Village Poets Feature Linda Dove on October 26, 2014

Village Poets have the pleasure to invite poets, poetry lovers, and other interested parties with a profound fascination with the spoken word to attend the next Village Poets Monthly Reading at Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga CA, on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon. Our featured poet will be Linda Dove and we will also have two segments of Open Mike and serve refreshments. The Bolton Hall Museum is made available to Village Poets by the Little Landers Historical Society and we pass George Harris's hat to collect suggested donations of $3 per person to donate back to LLHS for the Bolton Hall use.

LINDA DOVE

Linda Dove has published two award-winning collections, In Defense of Objects (Bear Star, 2009) and the chapbook O Dear Deer, (Squall, 2011). She holds a Ph.D. in Renaissance literature and was a college English professor for many years. She currently lives in Monrovia, California. More info lives here: www.dovemuse.com.

St. Nicholas of Tolentino Begins with Prayer

Patron Saint of Vegetarians and Lost Souls

I do not refuse meat.

I am humble around kitchens, the copper conserva, the sauces and chickens.

My hands rub rosemary and purple flowers fall.

I am often at the gate.

I sit down and sign the cross in steam.

I am a child. I climb a tree.

I water stars.

The hens relent, transform to parsnips and beets.

I pass a bowl of salt.

The stem of a broom slants toward the sun.

I am served roast partridge in a black fig agrodolce.

I give thanks. I darn a blue hole.

Ave Maria, piena di grazia.

My face maps the distance between two circumstances.

A length of red beads slips into the sea.

A bee sews a bee cell shut.

I bow my head. The bird flexes, lifts off the plate.

Its wings beat and shed the dark sweets.

(c) by Linda Dove

PHOTOS FROM READING BY PEGGY DOBREER 

& 100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE

 We did not have 100  thousand poets, only about 20, but we did agree on principles of change: we will change the world if we continue doing exactly what we are doing, that is create poetry, make art, and reflect on the beauties and mysteries of the world. The power of positive thinking, of thoughtful reflection, of compassionate sharing of our knowledge and insights is the power that will make our world a better place. Why? Because it already has!

As the host in charge of the event "for change" I brought some hats I had in my trunk, so people would have something to change into. At the end only Lois and I have decided to wear the hats. No man would be caught dead with a gem, or a scarf on their hat... so that did not work so well... 

And here we are, changed!

The idea of George Harris, a rough and tough pioneer in an evening hat with jewels? Why not? \

Only Kathabela Wilson stayed faithful to her hats and even read a poem about it while Rick played the flute.

Here are some hatless folks in white. We are the "white knights" or "angels" of the poetry world, are we not?

Jack Cooper, without a hat but with his wits right where needed.

Mari Werner and Marlene Hitt shared a laugh.

.... and Peggy Dobreer had the last word.