd_uH-M_9cZbO00Ez3hLRAYUIqop-Th8Mz-S2DlufNtt6xn8ogm2_EOZTubz-ee8tDf3yioyoglFLFN_Hz92bdOlsbFzgWf8eEmOZd5UIFl1ba9PszGL5cj81mgS9ScPZuvx8_4-ljIaZgCV4hZy_-UzfeV-mRIN6fnrNQhKvw2JeTw/w400-h300/IMG_9637.JPG" width="400" /></span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>So Far, So Good, photo by Maja Trochimczyk</i></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Happy New Year 2023! </b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga are pleased to invite poets and friends of poetry to </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">the first of this year's Monthly Reading held in-person, on </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 4:30 pm</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">. <b>a</b></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">t the Bolton Hall Museum, located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA 91042-2313</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">.</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"> </b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">We will start the year on a high note, presenting two eminent poets, </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">Sharmagne Leland St. John and William Scott Galasso. </b></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">According to Chinese zodiac, t</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">his will be the year of <b>Water Rabbit,</b> starting on January 22, 2023... </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913. </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">This will be the last Monthly Readings with featured poets selected by <b>Dr. Maja Trochimczyk,</b> who has served as Artistic Director of Village Poets for 12 years, booking poets, creating blogs, posting notices on Facebook, and emailing poets. After she steps down, <b>Alice Pero, current Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga,</b> will take over the role of making selections of poets for the VP Monthly Readings. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypkcQT8ESx7z2ECsWUjMGg-W1bQV3jOn0zjP4s_15FncfxYWfOGK_u5S8a5E-Qyo7JO6VK9OLAz5qgsY3npWB4Zj1-MuPvOjZu9oi1MR1Q_hrapHCjGKMI-bDUuGNpg1LYjrEH2_PB65WWlXntCg39KKdjAZP36MBb7j1-dG4Edu679kivx3B7BzfEw/s463/Sharmagne.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypkcQT8ESx7z2ECsWUjMGg-W1bQV3jOn0zjP4s_15FncfxYWfOGK_u5S8a5E-Qyo7JO6VK9OLAz5qgsY3npWB4Zj1-MuPvOjZu9oi1MR1Q_hrapHCjGKMI-bDUuGNpg1LYjrEH2_PB65WWlXntCg39KKdjAZP36MBb7j1-dG4Edu679kivx3B7BzfEw/w345-h400/Sharmagne.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">SHARMAGNE LELAND-ST. JOHN</span></b></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sharmagne Leland-St. John, 22-time Pushcart Prize nominee, is a Native American author, poet, concert performer, lyricist, artist and filmmaker. <u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">She is the Editor-in-Chief of the 21-year-old literary and cultural arts journal <i>Quill and Parchment.com</i>. She is the founder of <i>fogdog poetry</i> in Arlington, WA, <i>Quill and Parchment Poetry </i>at The Vauclause Lounge in West Hollywood. Sharmagne tours the United States, Canada, and Europe as a performance poet.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">She is widely anthologised and her poetry and short stories appear as well in many on-line literary journals, radio and television. She has published 7 books of poetry <i>Unsung Songs</i> (2003), <i> Silver Tears and Time</i> (2005), <i>Contingencies</i> (2008), La Kalima (2010), A Raga for George Harrison (2020) IMAGES: A Collection of Ekphrastic Poetry (2021) <i>The Trip</i> (2021) and co-authored a book on film production design.<i> Designing Movies: Portrait of a Hollywood Artist</i>( Greenwood/Praeger 2006).<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sharmagne is editor of <i>Cradle Songs: An Anthology of Poems on Motherhood (2012,</i>) winner of the 2013 International Book Award Honouring Excellence in Mainstream and Independent Publishing as well as one of four finalists for the NIEA. (National Independent Excellence Award). <u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; break-after: avoid; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">Tiny Warrior<span style="font-weight: normal;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">by Sharmagne Leland-St. John</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You never saw the spring my love<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or the red-tailed hawk circling high above<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On feathered wings my love<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You only knew the snow<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You never saw the prairie grasses bend and blow<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And undulate like the shimmering indigo sea<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You never saw me<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Your eyes were closed so tight<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They say you put up quite a fight<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Somehow your life was over before it had begun and<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gently did I touch and kiss your tiny-fingered hand<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Born too soon<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You never saw the silver moon<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or the light of a summer's day<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last night I dreamt a gathering of eagles<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Had come<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To spirit you away<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Born too soon<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Your tender heart<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Could not beat<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To the pulsing rhythm<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of life's taut drum<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: helvetica;">Nikolai 1982-1983</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~<wbr></wbr>~*~~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="background-color: white; break-after: avoid; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><img alt="8.Fromaphoto.jpg" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="393" id="m_-2885757234010660318TIE.9601700" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=d7d4294165&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1752423756264135372&th=1851dc1f20145acc&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ9KHK2APcagt7WH4XTUE3o5X8eRtSdciug5UvTTkACr-XSDC_C7osezwH8K1Pivke7R0PkTHd00Q_Z2cLAatAOdEV5gr1VanU8KlBGzsgjd_KBIt_sEThjrzzM&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; margin: 5px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" tabindex="0" title="8.Fromaphoto.jpg" width="400" /></span></h2><div style="background-color: white;"></div><h2 style="background-color: white; break-after: avoid; margin: 0in;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; break-after: avoid; margin: 0in;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">Bruna Vieira gathers flowers</span></b></h2><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">by Sharmagne Leland-St. John</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">Bruna Vieira gathers flowers in her garden</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">she dreams of wildflowers but</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">chooses sunflowers instead</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">she's smart she knows they'll last the longest</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">she'll cut the stems tall, put sugar in the water</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">and hope they'll still be beautiful</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">when he comes to visit on Sunday</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">in her dreams she's dressed in hymns</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">not jeans and a blue and white striped pullover</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">she dances for the flowers and calls them </span><i style="background-color: white;">Girasol</i><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">as they nod their sunshine heads</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">in the blue and white Meissen vase</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">where she has carefully arranged them</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">with their stems cut at an angle</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">she spins and her red hair is a furore of flames</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">leaping and licking the scented air behind her</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">she has </span><i style="background-color: white;">adagio</i><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white;">lento</i><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">tattooed in curlicues on opposite ankles</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">to remind her of the tempo of the dance</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">and the r</span><span style="background-color: white;">hythm</span><span style="background-color: white;"> of her life</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">in black ink a flutter of sparrows</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">dot her right wrist…</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">as she reaches out to caress the flowers</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">one of them flies away</span></span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; break-after: avoid; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span></h2><div style="background-color: white;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from <i>IMAGES: A Collection of Ekphrastic Poetry </i>(2021) Taj Mahal Press</span></div><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #222222;"></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBNHKsoUC79OWw3KD0zQ772nQVzkchSTJ2xKa6cHGj_brTRh7Sl3iaYz35lf5CseWiJ61CpA4W5lsUDfV6gcwqBK2V2L67-lKdvyFKX6BI9wxdpqJOzHXXtzFaG9nIH-W0IR8363aV0rZRslz1HAWjc4eKXzQfAQki218Zmx7yFEtpd9964jobSXzAg/s1280/Scott%20in%20Hat%20Portrait.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBNHKsoUC79OWw3KD0zQ772nQVzkchSTJ2xKa6cHGj_brTRh7Sl3iaYz35lf5CseWiJ61CpA4W5lsUDfV6gcwqBK2V2L67-lKdvyFKX6BI9wxdpqJOzHXXtzFaG9nIH-W0IR8363aV0rZRslz1HAWjc4eKXzQfAQki218Zmx7yFEtpd9964jobSXzAg/w400-h400/Scott%20in%20Hat%20Portrait.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">WILLIAM SCOTT GALASSO</span></b></div><b style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #222222;">William Scott Galasso</b><span style="color: #222222;"> is the author of seventeen books of poetry <span style="color: black;">including </span></span><i style="background-color: white;">Rough Cut: Thirty Years of Senryu</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (2019),<i>Legacy: Thirty Years of Haiku</i>, (2020) </span><span style="background-color: white;">and </span><i style="background-color: white;">Saffron Skies</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (2022), his latest published work. In addition,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Scott’s co-edited </span><span style="background-color: white;">two anthologies</span><i style="background-color: white;">, Cascade Cuneiform</i><span style="background-color: white;"> (1995), with The Seattle Live Poets and </span><i style="background-color: white;">Eclipse Moon</i><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><span style="background-color: white;">(2017), with Deborah P. Kolodji moderator of the SCHSG. He </span><span style="background-color: white;">serves as an </span><span style="background-color: white;">editor for the <i>California Quarterly. </i></span></span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He will present the newest book, <i>Saffron Skies</i>, published in 2022.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sample Poems:</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">zen garden </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">every snowflake </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">finds a stone </span></span></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">hunger moon</span></span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">between tank treads</span></span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">winter wheat </span></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">let me be </span></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a hummingbird</span></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">busy in your blossom </span></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">let me flutter you to sunburst</span></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and fine Spring rain </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJZ4NKGrapeIO509TJaP7hUh-Z3EfrYVVzdZhsvtQa3WSLZyw8Jh7hD0GbSB5XQqL5uJjhaj00vUB6zwwOvx7cOHyTYOZDY1mNcBKoyN4X_pVNMPtq8einCuKVqlmbwIfBuZOnsM8bogbciIzyMDp-VovIsDMi9YaIRn26E23d2u_mroz4w5b9O-JPg/s1043/Screenshot%202022-10-18%20154616.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1043" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJZ4NKGrapeIO509TJaP7hUh-Z3EfrYVVzdZhsvtQa3WSLZyw8Jh7hD0GbSB5XQqL5uJjhaj00vUB6zwwOvx7cOHyTYOZDY1mNcBKoyN4X_pVNMPtq8einCuKVqlmbwIfBuZOnsM8bogbciIzyMDp-VovIsDMi9YaIRn26E23d2u_mroz4w5b9O-JPg/w400-h290/Screenshot%202022-10-18%20154616.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At The Mercy of Poseidon</span></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Body surfing, I'm caught in a blue/green</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">fetal curl. The Pacific's rolling thunder, blasting</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">my ear's cavity, as I, having seconds ago flown before</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the seventh wave's China white crest, plunge now,</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hard and fast as a hawk after prey towards what I hope</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is sand not stone, when in an instant the world</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">turns upside down and I inexplicably land on my feet</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">astonished praising the God of good fortune</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> MRI test</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> no tumor,</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> no clot</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(c) William Scott Galasso</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium; text-indent: 96px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> WISHES FROM VILLAGE POETS</b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDqKwSilc_go_a7hza43Q8JF249o75FJVatZubZ2CT9uUQE-x9XCyZ45tgoTimh582xZgBrx8LIPjXrT_T2lg5ZnE6wXRUbkHTVPNtoWsiQ7zmzeHG42wOHSZleMSG8zUEupiVi4V5HbGEd9fdVghsL3wgTMhyMu9eAD9t5R9agfM8kSJ1aADvzgLTg/s3300/Card%20Conversation%20with%20Miss%20Santa-page-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDqKwSilc_go_a7hza43Q8JF249o75FJVatZubZ2CT9uUQE-x9XCyZ45tgoTimh582xZgBrx8LIPjXrT_T2lg5ZnE6wXRUbkHTVPNtoWsiQ7zmzeHG42wOHSZleMSG8zUEupiVi4V5HbGEd9fdVghsL3wgTMhyMu9eAD9t5R9agfM8kSJ1aADvzgLTg/w309-h400/Card%20Conversation%20with%20Miss%20Santa-page-001.jpg" width="309" /></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><i>Maja Trochimczyk with her 15-month old granddaughter, Dec. 2022</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">With best wishes for a joyous Hanukkah and Merry Christmas, </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">Village Poets would like to share some Christmas-themed poems </span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;">by our founder, <b>Marlene Hitt. </b>Enjoy!</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>Birth</b></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Mary was silent as she smiled.</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Shepherds murmured, watching him.</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">"What a fine, fine boy, a beautiful child</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Jehovah-shammah, Adonai, Elohim!"</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">How did they know, those quiet men?</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Who had told them the future of God?</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">They knelt, they prayed, they whispered,"Oh when?"</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">went on their way to plod and to plod</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">to live out their lives so patiently</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">watching, listening, tending their sheep</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">not guessing a thing about thorns and a tree</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">waiting, waiting, awake and asleep.</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">It is later now, so many years.</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">for us there are stories to make us cry</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">twined up with miracles, joys and tears</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">of the poor little baby born only to die</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">and to live, who will lovingly take us along</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">"Fear not!" We hear it again and again</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">and with gratitude we sing loudly our song</div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">in the name of the Baby-Child. </div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Amen and Amen.</div></span></span></span></div></blockquote><p>(c) by Marlene Hitt </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBi6HUcCSKC0--YzItGrVxpfivz-swHKjTbGZRtIYKYbEIOce6BtCZv3R5tjjr9WlRpo6f5uh8sh56ng6bw7UMh2Kje2gvbLmuUdY5ct8YFRT4UDMFAPGN9fZYz5PG0S1udmb_bmABIXVCffO-PFRWOzcpJ4z6x2esaL71eyTVjElfcf4HNfPzUmw9g/s1408/Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Maest%C3%A0_Madonna_with_Angels_and_Saints_-_WGA06742-2.jpg" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-indent: 96px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1408" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBi6HUcCSKC0--YzItGrVxpfivz-swHKjTbGZRtIYKYbEIOce6BtCZv3R5tjjr9WlRpo6f5uh8sh56ng6bw7UMh2Kje2gvbLmuUdY5ct8YFRT4UDMFAPGN9fZYz5PG0S1udmb_bmABIXVCffO-PFRWOzcpJ4z6x2esaL71eyTVjElfcf4HNfPzUmw9g/w400-h199/Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Maest%C3%A0_Madonna_with_Angels_and_Saints_-_WGA06742-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: helvetica; text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Duccio di Buoninsegna, Madonna with Angels and Saints</span></i></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">In Reverie This Christmas</span></b></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">A fire. And some china cups</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">the taste of tea upon the lips</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">flavored by lovely moments that cling</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">in Time's delicious sips.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Christmas dreams, so many pass</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">join chain-like into long thought strings</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">chains linked up to smile and song</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">tear-stained, circled, like table rings.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">A fir tree always centers here</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">beside the sofa and this chair.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">circles of light on green and red</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">mingle with the scented air.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">The oldest grandma sat right there</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">dressed in a home-sewn skirt.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">the grandfather's pipe, unlit, unsmoked</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">spilled ash-brown leaf upon his shirt.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">And now some little slippered toes</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">step on those ghostly feet</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">of memories, of time passed by</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">of life in slow retreat.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">Here, dreaming at the fireside,</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">mixing sad with cinnamon</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">all the Christmas remembering</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">blends and mixes and steeps till done.</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;">(c) by Marlene Hitt</div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcYFd98UeMllHSeGN-ckwWNkC2vUSxnvxY3e6nmwwWoJGIpX9YDciAyaS_IdkVNDt6p5kzqpcxY2b4XUOWris7pFsBXYu31nC0LLxKDPtwILKiwRFP9f_fEAdceyr47eamWuyhgZSh6qxpicPLQQU7-LhxYcxOkHMnhey05jvg5cz8JeFTfBayoN1Cw/s1600/christmmasornaments.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 96px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcYFd98UeMllHSeGN-ckwWNkC2vUSxnvxY3e6nmwwWoJGIpX9YDciAyaS_IdkVNDt6p5kzqpcxY2b4XUOWris7pFsBXYu31nC0LLxKDPtwILKiwRFP9f_fEAdceyr47eamWuyhgZSh6qxpicPLQQU7-LhxYcxOkHMnhey05jvg5cz8JeFTfBayoN1Cw/w400-h300/christmmasornaments.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"><i style="text-align: center; text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Christmas Tree Ornaments, Photo by Maja Trochimczyk</span></i></div><div style="color: black; text-indent: 0px;"></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><b>Fir Tree Fairy Tale</b></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div><br /></div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>A small dead tree alone one night</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>was covered with tinsel and covered with light.</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>That bundle of wood waited till morn</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>That poor dead tree was standing forlorn.</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>It heard the midnight bells and then</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>it saw the starry skies as rose-hued</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>frosty winter dawn</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>stroked sleepy little eyes.</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>Then the spirit of happiness entered that place</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>the glow of joy was on each small face.</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>Children danced and grandfathers smiled</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>mothers and grandmas hugged each little child.</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>The breath of joy burst through the tree</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>as it came alive as was meant to be</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>Awake, awake on Christmas morn,</div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div>the time when fir tree hearts are born. </div></div></span></span></span></div></blockquote><p>(c) by Marlene Hitt </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div> </div></div></span></span></span></div></blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="text-indent: 96px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jTcXecRIvbHRmhg3VbGT9yxHTmDSvc3wunKz92didjwgsQxyW1MM9_Y4UiqRKp4VNfKhPdpHqeNNOD-xApiFf691bgHPOQtjw0-DDIEhlpaGlOaUMh1hspWpPaGeH5DuXhSn3HUr2mu592vM0MblUx88mS1Kk4lnu-uNH2pOsOhHJfebYm1ba4qGjw/s1136/800px-Original_Black_Madonna_of_Cz%C4%99stochowa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jTcXecRIvbHRmhg3VbGT9yxHTmDSvc3wunKz92didjwgsQxyW1MM9_Y4UiqRKp4VNfKhPdpHqeNNOD-xApiFf691bgHPOQtjw0-DDIEhlpaGlOaUMh1hspWpPaGeH5DuXhSn3HUr2mu592vM0MblUx88mS1Kk4lnu-uNH2pOsOhHJfebYm1ba4qGjw/w281-h400/800px-Original_Black_Madonna_of_Cz%C4%99stochowa.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our Lady of the Bright Mount, Czestochowa, Poland</span></i></div><br /> </div></div></span></span></span></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-9615233738138511492022-12-09T21:44:00.004-08:002022-12-11T16:42:02.704-08:00Village Poets Say Farewell to Lloyd Hitt in November 2022<div><span><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw5uGJ8lAL1Flp_1BgRclZOaLFr2tmfwgdBdz96eMvkiZGXgCyIxgfKoKkimiOcbib4ny2R4VXXugm9zueuRV8OyV4-iumvgMoN3OfVNji9rV7yu-7k1XFhMpKbA9pDbF_qVjalLOQZ20mHPVL-mMM5Kmx7ofK8W7Sjykyo9MlQsvgDUPp3on5bkCmg/s400/MAjaMarleneLloydatParade.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw5uGJ8lAL1Flp_1BgRclZOaLFr2tmfwgdBdz96eMvkiZGXgCyIxgfKoKkimiOcbib4ny2R4VXXugm9zueuRV8OyV4-iumvgMoN3OfVNji9rV7yu-7k1XFhMpKbA9pDbF_qVjalLOQZ20mHPVL-mMM5Kmx7ofK8W7Sjykyo9MlQsvgDUPp3on5bkCmg/w400-h300/MAjaMarleneLloydatParade.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Maja Trochimczyk, Marlene Hitt and Lloyd Hitt at the 4th of July Parade in 2018</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga have said their farewells to Dr. Lloyd Hitt, a retired pharmacist, community activist, poet, and a recipient of our 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award shared with his wife, Marlene Hitt. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Celebration of Life ceremony took place on Saturday, 19 November 2022 at the New Hope Church in Sunland, with over 100 people in attendance. The event included live music played on flute, keyboard, prayers and speeches, the presentation of the flag to the widow of this Korean War veteran, complete with Taps beautifully played on the trumpet, and a luncheon during which the attendees could share their memories of Lloyd and his impact on their lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>During the "official" part of the event, Joe DeCenzo read the Eulogy, prepared by Lloyd's son Robert. It is here reproduced in its entirety.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHl1f5NHCzcgte141haBZzjIgJBqmtn58zaq5nCEg5OWqjszGA4k8_g2HlIyPrIs3oTgYx21M8VeciaEsecBT7KO6H9jCDjEV5Yp20BpHso2T9DIh5U3rklUT2sXkNm4QBzNeBgGBKUt3bl9wPtlNEAnuxnpZhyrXJbB4d2jMMTcROQpmSqJdS_M6Fg/s400/result%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHl1f5NHCzcgte141haBZzjIgJBqmtn58zaq5nCEg5OWqjszGA4k8_g2HlIyPrIs3oTgYx21M8VeciaEsecBT7KO6H9jCDjEV5Yp20BpHso2T9DIh5U3rklUT2sXkNm4QBzNeBgGBKUt3bl9wPtlNEAnuxnpZhyrXJbB4d2jMMTcROQpmSqJdS_M6Fg/w288-h400/result%20(1).jpg" width="288" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lloyd Hitt (1932-2022) </span></b> </div><div><br /></div><div> Lloyd Hitt was born February 18, 1932 in San Jose California. His father was Bill Hitt, mother Lorraine and sister Marilyn. He was born during The Great Depression. He grew up in a Christian home and his childhood was primarily during the wartime effort. His father, Bill, was an aircraft mechanic, pilot and chief inspector for McDonnell aircraft. Lloyd’s family, like most families at that time, did not have a lot of money, lived a frugal life, and moved often following wherever his father’s expertise was needed.</div><div><br /></div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> He often talked about the various places he lived as a boy. Oklahoma, where his father promptly had Lloyd dig a long ditch for a place to shelter in case of tornados. Or Daggett, where they had a nice house provided right on the airbase. Because it was only a two bedroom, like most homes of that era, his father converted a tool shed out behind the house to a bedroom for Lloyd. He remembered how cold it was in the winter and enjoyed the kerosene heater. They had to move again because, as a Christian woman of that era, his mom did not like how the other ladies enjoyed evening cocktails. His father found a small one room cottage in the nearby town of Newberry Springs. He often spoke of the one room schoolhouse where the teacher was about 90 and pulled from retirement to teach his class.</div><div><br /></div><div> Lloyd picked, dried and shucked a large sack of walnuts and sold them to the PX on base for $7 and used that money to buy his first .22 rifle. He felt like he was in heaven wandering the vast desert with his .22 and would look for turtles, rabbits and snakes. He also would ride his ex polo pony and said that horse would turn and stop so fast he could hardly hang on.</div><div><br /></div><div> He lived in many other areas like Pacoima, Canoga Park and finally Sunland where his father always would convert a chicken coop, garage attic or even have Lloyd live in a tent out in the yard so his younger sister, Marilyn, could have her own room. But he never complained about any of that. We believe it was part of the adventure of life to him.</div><div> </div><div> At the age of 16, he started working at Sunland Pharmacy. He would clean the floors, burn the trash and was finally promoted to soda jerk. I don’t believe he paid much mind to the owner’s daughter at that time as she was 4 years younger, more to follow on that. Lloyd attended Verdugo Hills High School, where he learned to play the saxophone and joined the band. He went on to Glendale College where he worked for his associates’ degree. He also attended UCLA.</div><div> </div><div> Growing up with a father in the aircraft industry, he signed up to be a pilot in the air force. While waiting for that call, he was drafted into the Army. He said when he was in boot camp the call for the Air Force came in, unfortunately his commanding Officer informed him he was now Army property. He said he never regretted it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxbxaFMZSG834m1XolPoUgTcbmIfpNF5HFPK4cnN8WPmDTt47hKveTKbxFRjGlG6LnILd116_CIU-PvGVIomH09QIGKrXgs412cSiL07Y2tcKMxoqy2gR2r_wLRbKkpppBpVmC-YjvvYsUECs44dzo4oMgS9DvWiwBo3u5PUCk4DKJxp4RN7gfIY61g/s300/lloydhelmet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxbxaFMZSG834m1XolPoUgTcbmIfpNF5HFPK4cnN8WPmDTt47hKveTKbxFRjGlG6LnILd116_CIU-PvGVIomH09QIGKrXgs412cSiL07Y2tcKMxoqy2gR2r_wLRbKkpppBpVmC-YjvvYsUECs44dzo4oMgS9DvWiwBo3u5PUCk4DKJxp4RN7gfIY61g/s1600/lloydhelmet.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div> </div><div> The Korean war had been going on for some time when he was shipped to an outpost named pork chop hill. While en route, he would tell Bobby, “The trucks were coming down with the dead and wounded as fast as the trucks were going up with fresh troops.” He would say, “not a guy in those trucks could spit, their mouths were so dry from fear and not a word was spoken.”</div><div><br /></div><div> He befriended a Corporal named White. They shared a machine gun nest together. The tripod on the .50 cal machine gun was broken and White told Lloyd that he saw one laying on the side of the road a few miles back. Lloyd found the tripod but was spotted by the enemy. Mortars came in and somehow, other than some shrapnel in his arm, he was spared. He delivered the tripod and was sent to medical for treatment. That night his nest took a direct hit and his friend White was killed. </div><div><br /></div><div> He had shared his stories with the family over the years without much emotion, but it wasn’t until his dementia was advanced and he was blindly expressing things that they discovered for all those years, he had mastered the suppression of his PTSD. You never heard one regret about the Army, it taught him so much about life and made him a strong man. He was deeply appreciative of the Army GI bill affording him the chance to attend USC and become a pharmacist. </div><div><br /></div><div> Something else happened when he was overseas, the boss’s daughter I mentioned earlier, her name was Marlene. She had been writing him letters. Now both mature with some life experience, a romance evolved. They were married in 1956 at St Mark's Church in Glendale. Married 66 years, she was his only love as he repeated again and again-that he loved her dearly.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_GPbX4IyrJFIgYpRrHgdPnde0fZeRjfMMQwdIBFOXN8kjtmgwiyILddg9_Qeb9FvMHDOg3OZYKRgKbyXc4inxO8mISKIB9H20xDAfIO04C_ao5LWMkv2i_nt2_D2M_VLkJ53PWoYMgRcYlQxsHzo-3-zqD5EEnTCCerkLC7s2vGAS6G_-D59jW2Gkg/s400/wedding.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_GPbX4IyrJFIgYpRrHgdPnde0fZeRjfMMQwdIBFOXN8kjtmgwiyILddg9_Qeb9FvMHDOg3OZYKRgKbyXc4inxO8mISKIB9H20xDAfIO04C_ao5LWMkv2i_nt2_D2M_VLkJ53PWoYMgRcYlQxsHzo-3-zqD5EEnTCCerkLC7s2vGAS6G_-D59jW2Gkg/w300-h400/wedding.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Lloyd was always a leader. When studying at USC, he became president of his fraternity and class president of the USC School of Pharmacy where he graduated with honors. Many hours were spent at the dinette table of the newlyweds studying. </div><div><br /></div><div> Lloyd was a great father to Jeanette and Bobby, their words. He took them to ride the family horses through the Wash and through the hills, and he and Bobby took the horses backpacking in the wilderness of the Sierra. He would take the family camping and fishing and was always supportive... Both Bobby and Jeanette worked with him at Hober’s Pharmacy, the store opened by Marlene’s parents. It was a nice way to be together after school or during vacations. Always busy at the Pharmacy, they looked forward to every other weekend at home with him. It would usually be a workday around the house and church on Sunday. For many years, during this time, Lloyd devoted himself to leadership and fellowship at Sunland Baptist Church of course, now called New Hope Community Church.</div><div><br /></div><div> Upon retirement, like most new retirees, he searched for a new direction. He did things like </div><div>making Lincoln logs for the grandkids. He made a miniature adobe mission, walking sticks, and he loved to work in the garden. Marlene donated her time as a docent and historian at Bolton Hall Museum and Lloyd joined her. Once again, him being the leader, he soon became the President of the Little Landers Historical Society that runs Bolton Hall. There he fought for upgrades to the building such as a new flagpole that hadn’t been replaced since 1914; a new roof and re-landscape the surrounding park prompted him to correspond with city dignitaries sometime to their chagrin. There he also started a movement to preserve local landmarks such as the castle style homes and original structures in our area. He also spent years on a movement to preserve a place at the local Verdugo Hills golf course as it was previously a WWII internment site. Tuna Camp Detention Station now has historical status.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>With so much energy and so much willingness to give, he became interested in poetry, writing, some travel, paleontology, home improvement, community activities, and family life. Lloyd Hitt spent the last 18 weeks of his life in Montrose Health Care facility, suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. A devastating end to 90 years of love, devotion, fortitude and service. Lloyd’s was a life well lived.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">~ Eulogy by Robert Hitt, presented by Joe DeCenzo</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtVMchBBlqTU80YEgz2rTeVq1tg-5w6lByeUKQj3zLm3zkdp49BlWgFuLfz5xOaG-svx7rJzHOtBwLMx9bH3Fa59ZFppFF7Wmv2ByVwh3dUVJfr879BJHgkphbQV5rTQ5Z83PPcs3tY0HzNPDI367zgJpOBZn6rsdbcH2Pi5Yo4f0RHsOUXyL4A-UNw/s400/2017%2007%2004%20parade%20Hitt%200743b%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtVMchBBlqTU80YEgz2rTeVq1tg-5w6lByeUKQj3zLm3zkdp49BlWgFuLfz5xOaG-svx7rJzHOtBwLMx9bH3Fa59ZFppFF7Wmv2ByVwh3dUVJfr879BJHgkphbQV5rTQ5Z83PPcs3tY0HzNPDI367zgJpOBZn6rsdbcH2Pi5Yo4f0RHsOUXyL4A-UNw/w400-h266/2017%2007%2004%20parade%20Hitt%200743b%20small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lloyd and Marlene as Grand Marshalls of the Parade</div><div> </div><div> All attendees of the Celebration of Life received a booklet with a brief biography, photograph, program and a lovely poem by Marlene Hitt. Here's her poem:</div><div> </div><div><br /></div></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>To You, W.L.H</b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the shore once we stood</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">watching waves take the sand</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I close to you</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">holding my hand</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The back of our future</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">a long time ago</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">we see clearly now</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">passed quickly, passed slow</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Herb and poultice</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">salve and balm</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">gentled soft on wounds</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">healed, now are gone</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the far shore of the future</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">still together we stand</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I - close to you, you -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">holding my hand</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Marlene, Dublin, July 10, 2000</span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdg3AO9lImZwgpq1YEC-HwZ-vfgOEMzHMakudHAXW8PpijdFoQr-aMKDXsrgmpFWgRHMlF2OUJ2rrs26duhWZOTFXCnwpb5S033E7E18Kc0upanEPyOwxcuT_PoQCQfST1zVnWn3zY-qHeU9eFw4YVdNQI1d05O-MuYWn89I8r5yBDKvRPp5KLdzeGw/s320/Hitts_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdg3AO9lImZwgpq1YEC-HwZ-vfgOEMzHMakudHAXW8PpijdFoQr-aMKDXsrgmpFWgRHMlF2OUJ2rrs26duhWZOTFXCnwpb5S033E7E18Kc0upanEPyOwxcuT_PoQCQfST1zVnWn3zY-qHeU9eFw4YVdNQI1d05O-MuYWn89I8r5yBDKvRPp5KLdzeGw/w318-h400/Hitts_opt.jpg" width="318" /></a></div></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There were many speeches at the community-hall part of the Celebration of Life, many memories, many tears. As representative of Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga, a group somewhat not well remembered by other attendees, Maja Trochimczyk recalled Lloyd's help during Monthly Poetry Readings at Bolton Hall. Even though he had served as the President of the Little Landers Historical Society, Lloyd was not afraid of the broom: he swept crumbs left by poets after the refreshments were served, and made sure that everything was in good order when the poets left Bolton Hall in the evening. That's "Servant Leadership" at its best! And a great example to future generations of community activists. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maja also read two poems by Lloyd from a book of poetry <i>The Earth Time </i>that Moonrise Press published in 2018 and Marlene Hitt edited. These insightful poems show Lloyd's gifts of observation and reflection about life. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFFRaFCXsKQN__mRX30tvkjUJYTlsQuMXunhYT0SLq-2eKNYJlOoH_f7gvd0phd75_7PAFpgULmIlraijhnprBIx1E6LpMgSPCwRIqdrIbqW6MkracGAiFeoxf0Q-hX30bAgYrshArsiyqzXZS9xSCfRf3o_47rJtYTxETOb69l7u3WzYsIs8Pj6rkg/s423/lhittcover2painted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="281" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFFRaFCXsKQN__mRX30tvkjUJYTlsQuMXunhYT0SLq-2eKNYJlOoH_f7gvd0phd75_7PAFpgULmIlraijhnprBIx1E6LpMgSPCwRIqdrIbqW6MkracGAiFeoxf0Q-hX30bAgYrshArsiyqzXZS9xSCfRf3o_47rJtYTxETOb69l7u3WzYsIs8Pj6rkg/w266-h400/lhittcover2painted.jpg" width="266" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">The Earth Time</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is a unique poetry collection documenting a lifetime of service of Dr. Lloyd Hitt, a Californian, pharmacist, USC graduate, Korean War veteran, writer, and community activist. The book of 46 poems is divided into five sections, focusing on: the contemplation of natural beauty and power (The Earth Time), dramatic experiences of WWII (The War Time), memories of the past that passed away too quickly (The Memory Time), milestones of a well-lived life (The Life Time), and the time of love, primarily for his wife, poet and historian Marlene Hitt (The Love Time). Dr. Hitt received many awards and honors for his tireless and dedicated community service.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div>ISBN 9781945938320, paperback, $16.00</div><div><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/lloyd-hitt/the-earth-time/paperback/product-23907339.html">http://www.lulu.com/shop/lloyd-hitt/the-earth-time/paperback/product-23907339.html</a></div><div>ISBN 978-1-945938-33-7, ebook, in ePub system, $10.00 </div><div><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/the-earth-time/24521745">http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/the-earth-time/24521745</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Alone in Paris</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Standing at the top</div><div>a million miles away</div><div> I’m alone</div><div><br /></div><div>Below, Paris</div><div>glows with a million lights</div><div>I sense you near</div><div><br /></div><div>The Eiffel is crowded,</div><div>exotic voices everywhere</div><div>Your voice is silent</div><div><br /></div><div>Lovers walk hand in hand,</div><div>far below, and</div><div>I feel your touch</div><div><br /></div><div>Lamps, light</div><div>the River Seine</div><div>Your breath on my cheek</div><div><br /></div><div>Headlights circling ever faster </div><div>the Arc de Triomphe</div><div>As a racing heartbeat</div><div><br /></div><div>Steel girders feel cold to my touch</div><div> but I know</div><div>I’m not alone</div><div> </div><div>(c) Lloyd Hitt, from "The Earth Time" by Moonrise Press, 2018</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd63zTMNZi5mNb17VlUbDBzlgxw_U217-KJLCYda44itaZ7lzvRvNnYTKHUWNNWjs90YWNcgxIz5NYaft2XBh5NwQTz32mwvJxeCauk5Txr-47YeJAlsBQhUlWSVQQp-LWnRIiVB-cFdRAG8DCoQWXbb_TZUy6csmckC8ZIJKlKOb_Q5j5iaCwoKxRA/s1296/towerdarksky.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1296" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd63zTMNZi5mNb17VlUbDBzlgxw_U217-KJLCYda44itaZ7lzvRvNnYTKHUWNNWjs90YWNcgxIz5NYaft2XBh5NwQTz32mwvJxeCauk5Txr-47YeJAlsBQhUlWSVQQp-LWnRIiVB-cFdRAG8DCoQWXbb_TZUy6csmckC8ZIJKlKOb_Q5j5iaCwoKxRA/w400-h299/towerdarksky.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Eiffel Tower, photo by Maja Trochimczyk </i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Color of Life</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You and I rode</div><div>a grain of sand falling</div><div>through the eye of the glass</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I sat</div><div>by a yellow crackling fire</div><div>sunrise lit the valley below</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I felt</div><div>the golden warmth of a smile</div><div>from across the room</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I saw</div><div>the love of our newborn…</div><div>a blue velvet lullaby</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I wandered</div><div>through fields of orange poppies</div><div>on a desert floor, wondering why</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I looked </div><div>at the darkness of night</div><div>the blackness cradled the stars</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I listened </div><div>to a rainbow of verse,</div><div>when first read</div><div> </div><div>You and I succumbed </div><div>to the eye of the glass, grain by grain</div><div>leaving yesterday’s sand behind</div><div><br /></div><div>All this, you and I were </div><div> full of life because</div><div>you were there. </div></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(C) by Lloyd Hitt, from "The Earth Time" (Moonrise Press, 2018).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklL3QTGHCUqqX6nvXZDSVKuL_zyvQtI44C0DbjyQ-Qaz7XxWWhEFdOMd7SjMAAsJfLbWHUx_mKUyEF7UzLCVpcWbjdUiG22JXB8hxu_kUXg2tILclU0IGENS1_WLfU746oUak5rkHz2Vbks5j6VeVhdPPwagJMzakDTjoW9synoipL-eAbrqylXH4Ag/s400/lifetimegroup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="400" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklL3QTGHCUqqX6nvXZDSVKuL_zyvQtI44C0DbjyQ-Qaz7XxWWhEFdOMd7SjMAAsJfLbWHUx_mKUyEF7UzLCVpcWbjdUiG22JXB8hxu_kUXg2tILclU0IGENS1_WLfU746oUak5rkHz2Vbks5j6VeVhdPPwagJMzakDTjoW9synoipL-eAbrqylXH4Ag/w400-h388/lifetimegroup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Among other speakers, Pamela Shea of Village Poets read her poem written for this occasion:</span></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Well Done, Lloyd, Well Done!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> by Pamela Shea</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In remembering Lloyd, I think of a strong oak tree,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Protecting, serving, providing shelter wherever planted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Family, friends, country, and community are all blessed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">His legacy lives in all of us through good deeds and planting seeds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Look around, Lloyd lives on among us; hear his song, he is never gone!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">(c) 2022 by Pamela Shea</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 2019, Village Poets presented Marlene and Lloyd with a Lifetime Achievement Award for promoting poetry in the foothills. He got plenty of other honors, medals and distinctions, but we want to remember that he shared the world of poetry with us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2019/08/marlene-and-lloyd-hitts-lifetime.html">http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2019/08/marlene-and-lloyd-hitts-lifetime.html</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH_8_m31TAKQEgeBGf5Pz8W2kl_ZDz0fGL-dhxxOGib2cjugnqJBCJ0CbtUCL-RVxFhZo2SiCUjUyzyiEOgzaP3CR_rsvZh5cMOkk1UHbBzfbRBqwB9kuJ7QqUIcEESGKVBfIQZdI9Cm0kFY_krmeJKQODmf-tIuQ45gG8nH61RCvriCCl8jwymHqYg/s400/lifetimeaward.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH_8_m31TAKQEgeBGf5Pz8W2kl_ZDz0fGL-dhxxOGib2cjugnqJBCJ0CbtUCL-RVxFhZo2SiCUjUyzyiEOgzaP3CR_rsvZh5cMOkk1UHbBzfbRBqwB9kuJ7QqUIcEESGKVBfIQZdI9Cm0kFY_krmeJKQODmf-tIuQ45gG8nH61RCvriCCl8jwymHqYg/s320/lifetimeaward.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lifetime Achievement Award for Marlene and Lloyd Hitt from Village Poets</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_RBESMnMm-aAS5IKnCQ36PlcOZSOCLfhSHukqGsEFeLvHqtap2g0SurN83hrsEWYGOHvnGfr7BfbtK2Z2asQO0iy1S5jKzg3Fa4bNyk_EB3ay8JWHIoXXVjrGoaMV4MIxhIR754i9NVgw4ugKE72FHt2WJgbcvPw5quCPZFLA6o0ScbKzcB6YEJb-g/s4032/IMG_1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_RBESMnMm-aAS5IKnCQ36PlcOZSOCLfhSHukqGsEFeLvHqtap2g0SurN83hrsEWYGOHvnGfr7BfbtK2Z2asQO0iy1S5jKzg3Fa4bNyk_EB3ay8JWHIoXXVjrGoaMV4MIxhIR754i9NVgw4ugKE72FHt2WJgbcvPw5quCPZFLA6o0ScbKzcB6YEJb-g/w400-h300/IMG_1581.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Celebration of Life Programs and flag with medals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzE8HEZO5VYKKz76Xbl2zL6GEu2Nx5DLp0ZnaRD_6NS6f_4S-V1-yG6odmzDtiebRAqZEgkz7DsP1Xw7nLCW98sjtfq3itwd1dcABYcU-tZSZSOrZlzyxliX4X8ZsrhPG3F1ZBVyX7hvjDObIlxjjh1nYEmvnHoViVjT4b7vqmB1MGfg_g5JTp9WQfA/s4032/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzE8HEZO5VYKKz76Xbl2zL6GEu2Nx5DLp0ZnaRD_6NS6f_4S-V1-yG6odmzDtiebRAqZEgkz7DsP1Xw7nLCW98sjtfq3itwd1dcABYcU-tZSZSOrZlzyxliX4X8ZsrhPG3F1ZBVyX7hvjDObIlxjjh1nYEmvnHoViVjT4b7vqmB1MGfg_g5JTp9WQfA/w400-h300/IMG_1572.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A selection of Lloyd's honors and recognition</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-70696110152745440812022-10-19T09:36:00.004-07:002022-11-11T15:34:56.542-08:00Village Poets Return to Bolton Hall Museum with Katerina Canyon poet and Karen Winters, artist, November 13, 2022 at 4:30pm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UVkDuvJGGtYbBgfWC6ArSIMdgTZOoFpt-Sm5YQbEceuCebS21tbAdy0hmPqN4fZrh4fvsGd-goGumR1Wi64uLqzjJH339_IWAUrh0m6SyPhOJearK3fKccDoS8iqnsT_W1_k3ELeaeZYDpgv_VUrXo0u1zXwMyrF9aINuV9OU2fOiEQoVk1FDuVelw/s2550/canyon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2460" data-original-width="2550" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UVkDuvJGGtYbBgfWC6ArSIMdgTZOoFpt-Sm5YQbEceuCebS21tbAdy0hmPqN4fZrh4fvsGd-goGumR1Wi64uLqzjJH339_IWAUrh0m6SyPhOJearK3fKccDoS8iqnsT_W1_k3ELeaeZYDpgv_VUrXo0u1zXwMyrF9aINuV9OU2fOiEQoVk1FDuVelw/s320/canyon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga are pleased to return to the Bolton Hall Museum for a first in-person reading in three years, featuring <b>Katerina Canyon, our Poet Laureate No. 2 (2001-2004) and </b>presenting California landscape artist<b> Karen Winters of La Canada Flintridge. </b>The reading will take place on <b>Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The Bolton Hall Museum is located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA 91042-2313.</b><p></p><p>Two segments of open mic will be available and refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $5 per person for the cost of refreshments and to donate to the Little Landers Society that manages the Bolton Hall Museum, a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">KATERINA CANYON</span></b></p><p>Katerina Canyon is a 2020 and 2019 Pushcart Prize Nominee. Her stories have been published in the <i>New York Times </i>and <i>Huffington Post.</i> From 2000 to 2003, she served as the Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga. During that time, she started a poetry festival and ran several poetry readings. She was featured in the <i>Los Angeles Times</i> and was awarded the Montesi Award from Saint Louis University in 2011, 2012, and 2013. She has published multiple chapbooks and an album.</p><p>While living in Sunland-Tujunga, she was active in the local community, coaching girls basketball, teaching writing classes through the McGroarty Arts Center, and organizing both the Sunland-Tujunga Poetry Festival and local poetry slams. She also hosted the Eccentric Moon Poetry Reading Series at Tujunga Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.</p><p>She has been a featured poet in multiple venues across the country, including Beyond Baroque, Nuyorican, The Bowery Poetry Club and Chance Operations. She teaches poetry workshops to children and at universities. Her latest book, <i>Surviving Home, </i>was a Heartland Review finalist. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington, where she can often be found writing poetry near Pier 55. </p><p>More information on her website: <a href="https://www.poetickat.com/">https://www.poetickat.com/</a></p><p>Village Poets presented Canyon on zoom in November 2021: </p><p><a href="https://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2021/10/village-poets-present-katerina-canyon.html">https://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2021/10/village-poets-present-katerina-canyon.html</a> </p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Link to Video from the reading </span><a class="style-scope ytcp-video-info" href="https://youtu.be/E0oN1CvHNGY" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #336699; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/E0oN1CvHNGY</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Staring Across the Atlantic</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p>My people were born underwater</p><p>In the hulls of slave ships.</p><p>My people were pulled from farms in Nigeria</p><p>From trade ships along the Nile river</p><p>From the rainforests of Cameroon.</p><p>My people were tossed in cages</p><p>With people who didn’t speak their language,</p><p>But we learned to speak a new tongue</p><p>From the end of the whip’s lash.</p><p>We learned the mood of the ocean.</p><p>We learned to read the stars through knot holes,</p><p>And to sing songs in tune with the waves.</p><p>That’s when we became American.</p><p>We were slaves to the British, the Dutch, the Portuguese,</p><p>We were even slaves to the Cherokee.</p><p>We not only marched the Trail of Tears</p><p>We carried their bags, their homes,</p><p>Their children on our backs.</p><p>We have fought in every single war</p><p>Since the American Revolution.</p><p>We are not America, but we are American.</p><p>As the years passed, we forgot the Baka, the Nok, the Hyksos </p><p>But in our songs, our jazz, our blues,</p><p>We can hear their ghosts.</p><p>That’s why we are Africa but not African.</p><p>We are cultural orphans</p><p>Grasping for the hem of our mother’s dress. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdVBJNlv3OkiIJ33t7YI-ntilzPGP1FWwArvL4vbsnp-uirNgFGceLfKgDW6QiIPtodkwGaYPjOkmntEISMOEunWEXOxrXNPnx2prpYE8T7e1cRMuk7hh7mSoH7u478S4BD9ySHLTgWxPgZgo-cacC9GdT9MmzFW0P1XC-WZ6izDVYFdNnRAv33WVIw/s1000/Sudden-Sparkle-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1000" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdVBJNlv3OkiIJ33t7YI-ntilzPGP1FWwArvL4vbsnp-uirNgFGceLfKgDW6QiIPtodkwGaYPjOkmntEISMOEunWEXOxrXNPnx2prpYE8T7e1cRMuk7hh7mSoH7u478S4BD9ySHLTgWxPgZgo-cacC9GdT9MmzFW0P1XC-WZ6izDVYFdNnRAv33WVIw/w400-h315/Sudden-Sparkle-b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sudden Sparkle, 11 x 14 oil painting, Ca. Northern coast</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">After poetry it will be the time for art: Karen Winters will show six of her landscape paintings and discuss her artistic interests and technique. </span></div><p>KAREN WINTERS</p><p> Karen Winters is a native Californian, for whom "art and the love of nature have been lifelong passions." She received my BA from UCLA, with a minor in Art History. A subsequent masters in journalism (also from UCLA) led to an award-winning career in advertising, followed by new ventures in broadcast news and documentary film making. Through all the years and all the travels, a sketchbook has been her steady companion, recording Egyptian archaeological digs, the movements of killer whales, or the dances of Tibetan monks. Now a full-time artist, she actively travels and paints on location throughout California and the western United States. </p><p>She writes: "My work is inspired by the natural world, whether the medium I choose is watercolor, oil, acrylic or pastel. I am most interested in capturing the quality of light as it defines a landscape, a still life or floral portrait. I make a practice of painting daily, either in studio or, my preference, in the beautiful California landscape. I would characterize my style as borrowing from the best of impressionism and realism. Among my historical influences have been tonalist George Inness, Edgar Payne, J Bond Francisco, and many of the other early California impressionists."</p><p>Through group and solo shows, her work has been exhibited at the Autry National Museum, the Pasadena Museum of California Art, the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, the Riverside Museum of Art, the San Luis Obispo Art Museum, the Santa Paula Art Museum, the Riverside Museum of Art, The Pasadena Museum of History, the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in LA, and is in the collection of the Huntington Library. Her paintings have been in National Watercolor Society shows, and won awards at Bowers Museum invitational events.</p><p>Affiliations: Artist member, California Art Club; American Impressionist Society; Pasadena Society of Artists.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTh8LMUf7qREx8hNsKFc42Nem-Qal-iYockbseCYdkOdYHLXwJTZVUXTTJWCqMDKODCiXAobUR72KUrAHm-2h_ENOs6dZIv2IbKt10g4-faKJCySXKwv8h3CPxkn0GROJX0cRda9hixMbzruEgSdb9PP0l36cNahps6xulP0lTVspIp_0I-hxKGZNOQ/s1200/The-oak-on-the-hill-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1200" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTh8LMUf7qREx8hNsKFc42Nem-Qal-iYockbseCYdkOdYHLXwJTZVUXTTJWCqMDKODCiXAobUR72KUrAHm-2h_ENOs6dZIv2IbKt10g4-faKJCySXKwv8h3CPxkn0GROJX0cRda9hixMbzruEgSdb9PP0l36cNahps6xulP0lTVspIp_0I-hxKGZNOQ/w400-h315/The-oak-on-the-hill-b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Oak on the Hill, 11 x 14 oil painting, Central California</i></div><p></p><p>Selected Recent Juried Exhibitions and Awards</p><p>2021</p><p>Art Tehachapi Plein Air Invitational</p><p>Mars: An Artistic Mission - "NASA and JPL, Bringing worlds together" - California Art Club</p><p>Welcome to California -"Palms of Dawn" - California Art Club</p><p>"Aqua Activated" show, Pasadena Society of Artists</p><p>2020</p><p>U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, "Upper Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park" On loan to the embassy until 2022 as part of the "Art in Embassies" program of the U.S. Dept. of State.</p><p>Pasadena Museum of History - Art Night exhibition and demonstration</p><p>"The Golden State" - Old Mill, California Art Club<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2qpM-6_e5ycHL8scip1lRMjbVCZAfwljuXL1OjwIftrqzvwsCDX1xqe-xNk1RfUhOsnjajMXmkbDgzH7fiklbe-vC3VBC3VkSprC8_-WMq9dgv52H3KQcuMEL9PsASeUhs3NTFPvBDuR1AvUSliNqKfUOkkFdLOgxx6YQSyGrfwJy5TwS9lDx6cqJg/s1200/karen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1200" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2qpM-6_e5ycHL8scip1lRMjbVCZAfwljuXL1OjwIftrqzvwsCDX1xqe-xNk1RfUhOsnjajMXmkbDgzH7fiklbe-vC3VBC3VkSprC8_-WMq9dgv52H3KQcuMEL9PsASeUhs3NTFPvBDuR1AvUSliNqKfUOkkFdLOgxx6YQSyGrfwJy5TwS9lDx6cqJg/w400-h313/karen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Wildflower Springtime - Central California" 14 x 18 inches oil painting</div><p>2019</p><p>Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History "Magnificent Migrations" "Red Fox"</p><p>Gold Medal Show, California Art Club "California Roll Sushi" - Pasadena Museum of California Art</p><p>Spring Show - "Quiet Spring Reflections" Old Mill, California Art Club</p><p>Summer Show - "Calafia Cliffs, San Clemente" Old Mill, California Art Club</p><p>Autumn Impressions: Painting the American Landscape, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA "Cottonwood Breezes"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2etBdwwrqEeahJwRUMPuEmkZ214aAoNmTQOloWYBojZf8EYKoToY3swy27NkHoQQubQ4u7f9FQpR3HYx7O5opNbQGTsbf4SyL-jS2neNQ5Fpjv4atA20V8TF48fbDgwewerl8NFKmJQeh0Pb27Xcwofwkefhno4tye3NiHFQjuNbOrwFl5lmTt8n5A/s1200/Los-Osos-Autumn-18-x-30-oil-painting-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1200" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2etBdwwrqEeahJwRUMPuEmkZ214aAoNmTQOloWYBojZf8EYKoToY3swy27NkHoQQubQ4u7f9FQpR3HYx7O5opNbQGTsbf4SyL-jS2neNQ5Fpjv4atA20V8TF48fbDgwewerl8NFKmJQeh0Pb27Xcwofwkefhno4tye3NiHFQjuNbOrwFl5lmTt8n5A/w400-h239/Los-Osos-Autumn-18-x-30-oil-painting-b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Los Osos Autumn, 18 x 30 inches, oil painting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ca. Central Coast, Los Osos Valley Road</div></div><p><br /></p><p>2018</p><p>Yosemite Renaissance 34 - Yosemite Museum and Gallery, Yosemite National Park "Yosemite Awakening"</p><p>Art Matters - Huntington Museum and Botanical Gardens "Delphinium Dance"</p><p>Signs of Spring - A Day in the Garden - Old Mill, California Art Club "Blue Heron Lake"</p><p>Canyons to Coves - Old Mill, California Art Club - "Sculpted by Time"</p><p>SLOPOKE Fine Art of the West, Juried Exhibition and Sale (October 2018), Solvang, CA</p><p>2017</p><p>Descanso Gardens - Sturt Haaga Gallery juried "Bloom" show "Clivias" and "Descanso Sunflowers"</p><p>"Idyllic Impressions" - Old Mill, California Art Club</p><p>"Journey down the California Coast" - Old Mill, California Art Club</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg439puevk_jQbu3O-ppi06qiNm_gsBUtZzyxF6ZA97Yr51wXXYDtlDNJJyj4P60AbkQWuPkG8LFzd8x0CcUXu2PP0Pth3xG6CFrl4HaWR2GzT0uj1Fz7WEHovoWfBcNKaArDyWMPXHADnmOe6sNHbEmFFvCwCm3DowtbgjjH7k-G-vHE7CX7nEsXdZUQ/s1200/Central-Coast-fields-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg439puevk_jQbu3O-ppi06qiNm_gsBUtZzyxF6ZA97Yr51wXXYDtlDNJJyj4P60AbkQWuPkG8LFzd8x0CcUXu2PP0Pth3xG6CFrl4HaWR2GzT0uj1Fz7WEHovoWfBcNKaArDyWMPXHADnmOe6sNHbEmFFvCwCm3DowtbgjjH7k-G-vHE7CX7nEsXdZUQ/w400-h400/Central-Coast-fields-b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Central Coast Fields, 12 x 12 inches, oil painting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Central California</div></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-45624275072601197132022-07-30T17:41:00.002-07:002022-07-30T17:41:21.474-07:00Village Poets Present Sharon M. Williams on Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 4:30 pm on Zoom<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKny4dsAA-fXy5QJT7waPHKgp6LZC6JQH_xK5aTnVagz5y7fkWaCWtUtr_Jl03NM44KSPrmSA6qWdX82_qTi3y26-PkRFyxG10IjCfeLfaZXCGlAkHYDMVP8YCqONcGOn156G7xe7IIfpvtFTBzxuXRgebq9jpvalsiupqL0grEt8EsAxmFuLia9OSbA/s4032/IMG_1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKny4dsAA-fXy5QJT7waPHKgp6LZC6JQH_xK5aTnVagz5y7fkWaCWtUtr_Jl03NM44KSPrmSA6qWdX82_qTi3y26-PkRFyxG10IjCfeLfaZXCGlAkHYDMVP8YCqONcGOn156G7xe7IIfpvtFTBzxuXRgebq9jpvalsiupqL0grEt8EsAxmFuLia9OSbA/w400-h300/IMG_1664.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga are pleased to present poet Sharon M. Williams on Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 4:30 pm via Zoom. The invitation is sent by email to Village Poets mailing list; you may request to be added to the list by contacting maja@moonrisepress.com. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYl6jG6Gbnt3IfaILDDVP4CpedTRxZGajQk5T4bv2uzEl5o-fpcy6pXOZCwYepbwvag6nDnQ-kdIlG63M-SXqgkPajK8YeFQgD7qd1IEF62UMZm3wPk3yh16vF6T0i1Ivz38DE0qTKIrSHWOJC5nzJfoIjodZ2fW75nLtto69mAARS8NVYeYFwwH4fg/s286/Sharon%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="286" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYl6jG6Gbnt3IfaILDDVP4CpedTRxZGajQk5T4bv2uzEl5o-fpcy6pXOZCwYepbwvag6nDnQ-kdIlG63M-SXqgkPajK8YeFQgD7qd1IEF62UMZm3wPk3yh16vF6T0i1Ivz38DE0qTKIrSHWOJC5nzJfoIjodZ2fW75nLtto69mAARS8NVYeYFwwH4fg/w400-h273/Sharon%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Ms. Sharon Michele Williams is an author, poet, teacher and entrepreneur in the greater Los Angeles area. She was a teacher and counselor of high school youth and adults for over 20 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Currently, she continues to teach and mentor as a business owner in the field of education. Her written work appears in The Storyteller and Oak magazines</p><p>and most recent poems can be found in <i>A Spiritual Journal of Healing, Scenes of Southern California </i>and <i>Spectrum: The Miracle Experiment. </i>She is also the author of <i>Two Truths Wise: A Collection of Poetry and Anecdotal Stories </i>and her new book, <i>Dark Days Light: A Poetry Collection for You</i>. Sharon is passionate about living, writing and healing so when she’s not working, she spends her time exploring museums and art festivals, facilitating her writing group, staying healthy and enjoying time with family and friends.</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gpcBAMXpMnaz9UGYg8xoem0zlNf6sqldsIAQcgM1aWh06mB0aVbo96xGi6eHN8c51Uw2r1yi6AKT7jmbsMEyrnaXJRpz0lCZJVZROK1xbInQ-ZKPqOWW6yjVG6Xtk9K2GQQSTcVbYy7fA9ZPG2pFEKcBNoo4itnvY7uCoiBghqAl0Eh1OoCT2PK8OQ/s4032/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gpcBAMXpMnaz9UGYg8xoem0zlNf6sqldsIAQcgM1aWh06mB0aVbo96xGi6eHN8c51Uw2r1yi6AKT7jmbsMEyrnaXJRpz0lCZJVZROK1xbInQ-ZKPqOWW6yjVG6Xtk9K2GQQSTcVbYy7fA9ZPG2pFEKcBNoo4itnvY7uCoiBghqAl0Eh1OoCT2PK8OQ/w400-h300/IMG_0228.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p>OBSIDIAN</p><p> </p><p>When you died,</p><p>I saw God. He told me about </p><p>your alpine days and black-widowed nights. </p><p>He said it was enough.</p><p><br /></p><p>When you died, </p><p>I knew in advance. You came to me </p><p>across miles of sky, across the starred galaxy</p><p>of our youth. You called me by name </p><p>to the water. We smiled and walked </p><p>to the deep end, without our feet </p><p>touching the coral sand.</p><p>It was how we used to be.</p><p> </p><p>When you died, </p><p>You were at peace, strolling along, </p><p>mind and body, lacquered, without any fear.</p><p>I could see your steps, ordered along the pyramid.</p><p>Your journey was your journey.</p><p>You didn’t negotiate </p><p>the rain.</p><p><br /></p><p>When you died,</p><p>The heavens became a monsoon gray</p><p>but when the nectar of the sun rose again, </p><p>there sat a reflective gem, a raven of clear skies,</p><p>with a cello and a saxophone breeze.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgc9cR4zkRscjMnKoixuaoVC7lLMvRQclB24vuKMDR9sn2v0VKAQZdJfIMA8pVQG84M5UwspzUZQv7IScLGBu8gRjTDPMRAZqmDVqb0yhyHGlWN4VaNj2PikEYGE-BgbHWXYtBh1IMQ2SuoGZ4hcJuN7fAW0T4N4e6LaV7GHSzVsmIf29EGX4tT0IXA/s4032/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgc9cR4zkRscjMnKoixuaoVC7lLMvRQclB24vuKMDR9sn2v0VKAQZdJfIMA8pVQG84M5UwspzUZQv7IScLGBu8gRjTDPMRAZqmDVqb0yhyHGlWN4VaNj2PikEYGE-BgbHWXYtBh1IMQ2SuoGZ4hcJuN7fAW0T4N4e6LaV7GHSzVsmIf29EGX4tT0IXA/w400-h300/IMG_0252.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-67595920563572916232022-07-02T10:39:00.007-07:002022-07-06T10:03:43.283-07:00Happy Independence Day 2022! Village Poets are Baaaack in the Parade! <div class="separator"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMmq7si_rTFfGMoRcov5y6fEOGRyicGlLma9hGUjNrSmf83a0COxnRZy_tDRsFQTw8Lzb4mO8pJqd3htmu47-NpFiOIGpQRaGEY02MMZOge3Dw1oaO0JyNiG8jJKzvUrDQam0d5OO9o88GqAiHLa4C-7j8fNUoXtbKR8JRXNVTGhML_Tpqobuc4Rilg/s1296/car.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1296" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMmq7si_rTFfGMoRcov5y6fEOGRyicGlLma9hGUjNrSmf83a0COxnRZy_tDRsFQTw8Lzb4mO8pJqd3htmu47-NpFiOIGpQRaGEY02MMZOge3Dw1oaO0JyNiG8jJKzvUrDQam0d5OO9o88GqAiHLa4C-7j8fNUoXtbKR8JRXNVTGhML_Tpqobuc4Rilg/w400-h299/car.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Happy Independence Day 2022! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>from Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga and Friends </b></span><b style="color: #2b00fe;">at the California State Poetry Society and Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club - </b><b style="color: #2b00fe;">Joe DeCenzo, Elsa Frausto, Marlene Hitt, Alice Pero, Pamela Shea, Dorothy Skiles, </b><b style="color: #2b00fe;">Maja Trochimczyk, Susan Rogers, Bory Thach, Ambika Talwar, and Beata & Ella Czajkowska</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's that time of the year! <b>The Independence Day Parade in Sunland Tujunga starts at 10 am on Monday, 4 July 2022 from the crossing of Mt. Gleason and Foothill. </b>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! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn3JdKooSGue5LDVGHQortOihOr8yImpLdRtE9fF_HHwf9Ny7jp80rpDS83X8XNkU96Scrk13Ik_cq8IAfJRCbxOf3zF6vyRTseZe7jLGajedXul_nrbVsK_fiDkiqHLLU5MXlaLkpsQyYRNamCtKrJBMhVas3jcbnl0OHAayXS3IS9yjFz47Ag-cpA/s2048/IMG_4841.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2048" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn3JdKooSGue5LDVGHQortOihOr8yImpLdRtE9fF_HHwf9Ny7jp80rpDS83X8XNkU96Scrk13Ik_cq8IAfJRCbxOf3zF6vyRTseZe7jLGajedXul_nrbVsK_fiDkiqHLLU5MXlaLkpsQyYRNamCtKrJBMhVas3jcbnl0OHAayXS3IS9yjFz47Ag-cpA/w400-h299/IMG_4841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga will be represented by the Poet Laureate <b>Alice Pero</b> riding in the Poets' Convertible driven by <b>Joe DeCenzo</b> (ST Poet Laureate No. 4), with guests <b>Beata Czajkowska,</b> Secretary of Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club, poet <b>Susan Rogers,</b> and Village Poets volunteer, <b>Josephine</b>. Walking along the decorated car, poets will distribute postcards with "America the Beautiful" and poems they selected for this occasion. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwoDrrGEWb1aEsHVu458AZssgpuhF_9Y6r_0J2ZsDRjLbdh1FMFjlZHQlOxjmbipBOXW_YWlL_V3sQ0ndeKBgXYAMkn9GVgG1BZdn9ydhFDBKKxORoFPoaXtSB9PQGgnI_V_esoYjrPZvqCdQI0yl5OlWmjT0-g9bbUQ55muMO6_fsraTziUH1g_6Cw/s1008/America2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1008" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwoDrrGEWb1aEsHVu458AZssgpuhF_9Y6r_0J2ZsDRjLbdh1FMFjlZHQlOxjmbipBOXW_YWlL_V3sQ0ndeKBgXYAMkn9GVgG1BZdn9ydhFDBKKxORoFPoaXtSB9PQGgnI_V_esoYjrPZvqCdQI0yl5OlWmjT0-g9bbUQ55muMO6_fsraTziUH1g_6Cw/w400-h266/America2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The "walking" poets will include Dr. <b>Maja Trochimczyk,</b> ST Poet Laureate No. 6 (2010-2012) and President of the California State Poetry Society, <b>Ambika Talwar,</b> secretary of the California State Poetry Society, <b>Bory Thach,</b> one of the Editors of the <i>California Quarterly</i> and member of the Board of CSPS, and <b>Elzbieta Czajkowska,</b> representing Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club as its volunteer web designer. <br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgIJ0AZ_KPresVLlWCKa8I1oxjOjDoHpSp76WoTRYJas7MD770JEjQmOjzMm-87sn4npHWbysb2an33tFe7TPYHMudJNj_qMIb9AONC7S9ZxhDBvgcwMhIcLISBM6dJxOOKaMODz5KDq99alttlkqtAN7VYBoa0B3CB1uIAYkoUUU6d6Rb9atJWLbDw/s1280/IMG_7045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgIJ0AZ_KPresVLlWCKa8I1oxjOjDoHpSp76WoTRYJas7MD770JEjQmOjzMm-87sn4npHWbysb2an33tFe7TPYHMudJNj_qMIb9AONC7S9ZxhDBvgcwMhIcLISBM6dJxOOKaMODz5KDq99alttlkqtAN7VYBoa0B3CB1uIAYkoUUU6d6Rb9atJWLbDw/w400-h300/IMG_7045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja Trochimczyk, Bory Thach and Ambika Talwar (2021).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Alice Pero </b>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 <a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/p/alice-pero.html" target="_blank">read her bio and a list of achievements</a> on our site, and about the <a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2022/03/pamela-shea-passes-laurels-to-st-10th.html" target="_blank">Passing of the Laurels </a>on this blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiFHN2QM0jLg8MwPx8hN_VUeHXVBMtuNc6jMDFWn6OcInjK2snKof6TI3lWDcRYl_gzOd6dh_CFpte2jnuN2mnydHtkgSAmFytKkM9qw4Dnw2KPf6TDz3xs2T3RmbpwIafv1h0ZhOru9p7OGmOLcEKbatJJZhT1YAdrTJI9KcOT52Cuhc2zwInfMsEw/s800/Feb26photo2bestcolor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiFHN2QM0jLg8MwPx8hN_VUeHXVBMtuNc6jMDFWn6OcInjK2snKof6TI3lWDcRYl_gzOd6dh_CFpte2jnuN2mnydHtkgSAmFytKkM9qw4Dnw2KPf6TDz3xs2T3RmbpwIafv1h0ZhOru9p7OGmOLcEKbatJJZhT1YAdrTJI9KcOT52Cuhc2zwInfMsEw/w400-h265/Feb26photo2bestcolor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alice Pero</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Some of the poems to be given out will be on the theme of the celebration, for instance <b>Marlene Hitt</b> wrote about the fireworks:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAAq4lAb2E9xtduxn2nPrWti9pPYxiJJXEVqftlD6qJ-ChRw-3jk0DV7OZNuwqlBYeHkK_tKOA1hGqQmEN7FVLmtgEx51jKEu3Fu3-wwAdznsM95oj10SGfwThYDWb0mAjyi7Lq-CepPT7E82wrgVQxOFDXl9dK-SV7BGbcGZFrsnYfP73KwyLh7R2Q/s3600/4th%20Marlene-page-001%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAAq4lAb2E9xtduxn2nPrWti9pPYxiJJXEVqftlD6qJ-ChRw-3jk0DV7OZNuwqlBYeHkK_tKOA1hGqQmEN7FVLmtgEx51jKEu3Fu3-wwAdznsM95oj10SGfwThYDWb0mAjyi7Lq-CepPT7E82wrgVQxOFDXl9dK-SV7BGbcGZFrsnYfP73KwyLh7R2Q/w266-h400/4th%20Marlene-page-001%20(1).jpg" width="266" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">These are not bombs</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">up there in the sky</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">only fireworks</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">It's the Fourth of July!</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">Bursting to celebrate</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">freedom for all,</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">sparkling promises</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">begin to fall</span></b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p> (c) Marlene Hitt</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Maja Trochimczyk's</b> "Independence Day" poem that was given out as a postcard previously, received a new design:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwTsBbCwKt1rBbpNcpZ6p8-CCuw7HYfcKLeGVMJEGReg_DfSkL_kYI6vxtybTXW2fMLlIqcktLs5l9j1R8baF7YBJV1ZkVclLUmZRImbowDuBYroYn0E41AkFHiNwo9oNxcIH_krYPLRLm8ClcG33YJ_uN9xR6DPDCgjyx7L8m7oCw5nO4f0oj2Vx_g/w400-h266/4th%20Maja%20Independence-page-001%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Independence Day</span></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Red - are the rocks of the Grand Canyon</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>White - are the mountains, covered with snow</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Blue - are the waves of Pacific Ocean</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Red, White and Blue - colors of all.</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Red - is the Earth from which we come</b></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>White - is the Air that fills our lungs</b></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Blue - is the Water inside us, with Stardust</b></span></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Red, White and Blue - connected in all.</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Red - is pure Love, deep in our hearts</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>White - is the Brightness of our minds</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Blue - is the Peace of well-lived lives</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Red, White and Blue - freedom for all.</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px;">(C) 2018 by Maja Trochimczyk</span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Maja Trochimczyk</b> decided to also distribute one poem from her new book, <a href="https://www.lulu.com/shop/maja-trochimczyk/bright-skies/paperback/product-qmrmp5.html?page=1&pageSize=4" target="_blank">Bright Skies</a> - 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! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_Ph5-GL9mbgY8vdebVs5OshJr6InuhjLZyPjVbAnbvCtRsfZUFdIilpS0Kz1wLnObJTnFFUZRdtgTOp0yraOGfmXEVbF6nXw0IQZyRHeHJQyxvJFbEKq-lhwYrUfFTGdVQ4L6HGUJuRuXSTuati7elQ0mWSpZvCRDqoTbFE3-VhteT17agp7gcqgOg/s3600/4th%20Maja%20Today-page-001%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_Ph5-GL9mbgY8vdebVs5OshJr6InuhjLZyPjVbAnbvCtRsfZUFdIilpS0Kz1wLnObJTnFFUZRdtgTOp0yraOGfmXEVbF6nXw0IQZyRHeHJQyxvJFbEKq-lhwYrUfFTGdVQ4L6HGUJuRuXSTuati7elQ0mWSpZvCRDqoTbFE3-VhteT17agp7gcqgOg/w266-h400/4th%20Maja%20Today-page-001%20(1).jpg" width="266" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #a50021; font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today – For Us</span></b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are a
miracle of life</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We do what we
want</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We want what
we do</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are perfect</span></b></span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are cosmic
trees</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We grow by the
calm lake of light</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Its smooth
opal surface</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Reflects the
sun’s smiling face</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Our roots
drink liquid light</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Our crown
sparkles with stars</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Our leaves are
green with peace</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Our flowers
are gold with joy</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Our fruit is
ripe with wisdom</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are a
living miracle</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are perfect</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">From noon to
midnight</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">From midnight
to noon</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We love what
we do</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We do what we
love</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">We are</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">—w</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">e shine</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">—</span></span></b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are one
with the One</span></b></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">We are perfect</span></span></i></b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(c) 2022 by Maja Trochimczyk, from "Bright Skies"</span></i></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Ambika Talwar</b> follows the theme of "Today" with an excerpt from a longer poem: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXAFRzde5cM2zjD6CsS4VyjwmAqDi8kR8vm8jtQkOxAu5AIFfn6IpvrvNqlbz4FAGV7pi1VNPNBQ8byAvwVTIQjgQOH5QkTyKsZz44ZzZgIuygI1fFApca9hyW8hae1r1A0tiPemuVCW5dqzzxiHY1EHSZN_VkXNC1YoYUWRO0yjTOjqglqq1QSf--w/s3300/PoemOnFLowerOnGoldBackground-V2-page-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXAFRzde5cM2zjD6CsS4VyjwmAqDi8kR8vm8jtQkOxAu5AIFfn6IpvrvNqlbz4FAGV7pi1VNPNBQ8byAvwVTIQjgQOH5QkTyKsZz44ZzZgIuygI1fFApca9hyW8hae1r1A0tiPemuVCW5dqzzxiHY1EHSZN_VkXNC1YoYUWRO0yjTOjqglqq1QSf--w/w309-h400/PoemOnFLowerOnGoldBackground-V2-page-001.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">…Today</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> laugh silently and aloud</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">for
the winds are your messengers </span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> spread your love</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">wherever
these miniscule spores wander</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Today
</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> proclaim freedom for all those</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> who choose to give nourishment to</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> their inner hearts’ miraculous ways</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Today</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">is
the day we each promised eons ago</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> we would shift the ley lines</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> of our thoughts and ways of being</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Today</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> my blessed beloveds, we are on the path</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> of discovery and new creation</span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Today
… be free </span></b></span></p></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> And
freely choose life liberty wisdom…</span></b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> and happiness …</span></b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"> ~ </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"></span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"></span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"></span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"></span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light";"><i>Ambika
Talwar</i></span></span></b></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Light"; font-size: 17pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Himalaya"; mso-bidi-language: BO; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></i></span></div><b>Joe DeCenzo </b>will bring his poem inspired by <i>America the Beautiful, </i>"From Sea to Shining Sea," that we previously published on this site:<a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2018/07/village-poets-bring-poetry-to.html" target="_blank"> http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2018/07/village-poets-bring-poetry-to.html</a><div><br /></div><div>Here are links to photos and stories from our previous parades. The last one of these was in July 2019:</div><div><a href="goog_1396420771"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2019/07/village-poets-and-guests-in.html">http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2019/07/village-poets-and-guests-in.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2018/07/village-poets-bring-poetry-to.html" style="color: #33aaff;">http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2018/07/village-poets-bring-poetry-to.html</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="goog_1396420772"><br /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #336699;"><a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2017/07/dorothy-skiles-marlene-hitt-saturday-22.html">http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2017/07/dorothy-skiles-marlene-hitt-saturday-22.html</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2017/06/independence-day-parade-and-july-22.html"><br /><span style="color: #336699;">http://villagepoets.blogspot.com/2017/06/independence-day-parade-and-july-22.html</span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UXhQe7nCq0H9oTWW-fM4ZcjveWe5WpBCUvEC2HN7XQ8tl15pOSsFiaudn0zIxx0uzOzzNMQyPKz87MHMsNJaFgnrWtjXmmv9JgWNxBJKKxGwAX05UWRcqyfSy8uoKoxoAdrKfSMGXfO-xyyBwaRvvPl_n45VB5n4unF2pcJQU80ZOxGWoYGA-fCQPA/s2048/IMG_2351.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UXhQe7nCq0H9oTWW-fM4ZcjveWe5WpBCUvEC2HN7XQ8tl15pOSsFiaudn0zIxx0uzOzzNMQyPKz87MHMsNJaFgnrWtjXmmv9JgWNxBJKKxGwAX05UWRcqyfSy8uoKoxoAdrKfSMGXfO-xyyBwaRvvPl_n45VB5n4unF2pcJQU80ZOxGWoYGA-fCQPA/w400-h300/IMG_2351.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joe, Marlene, Maja and Josephine at the Parade in 2018.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>PHOTOS FROM 2022 INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">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! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">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!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">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! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN1o4QpEb_eCEZuI8YgyCVJvCWllruoAU8ZewsWX9QX3gz2tUJ5GqT-FM4wD7LPljpVPcFv1uIuFq_2J7rc9dk2FtZs_D7kocToKw6WbA_KEstcKpmypj9NF5WnxZ14jAe6Jio_MRfesZYQEZdm9wtrMJKGdP8rbgqWy9qPCr4JEn6VQplAXbJqm8LA/s2560/20220703_194805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN1o4QpEb_eCEZuI8YgyCVJvCWllruoAU8ZewsWX9QX3gz2tUJ5GqT-FM4wD7LPljpVPcFv1uIuFq_2J7rc9dk2FtZs_D7kocToKw6WbA_KEstcKpmypj9NF5WnxZ14jAe6Jio_MRfesZYQEZdm9wtrMJKGdP8rbgqWy9qPCr4JEn6VQplAXbJqm8LA/w400-h225/20220703_194805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">July 3, 2022 Decorating Poets' Convertible with Alice trying out her seat</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmB9JtUhI7ykym6agEmpnEHRm6qb8DOAhZji933gNEHoSaCYmHCS8WnVixRjX1797OR4_ao9ieeJ7b6CSvfdBAvY20fgHaBZpk_KIiM7yvsBHj3NCEnJFADqbBZjBCEtZwb5RQZcAxSorAPizlW1ApNegTsNLCeq21Z2cl1YITjbafCuYkUmqUQUwDg/s2560/20220703_194716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmB9JtUhI7ykym6agEmpnEHRm6qb8DOAhZji933gNEHoSaCYmHCS8WnVixRjX1797OR4_ao9ieeJ7b6CSvfdBAvY20fgHaBZpk_KIiM7yvsBHj3NCEnJFADqbBZjBCEtZwb5RQZcAxSorAPizlW1ApNegTsNLCeq21Z2cl1YITjbafCuYkUmqUQUwDg/w400-h225/20220703_194716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Almost ready - Poets' Convertible covered in silk flowers, bunting and flags!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3eGpqiN-U1U5_jIRpY5aJUeXe2G3HT_ODcU2iSeHtujgx0ZdeEGkrETUTWvCQEJ0723d1dMPUkWKq802hqUUQusn-zNFyo2b9n-mqngbnBv032eOP1jSf4QgUoIIkp4rAdb3CSIOAg95TZEvODN8C5QQ3MIdI7JoQhr94Ou1OtaS3A5-a9Jy0E4Qqg/s4032/IMG_0487.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3eGpqiN-U1U5_jIRpY5aJUeXe2G3HT_ODcU2iSeHtujgx0ZdeEGkrETUTWvCQEJ0723d1dMPUkWKq802hqUUQusn-zNFyo2b9n-mqngbnBv032eOP1jSf4QgUoIIkp4rAdb3CSIOAg95TZEvODN8C5QQ3MIdI7JoQhr94Ou1OtaS3A5-a9Jy0E4Qqg/w400-h300/IMG_0487.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josephine and the stars</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9KRgW4WvEJV-1JQHJwYFKAkrE8ftPJ3aTbzHj81pe3m3MSoo4-EW-r2bNGiAZrjMLg1cB-OTGpFjqbzc5JT_9kPiglShYKq8sCyVruw3_gF8kAci7XglhTRBZ8HQ6eaGXoY2uaQBID0Dm4-tuYD1gFnQKNzhb8n0pV7_Up4aBQ__ylHVlkOLB4syug/s4032/IMG_0489.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9KRgW4WvEJV-1JQHJwYFKAkrE8ftPJ3aTbzHj81pe3m3MSoo4-EW-r2bNGiAZrjMLg1cB-OTGpFjqbzc5JT_9kPiglShYKq8sCyVruw3_gF8kAci7XglhTRBZ8HQ6eaGXoY2uaQBID0Dm4-tuYD1gFnQKNzhb8n0pV7_Up4aBQ__ylHVlkOLB4syug/w400-h300/IMG_0489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bory Thach and the front grille, tricky job!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSaS4Ri-9PrsWHaSY6fgJocBR--eSQVKxW-1LuqBNOP942o7bdfQ-M_r2a4WXzPV5IuYmt46q0QVXUwv-FYC2aXaI66-KFkOwC1CflrwFSilHN1PUt4RCMqT8T5HEV8evhVj7LHdRGe5ZU4_eFb2ANUAya3MRj-PizlYMFLB4sKt6sL0C_6rRsFnIIA/s4032/IMG_0493.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSaS4Ri-9PrsWHaSY6fgJocBR--eSQVKxW-1LuqBNOP942o7bdfQ-M_r2a4WXzPV5IuYmt46q0QVXUwv-FYC2aXaI66-KFkOwC1CflrwFSilHN1PUt4RCMqT8T5HEV8evhVj7LHdRGe5ZU4_eFb2ANUAya3MRj-PizlYMFLB4sKt6sL0C_6rRsFnIIA/w400-h300/IMG_0493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alice and Josephine put the final touches on the front</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8GJ-fFmjoXdxaF1MYAInB_rKSDsquOkHxv_6KFy4iBeP57Ria2moyo1wh7CQm1tgtSCMKm_rIE3MMbf8saxnZaNvg6vCOTGHs0AYejrOa-BDRrIQfe4Ioyr1x41qXeXi0mGCimCX7WskIytD8AXPFqSM5-QK_nwvwpMSy6tSaFfKQicA040EX79Q9A/s1280/IMG_0494.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8GJ-fFmjoXdxaF1MYAInB_rKSDsquOkHxv_6KFy4iBeP57Ria2moyo1wh7CQm1tgtSCMKm_rIE3MMbf8saxnZaNvg6vCOTGHs0AYejrOa-BDRrIQfe4Ioyr1x41qXeXi0mGCimCX7WskIytD8AXPFqSM5-QK_nwvwpMSy6tSaFfKQicA040EX79Q9A/w400-h300/IMG_0494.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja, Joe, Josephine and Alice so happy together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01XRnvQxw7sHCiEojFRRBrOOD0ZaHJ0gVM8Bgx7ukoMNf6l4cAaKrWO1Zhpu3dwOsMNEvyJbHz_UzoB361Th2qZrspWbtR5TmuihgxcODV6FPvtTkFIiNQ__KuodrWX-oBynDBIWjGrRhunrjyy2ZRKFuJ9I_9nDSuPUsDrOigW7wf22E31DLU144iA/s4032/IMG_0517.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01XRnvQxw7sHCiEojFRRBrOOD0ZaHJ0gVM8Bgx7ukoMNf6l4cAaKrWO1Zhpu3dwOsMNEvyJbHz_UzoB361Th2qZrspWbtR5TmuihgxcODV6FPvtTkFIiNQ__KuodrWX-oBynDBIWjGrRhunrjyy2ZRKFuJ9I_9nDSuPUsDrOigW7wf22E31DLU144iA/w400-h300/IMG_0517.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joe and Josephine attach the bunting to the front</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFl2N87ZNIkGAy8YVoWxjgToc-NmsQSpZss3hHw5rBztnTlBigGNB5R8tHqMAOUDHj2Yn97vdIXhCyPAqZPOFKJIdsuzWHGXlFf6swh6nIorakLAJNvD6DS3bz6C8aBts3xguGrcxvMi7vzIWX6A1XoeuV_WCZuA1vcp5vp3oXU6tfWHBQQ1BLGa5Vw/s4032/IMG_0525.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFl2N87ZNIkGAy8YVoWxjgToc-NmsQSpZss3hHw5rBztnTlBigGNB5R8tHqMAOUDHj2Yn97vdIXhCyPAqZPOFKJIdsuzWHGXlFf6swh6nIorakLAJNvD6DS3bz6C8aBts3xguGrcxvMi7vzIWX6A1XoeuV_WCZuA1vcp5vp3oXU6tfWHBQQ1BLGa5Vw/w400-h300/IMG_0525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have some words on magnets, and the Poet Laureate picks up mini-poems </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidk4V5oOiH0slDeE00bWwMbtz3-WWUl8y5rsclLG48CJRVfcvtt6uWhmC0-M-8LxZWKtxFXTmdzBzqT6OGgYqucMA0yAVI1zGHjNxh1hNtMOULPiEN-ChaJHxfalP5x0_jYUr7-rAnjTBnDRCxzf8MyYbuDqY0CfOhfSQjI3IIoYs7Fl8IcXrbVe7LA/s4032/IMG_0532.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidk4V5oOiH0slDeE00bWwMbtz3-WWUl8y5rsclLG48CJRVfcvtt6uWhmC0-M-8LxZWKtxFXTmdzBzqT6OGgYqucMA0yAVI1zGHjNxh1hNtMOULPiEN-ChaJHxfalP5x0_jYUr7-rAnjTBnDRCxzf8MyYbuDqY0CfOhfSQjI3IIoYs7Fl8IcXrbVe7LA/w400-h300/IMG_0532.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two of Alice's choices are here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I asked poets for some comments about the Parade and received the following from Alice Pero, our current Poet Laureate.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FEjwIu1DVF8Ep5CAVaQCgkKb6xx7mBbh2O4lV0OdnaVANtrAm9AmyHNu3iXyTo0o8QyYL_MaQ3VS2tZDlyfLHsneheXVF5wYEUwEUVz5LgxP_kz0mVJegFmzNp5kgmz-MHckIlWNbiIkFxQ4ecPuUYSwh1KLj6K5tKGX6qZBRGCFI2cHI0Al-4NM0Q/s4032/IMG_0551.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FEjwIu1DVF8Ep5CAVaQCgkKb6xx7mBbh2O4lV0OdnaVANtrAm9AmyHNu3iXyTo0o8QyYL_MaQ3VS2tZDlyfLHsneheXVF5wYEUwEUVz5LgxP_kz0mVJegFmzNp5kgmz-MHckIlWNbiIkFxQ4ecPuUYSwh1KLj6K5tKGX6qZBRGCFI2cHI0Al-4NM0Q/w300-h400/IMG_0551.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Alice with her special umbrella from Joe and scarf from Maja.</span></blockquote></blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"Here is the story about me and the little girl today.</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>When I was waiting in the car to start off in the parade,</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>a man and little girl came and seemed very interested in</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>our car and the man asked what we were doing and I</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>said, "This is the Poet Laureate Car." I directly addressed</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>the little girl who was standing wide-eyed at me. I asked her,</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"Do you know what a poet is?" She didn't answer, so I said,</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"A poet is someone who makes poems. Here is a poem:</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>'The bright yellow sun is up high in the sky</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>will you be my friend today on the 4th of July?"</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>She smiled broadly at that point and then we got into</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>a conversation about how she could make up a poem herself,</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>maybe about the unicorn on her tee shirt.</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>These are the things that make being a Poet Laureate so much fun.</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Thank you for including the Poet Laureate in the Sunland/Tujunga</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>4th of July Parade!</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Alice Pero"</i></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YYcgK9Rw32gCT1UdFtQ2SeudPanAY91ieJ1ik1Sfwe6RXbheEp2gjd5Icbb3P4oi-XtVGjsrLFbG8VVOTH_tiPtVL44UGEyqpFEo17RxUS-yBY7bypii9IYwbtoGyfJEyNXWnzBnA1BiHSCrsqbJ58PXIzR89ped4r895DbCzPW3wjScwWAB_ncIug/s2016/IMG_59441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YYcgK9Rw32gCT1UdFtQ2SeudPanAY91ieJ1ik1Sfwe6RXbheEp2gjd5Icbb3P4oi-XtVGjsrLFbG8VVOTH_tiPtVL44UGEyqpFEo17RxUS-yBY7bypii9IYwbtoGyfJEyNXWnzBnA1BiHSCrsqbJ58PXIzR89ped4r895DbCzPW3wjScwWAB_ncIug/w400-h300/IMG_59441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mpow3HG7knTz0LS4AGJaXGYY9R_XLrYtB5256jUCmjun-GGtUmn5DlvU4NqrqdSo2uTCIR6Es_srF2Lap5FQOWueHsDedaveaF4Zkw_4zR2WDTj4XJ3ki0UGiEQc_dnqXko4YdOoE3V8qTcN2tNgjMvf0vTDndXAdoHvyVIf6hJRphqxTuKGr-GO4Q/s4032/IMG_0536.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mpow3HG7knTz0LS4AGJaXGYY9R_XLrYtB5256jUCmjun-GGtUmn5DlvU4NqrqdSo2uTCIR6Es_srF2Lap5FQOWueHsDedaveaF4Zkw_4zR2WDTj4XJ3ki0UGiEQc_dnqXko4YdOoE3V8qTcN2tNgjMvf0vTDndXAdoHvyVIf6hJRphqxTuKGr-GO4Q/w400-h300/IMG_0536.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crew ready to roll! Alice in her chair on top of the convertible, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josephine, Joe, Ella, Bory, Dorothy, Beata and Maja stand in costumes. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPPJo9t-spDU4NUKVPW3IgrfV3a3dZPGjExxc_2uvGUVOtbVkiPfB1MVAi0SD7-wNvEDJikN2Y4ttLjf0dUbcBhD83Ju-fYw26xZ5ErTOAhtk-l-e75jP9CVJYApfnOxaoYAhvCJ5OJVgt75U_wsfqALZeljuquw_I0ewjQSPL1dRfzRV7C8RrqK-uQ/s4032/IMG_0544.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPPJo9t-spDU4NUKVPW3IgrfV3a3dZPGjExxc_2uvGUVOtbVkiPfB1MVAi0SD7-wNvEDJikN2Y4ttLjf0dUbcBhD83Ju-fYw26xZ5ErTOAhtk-l-e75jP9CVJYApfnOxaoYAhvCJ5OJVgt75U_wsfqALZeljuquw_I0ewjQSPL1dRfzRV7C8RrqK-uQ/w400-h300/IMG_0544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ella and Beata Czajkowska with poems to give away</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0b4AU3PwNvDiI680R5OypCkcFOFqyLTDbXg5n-H9TdLm8sAzScnV4LQ0GVTz68k_2GQdbOil7gHcd96my2d9MJfk5v0QDGcUZjQLPfR3fS2ruy3A5M-sXqFHsxHzhht9HdjFjvPo34RDydunTxmspFvmbk523Atewj9XNb0WGMwqCCJ_swFHhrVF5w/s4032/IMG_0552.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0b4AU3PwNvDiI680R5OypCkcFOFqyLTDbXg5n-H9TdLm8sAzScnV4LQ0GVTz68k_2GQdbOil7gHcd96my2d9MJfk5v0QDGcUZjQLPfR3fS2ruy3A5M-sXqFHsxHzhht9HdjFjvPo34RDydunTxmspFvmbk523Atewj9XNb0WGMwqCCJ_swFHhrVF5w/w400-h300/IMG_0552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bory as the driver, Joe and Josephine to carry the banner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQPi5OmhioeGWqfg5bOOA9gZdRYVt0ykoK7Zd9-gYb-FJTYpBzgKFTqqG0WYov8x4LbK9K9aI7nyRxXhR_vSRlrH4hzeKQA8PsJlaHUtqIDd2xWkRhPt5H7hfC9i2q916qXd9ORulKSaOOSFqws9Ml2Fd6qGiLHvwn_EZP_PgPNvngjImyi6dt9SDAQ/s1280/IMG_0576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQPi5OmhioeGWqfg5bOOA9gZdRYVt0ykoK7Zd9-gYb-FJTYpBzgKFTqqG0WYov8x4LbK9K9aI7nyRxXhR_vSRlrH4hzeKQA8PsJlaHUtqIDd2xWkRhPt5H7hfC9i2q916qXd9ORulKSaOOSFqws9Ml2Fd6qGiLHvwn_EZP_PgPNvngjImyi6dt9SDAQ/w400-h300/IMG_0576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja with the flag</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd-vypO3TzQwk8YpxLBlY0IMzKmYnbHPtuRksobZ0FupgdcVnmHzgIkMRIeoU36cmAECJ0JzwpiK8QJHcZOqECQiwdF7PSguUp4kr-i-UzdrRfVnjgDvGWefZ0ZUJa-0uz_1Teyn6Z5Xine6knOrNsqKyHeMhlKVWw7Tx22yl5YXEbOPis9G7LvS6ig/s4032/IMG_0582.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd-vypO3TzQwk8YpxLBlY0IMzKmYnbHPtuRksobZ0FupgdcVnmHzgIkMRIeoU36cmAECJ0JzwpiK8QJHcZOqECQiwdF7PSguUp4kr-i-UzdrRfVnjgDvGWefZ0ZUJa-0uz_1Teyn6Z5Xine6knOrNsqKyHeMhlKVWw7Tx22yl5YXEbOPis9G7LvS6ig/w300-h400/IMG_0582.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beata with postcards of poems and America the Beautiful</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bQfolK_DV9j8IYXVS6paIBaob7kGH_5R4OkiQt7WdckegHPmTcl9DhQIfe77HecQMlfLv-odHzC4MziFIyMc0e5cjhuLpS36By-Pj10lwpGr7ZtkdjWu7lGWvi7hy2OteywFJwitVW7QE57crW5AYs2Q3jrZcU9QbY331Opt9c2wUKq3A2V3_3LvQA/s4032/IMG_0584.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bQfolK_DV9j8IYXVS6paIBaob7kGH_5R4OkiQt7WdckegHPmTcl9DhQIfe77HecQMlfLv-odHzC4MziFIyMc0e5cjhuLpS36By-Pj10lwpGr7ZtkdjWu7lGWvi7hy2OteywFJwitVW7QE57crW5AYs2Q3jrZcU9QbY331Opt9c2wUKq3A2V3_3LvQA/w400-h300/IMG_0584.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joe made the banner, and this year carried it with Josephine. Fantastic outfits! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBddpMAEve5uoLGorG5G5qKks2CF2sXlmtz7b3dSE_FWkKpyZSwRVqaZjX7nsZmFYNEyHWpKVg2WwIvt-gXriVPzrbX5Qi6eDSRcWsWImF-p5zaz1tduiKFKRV3h5wvZdFJ-lW3iBEYoH2NUk017uTQbiCKMgzGjUBwtB5Hk2PBiWN7XF1b6H6r4yg/s4032/IMG_0540.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBddpMAEve5uoLGorG5G5qKks2CF2sXlmtz7b3dSE_FWkKpyZSwRVqaZjX7nsZmFYNEyHWpKVg2WwIvt-gXriVPzrbX5Qi6eDSRcWsWImF-p5zaz1tduiKFKRV3h5wvZdFJ-lW3iBEYoH2NUk017uTQbiCKMgzGjUBwtB5Hk2PBiWN7XF1b6H6r4yg/w400-h300/IMG_0540.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crew with Alice, Dorothy and Bory in the car, Joe and Josephine in the back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OT4KT4C0IUe2lA30LuxUMtMn1M-66oladtQibiNWkyBElefx5IBBWSGyHDav83R9KQ9cjLSSNup_VSc8KoUj8tWVqOLvCnIwCUQr_TVBf-kHcrvszftzjH2J7yAnp7IAcZKV_UsFb-8SK5Jbk5_JRHysXZ8ne1Tc7pIn0ZoOU78BPnwXjB7nhKUxFg/s4032/IMG_0614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OT4KT4C0IUe2lA30LuxUMtMn1M-66oladtQibiNWkyBElefx5IBBWSGyHDav83R9KQ9cjLSSNup_VSc8KoUj8tWVqOLvCnIwCUQr_TVBf-kHcrvszftzjH2J7yAnp7IAcZKV_UsFb-8SK5Jbk5_JRHysXZ8ne1Tc7pIn0ZoOU78BPnwXjB7nhKUxFg/w400-h300/IMG_0614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second smallest car, a truck with its driver and Joe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEk1rrmDMo31q99A8NVK7s_XXgTb69Y54mvoRW1rdu0oi9vwYxGuSxHrHMKdfI3tlt_iqab-pHHxIoDnqHAGiSww64XZtCu9VRO7IWw5d4VrWDljYNUf5U8bZZtlRe-IpLVyChMPbNqFd2BLfnGxuth8JfvQhQHrp7ErD_kwyKfSJ36AZOl0a3jktkeQ/s1280/IMG_0583.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEk1rrmDMo31q99A8NVK7s_XXgTb69Y54mvoRW1rdu0oi9vwYxGuSxHrHMKdfI3tlt_iqab-pHHxIoDnqHAGiSww64XZtCu9VRO7IWw5d4VrWDljYNUf5U8bZZtlRe-IpLVyChMPbNqFd2BLfnGxuth8JfvQhQHrp7ErD_kwyKfSJ36AZOl0a3jktkeQ/w400-h300/IMG_0583.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crew at the end of the route.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eKl5eP01xUENZWUGXSSaM3SCsQV-Oe1hZe88kkssngW_XQTpBE9sSDqSj4XiyjiKKvkkrBhSYgrJZ2l7keFLvyAHlVV4WbONw4EQMKnbFIaqV9i91by_GGJOk1QwDjAc7TaEB4Kiijewlsoy3OkygYQRQUzOApZu1kVll7_0gmmPbH18Bz4qPRVCeQ/s4032/IMG_0597.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eKl5eP01xUENZWUGXSSaM3SCsQV-Oe1hZe88kkssngW_XQTpBE9sSDqSj4XiyjiKKvkkrBhSYgrJZ2l7keFLvyAHlVV4WbONw4EQMKnbFIaqV9i91by_GGJOk1QwDjAc7TaEB4Kiijewlsoy3OkygYQRQUzOApZu1kVll7_0gmmPbH18Bz4qPRVCeQ/w400-h300/IMG_0597.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the parade with the car</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz_3GZR9uMv6cI4Gh2lftpru8JLx5EBqC89hjk5mTV8RKCFSKfYxwAxkzIp_gq7KGSB-pM3zE-5xhLk0aJfsqL-HF7jztfo_N2jSsm7jJjXCEhKQMbg8ztL0CjDsWMnRaCYhHqkp7Fah6dXpsfFQy0_o7CRvB9QXzBwta1DkVLuSvWh-_21jxbSkeqQ/s4032/IMG_0602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz_3GZR9uMv6cI4Gh2lftpru8JLx5EBqC89hjk5mTV8RKCFSKfYxwAxkzIp_gq7KGSB-pM3zE-5xhLk0aJfsqL-HF7jztfo_N2jSsm7jJjXCEhKQMbg8ztL0CjDsWMnRaCYhHqkp7Fah6dXpsfFQy0_o7CRvB9QXzBwta1DkVLuSvWh-_21jxbSkeqQ/w400-h300/IMG_0602.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joe and Josephine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvp9yaAdIZ554X4524SWpLfb1slLGVW2wWFoegjU3qmDpUd86A9gqQNmXUAsJMLtoVFxv01cIVkHLNMtv0M5SnaoGr9RdkQ3Il3DKWE18JnQzV39KNvBRoGmJd4jPl1ugMD_0iJiv7huTRsP_hPQsLkRiLboBojfATPSsigQYdbemnq2vTYFnl1UxYw/s4032/IMG_0604%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvp9yaAdIZ554X4524SWpLfb1slLGVW2wWFoegjU3qmDpUd86A9gqQNmXUAsJMLtoVFxv01cIVkHLNMtv0M5SnaoGr9RdkQ3Il3DKWE18JnQzV39KNvBRoGmJd4jPl1ugMD_0iJiv7huTRsP_hPQsLkRiLboBojfATPSsigQYdbemnq2vTYFnl1UxYw/w400-h300/IMG_0604%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja, Joe, Josephine in front of her house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7dlj5KUKSKm_jAbCY-c0J7ISG7R1vnW5QG-tQtHxcVNh1cizWywOzn3ocWaApGA75VU4_ffzRYssHdd7DI4SQ5gb5lYBFnM8rIYXzQbfW5dm9g-78csuXCT2ceuBdvHLn3yfg84L-NI16h2pswFvsTENnI_4EPURvvXUcug8PAjRCGPLJBdhYOfmQQ/s4032/IMG_0612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7dlj5KUKSKm_jAbCY-c0J7ISG7R1vnW5QG-tQtHxcVNh1cizWywOzn3ocWaApGA75VU4_ffzRYssHdd7DI4SQ5gb5lYBFnM8rIYXzQbfW5dm9g-78csuXCT2ceuBdvHLn3yfg84L-NI16h2pswFvsTENnI_4EPURvvXUcug8PAjRCGPLJBdhYOfmQQ/w400-h300/IMG_0612.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja Josephine, Beata and Ella </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUgT33uf-iO3_G4dcfXBdpXbPWtMNj8L70fq7SnvtDmal6kx7u21Ubb5YJOcJafi1zAPTdKfhKZYMJJPhH8csocxkfByKebZCxztr3AamihRzDUNG7z8WlFT-LjlfYlv4J6vD7faV-VlMwfTgAI2oFPP2m1VQz3mCpSW6zf74Hik2u8Qd3Va1RHXQlA/s4032/IMG_0616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUgT33uf-iO3_G4dcfXBdpXbPWtMNj8L70fq7SnvtDmal6kx7u21Ubb5YJOcJafi1zAPTdKfhKZYMJJPhH8csocxkfByKebZCxztr3AamihRzDUNG7z8WlFT-LjlfYlv4J6vD7faV-VlMwfTgAI2oFPP2m1VQz3mCpSW6zf74Hik2u8Qd3Va1RHXQlA/w300-h400/IMG_0616.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josephine designed her dress and had it made to order specially for this parade! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M9l0EsKuOKwJNV3ewQbC1Hkc5wdyiiuAhtugFJ31PASSo3NWx5G8U1cTq5umGha02YF8PqCAgTfBoHDiqIaZZHhSgYvjqZ4GPg4ECAYQ_wyZ8GxAUjiy64gdZP-hRvQMODzz-v51LDhbomrciwwv0mlHiP5DpPkcw-CumyweilZLr-0VbmTCR5UpPA/s1440/IMG_0619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M9l0EsKuOKwJNV3ewQbC1Hkc5wdyiiuAhtugFJ31PASSo3NWx5G8U1cTq5umGha02YF8PqCAgTfBoHDiqIaZZHhSgYvjqZ4GPg4ECAYQ_wyZ8GxAUjiy64gdZP-hRvQMODzz-v51LDhbomrciwwv0mlHiP5DpPkcw-CumyweilZLr-0VbmTCR5UpPA/w300-h400/IMG_0619.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja and Ambika in patriotic hats</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuxcio-kem550Ky8F2a3eokmor33pwctmYdCsDZ54sNUeu5rp-Yza_YEnHtNZY5vBZEVuumI055qfWv6LY4qnOOEzPKCoIV4ylGp3R1AOdkQaw4Wvd93RlbqxEZpCWWlGwF8W-PQxfeTFhRLDjB0odQ2TMFByKzJ8lvUNhg7vmHFM8K_j2EmO-f-KbA/s4032/IMG_0640.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuxcio-kem550Ky8F2a3eokmor33pwctmYdCsDZ54sNUeu5rp-Yza_YEnHtNZY5vBZEVuumI055qfWv6LY4qnOOEzPKCoIV4ylGp3R1AOdkQaw4Wvd93RlbqxEZpCWWlGwF8W-PQxfeTFhRLDjB0odQ2TMFByKzJ8lvUNhg7vmHFM8K_j2EmO-f-KbA/w300-h400/IMG_0640.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next step for the poets will be....CSPS Board representatives</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja Trochimczyk President, Bory Thach, CQ Editor, and Ambika Talwar, Board Secretary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-80642090648031396532022-06-02T12:25:00.004-07:002022-07-19T08:21:01.963-07:00Poets in the Garden - Charlene Mason Gallego and Maja Trochimczyk's "Bright Skies" - June 26, 2022 at 4:30pm on Zoom<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASiZQIrhZNKPRHVQoYFm2MSX_nm5Bro_geu3os6amSHc5Px4NlAatqWZm9azqtZwsVh4wtWnmUVsf05QngwbJCPV-NwDCBmlo6bpVfBOwGK3MHMUwMZtmu35XNDiPc2vjZ9KeTDi7LOFLONPSofSq07vAFn0yNKmBMuXe1RjbLl4BeMG962sbpgJr0A/s4032/IMG_9216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASiZQIrhZNKPRHVQoYFm2MSX_nm5Bro_geu3os6amSHc5Px4NlAatqWZm9azqtZwsVh4wtWnmUVsf05QngwbJCPV-NwDCBmlo6bpVfBOwGK3MHMUwMZtmu35XNDiPc2vjZ9KeTDi7LOFLONPSofSq07vAFn0yNKmBMuXe1RjbLl4BeMG962sbpgJr0A/w400-h300/IMG_9216.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iris in Descanso Gardens, Photo by Maja Trochimczyk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Video from this reading on YouTube: <a class="style-scope ytcp-video-info" href="https://youtu.be/ysDdSGMDUZE" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ysDdSGMDUZE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja Trochimczyk reads poems from "Bright Skies" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QrXhNFO7Q">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QrXhNFO7Q</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Village Poets of Sunland Tujunga are pleased to present two poets writing from their non-toxic gardens, full of wildlife and healthy plants. Charlene Mason Gallego will present her artwork and poetry, and Maja Trochimczyk will read poems and show photos from her newest collection, "Bright Skies." The reading will be on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 4:30 pm on Zoom. Send request for link to maja@moonrisepress.com. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfLAO6ncgxOh_1hvAY0WrF53QaSR6Ng8EujsNy6qL3o1aaWhzUBXldYbmOdSV4zE8IOKvpicSJ-T3_opVUjaH_sjlkevlCITelIq-zCXoU0XPT4eyaTZoH8xDAho0wjSQzfY2BUHT-cAgBEidgDgfRf5_bRiQHlg5Lqjj8L_7rIhrIrAqE8hKRvitNA/s3088/AE3CEB07-DD19-471B-B64A-D919FF443B94.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfLAO6ncgxOh_1hvAY0WrF53QaSR6Ng8EujsNy6qL3o1aaWhzUBXldYbmOdSV4zE8IOKvpicSJ-T3_opVUjaH_sjlkevlCITelIq-zCXoU0XPT4eyaTZoH8xDAho0wjSQzfY2BUHT-cAgBEidgDgfRf5_bRiQHlg5Lqjj8L_7rIhrIrAqE8hKRvitNA/w400-h300/AE3CEB07-DD19-471B-B64A-D919FF443B94.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Charlene Mason Gallego</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Charlene Mason Gallego writes: "I consider myself a California girl, having lived all over this beautiful state. I spent time in the Monterey Peninsula where I took up photography and art making. After a brief stint as a flight attendant, I recommitted myself to the creative life, and attended California College of the Arts in San Francisco. I graduated with a BFA in Drawing and Painting. While in art school I took several creative writing classes which exposed me to new authors and poets. I have been an avid journal writer my whole life and have a deep love of words as a way to process my experiences. While I have been a writer to an audience of one, recently I have been compelled to share it with the world, or at least my intimate circles. I write to find myself, to explore the unknowables, to follow my fascination points, to connect with wonder and beauty. And most of all to fully embody this life. In addition to writing, drawing, painting, and photography, I am a wildlife gardener. I create space for the wild beings, with native plants, and nesting sites, and water sources. My wild garden is a place of solace and renewal, magic and connection. My creative process is about the personal as universal, and exploring the beauty of our interconnectivity and diversity." </span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">On June 25, 2022 from 3pm to 8pm she is hosting an open house at her studio and garden, at 11525 Mt. Gleason Avenue, Tujunga CA91042.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMZqNykaCUxTf7cFLvtk0pczT8iXTT5tpFxy0O45Rj_He8RN7Rm5E6vYlXaodQJ-HiAn8ropz0c-9fnFcIKP_XNjeV_iBk2lcgrp1lMX_F9W3l02quVku4SvCJmLdUXSQf6nnXEGSbepfo42fFRVMRk1K64eMPxPWmjMytIJwrzCYuD-siaRFTxGesg/s1050/digital_postcard_v3_ornglettering.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMZqNykaCUxTf7cFLvtk0pczT8iXTT5tpFxy0O45Rj_He8RN7Rm5E6vYlXaodQJ-HiAn8ropz0c-9fnFcIKP_XNjeV_iBk2lcgrp1lMX_F9W3l02quVku4SvCJmLdUXSQf6nnXEGSbepfo42fFRVMRk1K64eMPxPWmjMytIJwrzCYuD-siaRFTxGesg/w356-h400/digital_postcard_v3_ornglettering.jpg" width="356" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">BEAUTY CONSULTANT</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My body is designed for beautiful things.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Like the sunrise happening as I write this.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is ever shifting, ever changing,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and never the same.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is me as a witness, at this moment,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With these eyes and these body feels.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That is the miracle, turning my mountain</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">a dusty kind of pink.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The kind of pink you find in an old woman’s</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">house, upon her worn velvet sofa.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The kind of pink worn on that same</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">woman’s lips, that discontinued shade</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">of Estee Lauder lipstick.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is her at this moment, a blending of early</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">morning rays, through moisture laden clouds,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">landing on the browns and tans of</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">those easterly slopes,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">that forgotten shade has been reinvented,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">reignited for my pleasure again.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And it triggers a feeling of nostalgia,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Back when the action was at the department</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">stores, in the malls, at the food courts.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Us, Lauder, Clinique, and Lancome girls,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">playing with our beauty, only slightly</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">understanding it’s power and becoming</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">aware of it’s dangers.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Us, with our soft, full painted lips,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Laughing together and admiring each other’s</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">feminine allure.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Us, applying a new shade of pink</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">to replace the old one for that woman</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">seated in our chair awaiting her makeover,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Her transformation.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Applying a bandaid to all the</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">disappointments of life,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">that have sagged the smile and</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">frowned the eyes.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were baby alchemists.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was the era of artificial excess,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tortured tresses, contoured cheeks</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And sexy eyebrows.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><div>What kind of magic pill were we selling?</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>Youth in a bottle That perfect shade of</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>lipstick?</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>It would be years later that the</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>underpinnings of this artificial environment</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>would begin to crack.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>My eyes would see through the</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>crumbling remains, that my</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>talents were not meant for selling</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>a manmade idea of beauty,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>But for reveling in the source</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>of beauty herself.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>And there is no selling beauty, not ever...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>Beauty simply exists.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>Beauty is that dusty shade of pink</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>upon my mountain,</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>That shade of pink that grins forth</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>from that old woman’s lips. </div></div></blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosavq9Qr6xrh66uV1ZFqcASYsxrJgdaqnKJXqdbAxRtvcIsh1_kFcfNAa26eQSPs46xwxma2VsmwtwKX_MbM7lnmYPcbz31LQwyW4uhEjx3SR9CoghggOVeDb4a70C4XZWEBRNNYPRbsHZjwABtgw6TRtaD78dQLje9hdud1Dkmr-99Z-Xwm3zFi6UQ/s619/selfportrait_with_trees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosavq9Qr6xrh66uV1ZFqcASYsxrJgdaqnKJXqdbAxRtvcIsh1_kFcfNAa26eQSPs46xwxma2VsmwtwKX_MbM7lnmYPcbz31LQwyW4uhEjx3SR9CoghggOVeDb4a70C4XZWEBRNNYPRbsHZjwABtgw6TRtaD78dQLje9hdud1Dkmr-99Z-Xwm3zFi6UQ/w334-h400/selfportrait_with_trees.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>RETURNING HOME</div><div><br /></div><div>We are coming into the days of long shadows.</div><div>The sunrise is noticeably changed as it now rises</div><div>to the south of Camelback Peak.</div><div>The browns of the brush have a well cooked aura.</div><div>The large Red Harvester Ants are busy gathering their stores.</div><div>The granite collects the heat to release it out into the</div><div>evening. Our home does the same.</div><div>Whenever I come back from a long trip, I notice a staleness to</div><div>the air as I open the front door.</div><div>This time I left the house to husband and daughter,</div><div>And I know without asking that they did not throw open the</div><div>windows as I do.</div><div>To let in the fresh morning whispers.</div><div>My home missed me as much as I missed her.</div><div>This early morning air has it’s own unique flavor,</div><div>that does not show itself at any other moment.</div><div>It would be a pity to miss these shy hours,</div><div>for they hold the key to the day’s unfolding.</div><div>I have cultivated a practice of participation that allows</div><div>a blessed insight into the becoming,</div><div>That will be this sunrise,</div><div>This high noon,</div><div>This sunset.</div><div>This turning as I plant my feel into Mother and witness</div><div>the miracle of</div><div>a day,</div><div>a night,</div><div>a season,</div><div>a life.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHT5eNvRh5dwjj_DnjznR_ZZ1bAmLvofwISgmF2uRF4B79x50S2sAwDZvJ1Z_Pn8rdIb-vkUcRj984KmYiaIlfrn5dUaIzvmLOTk8RkKbUMqVs1UCXf09V623rU3HpqUrkf9cRPt8OaYM23u8zMNXgZt510pFy-mlLJJfhvb4uWZzy2iOGLEsVNhziA/s4500/Bright%20Skies%20Cover%20Vine%20Front-page-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4500" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHT5eNvRh5dwjj_DnjznR_ZZ1bAmLvofwISgmF2uRF4B79x50S2sAwDZvJ1Z_Pn8rdIb-vkUcRj984KmYiaIlfrn5dUaIzvmLOTk8RkKbUMqVs1UCXf09V623rU3HpqUrkf9cRPt8OaYM23u8zMNXgZt510pFy-mlLJJfhvb4uWZzy2iOGLEsVNhziA/w266-h400/Bright%20Skies%20Cover%20Vine%20Front-page-001.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="goog_1175657929"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/05/maja-trochimczyks-new-volume-of.html"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/05/maja-trochimczyks-new-volume-of.html</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ISBN 978-1-945938-49-8, color paperback</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ISBN 978-1-945938-52-8, eBook in ePub format</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">US Trade (6 x 9 in / 152 x 229 mm), 184 Pages</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">85 poems, 162 color photographs, 6 portraits</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maja Trochimczyk dedicated this collection of poems, “Bright Skies,” to her children and grand-children, asking them to read and enjoy her verse “when they grow up.” The volume features 85 poems written in 2009-2022 and organized into five sections – Spring, Summer, Babie Lato, Autumn and Winter. The seasons of poetry include reflections on nature, beauty, love, life, and spirituality. The focus is on positive emotions, learning to be calm and content, full of compassion and wisdom. It is a life-long quest, and these poems are an invitation. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The poems are illustrated with 160 photographs taken in the poet’s neighborhood – Big Tujunga Wash, Angeles National Forest, Descanso Gardens, and Oxnard Beach. The surprising “Coda” brings a set of recipes for old-fashioned Polish dishes mentioned in poems. Bringing together favorite memories of her Polish childhood – making and flying kites, plays with soap bubbles – and the delights of sunny Southern California gardens, parks, and beaches, the book includes lessons how to seek and find the daily dose of domestic bliss. This book is a legacy from a well-lived life, and a companion to "Into Light: Poems and Incantations" - another collection of positive, inspirational poetry illustrated with photos.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXHzVubRlVr0m3VL8hUcWApddFhIaRWKLisUAFLj-9xq6W0aS-T74eRfbfVRj0DnD5_22kr6nzrb901MS5iyk3_TMc3wgzoTvVOlHqBTMDYTf1qX95nE7yO8yXDBWsACd2iZuevpoI67WE8Nh7uNfpdmVYd-VhMlOQOpzJ-KZBkkRuymjernuryIedw/s292/brightme.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="292" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXHzVubRlVr0m3VL8hUcWApddFhIaRWKLisUAFLj-9xq6W0aS-T74eRfbfVRj0DnD5_22kr6nzrb901MS5iyk3_TMc3wgzoTvVOlHqBTMDYTf1qX95nE7yO8yXDBWsACd2iZuevpoI67WE8Nh7uNfpdmVYd-VhMlOQOpzJ-KZBkkRuymjernuryIedw/w320-h320/brightme.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja Trochimczyk with grandson Adam, Facebook Profile Picture by Maria Kubal</div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maja
Trochimczyk, PhD, is a Polish American poet, music historian, photographer, and
non-profit director. She is the author/editor of eight books on music and
Polish culture, five poetry volumes and four anthologies, including most recently <i>We Are Here: Village Poets Anthology</i> co-edited with Marlene Hitt to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Village Poets readings (2020). A former Poet Laureate of Sunland Tujunga in 2010-2012, since 2019 she has served as the
President of the California State Poetry Society, and, since 2018, as the President of the Helena Modjeska
Art and Culture Club, promoting Polish culture in California. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her poetry books
include <i>Rose Always, Miriam’s Iris, Slicing the Bread, Into Light,</i> and <i>The Rainy Bread.</i> Hundreds of Trochimczyk’s poems appeared in English, Polish, as well as in German, French, Chinese, Spanish and Serbian translations in such journals as: <i>The Loch Raven Review, Epiphany Magazine, Lily Review, Ekphrasis Journal, Quill and Parchment, Magnapoets, SGVGPQ, Pirene's Fountain, Cosmopolitan Review, The Scream Online, The Original Van Gogh’s Ear Anthology, Clockwise Cat, Lummox Journal, Phantom Seed, Colorado Boulevard, Spectrum, Poezja Dzisiaj, OccuPoetry, </i>as well as many anthologies. She is the host of Village Poets Monthly Readings, Managing Editor of the <i>California Quarterly </i>and Editor of the CSPS <i>Poetry Letter</i>, promoting poetry worldwide. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Interview by VoyageLA website, 15 October 2021, <a href="http://voyagela.com/interview/inspiring-conversations-with-maja-trochimczyk-of-moonrise-press/">http://voyagela.com/interview/inspiring-conversations-with-maja-trochimczyk-of-moonrise-press/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Interview by Shoutout LA website, March 1, 2021: <a href="https://shoutoutla.com/meet-maja-trochimczyk-poet-photographer-and-music-historian/">https://shoutoutla.com/meet-maja-trochimczyk-poet-photographer-and-music-historian/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDHlV1vpWdA8Lpgl_5aj5q9HSMLVAeKqCcZlByLYQRVATspCo4JtiQy8vM2aSGydqY1N0Je2iq7dPOtx558doxT-8rTMHHl2S1AJ9K-IhiT_YINgAIC16wkngW07MrUBJOSgbAKBpUhrUwkuFnWXk0GlNSRmf5EAaQQU9fBTCNzL81hkaC5a715MgSQ/s981/bright%20summer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="981" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDHlV1vpWdA8Lpgl_5aj5q9HSMLVAeKqCcZlByLYQRVATspCo4JtiQy8vM2aSGydqY1N0Je2iq7dPOtx558doxT-8rTMHHl2S1AJ9K-IhiT_YINgAIC16wkngW07MrUBJOSgbAKBpUhrUwkuFnWXk0GlNSRmf5EAaQQU9fBTCNzL81hkaC5a715MgSQ/w400-h300/bright%20summer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matka Boska Zielna</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">~ for Mother of God of the Herbs (August 15)</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Look at the greening hill slopes charred by last year’s wildfire—</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">that’s magic. Look at the mountain sunflower that grew</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">at the edge of the asphalt on Oro Vista road, it already blooms</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">out of nowhere—that’s magic, too. The postcard-size garden</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by the old, wooden house, a shack, really—fills with flowers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">every spring. Fruit appears on orange trees after bees collect pollen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The scent of sweetness, the cheerful noise of bee wings—</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is it not far more miraculous, a thousand, a million times</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">more delightful than the 100 floors of steel-metal-glass</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of skyscrapers proudly pointing at the sky? Incomparable</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with a patch of weeds, nature’s miracles of renewal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How proud we are of our empty metallic constructions</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">that will rust in the jungle, abandoned, like stone pyramids</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">of the Mayas, shrouded by vibrant green of leaves and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">branches. Thousands of years of human fame obliterated</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by the steady, living, fertile abundance, the overflowing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">force of life, of matter, our Mother.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Roots, shoots and tendrils spread out, germinate,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">flow through the soil in search of water, nutrients,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">life, more life, ever growing, ever richer, dancing,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">singing the abundance of being—the song of creation</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">we are— we are —we are—we are all —</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">we are one—one—one—</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(C) 2022 by Maja Trochimczyk, first published in <i>Quill & Parchment, </i>May 2022</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrju4b2NMbliQ_xsgjraNxSsMxb0nFTFPITg-d26P5ipbcOSX_WPcPO7lIU9cnbqWNJ1Cl2V6aleRiI7uWviPK0AgknxIWgbnkXzNczqpBh12QDrXMSRjDtbu1lWjXhRxqzAitMLMbsWbl-gqBmBc-yQkGsiUUy3CSrrVQ_Fz3woTmwe9PAUX41Tp1Og/s856/brightcrown.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="856" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrju4b2NMbliQ_xsgjraNxSsMxb0nFTFPITg-d26P5ipbcOSX_WPcPO7lIU9cnbqWNJ1Cl2V6aleRiI7uWviPK0AgknxIWgbnkXzNczqpBh12QDrXMSRjDtbu1lWjXhRxqzAitMLMbsWbl-gqBmBc-yQkGsiUUy3CSrrVQ_Fz3woTmwe9PAUX41Tp1Og/w400-h400/brightcrown.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Arbor Cosmica</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> ~ for my children</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No fear, no hate, not even a mild dislike*—</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we leave our heavy burdens, shards of memories</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">broken, all too broken, at the bottom of crystal stairs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">beneath clouds of white camellias, petals swirling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">through air like the snow of forgetfulness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perfect symmetry of blossoms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">points the way—up, up, always up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rainbow crystal stairs, revealed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one by one as we ascend—inwards,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">outwards—dancing spirals of our DNA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We get to know this place—these depths,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">these heights—for once, for all lifetimes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With each step, pure notes resonate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and expand into clear, spacious chords—</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the music of the spheres rings out, wave by wave</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">expanding from our open hearts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each chord—harmonious, different—</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">each melody in this vast symphony</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sweetly twines around another, and another</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">until all are One Song, One Wisdom—</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of stem and flower, of leaf and root</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in this Cosmic Tree of humanity</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Arbor Cosmica—</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have been here</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all along without knowing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First published in the <i>California Quarterly</i> 46:4, 2020.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmPjZ0R_osGVyqvxsmK1e3IPStYJhrRfCKsKm7Zz9nZkUY9FXRSnqmJqUBnzlgbqbvAKBcslUB6-YkoJhIBJUpHLMIqADLhsO8CvlTeekLdV3ooOJovNBeuwVn_D-T-dka9W07UBgJnX8lsGo-pawXqxf3FwV2p8a8v5d8-vHNIQq0zJ0WQYNt6izqQ/s990/8%20Beach%20Sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="990" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmPjZ0R_osGVyqvxsmK1e3IPStYJhrRfCKsKm7Zz9nZkUY9FXRSnqmJqUBnzlgbqbvAKBcslUB6-YkoJhIBJUpHLMIqADLhsO8CvlTeekLdV3ooOJovNBeuwVn_D-T-dka9W07UBgJnX8lsGo-pawXqxf3FwV2p8a8v5d8-vHNIQq0zJ0WQYNt6izqQ/w400-h310/8%20Beach%20Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More information about this book: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/05/maja-trochimczyks-new-volume-of.html">https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/05/maja-trochimczyks-new-volume-of.html</a></div></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-46670284315727248272022-04-27T12:16:00.007-07:002022-05-07T11:09:21.419-07:00Memorial Day Celebration with RG Cantalupo's "Remembrances" May 22, 2022, 4:30pm, Zoom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7lmQamLRdNH4BmMmW03EegIm6O0SByBhVGSIVoLcw_IVw1PgaAG5jAbGBwKl_gmZ1xEyA64HtNt2JoVIgmb4DyepADbvJaj2GIhqRpb3_67BNWGF8yvV_kH3P3DJ_Yhh2X8VamjFdRehpGpE9486F56_d51vR2_-bLHCM4vx6sar0zautDKBw0_AOg/s3264/IMG_9088.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7lmQamLRdNH4BmMmW03EegIm6O0SByBhVGSIVoLcw_IVw1PgaAG5jAbGBwKl_gmZ1xEyA64HtNt2JoVIgmb4DyepADbvJaj2GIhqRpb3_67BNWGF8yvV_kH3P3DJ_Yhh2X8VamjFdRehpGpE9486F56_d51vR2_-bLHCM4vx6sar0zautDKBw0_AOg/w400-h300/IMG_9088.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga will celebrate the Veterans in a Memorial-Day-themed reading by poet RG Cantalupo who will present a new book, "Remembrances" on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 4:30 pm on Zoom. The reading's open mic section will include poets from the California Quarterly vol. 48 no. 1, spring 2022, edited by Maja Trochimczyk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>ABOUT THE POET</b></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">rg cantalupo is a poet, playwright,
filmmaker, novelist, and director. His work has been published widely in
literary journals in the United States, England, and Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> He
graduated from UC Santa Cruz where he studied under such luminaries as George
Hitchcock, editor of Kayak, Gregory Bateson, and Norman O. Brown, and received
his MFA in Poetry and Non-Fiction from Vermont College of the Fine Arts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> His
books of poetry include <u>Involving Residence,</u> </span><u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">No Thanks</span></u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">, </span><u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">Walking Water On Earth</span></u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">,
</span><u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">The Art of Naming</span></u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">,
<u>Remembrances</u>, and </span><u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">The
Endurance: Journey To Worlds End, (a lyric novel)</span></u><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> He is also the author of <u>You
Don’t Know Me</u>, (a five book young adult series), <u>The Light Where Shadows
End</u>, and <u>The Shadows In Which We Rise</u>, memoirs, <u>American Patriot</u>,
<u>Surviving Covid</u>, and a number of plays and stage adaptations including
the musical versions of <u>The Giving Tree</u> and <u>Where The Wild Things Are</u>.
He is the Founder and Artistic Director of <u>Stages</u> in Santa Monica, a
performing arts center. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> </span><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">He served in the 25<sup>th</sup>
Infantry Division as an RTO, radio operator, for an infantry company from
1968-69 and received three purple hearts and a Bronze Star with a Combat V for
Valor Under Fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> His
books can be purchased through New World Publishers or through the author at </span><a href="mailto:rgcantalupo@gmail.com"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">rgcantalupo@gmail.com</span></a><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face=""BaskOldFace",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: BaskOldFace;"> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkMKUh6ddzBsTJ0ocAIhWO_lQnNRgv96d8fuE11eTL1IuUT2Hz7vaqTz3Tc9ylG6eShCKIHJu8vDhOCLy4wxuB623LrkJjk9_QcXPBwujYSmBxMEu-E4rSryp6FnWLyTwz6VwVYsSIsQqI7aFCEplkWK7KzWNqKT92hvZG1MrxnjdWKLVwkt4ndOhQg/s300/cantalupo.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="300" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkMKUh6ddzBsTJ0ocAIhWO_lQnNRgv96d8fuE11eTL1IuUT2Hz7vaqTz3Tc9ylG6eShCKIHJu8vDhOCLy4wxuB623LrkJjk9_QcXPBwujYSmBxMEu-E4rSryp6FnWLyTwz6VwVYsSIsQqI7aFCEplkWK7KzWNqKT92hvZG1MrxnjdWKLVwkt4ndOhQg/w320-h315/cantalupo.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rg cantalupo (aka Ross Canton)</div><br /><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Links to YouTube Videos of RG Cantalupo's poetry:</span></p><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/0dYkIgUoZAg&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw1OcMqg6a2qYCxjuF3D69Ll" href="https://youtu.be/0dYkIgUoZAg" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/<wbr></wbr>0dYkIgUoZAg</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/2u6EnF79zB4&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw1AHSf0L27qdyq5QOsJ1TWP" href="https://youtu.be/2u6EnF79zB4" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/2u6EnF79zB4</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/ss0NytxMO5w&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw0SV0jXxyLKveeMaJ-qSD8X" href="https://youtu.be/ss0NytxMO5w" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/ss0NytxMO5w</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/b86h3n7KW_U&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw0BVXtTPiUPOHuAa1_z1ZyB" href="https://youtu.be/b86h3n7KW_U" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/b86h3n7KW_U</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/HWHs8FzVzNk&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw1sHJmqDRk5mhI3ghdyQxxO" href="https://youtu.be/HWHs8FzVzNk" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/HWHs8FzVzNk</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/bdA1VnRrb4Q&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw0ihwFdecarnAzjJIErmwCZ" href="https://youtu.be/bdA1VnRrb4Q" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/bdA1VnRrb4Q</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/hW9MIozM4F8&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw3ZJyh5L7To2tzM0zA4TkGo" href="https://youtu.be/hW9MIozM4F8" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/hW9MIozM4F8</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/9BRaPAyV-to&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw00yKWb-GzAACZ1dmzD4oU7" href="https://youtu.be/9BRaPAyV-to" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/9BRaPAyV-to</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/bsqN_Vv-tVs&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw3HF4DlgW2DsC_wexZADMJE" href="https://youtu.be/bsqN_Vv-tVs" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/bsqN_Vv-tVs</span></a></li><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/oSeSYHzbXK8&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw3hKjtE0gU4l3KV3Rsz-V4P" href="https://youtu.be/oSeSYHzbXK8" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">https://youtu.be/oSeSYHzbXK8</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/zIwXmt1qCJA&source=gmail&ust=1651366336024000&usg=AOvVaw1kzHGkZODygsm0Mfv4AYs_" href="https://youtu.be/zIwXmt1qCJA" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/zIwXmt1qCJA</a></span> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></li></ul></div><p><b>A SAMPLE POEM</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><b><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Want</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">Baby San</span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> wanted horses</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">mostly, Mustangs and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">Appaloosas, a small ranch</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">outside Tucson with a good</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">woman and a few sons.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">Devil</span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> wanted his girlfriend</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">to take this morning’s letter</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">back, for it to be the way</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">it was that last night </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">when she called out his name—</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">”Demond!”</span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">—Demond, the name </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">he had before he left <i>The </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">World</span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">. I wanted to finish </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">school and write about</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">our days here, this day </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">and the ones before, us </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">simmering Spaghetti C’s </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">over heat tabs and drinking </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">our six free beers in the bunker’s </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">dusty shade, the crackle of </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">green bullets igniting the air </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">outside—far away now as we </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">sat and drank and lied and </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">killed the day, each of us </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">wanting what we knew </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">we couldn’t have, till it was </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">time to go and one by one </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">we stood up and stepped</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">through the blinding doorway,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; margin: 0in 0in 0in 2in;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">and disappeared into the light.</span></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>A</b><b>BOUT <i>REMEMBRANCES</i> (2022)</b></p><p>The poet provided the following description about his new book <i>Remembrances</i> (4/29/2022): "Some memories never die. Some memories are indelibly imprinted on our lives—moments of love, moments of overwhelming grief, of terror, of intense pain, of breathtaking happiness. And some moments change our lives forever. This is a book of such moments, remembered as best I can, shared in the only way I know. They are the moments that make up the story of my life." </p><p>Here are a few excerpts from the book: </p><p><b><u>From “Remembrances”</u></b></p><p>“If I could fill this body that each day ferries me through this world with only the moments I love, these would be among them. For my life isn’t like a boat, or a river, but these memories I carry inside me as I tread upstream or downstream toward tomorrow—these remembrances I cherish more than the traumatic ones that each day I must endeavor to forget.”</p><p><b><u>From “Prisoner of War”</u></b></p><p>“The night terrors ended—one night, or maybe over many nights—bleeding out till there was nothing left but fragments like the shrapnel that kept rising to the surface of my skin. Even the names—Lonny, Devil, Spike, Lee—faded into echoes, and then were gone. </p><p>I pressed them onto rice paper at The Wall once, and put them between the pages of a book like dead flowers, but they’re gone too, lost, along with the book, sometime during the days when I kept moving to forget where I’d been.”</p><p><b><u>From “Listening Post, December 23rd, 1968”</u></b></p><p>“Out here, gazing up at a trillion flickering stars, I could be anyone.</p><p>I could be who I was ten months ago, lying under a sycamore in Monterey, Janice snuggled beside me, just us, us and the stars, and the moon. </p><p>But no, I’m here, my head pressed against a rice paddy dike, my face blackened, my eyes staring through a starlight scope. </p><p>And the universe is so much smaller. It barely reaches beyond the rubber trees around Trang Bang, or our perimeter of claymore mines.”</p><p><b><u>From The Second Time I Got Wounded”</u></b></p><p>“—and so, I stood and watched and commanded my frozen body to move, to stop shaking, to take that last step beyond my fear and go into the fire—until it was finally over, the rockets no longer falling, the explosions ended, the ground silent, and all that was left were the moans for “Medic! Medic!”—my body fearless now, my legs unfrozen, the last step into darkness taken—and I ran, ran to the same pit where two weeks later I would stand as another rocket spiraled down, exploding a few feet away, hurling me up into the air, lifting me so high my soul looked down upon me as I lay bleeding, moaning “Medic! Medic!” and praying someone would come…”</p><p><b><u>From “Peaches”</u></b></p><p>“One afternoon, her fingers touched mine as they moved over the gauze near my heart, and I clasped them in a lover’s embrace, just for a moment, one quick moment, and gone.</p><p>When I left a few weeks later for a hospital in Japan, her eyes moistened as her sad hand waved goodbye.</p><p>Every now and then I still see her, her deep, brown eyes studying mine,as I gritted through her pain and my own. </p><p>I saved the letters I wrote in Yokohama.</p><p>I never knew where to send them.”</p><p><b><u>From “Forgiveness”</u></b></p><p>“I could’ve gone to jail for life to save a life, instead of pulling the trigger for death. Because there was no reason really, no justification for being there, for invading, or searching, or destroying their lives. </p><p>But I didn’t.</p><p>I made a choice. </p><p>I obeyed. </p><p>And so, I ask for forgiveness. Not from some indifferent God, nor the blue sky, nor these white walls, nor this heart that beats like a mantra every day inside me. </p><p>But from my friend Teresa, from her and her family, and all the Vietnamese I’ve known…”</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGO4GLv9yS9b4eb_lkRh-tj5e6ZWJKX0hEOuJ8kUIVeXIr30Ym9tCZstWFeFKzjPtMRPboywyLlmUf092ogJcrw8hjTFCrnMyrn0Rpui3a1rnPoeawRMrWJdzdPqD0NpI7ZE9UoUmD3jbULfp2hPXvAQujMop-CsLkchbTZIt_8zP_nI_6YQ42Y3UxA/s2048/IMG_4948.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2048" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGO4GLv9yS9b4eb_lkRh-tj5e6ZWJKX0hEOuJ8kUIVeXIr30Ym9tCZstWFeFKzjPtMRPboywyLlmUf092ogJcrw8hjTFCrnMyrn0Rpui3a1rnPoeawRMrWJdzdPqD0NpI7ZE9UoUmD3jbULfp2hPXvAQujMop-CsLkchbTZIt_8zP_nI_6YQ42Y3UxA/w400-h299/IMG_4948.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>CALIFORNIA QUARTERLY SPRING 2022 ISSUE: VOL. 48 NO. 1</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the open mic sections of this reading, we invite poets published in the California Quarterly vol. 48 no. 1, spring 2022, edited by Maja Trochimczyk to join us at this reading and present their poems. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Table of contents of the issue may be found on CSPS Blog:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2022/02/contents-of-california-quarterly-48-no.html">https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2022/02/contents-of-california-quarterly-48-no.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmLwO8KpxmL0nBVQ9nMGxwr3aeacPN_yvL2YLZMN1DN2RUKLFqEWgYYqQdWBforFshyfavLQVfZLt1iR9QD3q1aMa_BogcKgFFGGuzBQClAge11o-14DcqeZTx_fK9tdz6sDw7Vhu1YRI-h69rMtmVAu11UU_Xana79T3FxeClkoWCGWmU8dQQHHlIw/s5823/CQ%20Vol%2048%20No%201%20Cover%20(Front).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5823" data-original-width="3768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmLwO8KpxmL0nBVQ9nMGxwr3aeacPN_yvL2YLZMN1DN2RUKLFqEWgYYqQdWBforFshyfavLQVfZLt1iR9QD3q1aMa_BogcKgFFGGuzBQClAge11o-14DcqeZTx_fK9tdz6sDw7Vhu1YRI-h69rMtmVAu11UU_Xana79T3FxeClkoWCGWmU8dQQHHlIw/w259-h400/CQ%20Vol%2048%20No%201%20Cover%20(Front).jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-77096080068328631632022-04-13T08:01:00.002-07:002022-04-27T13:03:30.143-07:00Raphael Block - Featured Poet on April 24, 2022, at 4:30 pm on Zoom <p></p><span><p style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4aqOt7cGmnY4NUX2FHpqabj5c-9Zp5WN4BCCe0ZQsEDGr_lll4GlJQNcAUrGcQCsCb79xcXQJeAeHJ6lhmfSqq_UpRBEMNDIXZBqzwSDU5tlv6GSpB-slZQbJzryUnIB6qn2u-DS3MLSaGkdNiHg9Wz4uDNGyoBBCgr95xaQnQEEfNU3k49JE297-Q/s4032/IMG_2110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4aqOt7cGmnY4NUX2FHpqabj5c-9Zp5WN4BCCe0ZQsEDGr_lll4GlJQNcAUrGcQCsCb79xcXQJeAeHJ6lhmfSqq_UpRBEMNDIXZBqzwSDU5tlv6GSpB-slZQbJzryUnIB6qn2u-DS3MLSaGkdNiHg9Wz4uDNGyoBBCgr95xaQnQEEfNU3k49JE297-Q/w400-h300/IMG_2110.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">YouTube Video from the Reading:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2T0yO4oT1I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2T0yO4oT1I</a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />On Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 4:30 pm, Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga present their Monthly Poetry Reading on Zoom, featuring Northern California Poet, Raphael Block. The links are emailed to our email list by Dorothy Skiles, DMHSkiles@gmail.com. </span><p></p><p style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">April 22, 1970 was the first Earth Day to celebrate our planet and make sure it stays healthy and whole, by reducing human-caused pollution and damage to our environment and all living beings. Plastics and now, masks, fill the oceans and wash up on the beaches. The groundwaters are full of chemicals in many places. The air was so bad with smog in some areas, people were forced to stay home. Even "environmentally-friendly" wind turbines are massive killers of birds and their huge blades are not recyclable... Mr. Block is keenly interested in these topics, hence he is a great choice for our reading on April 24, 2022.</span></p><p style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20aqaTIbDcIM5-Ke6gkbqty_AvT_SfYcSFE-4T74fEEnX3e5URhMrbPOHxCX1zGymNsp0ubCOnMOAPJmfgFavupaWBgU1ixqEi7QwMqNk8tcILe6A1wJZrBuImMbyCraALsh8aGwAfyaS6nYXlIrF1_UznNJ20P77AtLrhyEQIkRavihAS2zbMO0h4A/s3024/Bio-pic%203-21%20ed%203-22.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="3024" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20aqaTIbDcIM5-Ke6gkbqty_AvT_SfYcSFE-4T74fEEnX3e5URhMrbPOHxCX1zGymNsp0ubCOnMOAPJmfgFavupaWBgU1ixqEi7QwMqNk8tcILe6A1wJZrBuImMbyCraALsh8aGwAfyaS6nYXlIrF1_UznNJ20P77AtLrhyEQIkRavihAS2zbMO0h4A/w400-h331/Bio-pic%203-21%20ed%203-22.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="font-size: x-large;">Raphael's Block's poetry, infused with spirit, speaks to earth's call for a heartfelt response to our ecological crisis. Born on a kibbutz, he spent his boyhood playing on the hills of Haifa. His family returned to London as he turned nine, where learning British English shaped his ear for sound. In 1993 he moved to Northern California with his American wife and their daughter. His wife died from cancer in 2002, and for the following years he feels it was his privilege to raise their child.</div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: x-large;">Raphael worked with children of all ages for almost 30 years. Since 2008, a life-threatening illness, Crohn's, has played a major role in intensifying his appreciation and gratitude for the moments of each day. </div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: x-large;">He is the author of <i>Songs from a Small Universe</i> (2009), <i>Spangling Darkness</i> (2014), <i>Strings of Shining Silence: Earth-Love Poems</i> (2017), and<i> At This Table</i> (2020).</div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Raphael produces the monthly</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://raphaelblock.com/earth-love-newsletter/">Earth-Love Newsletter</a></span></i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">which can be viewed at <a href="http://raphaelblock.com" target="_blank">raphaelblock.com </a>along with a National Geographic selected 5-minute documentary.</span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDai8Ikqal12A_BwoYV-XSqAVxJkkBvQyGeB3d3mRAFujdx5Ql0BXKdXWBU6_d2zyAGtE411Wpeb34tkTnU5s8YHa9GrXXzBQhlU3UvEt8DS8Rxg9_lw2THyBPiOwZ7auVTSYR6bgRQ-_GWJ_EbOO-YY6xL_Reaf9fGSbv3OaCMZp7-iwwmZk-8hLyw/s459/strings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDai8Ikqal12A_BwoYV-XSqAVxJkkBvQyGeB3d3mRAFujdx5Ql0BXKdXWBU6_d2zyAGtE411Wpeb34tkTnU5s8YHa9GrXXzBQhlU3UvEt8DS8Rxg9_lw2THyBPiOwZ7auVTSYR6bgRQ-_GWJ_EbOO-YY6xL_Reaf9fGSbv3OaCMZp7-iwwmZk-8hLyw/w210-h320/strings.jpg" width="210" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vJTWYOKnZf4trquYOKdERSTYSyvmITLabt3a0VmiiLWP0CXNP6rgwUU2P7cCPOXY0ou41iUNSYSeTo4BXLuIo5NqyXOkRqwTjlhoK3fQRrlHtSbpK_8J2dGJjFBfK8VMXX5zrIJiAwCHJsawuGSm9ifC2hf40hlr-TMfJ5nVjwHPi6GnGXmtJnj09A/s456/table.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vJTWYOKnZf4trquYOKdERSTYSyvmITLabt3a0VmiiLWP0CXNP6rgwUU2P7cCPOXY0ou41iUNSYSeTo4BXLuIo5NqyXOkRqwTjlhoK3fQRrlHtSbpK_8J2dGJjFBfK8VMXX5zrIJiAwCHJsawuGSm9ifC2hf40hlr-TMfJ5nVjwHPi6GnGXmtJnj09A/w211-h320/table.jpg" width="211" /></a></div></div></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> This Table</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">How amazing is this day!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> The spider's web casts its shadow</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>play, lilies sing in sprays, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> redwoods and broad oaks hold sway.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Ripe berries for beaks and lips,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> patches of white lace—all set</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>on this delicate plate. We,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> at your table, but guests.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyYc4rJfsFXINpm5iD2Wn2mEQ0VMnmF_3ynBESz_WiK3sUi0hQSspPtN65T0M_5lQKs9qSjW7nhOk0AC1YxBeFnffYA9wZO8hSwbYfSEGMFID8OJzA_XF5kYZKamZZPK3pNbug-XONkXfDJw2RHqLn7iztrZA1vIw2vlc4MGBI-9SxLLZH3U3Ucxn_g/s387/songs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyYc4rJfsFXINpm5iD2Wn2mEQ0VMnmF_3ynBESz_WiK3sUi0hQSspPtN65T0M_5lQKs9qSjW7nhOk0AC1YxBeFnffYA9wZO8hSwbYfSEGMFID8OJzA_XF5kYZKamZZPK3pNbug-XONkXfDJw2RHqLn7iztrZA1vIw2vlc4MGBI-9SxLLZH3U3Ucxn_g/w259-h400/songs.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-24382535762672513782022-03-14T11:19:00.007-07:002022-04-15T14:31:41.761-07:00Pamela Shea Passes the Laurels to ST 10th Poet Laureate Alice Pero on April 9, 2022<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3wmrNFFEd-ruc-ZrIvNLOsbGfdIuQXrVtj2VPTN-HECMxycVrhBx6vDzfz7XUHCBr7EJYtHMmiaHLs0EwLOrmB1RqPBwahmK6Qz-ElsoYrk3314ShVbHiQITICSomIXHgZikezb-CeOw3bCK6qNTlVfBBDeZ22AIMm4iOta3TkoNN0-a0aiEjXJnJ3g=s1936" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1936" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3wmrNFFEd-ruc-ZrIvNLOsbGfdIuQXrVtj2VPTN-HECMxycVrhBx6vDzfz7XUHCBr7EJYtHMmiaHLs0EwLOrmB1RqPBwahmK6Qz-ElsoYrk3314ShVbHiQITICSomIXHgZikezb-CeOw3bCK6qNTlVfBBDeZ22AIMm4iOta3TkoNN0-a0aiEjXJnJ3g=w400-h310" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">SUNLAND-TUJUNGA INDUCTS NEW POET LAUREATE, ALICE PERO</span></b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b> What: </b>"Passing of the Laurels" Ceremony for Alice Pero </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> When: </span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Saturday, April 9, 2022 1:00 – 4:00 pm</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b> Where: </b>Dayton Sculpture Garden, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">10755 Art Street, Sunland 91040</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Post by Maja Trochimczyk including material from two articles by Joe DeCenzo</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL2kMoR5Gj8SHuvv8i3zEqPLUtJqeYfGPj_ib6dqwJKBLB78Fla5MWZnENMrYg9_xLxocl6oFNru-3LP-T6UJi81C3ub4ZQDE9E0bwHzYGzB9F8Z0-fNoFfHalDftZXdQObJmEEJpBfliAH_czSuihr3LhvQlPqgk4VjkQhTftQmwk_6N-ZxGEaV4_RA=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL2kMoR5Gj8SHuvv8i3zEqPLUtJqeYfGPj_ib6dqwJKBLB78Fla5MWZnENMrYg9_xLxocl6oFNru-3LP-T6UJi81C3ub4ZQDE9E0bwHzYGzB9F8Z0-fNoFfHalDftZXdQObJmEEJpBfliAH_czSuihr3LhvQlPqgk4VjkQhTftQmwk_6N-ZxGEaV4_RA=w400-h265" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">On April 9, 2022, writer, teacher and musician Alice Pero will be inducted as Sunland-Tujunga’s new Poet Laureate. The ceremony known as the “Passing of the Laurels” honors a writer of distinguished class and distinct voice who has displayed love and admiration for their local area. The “laurels” refer to the honorary wreath awarded to ancient Greek poets and heroes for their achievements. The "Passing" will be conducted by 9th Poet Laureate Pamela Shea (2017-2020). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate program was established in 1999 to honor the legacy of John Steven McGroarty who served as California State poet laureate form 1933-44. He was a poet, playwright and author who, for 40 years penned a column for the <i>Los Angeles Times</i> titled "Seen From The Green Verdugo Hills." His former home at 7570 McGroarty Terrace in Tujunga was donated to the City of Los Angeles and now serves as the local Arts Center. It is managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and has been closed to the public since March of 2020 due to the pandemic and remains closed pending the lifting of all COVID-19 restrictions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ms. Pero was actually elected to her new post in 2020, but her official induction has been postponed on several occasions as a result of county health mandates. While the McGroarty Arts Center, the customary host of the “Passing of the Laurels” ceremony, is unavailable, the former home of late artist and sculptor Wendell Dayton will open its gates to the public for this prestigious event. It’s a recognizable and lovely location surrounded by an outdoor sculptor garden in the Shadow Hills section of Sunland. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj1wyOcSuIxj-UuA-74ysO-h05DOglilhelSUB0xCMUltN8TsD1uyPqLErcz93WqmreVqbONwexKw-PchFx2rAm_K5FDpI_ikrlrBwOOf1fHpjwttE0rJ_Ms4ihmqcfCiChV97_z1wneZHVBLMpn7zCINzbT1q7D_LMdjviiD42yz8-s_M5RVWQNqdWA=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj1wyOcSuIxj-UuA-74ysO-h05DOglilhelSUB0xCMUltN8TsD1uyPqLErcz93WqmreVqbONwexKw-PchFx2rAm_K5FDpI_ikrlrBwOOf1fHpjwttE0rJ_Ms4ihmqcfCiChV97_z1wneZHVBLMpn7zCINzbT1q7D_LMdjviiD42yz8-s_M5RVWQNqdWA=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ABOUT ALICE PERO</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a poet, Ms. Pero began giving public readings of her work in 1984. She has performed her work in dozens of venues in New York State, Austin and Los Angeles. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">For more than 15 years Alice Pero has called Sunland-Tujunga home. “I have absorbed the spirit of the desert wash, the plants, animals and birds and they have all become part of my poetry.” When further asked what she finds unique about the foothill surroundings, Ms. Pero said “Unlike the crowed rush of the cities I have lived in, there is space and a connection to living things here.” Not all are familiar with the title of Poet Laureate or what they do for a community. Ms. Pero explains, “A poet feels the pulse of the city, the people and all of nature. The program elevates the cultural level of the people it serves and honors the poet who has the traditional role of lifting hearts and soothing souls.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ms. Pero’s poetry has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including <i>National Poetry Review, California Quarterly, We Are Here, Coiled Serpent and Altadena Poetry Review. </i>Her first book of poetry<i> Thawed Stars</i> was praised by renowned poet Kenneth Koch as having “clarity and surprises.” She is the founder of the Windsong Players Chamber Ensemble and the ongoing poetry reading series “Moonday” which, since 2002, has featured published poets on both East and West sides of Los Angeles including a nine-year run at the Flintridge Bookstore in La Cañada. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuHU38b5EcA_KJTTr7Tb7NF0gDv7hGz9106cUN7ZzEpt654Daxa4yyLCBYLR7FXVlSJ3wWLQjWw3Rh5GR1p12Nn6hIr6Gm6VbxWODOATiRupF_5UQFLiRqWv1ItAD5xK90DbecnZXfgCO6foP3cn6krP-oTA2N3ssr5MMeEfpU6vJ3MGnCf3wIwhb3dg=s614" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuHU38b5EcA_KJTTr7Tb7NF0gDv7hGz9106cUN7ZzEpt654Daxa4yyLCBYLR7FXVlSJ3wWLQjWw3Rh5GR1p12Nn6hIr6Gm6VbxWODOATiRupF_5UQFLiRqWv1ItAD5xK90DbecnZXfgCO6foP3cn6krP-oTA2N3ssr5MMeEfpU6vJ3MGnCf3wIwhb3dg=s320" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a member of California Poets in the Schools, she is committed to the creative development of children. “For years I worked in inner city schools as a volunteer tutor and poetry workshop leader with mostly Hispanic children in South Central L.A. as well as the underserved areas of Brooklyn and Staten Island, NY,” says Ms. Pero. When speaking of her mission as new Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate she confidently states “Awakening the creative spirit in children of all races and ethnicities is paramount as these children are our future.”</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Despite being held in the “on-deck circle,” Ms. Pero who is not one to languish continues to promote poetry and literacy through Zoom meetings, continued publications and the founding of a Poet-In-Residence program at Fair Oaks Academy. She is eager to begin her term of service as Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate as restrictions for gatherings are lifted. “It’ll be wonderful to once again have live readings and workshops in libraries and schools,” exclaims Ms. Pero. “Sunland-Tujunga is unique having nurtured a poet laureate program for 20 years. What other municipality can boast of this?”</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk66k_QDOtHXLyZggzEYbDYPgOgazHT6P0eR28TXgvSmHtgu-TDXi1UnGPquTyYF7pV0Qpke71GZ-tibZj8qnA_HPTkfuHofyMx8d_sOV9Q2w-jFJjpv-vmSipJHnPtkQCa-POSwgr2LJwgkzZMluIGrNhlLxgMG5QuqtRigDSmRLuWpNq34WgO0CYMQ=s2556" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk66k_QDOtHXLyZggzEYbDYPgOgazHT6P0eR28TXgvSmHtgu-TDXi1UnGPquTyYF7pV0Qpke71GZ-tibZj8qnA_HPTkfuHofyMx8d_sOV9Q2w-jFJjpv-vmSipJHnPtkQCa-POSwgr2LJwgkzZMluIGrNhlLxgMG5QuqtRigDSmRLuWpNq34WgO0CYMQ=w231-h400" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Since 2020 Ms. Pero has served on the board of the California State Poetry Society as Chair of Monthly Poetry Contests. In addition to Thawed Stars, she published a poetic dialogue with Elsa Frausto dedicated to <i>Sunland Park. </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her newest book, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Beyond Birds and Answers, </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">written as a dialogue with New York artist Vera Campion, has been featured in two reviews in the <i>Poetry Letter</i> no. 4, 2021, by Toti O'Brien and Neal Leadbeater. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2022/01/poetry-letter-no-4-2021-reviews-of.html">https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2022/01/poetry-letter-no-4-2021-reviews-of.html</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfZk4UaXW7b13ST8tjMLmglmiESgPBZeXEvCEmOqiEgzI-0o0zCSo7jQoWOzmSLFvrRcUR3F04NQZlScR-QlkuYUwJYqi-npWIKhPJLDoia-QjYmNXEIIrXDK_BLAF0LnXtl814UZTZt5CDEoWMvwfeud9ZXHSk-YwSmN5UuYawuoUFqEwYmi2xRXl5w=s1166" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1102" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfZk4UaXW7b13ST8tjMLmglmiESgPBZeXEvCEmOqiEgzI-0o0zCSo7jQoWOzmSLFvrRcUR3F04NQZlScR-QlkuYUwJYqi-npWIKhPJLDoia-QjYmNXEIIrXDK_BLAF0LnXtl814UZTZt5CDEoWMvwfeud9ZXHSk-YwSmN5UuYawuoUFqEwYmi2xRXl5w=s320" width="302" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can find out more about Alice Pero's views on poetry, music, and creativity in the interview published on the Shoutout LA website: </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <a href="https://shoutoutla.com/meet-alice-pero-flutist-poet-poetry-teacher/">https://shoutoutla.com/meet-alice-pero-flutist-poet-poetry-teacher/</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhazSymvmHQo2HreIM31DzcA4TfGfr4OWLTCAa8mM8WfH22igYYwkoajK53iz7j8WsK5Qdxy2bc5tk9KJHlxo-YVsXIPCdh03jts8inLAOt7XlsXtnRklydQ-IWx3deDhqM4NeeoUJ0T-YhEKa0obd3ji6C6lz7k5mPhWGmKgV4hQRIcd-BnlYzi3LM1A=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhazSymvmHQo2HreIM31DzcA4TfGfr4OWLTCAa8mM8WfH22igYYwkoajK53iz7j8WsK5Qdxy2bc5tk9KJHlxo-YVsXIPCdh03jts8inLAOt7XlsXtnRklydQ-IWx3deDhqM4NeeoUJ0T-YhEKa0obd3ji6C6lz7k5mPhWGmKgV4hQRIcd-BnlYzi3LM1A=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wendell Dayton walking through his sculpture garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ABOUT THE SITE</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Wendell Dayton Sculpture Garden is a private cultural site in development honoring the work and memory of American sculptor Wendell Dayton (1938-2019) and located in Sunland on Art Street. Dayton was a local artist who created sculpture for six decades and gained critical acclaim at the age of 80, when his rich oeuvre was celebrated by major galleries, institutions (including LACMA), and the arts media. The site is managed by the Wendell Dayton Foundation and plans for exhibition and performance spaces are in progress. </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.56)" face="adobe-garamond-pro" style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://wendelldayton.org/about" target="_blank"> https://wendelldayton.org/about</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsaq4HSYEC9nIV96lrxNMiButbWm1IW5QBGHiuOpNnZ02BIYhGm6nth30sQO20ZfVADT0bhrf85ZqvRHEJXseDC7C3gtXaa_wd_nquZQHTxUwtlBFkHV__YcvYKgsAs9_wEYLDSys4he0pRi0rtqGNf6EuvP4Rbxaef9l5AT4vpWgL1wWUUQV3ClAOjg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsaq4HSYEC9nIV96lrxNMiButbWm1IW5QBGHiuOpNnZ02BIYhGm6nth30sQO20ZfVADT0bhrf85ZqvRHEJXseDC7C3gtXaa_wd_nquZQHTxUwtlBFkHV__YcvYKgsAs9_wEYLDSys4he0pRi0rtqGNf6EuvP4Rbxaef9l5AT4vpWgL1wWUUQV3ClAOjg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the sculptures, orange and oak trees seen from Art Street.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>PAMELA SHEA, POET LAUREATE REFLECTS ON HER TERM OF SERVICE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Article by Joe DeCenzo</b></span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJpOPm3JnbBb7iUPJt8J-e-8Q4DxmJWf1FqjIY1FyccULC4f5f8oCIJ7VFR0PqxQJqMvl3D32TfpGLqOSSGA_3pF9yEXy4jcl_MDPwtIlLUtWHHc3ZgckeTUqNDDUKvS--UgfBP8MlnaFotcY_owFjMd9cOCcY1wLx0EOatq1DXSCC0HXOQq4sBEdKpQ=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJpOPm3JnbBb7iUPJt8J-e-8Q4DxmJWf1FqjIY1FyccULC4f5f8oCIJ7VFR0PqxQJqMvl3D32TfpGLqOSSGA_3pF9yEXy4jcl_MDPwtIlLUtWHHc3ZgckeTUqNDDUKvS--UgfBP8MlnaFotcY_owFjMd9cOCcY1wLx0EOatq1DXSCC0HXOQq4sBEdKpQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Writer Pamela Shea is nearing the end of her term of service as Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga. For her last official act, she will provide a public reading of some of her cherished work on April 9, 2022, where she will place the laurel wreath on the head of newly elected laureate Alice Pero. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ms. Shea was raised in the foothills community of La Crescenta and studied at the University of Redlands. She later moved to Sunland and proudly raised three children while drawing inspiration from nature that surrounds the area. The triumph and strife of relationships and family were the fuel that “ignited her pen” while she developed her writing en route to her election as 9th poet laureate of Sunland-Tujunga in 2017.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBdFeBEKujv3lNyk8rj_DGrPCegzEn2bOGbyS1vkLu6gNZGRoYsmrlQxByVvumUIEcHZGomGEP7LoAcO_Hsj_Ght6zv-cCJoT5uT7DiSMc39sMG87Ekefo859AWt2le0m0G8Uawb7nCMn6gqywp0tsBvXzKBOGsRvFOvmZi6fqJz1eb2e48fGoWRcZqA=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="400" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBdFeBEKujv3lNyk8rj_DGrPCegzEn2bOGbyS1vkLu6gNZGRoYsmrlQxByVvumUIEcHZGomGEP7LoAcO_Hsj_Ght6zv-cCJoT5uT7DiSMc39sMG87Ekefo859AWt2le0m0G8Uawb7nCMn6gqywp0tsBvXzKBOGsRvFOvmZi6fqJz1eb2e48fGoWRcZqA=w400-h295" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Village Poets with Pamela Shea at her "Passing of the Laurels" ceremony in 2017. Elsa Frausto, Dorothy Skiles, Marlene Hitt, Joe DeCenzo, Pamela Shea and Dr. Maja Trochimczyk</div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As Poet Laureate, she was committed to “taking poetry to the people” at many venues in and around the foothills community. In 2017, she honored the firefighters, volunteers and staff of the McGroarty Arts Center whose grounds and structures were threatened by the “La Tuna” fire that consumed 7,194 acres of the Verdugo Mountains. Being featured by the Windsong Players Chamber Ensemble was one of her fondest and most exciting memories. They accompanied her with dulcet music while the California Contemporary Ballet performed a captivating dance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">During her term, she helped coordinate and participated in the Gathering of California’s Poets Laureate in 2018 hosted by then California State poet laureate Dana Gioia. The event held at the McGroarty Arts Center assembled 63 current and former poets laureate from dozens of regions around the state. Near to her heart, in 2019, she was among the presenters at the Sunland-Tujunga library when they celebrated the life of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Friend of the Tuskegee Airmen on his 99th birthday. During her term, she published poetry in <i>California Quarterly, Altadena Review, Spectrum</i> and other poetry journals and sites. Her biography and several poems are also included in <i>We Are Here: Village Poets Anthology</i> edited by Dr. Maja Trochimczyk and Marlene Hitt to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Village Poets Monthly Readings. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz2BDbZbDxt4kBcf0ZXhqWpm20Ae-l3sOVvb4APy0a0Li9zR3jHHc4gXobt-b6nq1LKZIItT7cZly2RhveSLFF8RZS8PFJMoSfsjPUxgWDTcPSenJf3kSFJ4bu6RKnnyfCkKxQ2G8WM8u5wol1O7Gk-pGS5kpQV75UEXIdddJL09NLArlAtuVt2cdK2g=w266-h400" width="266" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://moonrisepress.com/village-poets-anthology.html">https://moonrisepress.com/village-poets-anthology.html</a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p>The title of poet laureate dates to ancient Greece when a laurel was used to form a crown of honor for poets and heroes. The mantle is bestowed on a writer who exhibits excellence in their craft with a body of work that brings insights and perspective to the human experience as well as emphasizing a love for the local area they represent. Serving as 9th Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga “was a dream come true for me,” says Ms. Shea. “It gave me confidence to expand my poetic style and submit my work for publication.” Community service is inherent in the post. The poet laureate is often asked to speak at public events or provide a dedication during auspicious moments. </p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">“I was proud to represent Sunland-Tujunga before the Los Angeles City Council and thrilled to write poems for the McGroarty Arts Center, Bolton Hall Museum and Verdugo Hills YMCA.” Her most emotional memory came in January of 2020 when she stood before the 150 year old oak tree at Sunland-Tujunga branch library and eulogized it on the eve of its removal. Steeped in the history of generations who enjoyed the beauty and shade of its sprawling bower, her poem spoke of its life and hope for the three small Coast Live Oaks that were planted in its place.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhagAI2vbtNGMMNpEKwc96fVEWp1MvTHSJuB0u856THt_WfpakwnqxS208ss68oSXMBiBGqxr0QCAuwTwt7i43wJWoer1QillQdEaAf4TEYdkHmAEEqoD81PhR3chkteFN6cMgS_QNydVta1go7cvivsfLsmGHdVOJsAMveWevAfGQU6c-y0WYFOhXnZQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhagAI2vbtNGMMNpEKwc96fVEWp1MvTHSJuB0u856THt_WfpakwnqxS208ss68oSXMBiBGqxr0QCAuwTwt7i43wJWoer1QillQdEaAf4TEYdkHmAEEqoD81PhR3chkteFN6cMgS_QNydVta1go7cvivsfLsmGHdVOJsAMveWevAfGQU6c-y0WYFOhXnZQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View of Sunland-Tujunga from the Big Tujunga Wash, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo by Maja Trochimczyk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PHOTOS FROM PASSING OF THE LAURELS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The photos below were mostly taken by exceptionally talented Irene Kalents, some snapshots are from Facebook posts by Thelma Reyna and Maja Trochimczyk, taken by Izabella Zuralski and others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lAv9QE63yxGzrjdIAoXheCDJY-ADA-AuIR__Hh_ohdkVJN_OsFUu18Gf9LG24zKPKJndjzcUlC3TzYhVJdnRTZjxiiMZYlG1QiiQ1X5RcgkkDkIOx57FLdluWDWulk6uWRUcncsMPbN6nsx60cV_aY83413iBLy-XYs74I3Pwgt8cIrJ-_Azobu6aQ/s3600/DSC_4367R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="3600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lAv9QE63yxGzrjdIAoXheCDJY-ADA-AuIR__Hh_ohdkVJN_OsFUu18Gf9LG24zKPKJndjzcUlC3TzYhVJdnRTZjxiiMZYlG1QiiQ1X5RcgkkDkIOx57FLdluWDWulk6uWRUcncsMPbN6nsx60cV_aY83413iBLy-XYs74I3Pwgt8cIrJ-_Azobu6aQ/w400-h286/DSC_4367R.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5isFuWe2neKOF84p_ZtmU8WWCoLTg23aB5TjgDyJgjAEXg39sX1RpKKH-EYTRj6ouX3CIsVl4SqSK2Tez2TWr4WvCB8z-KTjpXnEKIsmpsPcdC1dQRiRk3WEQmVBQ4gOuOPBmmknuSMA--efEj6_9uGa7DYUoncRBwsQplDZxPX8NjD6FWTumOm76w/s3600/DSC_4889.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2649" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5isFuWe2neKOF84p_ZtmU8WWCoLTg23aB5TjgDyJgjAEXg39sX1RpKKH-EYTRj6ouX3CIsVl4SqSK2Tez2TWr4WvCB8z-KTjpXnEKIsmpsPcdC1dQRiRk3WEQmVBQ4gOuOPBmmknuSMA--efEj6_9uGa7DYUoncRBwsQplDZxPX8NjD6FWTumOm76w/w294-h400/DSC_4889.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Hki9mj2ZeGuKUzy0tg7OVRcwxoY2CPp2bvg-xXhpTEg9f5TXjlktANSxfHnWn4IUtjTNL5UpbEeK2D3OP9NLfJxednE0l4MlnJcgxtUtkPj9_Ecu_62q9ugFGS7Ry_RcedbHPf-vKzMJt9DSjHF8TF-iXvkci4QDMtwkPMB3Ii1SoQY5lxp49s0u8A/s3600/DSC_4327.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Hki9mj2ZeGuKUzy0tg7OVRcwxoY2CPp2bvg-xXhpTEg9f5TXjlktANSxfHnWn4IUtjTNL5UpbEeK2D3OP9NLfJxednE0l4MlnJcgxtUtkPj9_Ecu_62q9ugFGS7Ry_RcedbHPf-vKzMJt9DSjHF8TF-iXvkci4QDMtwkPMB3Ii1SoQY5lxp49s0u8A/w400-h266/DSC_4327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqS2r4SDjFLCAvUpI5UJQnV_8t7IG5zk5Eblu4Loox-c48r6LQEyXMJ8U6BisBdf5_tsaMUZ4WVCKpuOQtectJi1mM0eQeHwW02cJjNgy8zYSAONQ-kxMBfGhoKOAaurzD2ixrZSwYcHgnVa6EGWGx9qV4rAeQQQV30aFibWlyMsfcRV-_66NQBQvhA/s3600/DSC_4376R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-21780841984052521132022-03-01T11:07:00.009-08:002022-03-29T16:58:03.214-07:00Village Poets Present Featured Poet Hedy Habra, March 27, 2022 at 4:30pm<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoSlb-Z6HxJtKVLitEsbWaq8t4BxylzikNxbluBEe_pePvPEARxbgoeSSndm_LY8XOn4PibxkJZCmf1GRjP0dgt2SM-VDJWI88WpZBkaLEvwWh395LWV9PcWE-acioT-PDeuIgsfT3ex3o5bKJw09JLE-mdp2lRZ-N58ch8NT_OsZ6wg_cgO1rJUt8uA=s557" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoSlb-Z6HxJtKVLitEsbWaq8t4BxylzikNxbluBEe_pePvPEARxbgoeSSndm_LY8XOn4PibxkJZCmf1GRjP0dgt2SM-VDJWI88WpZBkaLEvwWh395LWV9PcWE-acioT-PDeuIgsfT3ex3o5bKJw09JLE-mdp2lRZ-N58ch8NT_OsZ6wg_cgO1rJUt8uA=s320" width="276" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">YouTube Video from the Reading: <a class="style-scope ytcp-video-info" href="https://youtu.be/esVpolXomyE" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/esVpolXomyE</a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga are pleased to present an amazing poet and artist from Michigan, Hedy Habra, to celebrate Women's Month of March 2022. The reading will take place online via Zoom, with links sent by Dorothy Skiles (DMHSkiles@gmail.com - request your link). Join us on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 4:30 pm.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Village Poets Monthly Readings include two segments of open mic for poets, typically reading two poems each, plus 30 minutes from one featured poet or 20 minutes each from two poets. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjviyXwuz6N87rIn-V8Hf4MPOuaWgHtcbgP_QOpXjtfcbXDWq6UmMSo30zX83GVSCDEI9lmrkFdLVzWn3ZCl6mRWs2-y75x7QlG7M4XVrp_KW-7mFTkeRt4DgS0cxW9lPvqfsPNeCWdoQ9FPVpUWkYjfunWToFNyixIvU-6VO9hLsvquH3WwC0T-dDljg=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjviyXwuz6N87rIn-V8Hf4MPOuaWgHtcbgP_QOpXjtfcbXDWq6UmMSo30zX83GVSCDEI9lmrkFdLVzWn3ZCl6mRWs2-y75x7QlG7M4XVrp_KW-7mFTkeRt4DgS0cxW9lPvqfsPNeCWdoQ9FPVpUWkYjfunWToFNyixIvU-6VO9hLsvquH3WwC0T-dDljg=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Hedy Habra </b>is a poet, artist and essayist. She has taught Spanish at Western Michigan University and is currently studying Mandarin. She has authored three poetry collections, more recently, <i>The Taste of the Earth</i> (Press 53 2019), Winner of the Silver Nautilus Book Award, Honorable Mention for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and Finalist for the Best Book Award. <i><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">Tea in Heliopolis</span></i><span style="color: #1d1d1d;"> won the Best Book Award and her ekphrastic collection, <i>Under Brushstrokes</i>, was finalist for the Best Book Award and the International Book Award. Her story collection, <i>Flying Carpets</i>, won the Arab American Book Award’s Honorable Mention and was finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award. Her book of criticism, <i>Mundos alternos y artísticos en Vargas Llosa</i>, examines the visual aspects of the Peruvian Nobel Prize Winner narrative. </span>A seventeen-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the net, and recipient of the Nazim Hikmet Award, her multilingual work appears in numerous journals and anthologies. She has just completed a poetry manuscript "Or Did You Ever See the Other Side?" inspired by women artists. <span style="color: blue;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hedyhabra.com/&source=gmail&ust=1646247202169000&usg=AOvVaw3gsKAgloGKrvFKRQqSW7Dr" href="https://www.hedyhabra.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.hedyhabra.com/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Habra has painted the artworks for her book covers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Information on her Books available at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hedyhabra.com/books/&source=gmail&ust=1646247202169000&usg=AOvVaw3qx_nRB4NSrlXggnxVuRR9" href="https://www.hedyhabra.com/books/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.hedyhabra.com/<wbr></wbr>books/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Book Reviews available at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hedyhabra.com/reviews/&source=gmail&ust=1646247202169000&usg=AOvVaw3bPxV_WOEA64VsrKUgON9u" href="https://www.hedyhabra.com/reviews/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.hedyhabra.com/<wbr></wbr>reviews/</a><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><u style="color: blue;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/the-taste-of-the-earth-by-hedy-habra&source=gmail&ust=1646247202169000&usg=AOvVaw2yp9K6HbIYrFY3S4t85E73" href="https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/the-taste-of-the-earth-by-hedy-habra" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.press53.com/<wbr></wbr>poetry-collections/the-taste-<wbr></wbr>of-the-earth-by-hedy-habra</span></a></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: blue;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/under-brushstrokes-by-hedy-habra&source=gmail&ust=1646247202169000&usg=AOvVaw2B0oy-IGncJcWJxQSTCVdJ" href="https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/under-brushstrokes-by-hedy-habra" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.press53.com/<wbr></wbr>poetry-collections/under-<wbr></wbr>brushstrokes-by-hedy-habra</a></span><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/tea-in-heliopolis-by-hedy-habra&source=gmail&ust=1646247202169000&usg=AOvVaw3-qCw8JS8JS8RJZGw96Aio" href="https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/tea-in-heliopolis-by-hedy-habra" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.press53.com/<wbr></wbr>poetry-collections/tea-in-<wbr></wbr>heliopolis-by-hedy-habra</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhun-kqqNfB7SqCPiJcgOiFwcnwo4SV6Y0WbIj7_48bhm7ty6-zl8awBJWTfAArGpGe-JqJvAehO-oyNiE2CTXK3CHr9P5r3nMdAzZJP4O_OsRdRo3rXPmfsnt-aHtxL3e4knvII9pJsgjEaE0ksZk8t8Ish0jStv6RUIHtTsPmVsSu42AUluy1FLmJhg=s612" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhun-kqqNfB7SqCPiJcgOiFwcnwo4SV6Y0WbIj7_48bhm7ty6-zl8awBJWTfAArGpGe-JqJvAehO-oyNiE2CTXK3CHr9P5r3nMdAzZJP4O_OsRdRo3rXPmfsnt-aHtxL3e4knvII9pJsgjEaE0ksZk8t8Ish0jStv6RUIHtTsPmVsSu42AUluy1FLmJhg=w269-h400" width="269" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cover Art by Hedy Habra. Cover Design by Paul Sizer.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The Taste of the Earth<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two fawns cross the creek. One of them pauses, linked</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to his mirror reflection by the tip of his tongue, parallel <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">worlds merge on the fault line of a folded image. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A musical phrase sticks to your skin, the wind espouses <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ripples, liquid dunes lick the shoreline, give moisture to <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">wild brush, blown over seeds and thoughts. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Iridescent hummingbirds hover over purple iris blooms. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The shore is faithful to the stream’s first touch. Like first <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">love, it nourishes tendrils rising into a green flame, <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">never forgotten like the taste of the earth. A desert thirsts <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">for an oasis, a fawn melts into the music of a fable, <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">a gazelle, new memories map rhizomes twisting, <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">anchoring us farther with each shoot spreading from our <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">birthplace to everywhere we’ve lived, to where we live <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">now, and does it make a difference if the root remembers? <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First published by <i>Sukoon Literary Journal</i><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From <i>The Taste of the Earth </i>(Press 53 2019)</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdlpnkqX_DRNewAx6A5rVaJOzVzn7q_fTKJpDS3iK4uyTvdmAs-FoKBiSdRjVAALhlrh7JG0ww-iZF6uaDygrcQeFoMqzzzFd_2fs9-iD91kcWUCFUepsNT32NlbtTK4YfsGgOQe3mPm3z1WeteEPPwQaOmNhl6JtiS9IMgZcT12xiw6Eh5kz0_8Af7w=s499" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdlpnkqX_DRNewAx6A5rVaJOzVzn7q_fTKJpDS3iK4uyTvdmAs-FoKBiSdRjVAALhlrh7JG0ww-iZF6uaDygrcQeFoMqzzzFd_2fs9-iD91kcWUCFUepsNT32NlbtTK4YfsGgOQe3mPm3z1WeteEPPwQaOmNhl6JtiS9IMgZcT12xiw6Eh5kz0_8Af7w=w268-h400" width="268" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">Cover Art by Hedy Habra. Cover Design by Paul Sizer.</div></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The
Apple of Granada </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.8in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some say Eve handed a pomegranate to Adam, and
it makes sense to me. How can the flesh of an apple compare to the bejeweled
juicy garnets, the color of passion, hidden under its elastic pink skin tight
as an undersized glove, a fruit withholding the power to doom and exile since
the dawn of time. For a few irresistible seeds, didn’t Persephone lose sight of
the sun for months? I mean, think of the mystery hidden in its slippery gems,
of the sweetness of the tongue sealing the union with the beloved in the Song
of Songs. And I succumb, despite how messy it is to crack the fruits open,
invade that hive, oblivious to the indelible droplets splattering the sink,
reaching beyond the marble counter all over my arms and face, as my fingertips
delicately remove its inner membranes, until the bowl is filled with shiny ruby
red arils. I add a few drops of rose and orange blossom water, the way my
mother did and my grandmother used to do and her mother before her.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 2in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First published by <i>Cumberland River Review</i><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From <i>Under Brushstrokes</i> (Press 53 2015)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7WdoJAxoDe4Q2yedkkpqPlPnrX8VCaAYLwVeGSqT5X-plC1hWmGUpLMteKQS-8oHXnt9Mp1vwPdw1NPrNZ4RLPRL4RXuD7rIA7rOkLsWnZT-EQAwCSHjt2HM5O6OP5Ho8yBHq6nSmBkE7Zsoq4ZGcikcvu3ErSMlZKgxf_fzGul1BENVKVYnQBga6dw=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7WdoJAxoDe4Q2yedkkpqPlPnrX8VCaAYLwVeGSqT5X-plC1hWmGUpLMteKQS-8oHXnt9Mp1vwPdw1NPrNZ4RLPRL4RXuD7rIA7rOkLsWnZT-EQAwCSHjt2HM5O6OP5Ho8yBHq6nSmBkE7Zsoq4ZGcikcvu3ErSMlZKgxf_fzGul1BENVKVYnQBga6dw=w263-h400" width="263" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">Cover Art by Hedy Habra. Cover Design by Paul Sizer.</div></span><p></p><p></p></div></div><div style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Bricolage</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></p><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Go every day a little deeper<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">into the woods, collect acorns,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">twigs, thorns, fallen leaves,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">pine needles, a fern's curl,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">a bird's nest, a lost feather,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">spring air, hot, humid air, a raindrop,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">a touch of blue, a ripple,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and why not the hush<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">of your steps over moss,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">the trembling of leaves<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">at dusk against black bark?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Put it all in a bag and shake it:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">you will retrace your steps<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">within the clearing, hear frightened<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">flights, watch the rain darken the deck,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">flatten oak leaves, answer the root’s mute prayer.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First published by <i>GraFemas: Letras Femeninas</i><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From <i>Tea in Heliopolis </i>(Press 53 2013)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDk7vAHLxgx56LTW050FkKGLsw7yAuRXPQ--BEAG1MZM59rQm0-i_QX5Yx__3NplksYjw3S9jUvJzkGYMwdffmhMXHDsovV_FL4edplBiH_88MnNcm4bIUTvx0feFRUaSMSoGHZZ36yK6K2Hktgr82Q2VG6mttAwBidRoiN0M_trKT3voeL8WRxxaKQ/s352/PastedGraphic-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="352" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDk7vAHLxgx56LTW050FkKGLsw7yAuRXPQ--BEAG1MZM59rQm0-i_QX5Yx__3NplksYjw3S9jUvJzkGYMwdffmhMXHDsovV_FL4edplBiH_88MnNcm4bIUTvx0feFRUaSMSoGHZZ36yK6K2Hktgr82Q2VG6mttAwBidRoiN0M_trKT3voeL8WRxxaKQ/w400-h399/PastedGraphic-1.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo from installation by Chiharu-Shiota, <i>The Locked Room</i></div><br /><p></p><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the link to the artwork by Shihuri Shiota , the installation <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hipeggy.com/interviews/chiharu-shiota&source=gmail&ust=1648657132022000&usg=AOvVaw1E8YM1Sg6t3SofkR5A8ZhS" href="https://www.hipeggy.com/interviews/chiharu-shiota" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>hipeggy.com/interviews/<wbr></wbr>chiharu-shiota</a> and it appears also in this other link: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532409987184781979/&source=gmail&ust=1648657132022000&usg=AOvVaw24350Bh_TQZoaMNsBXULx6" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532409987184781979/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/pin/<wbr></wbr>532409987184781979/</a></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><b>Or How Do You Keep Track of All the Keys You Once Owned</b>?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"> After Chiharu-Shiota's <i>The Locked Room</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to unlock one's buried memories</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the family cottage you had to sell</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys that once opened different-sized locks</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys that had to be changed after an effraction</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys that yearn for the doors they used to open</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys thrown into a deep well, still oozing blood</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the palaces King Farouk owned in Egypt</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to learning how to deal with oneself and others</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the meaning of feelings that you kept losing</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the safes holding papers that ruled your lives</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys kept in a jewelry box that must have mattered once</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys, lost, forgotten or treasured as a possible come back</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the wrought-iron patio gate half-covered with jasmine</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys that opened the car door that led you straight to the beach</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to dream's horned and ivory gates that keep getting mixed up</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys meant to reach the heart of a man before he'd change the locks</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys you hold in your palm and run your fingers over and over again</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to an old friend's house who once relied upon you to water her plants</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys passed on from generation to generation to reclaim the ancestral home</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys that you had to return to the hotel where you wished you'd spend a lifetime</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to all the cars you've ever owned and led you through long-forgotten crossroads</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the office you left carrying a cardboard box filled with what seemed important</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the wooden-carved secretary your mother handed down to you that held no secret to her</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">keys to the homes you kept leaving, from country to country, from one neighborhood to the next</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">First published by <i>MockingHeart Review</i></span></p><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>MockingHeart Review</i> nominated this poem for a Pushcart Prize last year. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mockingheartreview.com/2021/10/22/pushcart-prize-nominations-4/&source=gmail&ust=1648657132022000&usg=AOvVaw1FAaGVi5DgNCZEWZrjdej4" href="https://mockingheartreview.com/2021/10/22/pushcart-prize-nominations-4/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://mockingheartreview.<wbr></wbr>com/2021/10/22/pushcart-prize-<wbr></wbr>nominations-4/</a> </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the link to the <i>MockingHeart Review</i> where the poem was first published <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mockingheartreview.com/archives/volume-6-issue-1/poetry/hedy-habra/&source=gmail&ust=1648657132022000&usg=AOvVaw398EfYehlH9Qi0jMeIvw12" href="https://mockingheartreview.com/archives/volume-6-issue-1/poetry/hedy-habra/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://<wbr></wbr>mockingheartreview.com/<wbr></wbr>archives/volume-6-issue-1/<wbr></wbr>poetry/hedy-habra/</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1ay-tGA7G3oIx0MPjm382fw_7Ms-yiwN-9pvtoQ0yfUhV9l5qN7-MAodOXLlYbRjPzb630r4YjWsqMZ6VvG0m_pm9uS1p15CUHRYVe9v7gNOuN2XT7wrkM_KPHcM0KJHMnizJGSv9CxdQj6E-QXTgjQMFMIiRUXUi7i0lUYpDTtrYfcbZLSBC3Erivg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1ay-tGA7G3oIx0MPjm382fw_7Ms-yiwN-9pvtoQ0yfUhV9l5qN7-MAodOXLlYbRjPzb630r4YjWsqMZ6VvG0m_pm9uS1p15CUHRYVe9v7gNOuN2XT7wrkM_KPHcM0KJHMnizJGSv9CxdQj6E-QXTgjQMFMIiRUXUi7i0lUYpDTtrYfcbZLSBC3Erivg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;">Maitreya, antique sculpture, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;">Photo by Maja Trochimczyk </div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="color: #222222;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-46081810229260102412022-02-11T11:36:00.014-08:002022-03-14T10:10:25.776-07:00Dean Blehert Features for Village Poets on February 27, 2022 at 4:30 pm on Zoom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC0SwQvYpV9ddZLk37YSxLRt2VCOZMNTPOqWF-XuPzmiJsTs2ioKcmNxEap01eScZ7wf8Lk0qB85OwpRzw1fTqxEjTh8iTPNIlPf5-BoFZhbTBZvoxI4vcj5mfnUIkpxcWjZvH0Qt9aAZcVfOexHQRouOxwCLw03dY95SFsUCHIVImbE70dqmozTw3HQ=s560" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="560" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC0SwQvYpV9ddZLk37YSxLRt2VCOZMNTPOqWF-XuPzmiJsTs2ioKcmNxEap01eScZ7wf8Lk0qB85OwpRzw1fTqxEjTh8iTPNIlPf5-BoFZhbTBZvoxI4vcj5mfnUIkpxcWjZvH0Qt9aAZcVfOexHQRouOxwCLw03dY95SFsUCHIVImbE70dqmozTw3HQ=w400-h303" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pam Coulter, "Rock Creek in Winter"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">VIDEO FROM THE READING ON YOUTUBE: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DyUP-6Pm9cAw&source=gmail&ust=1647148605289000&usg=AOvVaw32mZZADIsrdsaoUizqlc8o" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUP-6Pm9cAw" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=yUP-6Pm9cAw</a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Village Poets of Sunland Tujunga present poet Dean Blehert, of Virginia, on Zoom - Sunday, February 27, 2022, at 4:30 pm. Link can be requested from Dorothy Skiles at DMHSkiles@gmail.com. Open mic is available before and after the feature that lasts for 30 min. The reading is recorded and video posted online afterwards. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF5Xj9MOu9K-tygUPaboK8XVTz_HYYuTLqp4NKW8pvaB3b0xY5CeV4mWYr94DyRXaAhmEXd3bs-L9iy1W7AaKXdIzm5gBcYT7BpoopUT5NI3p7MAovB35woIh2ZkW4CGypijV464CTWXjFnKPLLLVkzZ1PGoQN3x5Jeiua4-oI3nDQh-jVpPZ9LCAr6Q=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF5Xj9MOu9K-tygUPaboK8XVTz_HYYuTLqp4NKW8pvaB3b0xY5CeV4mWYr94DyRXaAhmEXd3bs-L9iy1W7AaKXdIzm5gBcYT7BpoopUT5NI3p7MAovB35woIh2ZkW4CGypijV464CTWXjFnKPLLLVkzZ1PGoQN3x5Jeiua4-oI3nDQh-jVpPZ9LCAr6Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><p style="text-align: justify;">Dean Blehert has had seven poetry books published, most recently <i>Kill the Children and Other Disconnections </i>(Argonne House Press, 2001) and <i>Please, Lord, Make Me a Famous Poet or at Least Less Fat</i>, a 400-page mock textbook full of parody and satire on the poetry scene, past and current. He also published his own subscription poetry letter, <i>Deanotations</i> (Dean's poems with his wife's drawings) which came out every two months from August, 1984 to July, 2004. <i>Deanotations</i> has often been praised for its quirky viewpoints and slightly offbeat humor. Deanotations boasted readers in most of the 50 states and in Canada, England, Germany, Israel and Australia, and had more than 300 paid subscribers for much of its life. He's had poems published or accepted for publication in <i>New York Quarterly, Kansas Quarterly Review, Crosscurrents, Bogg, Visions, Lip Service, Gold Dust, Dark Horse, Modern Haiku, Carousel, Light, The Lyric, Krax, Orphic Lute, Brussel Sprouts, Stroker, Implosion, Haiku Headlines, Reston Review, Carousel, View From The Loft, The Listening Eye, Gyst, Plains Poetry Journal, Minimus, Potomac Review</i> and many others. Issue 55 of <i>New York Quarterly</i> ran his article, "Shrink-rapt Poetry", in its State of Poetry in America series. He's been featured at readings in Calif., New York, D.C., Texas, Maryland, Florida, Arkansas, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa and Virginia. He lives in Reston, Virginia.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Besides books, for 20 years (1984-2004) and 110 issues, Blehert published his own “poetry letter,” called “Deanotations,” just his poems with illustrations by his wife, Pam Coulter, that, at its peak, had about 3000 snail-mail subscribers. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blehert.com/poems/deanot.html">http://www.blehert.com/poems/deanot.html</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 2001, Blehert began posting approximately a poem a day, emailed to a few thousand people. Many of these short poems can be found here:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blehert.com/poems/poem-a-day-2001.htm">http://www.blehert.com/poems/poem-a-day-2001.htm</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blehert.com/poems/poem-a-day-2002.htm">http://www.blehert.com/poems/poem-a-day-2002.htm</a></p></span><p></p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Information about his books is on the website as well:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="goog_1021036680"><br /></a></span></span></div><a href="http://blehert.com/bookstore/books.html">http://blehert.com/bookstore/books.html</a></span></span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><h3 style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfzRal6dQJlHt5-yGPPUyed9taWAMkhrwAzO85vRAe4MCxCSuNMB5CR1Mq-XuxV_QlVIX883Gi0mXsNVEL3FhuQqnuJzeKVJkzuBI6c-R9-fOmQ9a7pVAbCoY-daEif4QhR4rCeVAx6948FHi4Bi1zMMyU9oKpXq7c0xF1nYXKwc9Hi8c9rZthBVXNYQ=s650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="650" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfzRal6dQJlHt5-yGPPUyed9taWAMkhrwAzO85vRAe4MCxCSuNMB5CR1Mq-XuxV_QlVIX883Gi0mXsNVEL3FhuQqnuJzeKVJkzuBI6c-R9-fOmQ9a7pVAbCoY-daEif4QhR4rCeVAx6948FHi4Bi1zMMyU9oKpXq7c0xF1nYXKwc9Hi8c9rZthBVXNYQ=w400-h315" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Pam Coulter, "Temple Farm Creek"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><b style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em;">Le SonnEt Le Furie</b></h3><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">How primly rhymed pentameter sets out</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">In perfect ranks, plumed hats and gleaming brass,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Marching to thumping drums across trim grass</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">To put the ragged noisy mob to rout</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">And...oops - WATCH OUT! Who threw that brick? A shout!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Hold ranks! Duck! Keep in step - but watch your ass!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">We'll show this rabble!...Lord, but what a mass</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Of life is this! It surges all about</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Each syllable - the meter cannot hold!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Now it's breaking, words stumble from the ranks,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">bloodied feet fall out of step,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">rhyme drowned in the din of revolt</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">falters falls</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> look there! On either flank</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">hordes of</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> words</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> loose</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> characters</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> dart an</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> d leap</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">FROMP<b>lease, Lord, Make Me a Famous Poet or at Least Less Fat</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify;">or Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Poetry But Were Afraid If You Asked, Someone Would Start Talking About Whatchamajigger Pentameter by Dean Blehert.</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify;">Uproarious book of poetry about poetry. Takes on all comers, Beowulf through Plath and even the poetry slam. No toes go untrodden. Deft, outrageous parody and satire. "Dean Blehert is a radical innovator in contemporary poetry. He has rediscovered pleasure. His poems are - how contrarian - both fun to read and wonderfully perceptive about the follies of modern life. I hope he represents the cutting edge of poetry for the new millennium. But if not, we can console ourselves by rereading him." Dana Gioia. "What a banquet!! -- a feast of wit, wild and wonderful -- incredibly clever!" Lyn Lifshin</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ISBN 1-892261-03-0, 416 pp. , indexed by subject and title, illustrated by Pam Coulter, publ. Words & Pictures East Coast, 1999</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm6jTFX4RH0QEpwEGCTCxwb3KnMPew0YBV3JE1ANeTFpqsBaEbGxlENNzugGjqlNfFCzTp8bECodpQNv7ULEmSBifPxgEZDLYDAfIoQ0USXkITLWI670iIMAy2ypPz6XzGyVjOtJzhU1kuS-D_OsqAB5EAJVw3Cxi4-vOlnqILJjRh71g2fJI-jZUsrw=s650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="650" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm6jTFX4RH0QEpwEGCTCxwb3KnMPew0YBV3JE1ANeTFpqsBaEbGxlENNzugGjqlNfFCzTp8bECodpQNv7ULEmSBifPxgEZDLYDAfIoQ0USXkITLWI670iIMAy2ypPz6XzGyVjOtJzhU1kuS-D_OsqAB5EAJVw3Cxi4-vOlnqILJjRh71g2fJI-jZUsrw=w400-h304" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pam Coulter, "Winter Meadow, Reston"</div><b><br /></b></div><div><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;"><b>Selected Short Poems about Cats</b></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;">The cat's rear rises<br style="font-size: 1em;" />To meet my stroke...and is gone!<br style="font-size: 1em;" />Was I not worthy?<br style="font-size: 1em;" /></p><hr align="left" style="background-color: white;" width="50%" /><span style="background-color: white;">If only this sheet of paper</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">could attract poems as easily</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">as it attracts the cat.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><hr align="left" style="background-color: white;" width="50%" /><span style="background-color: white;">Cat on the couch,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Still as any cushion,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Except, hanging from the edge,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The tail, almost still, just the tip</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Bends up...unbends...bends...unbends...</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">On the carpet, watching,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Fascinated,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">A cat.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><hr align="left" style="background-color: white;" width="50%" /><span style="background-color: white;">A tiny bit of night</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">ripples toward me, detaches</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">at my leg, purring.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><hr align="left" style="background-color: white;" width="50%" /><span style="background-color: white;">Along the sofa,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">a sentence of cushions--</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">for period, this cat.</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>FROM </b><b>No Cats Have Been Maimed or Mutilated During the Making of this Book</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">But Some of Them Are Disappointed -- Very Disappointed -- in Me</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> </div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify;">Mainstream, Gil Lamont: "Blehert's poems grab me by the scruff of the neck and demand to be read.... It's like eating potato chips, you can't stop at just one. Only the occasional eulogies that brought a lump to my throat made me want to stop for a while, and reflect on cats I've lost over the years.... This is too good a book to keep selfishly. Buy two, one for you, one for your friends, and be grateful that Blehert has so accurately let us look at ourselves too, through our foibles as cats' caregivers and surrogate parents and servants."</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ISBN No. 0-9644857-5-3, 80 pp. (Originally published by Words & Pictures Press in 1996)</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>I Swear He Was Laughing</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Poems About Dogs Mostly) Who Only THINK They Are People, But Aren't, So Can't Read This Book, So Will You Please Read It for Them?</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> </div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify;">For anyone who has ever loved or been loved by a dog. Mainstream, Tina Perry: "...a delightful book of poems about everyone's best friends, dogs. The book made me laugh, smile, and it also brought tears to my eyes." "Dogs sweat through their tongues. /I'm being licked on the cheek /by a dog's armpit." "The dog has had enough cuddling /and uncoils off the bed. /I stare at my skin, /watching for any freckles /that move." "Old friend, I hear one of my years is seven of yours. /I'd slow for you if I could."</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ISBN No. 0-9644857-4-5, 81 pp. (Originally published by Words & Pictures Press in 1996)</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Poems for Adults and Other Children</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: justify;">This is Dean's fourth book of poetry. Most of the poems in this book are taken from the issues of his popular and momular poetry letter, Deanotations. Some of them are funny and may have been intended that way. One, "The Doll's Journey," may be a story for children; scholars still debate whether the children of Blehert's time could have understood it. The other poems, it is widely agreed, are for grown-ups, but only those who don't understand what the scholars are talking about.</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ISBN 0-838823-01-9 (Originally published by Pogment Press in Reston in 1988)</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlmqsL8ZNdzQjUNLg5tnLxYXPm1Pz2EmaYFiemlomtQltYuZ9ErEEgz6XtFsUKhOvfp02nxpxpYq2BCF7ZeXnZaylIxeEO5qJCWWjXqzULo3o6mZfENQUwMki_mnm9txCHtp6hGT1pVdjqKV3tsKJLITucGMLW6isc-c4-0qQeAyQVhYXyJoLWNfnpbA=s560" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="560" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlmqsL8ZNdzQjUNLg5tnLxYXPm1Pz2EmaYFiemlomtQltYuZ9ErEEgz6XtFsUKhOvfp02nxpxpYq2BCF7ZeXnZaylIxeEO5qJCWWjXqzULo3o6mZfENQUwMki_mnm9txCHtp6hGT1pVdjqKV3tsKJLITucGMLW6isc-c4-0qQeAyQVhYXyJoLWNfnpbA=w400-h334" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pam Coulter, "Hains Point, Cherry Blossoms"</div><br /><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ABOUT THE ARTIST</div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Pam COULTER (d. 2021) painted primarily in oil and acrylics. She had around 400 paintings in private collections and 4 in corporate or government collections. She was a three-time “Best of Show” winner at the Art League of Alexandria monthly juried show at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA. Her paintings were featured in the <i>Elan Magazine</i> (April 2009) and <i>American Artist</i> magazine (Feb. '95) and included in the <i>North Light Book of Acrylic Painting Techniques</i> (By Earl Grenville). She participated in regional juried shows and had a number of one-person shows. Ms. Coulter participated regularly in juried Art League shows at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, where she had an accepted member of the "Bin gallery" for many years, and in Reston Virginia art shows. She taught art locally at various venues. An illustrator and cartoonist as well as oil painter, she worked as a technical writer and computer graphics artist for a local company. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.pamcoulterart.com/" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;" target="_blank">pamcoulterart.com</a> and <a href="http://blehert.com/gallery/index.html">http://blehert.com/gallery/index.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></span></div></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-31461780254326436012022-01-02T08:33:00.007-08:002022-01-02T08:35:20.198-08:00Village Poets Present Diane Lee Moomey and the California Quarterly 47:4 on Sunday, January 23, 4:30 pm, on Zoom<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzLj7OPLeYWzkEZy2ii5HbwGK-h3A-_x-aHpzfeIrTSGZdyrdLmQckf-_Nh2NV04EWCiBIz45-2mldXpcrH0JJFO8CL_eFrcQP20nDrb8snPatit7m3rNJeCtlfsM1lNDNunBxZEwno0HH_wyH7I_HlB1ittiUzfqWvmH6N-5KlLfwR-u8FNdSWxiuFQ=s3300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3300" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzLj7OPLeYWzkEZy2ii5HbwGK-h3A-_x-aHpzfeIrTSGZdyrdLmQckf-_Nh2NV04EWCiBIz45-2mldXpcrH0JJFO8CL_eFrcQP20nDrb8snPatit7m3rNJeCtlfsM1lNDNunBxZEwno0HH_wyH7I_HlB1ittiUzfqWvmH6N-5KlLfwR-u8FNdSWxiuFQ=w400-h291" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Wind Water Woman: Snowmelt</i> by Diane Lee Moomey</div><p></p><p>Village Poets of Sunland Tujunga invite poets and poetry lovers to the first reading of 2022 held on zoom (send requests of the link to DMHSkiles@gmail.com), on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at 4:30 pm. The featured poet will be Diane Lee Moomey and the additional feature will present poets and poetry published in the California Quarterly vol. 47 no. 4, edited by William Scott Galasso. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzEJRkN9mCbzSPSieL6MrchfTBA1fRgHlI81A-zVFomrrzJjkztQKtx0E-oOnKUKj-JEP4-g8kFgIAuDmq-Wwk1yaL_g2OnsC4YiHaTlTH1vQDV_XNXofjGdvlQofDBaoeUBS0_FtDVEfnM6Sv_v96fiDFzlxTWU4ISMn296XdE26MhiM6NI5fa0nFiA=s1116" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1062" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzEJRkN9mCbzSPSieL6MrchfTBA1fRgHlI81A-zVFomrrzJjkztQKtx0E-oOnKUKj-JEP4-g8kFgIAuDmq-Wwk1yaL_g2OnsC4YiHaTlTH1vQDV_XNXofjGdvlQofDBaoeUBS0_FtDVEfnM6Sv_v96fiDFzlxTWU4ISMn296XdE26MhiM6NI5fa0nFiA=s320" width="305" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">DIANE LEE MOOMEY</p><p>Diane Lee Moomey has lived and wandered around the US and Canada and now lives in Half Moon Bay, California, where she co-hosts a monthly poetry series, “Coastside Poetry”. Through Foothill College’s Disability Resource division, she also offers a weekly class in poetry appreciation to older adults.</p><p>A regular at Bay Area poetry venues, her work has appeared in The MacGuffin, Light, THINK, Mezzo Cammin, MacQueen’s Quinterly, PoeTalk, Caesura and Red Wheelbarrow, and been nominated for a Pushcart prize. She is the author of four poetry collections, the newest of which, Make For Higher Ground, is available now from Barefoot Muse Press. <a href="http://www.barefootmuse.com">www.barefootmuse.com</a>.</p><p>A review of the book was recently published in CSPS Poetry Letter no. 4, 2021, and posted on the CSPS blog: <a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2022/01/poetry-letter-no-4-2021-reviews-of.html">https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2022/01/poetry-letter-no-4-2021-reviews-of.html</a></p><p>Diane is also a watercolorist and collage artist, an experience that both seeds and is seeded by, her poetic imagery. Visit her at <a href="http://www.dianeleemoomeyart.com">www.dianeleemoomeyart.com</a></p><p><a href="https://www.pw.org/content/diane_moomey">https://www.pw.org/content/diane_moomey</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9RpwG7k5SaQA47o57lBiEg0UMkOqSYpGoqN_rSSnKfTL5WMrq9w_H12dePEP-AFxlwHnQsxObCCWWXumnGPzshAt07IyKPU5ERKSCsgMR7VOpe52HXapp2__8lb3WMjVuB490XrAUd5htcezKGQLYJimecoYigmubKfzrdeOqku05IXQXk7FNhgODdQ=s512" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9RpwG7k5SaQA47o57lBiEg0UMkOqSYpGoqN_rSSnKfTL5WMrq9w_H12dePEP-AFxlwHnQsxObCCWWXumnGPzshAt07IyKPU5ERKSCsgMR7VOpe52HXapp2__8lb3WMjVuB490XrAUd5htcezKGQLYJimecoYigmubKfzrdeOqku05IXQXk7FNhgODdQ=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wearing Snakes</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I let them
wrap around my wrists, the sleek<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">green
scales so like the gold link<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">bracelet Mother
wears to parties. So like―<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I close my
eyes while wearing one and feel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">the other.
In summer’s green beside the fence,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">by long stems
my father’s mower doesn’t<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">reach, I
wait, place my wrist on mullein, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">grasses,
dock. They part. I intercept<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and lift,
feel it wrap. Snake will twine<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">around an
arm, always: body taut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">and
steadying itself against a fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">(Ruby
tongue flicks in and out). In my<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">own world I
am, (ruby tongue tastes),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">the only
little girl who wears snakes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: -.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> Diane Lee Moomey <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> published
in Caesura, 2018</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4kC9JANmnR_ukHnhGfHmd7L4n1x4KgtGkbh9xmmQb-hZ4532qsEwZVUzlO1RB7BL41eJUAE6GD4iCgRt77TmR8i3vv2LPCZWR2wq6Kq1_KY9zWfQvjmpO6ekwu3bhpnPHZ0U8xao8U_R_yGpQFyp6J2fnA_kGMLGk7KIcx_xDZNW8ooMLMgmQkABlmw=s3300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4kC9JANmnR_ukHnhGfHmd7L4n1x4KgtGkbh9xmmQb-hZ4532qsEwZVUzlO1RB7BL41eJUAE6GD4iCgRt77TmR8i3vv2LPCZWR2wq6Kq1_KY9zWfQvjmpO6ekwu3bhpnPHZ0U8xao8U_R_yGpQFyp6J2fnA_kGMLGk7KIcx_xDZNW8ooMLMgmQkABlmw=w309-h400" width="309" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Red Canoe </i>by Diane Lee Moomey</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">CALIFORNIA QUARTERLY, VOL. 47, NO. 4, WINTER 2021</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBSb-Au5V-kT8iNsfsDUivcvA8BF61slSC5xPpMl1nTcP2mOT54dxQdMrtpdn0VF_Oi6rEOQX-6dwawiwWhJGgeGD18Bw-5roX_3WYW8MhocmYYF7PdhhY42zxR0yJIEjBQv1V-fKkhZVoTWiH68aZ1J_fvjYg6Y8ZKw5Cimy6h5B5GVb6Wtw61Mc4HA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBSb-Au5V-kT8iNsfsDUivcvA8BF61slSC5xPpMl1nTcP2mOT54dxQdMrtpdn0VF_Oi6rEOQX-6dwawiwWhJGgeGD18Bw-5roX_3WYW8MhocmYYF7PdhhY42zxR0yJIEjBQv1V-fKkhZVoTWiH68aZ1J_fvjYg6Y8ZKw5Cimy6h5B5GVb6Wtw61Mc4HA=w259-h400" width="259" /></a></div>William Scott Galasso edited the California Quarterly vol. 47 no. 4, Winter 2021, featuring many great poems and a cover by Vera Campion. There will be a section of the reading dedicated to this issue of CQ published by the California State Poetry Society. Table of contents, editorial note and bio, as well as the CSPS President's Newsbriefs 4/2021 are posted on the CSPS Blog: <div><a href="goog_1684384312"><br /></a></div><div><a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/12/contents-of-california-quarterly-vol-47.html">https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/12/contents-of-california-quarterly-vol-47.html</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div></div></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-25738867382015589732021-10-24T19:34:00.002-07:002021-12-05T10:54:13.417-08:00Village Poets Present Katerina Canyon, Sunday, November 28, 2021, 4:30 pm on Zoom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwnF8N9LcHE/YXYUqKxw57I/AAAAAAABHLE/Wa5gCAug0pYqdj_DIHxUXfUQ-oE0sI-rQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/RE-210219-0018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwnF8N9LcHE/YXYUqKxw57I/AAAAAAABHLE/Wa5gCAug0pYqdj_DIHxUXfUQ-oE0sI-rQCNcBGAsYHQ/w268-h400/RE-210219-0018.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Link to Video from the reading</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="style-scope ytcp-video-info" href="https://youtu.be/E0oN1CvHNGY" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/E0oN1CvHNGY</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga will feature Katerina Canyon on Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 4:30 pm on Zoom. To obtain links to Zoom meeting email DMHSkiles@gmail.com or Maja@moonrisepress.com.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ABOUT THE POET</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Katerina Canyon wa</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">s born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is a 2020 and 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. She served as the second Sunland-Tujunga California Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2004. Her work has been published in publications such as </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Meniscus, New York Times</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, and </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Huffington Post </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">United States and Germany. She has been a featured poet in multiple venues across the country, including Beyond Baroque, Nuyorican, The Bowery Poetry Club and Chance Operations. She teaches poetry workshops to children and at universities. Her latest book, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Surviving Home</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, was a Heartland Review finalist. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington, where she can often be fou</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">nd writing poetry near Pier 55. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Link to book: </span><a href="https://www.poetickat.com/" style="font-family: georgia;">https://www.poetickat.com/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVWE4uEn6X8/VjJ7kjAvnCI/AAAAAAAAs6Y/BVut_y2LcRYjX-9CBB55n3eMVPIrfJnugCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_8073.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVWE4uEn6X8/VjJ7kjAvnCI/AAAAAAAAs6Y/BVut_y2LcRYjX-9CBB55n3eMVPIrfJnugCPcBGAYYCw/w400-h300/IMG_8073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pumpkins, Photo by Maja Trochimczyk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><p><b>ABOUT HER POETRY</b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Katerina Canyon’s poems offer intimate accounts of home as the locus of danger—and homeland as a state of oppression. They are at once urgent and mysterious, full of ocean depths and surging currents. Far from nostalgia, home inspires in this poet a vigilance, keeping watch on herself and others. Her very language is charged with the alert intelligence that offers a means of survival, and metaphors that transform pain into poetry.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">~ Devin Johnston, author of <i>Mosses and Lichens</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Katerina Canyon’s poems dive into history unafraid to explore the complexity of home and family and acknowledge: the sea is filled with bones. This powerful, engaging collection where we see the billowing skirt of sunset asks again and again: How do get past our pasts? Smart, poignant, compassionate, Canyon’s poems remind us that strength happens despite one’s childhood and one’s country; they exclaim, We can choose whether we are stuck / In darkness or in light.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">~ Kelli Russell Agodon, author of <i>Dialogues with Rising Tides</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In lush language and startling images, Katerina Canyon unveils a story “in blood and bone” of a speaker who survives domestic cycles of addiction and abuse, terrors “handed down from the plantation” through generations of her kin… Like the Phoenix, the speaker dares to draw near destruction to name our violent histories in order to claim a survivor’s eternal understanding of how to love, how to mother, and how to teach the world that “We cannot be bound. We are free. We are infinite.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">~ Katy Didden, author of <i>The Glacier's Wake</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TbL3ox6UK5U/Xbygl1im76I/AAAAAAABBNg/tbp79NYtjk0IVEQiRFCHi2DWjxcV_-vOgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_5224.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TbL3ox6UK5U/Xbygl1im76I/AAAAAAABBNg/tbp79NYtjk0IVEQiRFCHi2DWjxcV_-vOgCPcBGAYYCw/w400-h300/IMG_5224.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chrysanthemum, photo by Maja Trochimczyk</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Aunt May</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">She cries at the stereo as if</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">it could take her to heaven on the</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">notes of Z.Z. Hill’s Down Home</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Blues, every other record or two.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Uncle L. Joe, that no good</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of a bitch held her heart in a vice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then he died, relegating him to the</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">beloved angel he never was, fleeing into</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">mangled clouds, on shredded wings, made of</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">brambles, as if Texas soil were fertile. Hill’s</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">throat pulls notes — his voice trickling crude into</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Aunt May’s Los Angeles living room.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Z.Z. Hill is redemption coated in Texas blood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">L. and Z.Z. are one. Their crooning calls</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">to her before the song ends, and she restarts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Their voices harmonize mercurial,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">chaotic as oil gushers</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">spilling into the fields of Canaan. In</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Promised Land, there are no negro</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">spirituals, no blues</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">no white man’s hand smiting the black man’s face,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">but there is always a burden for the black woman.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">She knows this song well, and she plays it again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Down Home Blues</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Down Home Blues</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Every other record or two</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>(c) by Katerina Canyon</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhcxTZXWZqE/YXYW_RL-lYI/AAAAAAABHLM/M2ta10QmNMY-1vDmvJS-jeZKd29h5117ACPcBGAsYHg/s1296/photo%2B%252854%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1296" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhcxTZXWZqE/YXYW_RL-lYI/AAAAAAABHLM/M2ta10QmNMY-1vDmvJS-jeZKd29h5117ACPcBGAsYHg/w400-h299/photo%2B%252854%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Camelias in Descanso Gardens</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Photos by Maja Trochimczyk</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-72922855254795800202021-10-14T21:23:00.005-07:002021-11-08T13:02:23.436-08:00Village Poets Present Frank Iosue of Arizona and "The Arcane Reveries" on October 24, 2021 at 4:30pm on Zoom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rudv0noEWeA/YWkAbqYpXdI/AAAAAAABG4U/dUI9kZTLjTw0yW6uUTmYDk6mntApMMV3gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1200/mymodernmettarot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rudv0noEWeA/YWkAbqYpXdI/AAAAAAABG4U/dUI9kZTLjTw0yW6uUTmYDk6mntApMMV3gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h210/mymodernmettarot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Tarot cards from My Modern Met.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">VIDEO FROM THE READING: <a class="style-scope ytcp-video-share-dialog" href="https://youtu.be/802wvaIw7ys" id="watch-url" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: var(--ytcp-font-subheading_-_-webkit-font-smoothing); background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: var(--ytcp-font-subheading_-_font-size); line-height: var(--ytcp-font-subheading_-_line-height); text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/802wvaIw7ys</a></div></div><br />On Sunday, October 24, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. Village Poets invite poets and poetry lovers to the Monthly Poetry Reading on Zoom, featuring Arizona Poet Frank Iosue and his multi-media presentation of a cycle of poems inspired by Major Arcana of Tarot, entitled "The Arcane Reveries." Open mic segments for poets in attendance will be available. One or two poems per person, depending on the number of attendees. Contact DMHSkiles at gmail.com or Maja at Moonrisepress.com for Zoom invitation. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uesb0hB_6Q32jHcOB_QXrQI6XfOKPmKicB3y2om9hbqVTHPmFOM_yGUQJDazgtblOH2e6NWk7jH5yTygJpGOyI91qOnLCWsgFvvMykjENsx0SlZijef8tHd0BKkJGix54iiYsiSnO1o/s2048/Frank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1113" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uesb0hB_6Q32jHcOB_QXrQI6XfOKPmKicB3y2om9hbqVTHPmFOM_yGUQJDazgtblOH2e6NWk7jH5yTygJpGOyI91qOnLCWsgFvvMykjENsx0SlZijef8tHd0BKkJGix54iiYsiSnO1o/w217-h400/Frank.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">FRANK IOSUE</span></div><p>Frank Iosue is a poet and a member of the Arizona State Poetry Society and The Tucson Poetry Society. In April 2021, it was his pleasure and privilege to be a judge for the National Federation Of State Poetry Society's Annual Contest, judging over 150 submissions for The Poetry Society of Texas Award. He holds a B.A. in English from California State University, Los Angeles, and an MFA in Creative Writing / Poetry from The University of Iowa / Writer's Workshop. </p><p>Iosue is the author of 11 chapbooks of poetry, and a volume of <i>Collected Poems: The Au Revoir Of An Enormous Us</i>, published in 2017. He has conducted a number of writing workshops, and has been a featured reader at venues around Southern Arizona for over 20 years. </p><p>The reading will feature fragments of a video he has posted on YouTube based on one of his 11 chapbooks, entitled "The Arcane Reveries," Poetic Sketches and Meditations on the Major Arcana of the Tarot. The video is a multi-media presentation, all self-produced, of Frank Iosue reading the poetry volume, with accompanying imagery and text. </p><p>Iosue writes: "I had considered the idea for the video for a long time, and worked on it, little by little, over the past few months, as I took care of my dying mother...It is a labor of love, joy and gratitude...I'm very proud of it....If you do, kindly, take the time to see it, it is my sincere hope that you will enjoy it, and be entertained and touched, in some unique and special way, by it... Also, part of the reason I made this video is to, hopefully, inspire other poets and creators to imagine new possibilities of how to present their poetry, or other literary pursuits, to the world....by revisiting perceptions about conventional outlets available to share their work, and imagining new creative possibilities of presentation, outreach and marketing.....This video was produced by me, alone, and at no financial cost to me."</p><p>ABOUT IOSUE'S COLLECTED POEMS</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHEd3rH0eVrmT1pIek62OsV8yqk1X2R7uYGkVN8g7_Lh1t8NzQN3WjSQvx_46a4oTDVkxzS46WsHgbCuLorQuz3zZswDEENFvGJrzGDWQauvbJeX0bXdaJ7qSXHtBpQCKD1V-zM-IfOI/s499/Iosue+Book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHEd3rH0eVrmT1pIek62OsV8yqk1X2R7uYGkVN8g7_Lh1t8NzQN3WjSQvx_46a4oTDVkxzS46WsHgbCuLorQuz3zZswDEENFvGJrzGDWQauvbJeX0bXdaJ7qSXHtBpQCKD1V-zM-IfOI/w268-h400/Iosue+Book.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p>Iosue writes: "A poem is an arena of apprehensions and associations; a "psychic ecosystem" unto itself, bounded, artificed and amplified through craft and language. Experience, emotion, imagination, intellect and artistry -- in a unique, uneasy marriage between what's thought and what's felt -- cohabitate on the page, expressly for the end of approximating (and, hopefully, achieving) the most resonant and illimitable expression of a poetic "reality." In my poems, I seek to create experiences that destabilize and scavenge ordinary perception, and transform the "apparent" into epiphanies of revelation and realization. This collection contains the inventory of my life's poetic journey. The joys, sorrows, memories, and reveries; the people and places, the histories, and the voyages of imagination that populate these pages, form my testament to a world, whose presences, and absences, have accompanied me, and formed the fragile scaffolding for the little empire of my existence -- an intensely-felt world of a self, of an I, intimately environed and occupied by a brilliant otherness of those, and them, and it and you . . . An Enormous Us!"</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Au-Revoir-Enormous-Us-Collected/dp/1627875506/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+au+revoir+of+an+enormous+us&qid=1634259504&s=books&sr=1-1">https://www.amazon.com/Au-Revoir-Enormous-Us-Collected/dp/1627875506/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+au+revoir+of+an+enormous+us&qid=1634259504&s=books&sr=1-1</a></p><div>THE ARCANE REVERIES</div><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnNdbeIIllw" target="_blank"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnNdbeIIllw</a></p><p><br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnNdbeIIllw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>SAMPLE POEMS</div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Litany For An Enlightened Dejection</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though you have digested all your deepest secrets,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and the stars have feigned</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>regalia for your anonymity.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though each elation has emancipated yet another </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>metaphor, and everything's the matter.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though you have shed the fewest possible tears </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and have been always grateful, silently,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that others suffered more</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>than you might have or ought.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though someone whispered, more than once,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>what must be done, and you did </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>exactly as he pleases.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though your mother may have loved you best</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but could not love you better.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though you heard so many church bells ring, </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but discovered the path </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of prayer went only everywhere</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>your blood was running.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though the boats of summer kept on undulating</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>effortlessly underneath you when</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>they could just as easily have sunk.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though the next step you took led in some </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>intoxicating new direction eerily </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>similar to the last.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though every day you ate as if you wanted to, </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but found that you grew </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>hungry out of habit.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though the dream has yet to arrive</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that will not save you.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Though you have admirably, and without fanfare,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>conquered every piece of space</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>you have ever occupied, </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and are to be</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>congratulated on the triumph </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that has been your existence.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> When you walk into the earth and finally drown,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>your loneliness will free you </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>from your prosperity. <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Frank Iosue</div><div><br /></div><div>Published in November 2019 issue of <i>Poetry Pacific Online Journal</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkP1rbRumYw/YWmenIcGMjI/AAAAAAABG5E/AS6qLfLoCsMRxoZ6ehQfbcxTlAdc4IX1QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkP1rbRumYw/YWmenIcGMjI/AAAAAAABG5E/AS6qLfLoCsMRxoZ6ehQfbcxTlAdc4IX1QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arizona desert outside of Tucson, photo by Maja Trochimczyk</div><br /> </span> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><div> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> An Allegiance of Intellects</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div><i><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> "Friend.......good!"</i></div><div><i><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Frankenstein's monster</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are these </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>walls of air</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wish through</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to all you </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>unknown others.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I've walked </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>backward</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>from death</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>into the future, </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>out of the flames,</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a cross-stitched,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>lock-kneed </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lazarus:</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>no further</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>assembly</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>required,</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and almost</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>anatomically </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>correct.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have reached </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the dead end</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of all my</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>inward arrivals.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I've learned </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>nothing more</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>than that </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a child </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>will not </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>float like a flower.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I am a mirror</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>in the stillness.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strange</div><div> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>as a cloud.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As cold and alien<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>as an Alp.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I don't </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>want to bear</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>my load </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of breath </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>alone.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I must try </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to reach you,</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>always.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Only </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a moment</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>is not </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>enough.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can I touch</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the hem</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of all</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>your thinking?</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Feed me</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>more</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>language!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Teach me</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>how</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to inhabit</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a room!<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I want </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to live!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I want</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to live</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>near<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>your mind.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Frank Iosue</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8tqcGsGXIo/YWkB_ncvoVI/AAAAAAABG44/-ICqK_-b2zMYm9T4YRKqQedj0K7PbVjuACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_2138.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8tqcGsGXIo/YWkB_ncvoVI/AAAAAAABG44/-ICqK_-b2zMYm9T4YRKqQedj0K7PbVjuACPcBGAYYCw/w400-h300/IMG_2138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Rim of the Valley trail in Big Tujunga Wash, California</div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6v4fMzzEYDc/YWkA1ebM2qI/AAAAAAABG4g/lNRBtx_WsxU-VfzMlyMqpRNdG0a6_2snwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2092.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6v4fMzzEYDc/YWkA1ebM2qI/AAAAAAABG4g/lNRBtx_WsxU-VfzMlyMqpRNdG0a6_2snwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/IMG_2092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arizona and California desert photos by Maja Trochimczyk</div><br /><div>PHOTOS FROM THE READING</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yozkf36FDB4/YYmPnL1OlpI/AAAAAAABHNg/MYtk9NR7d0U9p0hz9WH9fa1pa_msy23wACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yozkf36FDB4/YYmPnL1OlpI/AAAAAAABHNg/MYtk9NR7d0U9p0hz9WH9fa1pa_msy23wACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_7452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4QQhhlY3j4/YYmP2DrewUI/AAAAAAABHNk/Rdpda0gVMrED4kqXL4UWpg11zA7NUgc5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4QQhhlY3j4/YYmP2DrewUI/AAAAAAABHNk/Rdpda0gVMrED4kqXL4UWpg11zA7NUgc5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_7461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eD-MF35Lwzo/YYmP2LeUEkI/AAAAAAABHNo/kZYXIMA57t4pSvEYM15A-7ZqpjWarVZRgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eD-MF35Lwzo/YYmP2LeUEkI/AAAAAAABHNo/kZYXIMA57t4pSvEYM15A-7ZqpjWarVZRgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_7456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M0W7tgARY4/YYmQBlnLDBI/AAAAAAABHNw/x9tcCUXHLTYWselHZ1l8bVMiG21doX-LwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M0W7tgARY4/YYmQBlnLDBI/AAAAAAABHNw/x9tcCUXHLTYWselHZ1l8bVMiG21doX-LwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_7466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-boU2tMPGCTA/YYmQLfORd8I/AAAAAAABHN0/N_9273EIPUcpQ5bm3e0uoDa6a5GWWcPVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-boU2tMPGCTA/YYmQLfORd8I/AAAAAAABHN0/N_9273EIPUcpQ5bm3e0uoDa6a5GWWcPVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_7463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhbucTCf_Lk/YYmQWfqEIzI/AAAAAAABHN8/Z9Kmy4SBrg892s1g7vD3e3jS3Oi5TrJ6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhbucTCf_Lk/YYmQWfqEIzI/AAAAAAABHN8/Z9Kmy4SBrg892s1g7vD3e3jS3Oi5TrJ6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_7469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-11041649640745949812021-08-31T11:08:00.003-07:002021-09-01T09:08:20.626-07:00Village Poets Present David Chorlton of Arizona in a Hybrid Zoom/Bolton Hall Reading on September 26, 2021 at 4:30pm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqDrC6vySeU/YS5jZgQhJ5I/AAAAAAABGio/Q9OBHDHWM78hLHOSE8wyz9Iax9Fd3h-IgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6534.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqDrC6vySeU/YS5jZgQhJ5I/AAAAAAABGio/Q9OBHDHWM78hLHOSE8wyz9Iax9Fd3h-IgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_6534.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Village Poets of Sunland Tujunga present a distinguished poet from Phoenix, Arizona, David Chorlton, author of 14 books of poetry, 23 chapbooks, several edited volumes and poems published in over 250 journals. The reading will have a hybrid "live/Zoom" format, at Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga, CA, on Sunday, September 26, 2021 at 4:30 pm. <p></p><p>The venue welcomes guests in masks. There is no return to our enjoyable receptions, though: we cannot have shared food for the intermission/reception - only single servings, individual bottles of water, packages of raisins, are allowed under the new rules of the Museum. Located at 10110 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, CA 91042, the Bolton Hall Museum is owned by the City of Los Angeles as its historic Landmark no. 13; and operated by the Little Landers Society. </p><p>The featured poet will visit the venue virtually, from his Phoenix, AZ, home, using Zoom. Email DMHSkiles@gmail.com or Maja@moonrisepress.com for the Zoom invitation. There will be a screen and projector at Bolton Hall for the Zoom visitors. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-If_UG8fOg5c/YS6Wm93uPaI/AAAAAAABGj4/KIiXkDEbSl8-V50IrI7q_A22ZKELj7WggCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/david-chorlton-2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-If_UG8fOg5c/YS6Wm93uPaI/AAAAAAABGj4/KIiXkDEbSl8-V50IrI7q_A22ZKELj7WggCNcBGAsYHQ/w281-h400/david-chorlton-2021.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>DAVID CHORLTON</b></p><p>From Poets & Writers: "I live with a European past, replete with memories of art galleries plus a love of music, and a present rooted on the Southwest desert. Most of my learning has come from reading across a broad spectrum of poetry, and my writing has edged a little more toward the natural world as "nature poetry" no longer has the reassuring and bucolic implications it had when I was at school. Readings are always a special events for me, and I'd go so far as saying that a poem read aloud is in its final draft."</p><p>He is the author of 14 books and 23 chapbooks listed below. Poems have appeared in more than 250 literary magazines in print, including: <i>Abraxas, The Bitter Oleander, Bloomsbury Review, Buckle &, Chiron Review, Contact II, Cumberland Poetry Review, The Devil’s Millhopper, Heaven Bone, Hawaii Review, Hawaii Pacific Review, The MacGuffin, Main Street Rag, Mississippi Mud, New Mexico Humanities Review, The Other Side, Pembroke Magazine, Poet Lore, Skidrow Penthouse, Slipstream, Webster Review. </i>Online magazine publications include: <i>The Adirondack Review, Ascent, Canary, Cutthroat, The New Verse News, Stride, Three Candles, Versewrights, Voices on the Wind,</i></p><p> Appearances in Anthologies include: <i>Arizona Anthem</i> (Mnemosyne Press); <i>Anthology of Magazine Verse & Yearbook of American Poetry; Crossing the River - Poets of the Western U.S.</i> (Permanent Press); <i>Fever Dreams </i>(U. of Arizona); <i>Open Door </i>(Poet Lore); <i>Prayers for a Thousand Years</i> (HarperSanFrancisco); <i>Fresh Water, Prayers to Protest, Glass Works</i> (Pudding House); <i>To Life, Always the Beautiful Answer </i>(Kings Estate Press); T<i>he British Museum BIRDS </i>(The British Museum Press), <i>New Poets of the American West </i>(Many Voices Press); <i>Entanglements</i> (eco anthology from Two Ravens Press, Scotland)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfXwoN8IRaI/YS5qGaO5uuI/AAAAAAABGjA/xYgiUlFsTJ0k3bDOY-ylXS23fcMqULXrQCNcBGAsYHQ/s499/Speech%2BScroll%2Bcover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfXwoN8IRaI/YS5qGaO5uuI/AAAAAAABGjA/xYgiUlFsTJ0k3bDOY-ylXS23fcMqULXrQCNcBGAsYHQ/w251-h400/Speech%2BScroll%2Bcover.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p><b style="font-size: large;">Poetry Books</b></p><p>2021 <i>Unmapped Worlds </i>(FutureCycle Press)</p><p>2020 <i>Speech Scroll </i>(Cholla Needles Arts & Literary Library)</p><p><a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/09/csps-poetry-letter-no-3-fall-2021.html" target="_blank">Review by Alice Pero</a> is included in CSPS Poetry Letter No. 3, 2021</p><p>2018 <i>Reading T. S. Eliot to a Bird</i> (Hoot’n Waddle)</p><p>2017 <i>Bird on a Wire</i> (Presa Press)</p><p>2015 <i>A Field Guide to Fire</i> (FutureCycle Press)</p><p>2014 <i>Selected Poems</i> (FutureCycle Press)</p><p>2012 <i>The Devil's Sonata</i> (FutureCycle Press)</p><p>2007 <i>The Porous Desert </i>(Future Cycle Press)</p><p>2006 <i>Waiting for the Quetzal</i> (March Street Press)</p><p>2004 <i>Return to Waking Life</i> (Main Street Rag Publishing Company)</p><p>2003 <i>A Normal Day Amazes Us</i> (Kings Estate Press)</p><p>1994 <i>Outposts</i> (Taxus Press, UK)</p><p>1992 <i>Forget the Country You Came From</i> (Singular Street Press)</p><p>1978 C<i>orn Dance</i> (Europaeischer Verlag, Vienna, Austria)</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Chapbooks</b></span></p><p>2021 <i>The Inner Mountain</i> (Poems & paintings, Cholla Needles Art & Literary Library)</p><p>2009 <i>From the Age of Miracles</i> (Slipstream Chapbook Contest Winner)</p><p>2008 <i>The Lost River</i> (Rain Mountain Press – Winner off the Ronald Wardall Poetry Prize)</p><p>2008 <i>The Epistemological Question Mark</i> (March Street Press – extended version of 1994 original)</p><p>2006 <i>Places You Can’t Reach</i> (Pudding House Chapbook Contest Winner)</p><p>2005 <i>Another Word</i> (Pudding House Publications)</p><p>2001 <i>Common Sightings</i> (Palanquin Press Chapbook Contest winner)</p><p>2000 <i>Greatest Hits 1980 – 2000</i> (Pudding House Publications))</p><p>2000 <i>Assimilation</i> (Main Street Rag Chapbook Contest winner)</p><p>1998 <i>Wolkenstein</i> (Words and Spaces)</p><p>1997 <i>Getting Across</i> (Modest Proposal)</p><p>1997 <i>Country of Two Seasons</i> (Pudding House Chapbook Contest winner)</p><p>1996 <i>Madera Canyon Notebook</i> (Brushfire)</p><p>1994 <i>The Insomniacs</i> (Slipstream Chapbook Contest winner)</p><p>1993 <i>The Human Flower</i> (Trout Creek Press)</p><p>1992 <i>Straw Bones </i>(Beginner’s Mind)</p><p>1992 <i>Wear This Country as a Stolen</i> Coat (Brushfire)</p><p>1990 <i>Measuring Time</i> (Trout Creek Press)</p><p>1990 <i>The Village Painters </i>(Adastra Press)</p><p>1987 <i>Without Shoes</i> (American Studies Press)</p><p>1987 <i>Urgent Lives</i> (Pamphlet from Suburban Wilderness Press)</p><p>1986 <i>The Skin Beneath</i> (M. A. F. Press)</p><p>1984 <i>Allegiance to the Fire</i> (Bragdon Books)</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDVjL1_Ce9o/YS5k0QQb9oI/AAAAAAABGi4/wqqlQc2vZlErmUA5i6qiEnTJs4ZYtEgIQCNcBGAsYHQ/s960/birds2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDVjL1_Ce9o/YS5k0QQb9oI/AAAAAAABGi4/wqqlQc2vZlErmUA5i6qiEnTJs4ZYtEgIQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/birds2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Co-Editor</span></b></p><p>2012 <i>American Society: What Poets See </i>(FutureCycle Press)</p><p>2015 <i>Weatherings </i>(FutureCycle Press)</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Online Chapbooks</span></b></p><p>2013 <i>The Chiricahuas</i> (Seven Circle Press)</p><p>2008 <i>Melancholy’s Architecture</i> (Slow Trains)<a href=" http://www.slowtrains.com/vol7issue4/melancholycover.html" target="_blank"> http://www.slowtrains.com/vol7issue4/melancholycover.html</a></p><p>2008 <i>The Interior </i>(Island Hills Books) <a href="http://islandhills.tripod.com/chorlton.pdf">http://islandhills.tripod.com/chorlton.pdf</a></p><p>2008 <i>Dry Heat</i> (Origami Condom) <a href="http://www.origamicondom.org/Chapbooks/DChorlton.01.pdf">http://www.origamicondom.org/Chapbooks/DChorlton.01.pdf</a></p><p>2008 <i>The Dreaming House</i> (Chippens) <a href="http://www.chippens.com/chapbooks/The_Dreaming_House.pdf">http://www.chippens.com/chapbooks/The_Dreaming_House.pdf</a></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Translations</span></b></p><p>2017 <i>Shatter the Bell in my Ear, Christine Lavant </i> (The Bitter Oleander Press)</p><p>2008 <i>Elis Dances, Hans Raimund</i> (Online chapbook at Chippens Press)</p><p>1997 <i>Viennese Ventriloquies, Prose by Hans Raimund </i>(Event Horizon Press)</p><p>1993 <i>Hardly the Blink of an Eye, Poems and prose by Hans Raimund </i>(Words and Spaces)</p><p> </p><p>Poems available on the web, there has been a range of them at Verse-Virtual:</p><p><a href="http://www.verse-virtual.com/apps/search?q=David+Chorlton">http://www.verse-virtual.com/apps/search?q=David+Chorlton</a></p><p>More appeared in the Amethyst Review:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://amethystmagazine.org/?s=David+Chorlton">https://amethystmagazine.org/?s=David+Chorlton</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nnc29Dx-wl8/YS5ruaAMcnI/AAAAAAABGjI/M028vC0nX1k0MjgpBEgfxeYHbtOzQvogACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4981.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nnc29Dx-wl8/YS5ruaAMcnI/AAAAAAABGjI/M028vC0nX1k0MjgpBEgfxeYHbtOzQvogACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4981.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><br /><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Deep Frozen Desert</span></b></p><p> </p><p>Beneath the ice light of the northern sky</p><p>in a mountain six hundred miles</p><p>from the nearest tree,</p><p>where frost runs deep into stone</p><p>and the only star is a signal</p><p>from a disappeared world</p><p> </p><p>the seeds of a desert go along</p><p>the blue tunnel for storage</p><p>in a vault where they wait</p><p>for springtime to flower</p><p>from snowdrift and memory.</p><p>Here is mesquite and a crystal</p><p>of cold to preserve it; here</p><p> </p><p>are prickly pear and sage</p><p>held in trust for the day</p><p>when the sun reappears; here</p><p>are agave and ironwood labeled</p><p>with ink that glows in the dark</p><p>like each golden segment</p><p>in the scorpion’s tail</p><p> </p><p>and the hourglass of fire</p><p>on the spider who crawls</p><p>between the stacks</p><p>of silver packages bearing</p><p>the indestructible seal</p><p>of night-blooming hope.</p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTQCxFobEAk/YS5sgjkqzYI/AAAAAAABGjU/w0k_YW12m_A3MfPWhOs91dpSDCeRkNVrgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_1127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTQCxFobEAk/YS5sgjkqzYI/AAAAAAABGjU/w0k_YW12m_A3MfPWhOs91dpSDCeRkNVrgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>The Bat God</span></b><p></p><p> </p><p>With wings of silk and a velvet mask</p><p>he hangs in a recess</p><p>until the dark is thick enough to stir</p><p> </p><p>then the blood flows faster</p><p>to his ears</p><p>and they open to receive the music</p><p>made by stars. He’s a memory</p><p> </p><p>that can’t find a way</p><p>back into the mind. Imagine a wolf’s heart</p><p> </p><p>shrunken to fit</p><p>inside a tiny breast; imagine</p><p>a flame as a tooth. When you wake up</p><p>in the small hours</p><p> </p><p>thirsty for light</p><p>and reach for the switch he’ll be there,</p><p>he’ll be silence</p><p> </p><p>with an edge so sharp</p><p>it cuts. Imagine navigating</p><p>fear with a map you can touch</p><p>but not see; imagine</p><p> </p><p>your reflection flying</p><p>from the mirror</p><p> </p><p>and never coming back.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVU3SNQXL2M/YS5kV-nNSGI/AAAAAAABGi0/TwdGzVUI2FEQzbo4NPMGx7gFIVB1IgwpwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_6299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVU3SNQXL2M/YS5kV-nNSGI/AAAAAAABGi0/TwdGzVUI2FEQzbo4NPMGx7gFIVB1IgwpwCPcBGAYYCw/w400-h300/IMG_6299.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Cheap Mangos</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p>There’s an easy flow of music through</p><p>the speakers at the supermercado</p><p>where papayas ripen while you watch</p><p>their skins disintegrate</p><p>the way a man’s skin does</p><p>when he’s found on his back in the desert</p><p>facing the sun with his mouth locked</p><p>between a scream and a prayer. His trouser leg</p><p>is torn where a coyote</p><p>came to gnaw at his thigh</p><p>and of his right forearm only</p><p>the bones remain, while on his left wrist</p><p>a watch still measures time.</p><p>The music has a teardrop in its beat</p><p>and nostalgia in the singer’s voice</p><p>but the juice aisle is a happy place</p><p>with any flavour you’d remember</p><p>from a trip across the border</p><p>going south to a colourful village</p><p>with peppers stacked in the market</p><p>just like these red, green, yellow ones</p><p>displayed in the order of their bite,</p><p>a village likely similar</p><p>to one the woman left</p><p>whose sweater clings to what remains</p><p>of her where she collapsed</p><p>in a pair of sports shoes good for many</p><p>more miles with the tread on their soles</p><p>and Just Do It style. Something pulled at her hair</p><p>where her scalp peeled away</p><p>but the strap on her brassiere</p><p>is indestructible as the belt</p><p>that falls slack where the flesh has wasted</p><p>from her hips. Had she made it</p><p>to a road she might have found</p><p>her way to Phoenix, to the store</p><p>where the cakes in the cold case</p><p>are churrigueresque, and mangos</p><p>are two for ninety-nine cents.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFXYzIt-08o/YS5tbjqpvzI/AAAAAAABGjg/kwO3op08Vhkw6PNPOcnRjogd9Qu_VSC5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFXYzIt-08o/YS5tbjqpvzI/AAAAAAABGjg/kwO3op08Vhkw6PNPOcnRjogd9Qu_VSC5QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_1034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sections from a recent long poem, <i>Speech Scroll</i></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">(62)</span></b></p><p>A ringtail climbs down from the stars</p><p>to the edge of a roof</p><p>where he finds</p><p>a wooden beam extending</p><p>to a hook on which</p><p>a glass hangs</p><p>filled with earthly sweetness. He makes</p><p>of his body a question mark</p><p>that asks for truths</p><p>only known among animals. He’s</p><p>agile and can balance</p><p>on a breath, right side up or</p><p>upside down, with a universe</p><p>of sound compressed</p><p>inside his ears, and eyes only</p><p>for night, when the galaxies</p><p>above him are thick enough</p><p>to stir with his tail.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>(67)</b></span></p><p>The forecast is for wind</p><p>to stir up lies and scatter them</p><p>for the birds to take. Goldfinches</p><p>pick up the smallest, the ones</p><p>the television tells. Doves arrive in number</p><p>pecking at the ground for the remnants</p><p>of the last political campaign</p><p>and they are never full. A flicker</p><p>works the grass, pulling out</p><p>the details of the latest cures</p><p>for conditions so pre-</p><p>existing they haven’t yet been seen,</p><p>while grackles attack</p><p>what the car dealers call</p><p>a good offer. They tear apart</p><p>the papers and fly</p><p>away, each with a salesman’s smile</p><p>drooping from its beak.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>(119)</b></span></p><p>At four AM it’s time</p><p>to dust the moonlight from the rooftops</p><p>and polish the surface</p><p>of the pond. The hummingbirds</p><p>jump-start their hearts</p><p>and the thrashers grip the cactus</p><p>where they call whit-whit</p><p>above the rustle quail make</p><p>on the ground. The powerful awake</p><p>refreshed and put on</p><p>their boldest faces for the early</p><p>news: clean-shaven, hair</p><p>frozen into place, jaws</p><p>rolling underneath</p><p>each word they speak, while the gears</p><p>inside the Earth cry out</p><p>for oil and human kindness</p><p>to keep it turning.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCmAVZPIfDc/YS5s6mHZi0I/AAAAAAABGjY/RtZRJmsJZZ8E902hPF18w3wsMSWHoPbhQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RCmAVZPIfDc/YS5s6mHZi0I/AAAAAAABGjY/RtZRJmsJZZ8E902hPF18w3wsMSWHoPbhQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_1744.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos from California and Arizona by Maja Trochimczyk</div><br /><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4332901668517191725.post-89464914973997954432021-07-29T23:45:00.002-07:002021-08-03T23:26:23.555-07:00Village Poets Present "Blue and the Blues" Anthology and the California Quarterly 47:2, August 22, 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSjgy1-QENOvR86b2BTEsvJkKHHMAiJf0XEnhbZvy6mUk4qiXwKwRTUJ2GJHYhOYAyRgSC1xzy_9ttUqCb4o67VbvZ_2pdpoTuEBcnGnzz88-fL4aOQur6UeeQHYKR8SWfBRsS93AXQg/s860/BLUE+Cover+w+Spine-page-001_opt+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="860" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSjgy1-QENOvR86b2BTEsvJkKHHMAiJf0XEnhbZvy6mUk4qiXwKwRTUJ2GJHYhOYAyRgSC1xzy_9ttUqCb4o67VbvZ_2pdpoTuEBcnGnzz88-fL4aOQur6UeeQHYKR8SWfBRsS93AXQg/w400-h301/BLUE+Cover+w+Spine-page-001_opt+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Village Poets are thrilled to present a wonderful anthology edited by Carole Boyce, <i>Blue and the Blues</i> on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 4:30 pm via Zoom. The reading will also present poems published in the <i>California Quarterly</i> 47:2, Summer 2021 edited by Maja Trochimczyk. </p><p>Email DMHSkiles@gmail.com or maja@moonrisepress.com to receive the Zoom link to the reading. Two segments of open mic poetry available. Typically we hear two poems from each poet. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1pXoViqWMMIZuw-snryidJbrzS46lDz9b82_4_GEXQ_WYEvl6zUJ16nq_GssH2Ytzw7l-IKLYhoVzAw_9O2epkgb2DKAYcJ9lS8W-e_KVXOzaVE77RiqtTS_zhbz7A0cj6j_TLAKa0s/s1514/BLUE+Cover+w+Spine-page-001_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1514" data-original-width="990" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1pXoViqWMMIZuw-snryidJbrzS46lDz9b82_4_GEXQ_WYEvl6zUJ16nq_GssH2Ytzw7l-IKLYhoVzAw_9O2epkgb2DKAYcJ9lS8W-e_KVXOzaVE77RiqtTS_zhbz7A0cj6j_TLAKa0s/w261-h400/BLUE+Cover+w+Spine-page-001_opt.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p>Listen in to the Pisces Publishing anthology, <i>Blue & The Blues </i>on August 22 at 4:30.</p><p></p><p>You will experience BLUE in all its glory as poets explore the literal color blue, the emotion of feeling blue and the genre of blues music. Within each phase, each poet has a very different spin on the subject. This is a unique collection and after listening, you may have a new favorite color! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOS5-jm410R_OVXJuL1liQG412GnMoLsH1Ga2dpercnQuHzfqLyGIt5eFANhAdIKqxKhPkJmQDmS05BsBe0Pq8zrmuTvGohyphenhyphenPbzM6JSvcNiRkzzYhlSTjGTa9AVMy0waKKoIXozTE24g/s1393/caroleboyce_opt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="860" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOS5-jm410R_OVXJuL1liQG412GnMoLsH1Ga2dpercnQuHzfqLyGIt5eFANhAdIKqxKhPkJmQDmS05BsBe0Pq8zrmuTvGohyphenhyphenPbzM6JSvcNiRkzzYhlSTjGTa9AVMy0waKKoIXozTE24g/s320/caroleboyce_opt.png" width="198" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carole Boyce</div><p><b>ABOUT THIS BOOK:</b></p><p>"What a Concept! Blue would be more than pleased about this tribute to her essence. This unique anthology brings poets together to glorify the color blue, to write about the emotion of feeling blue and to pay tribute to the genre of blues music. Hues, moods and music; this collection is as varied as poetry can be with a broad spectrum of interpretations, both literal and figurative on each section. The book demonstrates the range and complexity of the creative mind. The author of <i>More Than A Color</i> makes clear to the reader that the actual pigment is viewed as a safety net; a source of comfort and strength, available as needed. In Blue, she says “there’s a shade for every person” and lists some blue colors and emphasizes in the final lines: “I live blue. I speak blue. It’s a language you know. I love blue.”</p><p>From a review by Adrianne Lawson-Pope published in the <i>Poetry Letter</i> No. 1, 2021.</p><p><a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/02/poetry-letter-no-1-2021-reviews-of.html" target="_blank"> https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/02/poetry-letter-no-1-2021-reviews-of.html</a></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">More Than A Color</span></b></p><p>Can you see it?</p><p>Do you feel it?</p><p>Can you hear its call?</p><p>Listen, open up, welcome it</p><p>Blue is present</p><p>And it presents itself to you; for you</p><p>To use as needed</p><p>Let it envelop you</p><p>Blue song to soothe you</p><p>Blue walls to surround and protect you</p><p>Blue blanket to warm you</p><p>Blue skies to cheer and comfort you</p><p>If you find yourself at the brink of collapse</p><p>Grab onto Blue</p><p>It will bolster you and sustain you</p><p>Because Blue is not just a color</p><p>It’s music, a mood, a heartbeat</p><p>It offers an atmosphere that allows you to choose</p><p>Whatever sustenance you need</p><p>Its many hues can handle any request</p><p>No need to leave the spectrum</p><p>Blue satisfies it all</p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i>(c) 2021 by Lynn Brown</i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1eLZZG_AcKM5cYc26dit7o0NFC69aa50ov_9kTtopJdmo3swQOP3sJIbJS4f2vpDNb1ES5fUBb00Z-6TaBVE_K7ZLYWI6AKGMeaUvJltvUk43Z8k-bCb77ba2cOwOrD4HR-_EOmBSBs/s1156/CQ+Vol+47+No+2+Cover+%2528Front%2529++%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1eLZZG_AcKM5cYc26dit7o0NFC69aa50ov_9kTtopJdmo3swQOP3sJIbJS4f2vpDNb1ES5fUBb00Z-6TaBVE_K7ZLYWI6AKGMeaUvJltvUk43Z8k-bCb77ba2cOwOrD4HR-_EOmBSBs/w259-h400/CQ+Vol+47+No+2+Cover+%2528Front%2529++%25281%2529.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>California Quarterly,</i> vol. 47, no. 2, Summer 2021</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cover art: Susan Dobay, "Butterfly"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More about this volume on CaliforniaStatePoetrySociety.com:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="goog_1598270232"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/06/california-quarterly-47-no-2-summer.html">https://www.californiastatepoetrysociety.com/2021/06/california-quarterly-47-no-2-summer.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLnoifbUTeukAR61PVep3A8prg7Nghq38yibBZasL4xUu3msJpkQ65NbVXIF-5ShEvSVpNMSrq7DRZHR7mBeCAmQKzxf1UidxsmhAylecqkkW5pZioGvUBDsy3vJ8U3M0c4BJ_HOrrBQ/s1280/IMG_1812.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLnoifbUTeukAR61PVep3A8prg7Nghq38yibBZasL4xUu3msJpkQ65NbVXIF-5ShEvSVpNMSrq7DRZHR7mBeCAmQKzxf1UidxsmhAylecqkkW5pZioGvUBDsy3vJ8U3M0c4BJ_HOrrBQ/s320/IMG_1812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maja Trochimczyk</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Editor’s Note</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mother – the same word in many languages, the first syllable of a baby, the easiest to pronounce: matr. मातृ (Sanskrit),মা Mā (Bangla), मां maan (Hindi), ਮਾਂ Māṁ (Punjabi), அம்மா Am'mā (Tamil), mater (Latin), mutter (German), màthair (Scottish), móðir (Icelandic), moeder (Dutch), madre (Italian, Spanish), motina (Lithuanian), mère (French), мајко (Serbian), майка (Bulgarian), mãe (Portuguese), แม่, mæ̀ (Thai), mẹ (Viet-namese). It is мама in Russian, mama in Polish, Romanian, Swahili, and umama in Zulu. Most of these languages are Indo-European, but even the Chinese are not free of the omnipresent “mm” in 母親 Mǔqīn, or 媽媽 Māmā. We have one translation from Chinese in this issue, by Yun Wang, and another one, from Italian, by our indefatigable Margaret Saine. People who speak multiple languages gain insights into multiple cultures and are really blessed. They are able to recognize the essential human unity in the delightful diversity of nations and cultures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While editing the CQ, I like finding shared themes among submissions that bind poems with a common thread. This time, I found mothers, daughters, the joy and loss of childhood, but also solitude, pain, resilience, the Earth, Gaia – our Mother, teeming with life… and the wings of a butterfly, that came out of a humble, hungry caterpillar crawling in the dirt. A lovely butterfly graces our cover in a joyous image by Hungarian-American painter Susan Dobay (b. 1937). Back in 1956, she escaped from Hungary after the Soviet crackdown on the nation longing for its freedom. As long as communist repressions, violence and wars continue, refugees will stream out of lands of totalitarian oppression, searching for countries of peace and freedom. Are any such countries left on this planet? Is there anywhere to escape to? Our escape, as poets, has always been internal: the world of poetry and imagination. The world created by our words, our visions that have become a shared reality in the California Quarterly 47, No. 2. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">Maja Trochimczyk, Ph.D.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">Editor<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuqXBclu6_eQQMaAcKF2Vd3f2DIAClrrcYYk2CeqrvBu2qRmYhqFswXVTY5DHFCoZFXiR_bHtU-N_4iFe6MqtDZcq0n7VoZTVsZdgGmnQQceyUJBkWFAV6pARI15ZKEfcCpPscKkGO_s/s2048/IMG_5833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuqXBclu6_eQQMaAcKF2Vd3f2DIAClrrcYYk2CeqrvBu2qRmYhqFswXVTY5DHFCoZFXiR_bHtU-N_4iFe6MqtDZcq0n7VoZTVsZdgGmnQQceyUJBkWFAV6pARI15ZKEfcCpPscKkGO_s/w400-h300/IMG_5833.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>Aquamarine</span></b><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>lucid</div><div> lucent</div><div> translucent</div><div> waves of the Pacific </div><div> jade, turquoise, aqua</div><div><br /></div><div>sea foam <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> in the air </div><div> sea foam <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> on my skin</div><div><br /></div><div>I dance on the currents </div><div> floating with the relentless motion</div><div> to the shore </div><div> to the shore</div><div> to the shore</div><div><br /></div><div>sea foam <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> on my skin</div><div> sea foam <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> in the air</div><div><br /></div><div>Aphrodite comes up from the ocean</div><div> carried on a dazzling shell by dolphins </div><div> the wisest of creatures</div><div>lucid</div><div> lucent</div><div> translucent</div><div><br /></div><div>fizzy bubbles on my tongue – </div><div> I swim in the champagne ocean</div><div><br /></div><div>Salt of the Sol – sunshine of vitality</div><div> I praise the elemental power of Water – </div><div>Air – Wind – Earth – Fire</div><div> always Fire – <i>ogień,</i> Agni</div><div><br /></div><div>eternal flames stir the waves </div><div> into dancing </div><div> to the shore </div><div> to the shore </div><div><br /></div><div> on and on</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> to the shore</div><div> to the shore</div><div> to the shore</div><div><br /></div><div>(c) 2020 by Maja Trochimczyk</div><div>Published in "Blue and the Blues" anthology edited by Carole Boyce</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02k0tmj5zCmDQj70hvIbx6-exHfcYej5KBjo8HHsEyXkKdDQy12txM5a8tU68kAW5Y6UZwxUYBcVMOx96AL12_QMjZJd6ifVFlYgkyvlaY9Z10PGRDvhvkg4kVBlaCPMRTSYo4fVuYl8/s2048/IMG_6271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02k0tmj5zCmDQj70hvIbx6-exHfcYej5KBjo8HHsEyXkKdDQy12txM5a8tU68kAW5Y6UZwxUYBcVMOx96AL12_QMjZJd6ifVFlYgkyvlaY9Z10PGRDvhvkg4kVBlaCPMRTSYo4fVuYl8/w400-h400/IMG_6271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mason Bees</span></b></p><p><b><i> by Maja Trochimczyk</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>I share my roses with the mason bees –</p><p>Iceberg leaves they like the best, cutting</p><p>circles and ellipses from the edge, inwards.</p><p> </p><p>Iceberg roses, not iceberg lettuce, mind you,</p><p>that’s far too crunchy to make soft beds, wrapping</p><p>bee babies in green, white or pink silkiness,</p><p> </p><p>smooth and pliable like we ought to be, smiling</p><p>under the merciless gale of time, raging river</p><p>flowing backwards, always backwards.</p><p> </p><p>I used to get angry looking at my mutilated</p><p>roses – white blossoms, a defense against evil</p><p>guarding my front door like bee soldiers in the hive</p><p> </p><p>ready to sacrifice their lives – just one sting</p><p>and the miniature fuzzy warrior’s gone – having</p><p>lived just to protect and serve us, the worker bees, </p><p> </p><p>buzzing around our lives, cutting circles and</p><p>ellipses in white roses. Bees and humans, we are</p><p>all children of the Queen Bee, Gaia, our Mother.</p><p> </p><p>We make honey of our kindness, virtues, character</p><p>wisdom, self-reliance. Attentive, focused on the next</p><p>perfect circle, semicircle or ellipsis – we breathe deeply,</p><p> </p><p>delight in drinking nectar, carrying pollen of emotions,</p><p>sights, impressions – flying back home to make the sweetest</p><p>gold, translucent honey of our poems, of our dreams.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>(c) 2021 by Maja Trochimczyk</p><p>Published in the <i>California Quarterly </i>vol. 47 no. 2, Summer 2021</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OqmSXamJGHr35rDXNg5vck0ZP3oTSWk0Uc2NyOP9qwWCAwt8qcwh41SU_90FCOwI1V68mQAHj5oKrm3AdjcOucKtX8At_5dxFbGHrTR412yZeFgE_kOEhJoZD5vTk5DQ8z2LP1ioFkk/s2048/IMG_6283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OqmSXamJGHr35rDXNg5vck0ZP3oTSWk0Uc2NyOP9qwWCAwt8qcwh41SU_90FCOwI1V68mQAHj5oKrm3AdjcOucKtX8At_5dxFbGHrTR412yZeFgE_kOEhJoZD5vTk5DQ8z2LP1ioFkk/w400-h400/IMG_6283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pacific Ocean and Iceberg Rose photos by Maja Trochimczyk </div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Maja Trochimczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07070404303173790701noreply@blogger.com0