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.

Peggy Dobreer Will Read on September 28, 2014 - 100Thousand Poets for Change!

We were thrilled to announce a reading by Peggy Dobreer on September 22, 2013 last year, but she could not be with us. So, we are doubly delighted to announce that Peggy Dobreer will be the featured poet at the next Village Poets Monthly Poetry Reading at Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga. The reading will be on Sunday, September 28, 2014, at 4:30 p.m.  This is the 100 Thousand Poets for Change Global Event Sunday, and we are happy to invite all our Open Mike Poets to bring their poetry about change - personal, social, cosmic - whatever you want, as long as it is PG13!

You will have lots of time to read, because in addition to the Featured Poet there will be two Open Mike segments and refreshments. We will pass George Harris's Hat (George Harris was the builder of Bolton Hall) to collect donations for the Bolton Hall. To find out more about Peggy Dobreer read her bio below. After our reading she will manage several writing workshops 

PEGGY DOBREER

Peggy Dobreer is a Los Angeles based poet, educator, and yogini. Her first book of poetry, In The Lake of Your Bones was released by Moon Tide Press in March 2012. Her work has been published in journals, such as Poemeleon,Malpais Review, Bicycle Review, San Pedro River Review, and Yoga Magazine. Just released from Ain’t Got No Press, she is proud to be included in Ekphrastia Gone Wild with Nobel Laureate, Wislawa Szymborska. Peggy is co-author of 64 Ways To Practice Nonviolence: A Curriculum and Resource Guide, ProEd, Inc., 2008. 

E=MC2BODIED POETRY          WORKSHOPS and READINGS

with
PEGGY  DOBREER

                           "Write from the body, read from the breath, and edit for the art."                                

A series of three evening workshops on Thursdays,6:30-9pm, 10/23, 11/6,12/4/2014 at Gatsby Books in Long Beach, CA. You may sign-up for individual dates at $20/ea, or $50/for3.


Contact Improvisation is a neo-modern dance form, or an art sport, if you will. It is the embodied exploration of the laws of physics that govern all bodies in motion. Peggy brings 30 years of inquiry to light in her workshops. While the focus is mostly generative work, you will also bring a poem of ten to fourteen lines, in progress, for feedback, which includes consideration of vocal dynamics, and carriage at the mic. More information: adhocink@yahoo.com.

Jack Cooper on August 24, with Summer Poetry Reports - Watermelon Festival, Animal Poetry, Bread...

Village Poets of Sunland Tujunga are thrilled to announce that the wonderful, one and only Jack Cooper will be the Featured Poet at Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga on Sunday, August 24, at 4:30 p.m.   The Reading will include Two Open Mike Segments, before and after the Featured Poets, and refreshments prepared by the Village Poets.

ABOUT JACK COOPER

Jack Cooper's first poetry collection, Across My Silence, was published by World Audience, Inc., 2007.  His work has been nominated three times for a Pushcart Prize, as a finalist in North American Review's 2011 James Hearst Poetry Prize, and currently as a finalist in the 2014 Eco Arts Award in Creative Excellence. 

His poetry has also appeared in Connecticut River Review, The South Dakota Review, The Evansville Review, The Santa Fe Literary Review and many other publications. He can be contacted at www.jcooperpoetry.com - his poetry website with more information about his work.

VILLAGE POETS' KIDS BOOK CORNER AT THE WATERMELON FESTIVAL

The mission of Village Poets includes bringing poetry to diverse audiences everywhere. Since 2011, the poets have organized a Kids Poetry Corner or Kids Book Corner at the Watermelon Festivals in Sunland Park. This year, the Watermelon Festival  moved to Santa Anita Park, on the back of the Racetrack, but the tradition continued.  The Village Poets partnered with youth from Phoenix House Academy of Los Angeles  that volunteered to assist with the setup and managing the Kids Book Corner. 

On Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20, 2014, Maja Trochimczyk was joined by counselors and  students from the Academy - six girls on Saturday and six boys on Sunday - in presenting an assortment of children's books to kids that might want to take a break from all the rides and attraction of the Festival, giving out balloons, and making origami.  In addition to giving out 50 balloons to kids small and large, the students read books and tongue-twisters and made origami by themselves, producing a swan, crane, frog, and a ninja star. 

Lemur from Wildlife Waystation.

The site was located next to an exciting stand managed by the Wildlife Waystation, and presenting live animals - such as llamas, anteaters, lemur, barn owl, snakes, and more.  The kind folks from the Wildlife Waystation allowed the poets to keep their books and toys overnight in their enclosure, and a new collaboration was born. 

Maja Trochimczyk with a book display for Kids Book Corner. 

The Phoenix House students, in addition to volunteering with books, origami and balloons, also had a chance of walking around the spacious grounds of the Watermelon Festival and tasting some of the treats - to which they were "treated" by the poets, on condition that they read at least one book in return. This they did, laughing at the simple childhood stories.

The enjoyable weekend was filled with excitement and fun - which was as important to the students of the Phoenix House Academy as their community service. The Academy is a residential treatment facility providing high school education and therapeutic services to youth suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues. They helped kids and enjoyed their day at the Festival at the same time (For those who need help with their youth affected by substance abuse, the phone number for Call Center is 1 800 378 4435).

VILLAGE POETS AND FRIENDS READ ANIMAL POETRY IN LA CRESCENTA

The group reading of "Paws for Poetry" at the La Crescenta Public Library on Saturday, July 19, 2014, was a great success and showed a true diversity of poems inspired by the animal world - from the favorite dog - family friend, to proud cats, alluring birds of various sorts and sizes, and snakes changing their skin. The following poets contributed their reflections on the animal world to the event: Becky Mate; Peter Larsen; 

Marlene Hitt*; Mira Mataric; Mina Kirby; Joe DeCenzo*; Jessica Wilson Cardenas (with percussionist and flutist Juan Cardenas); Maja Trochimczyk*; Sam Graham; Beverly Collins; Jill Meunier; and Dorothy Skiles*. Stars indicate names of Village Poets Planning Group. 

Dorothy Skiles addresses the audience.

Gene Schultz took a lot of pictures and we will be posting an album in the future. For now, we have a  group shot from Mira Mataric, and some illustrations - photographs by Bill Skiles and Maja Trochimczyk that were framed and displayed by the La Crescenta Library staff. Well done, everyone!

Two photos of animal mosaics from the Sainte Chapelle in Paris by Maja Trochimczyk

MAJA TROCHIMCZYK'S SLICING THE BREAD

If all goes well, the Finishing Line Press will publish Maja Trochimczyk chapbook, "Slicing the Bread" on October 25, 2014.  This third poetry book by Maja Trochimczyk can be ordered now and will be printed and shipped in October. The limited edition’s pre-publication sales will determine the press run, so please reserve your copy now. 

The books cost $14 each plus $2.99 for shipping for the first book in a package and $1.99 for each additional book. You can order your copy of Slicing the Bread on Finishing Line Press website at www.finishinglinepress.com (look for new releases). Read more about this book, highly praised by poets Lois P. Jones, Georgia Jones Davis, John Z. Guzlowski, Sharon Chmielarz, and Linda Nemec Foster,  on Maja's blog! http://poetrylaurels.blogspot.com/2014/07/finishing-line-press-to-publish-slicing.html

Animal Poetry on July 19 and Elsa Frausto on July 27, 2014

 PAWS FOR READING AT THE LA CRESCENTA PUBLIC LIBRARY ON JULY 19, 2014

Floor tile in the Sainte Chapelle in Paris, 1248.

The La Crescenta Library/County of Los Angeles, 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta, CA  91214, is hosting a special poetry event entitled, Paws for Reading, on Saturday, July 19, 2014, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

The  former Poet Laureate’s, Marlene Hitt, Joe DeCenzo, Maja Trochimczyk, and Dorothy Skiles will be presenting poems about the animal world.  In addition, a number of guests poets will be reading their work on animals and related matters.  The poets will present their work in the following order:

• Becky Mate 
• Peter Larsen 
• Marlene Hitt* 
• Mira Mataric 
• Mina Kirby 
• Joe DeCenzo* 
• Jessica Wilson 
• Maja Trochimczyk* 
• Sam Graham 
• Bev Collins 
• Jill Meunier 
• Dorothy Skiles* 
• * indicates members of the Village Poet Planning Group  

Also, it is anticipated that photos and other art work, in keeping with the theme of animals, will be decorating the walls. Come join us for this delightful event.  Refreshments will be served.

PRESENTING ELSA FRAUSTO, POET LAUREATE OF SUNLAND-TUJUNGA, JULY 27, 2014

Elsa Frausto, the Eighth Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga.

Sunland-Tujunga’s new Poet Laureate, Elsa S. Frausto, will be featuring at the Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga’s upcoming Monthly Reading Series on Sunday, July 27, 2014, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., at Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga, CA 91042.

Elsa S. Frausto was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has lived in the Foothills with her family for over twenty years. Her work has appeared in a number of local and international publications, among them Porte des Poetes, Speechless the Magazine, Poem of the Month in Poet at Work, Badlands, the anthology Meditations on Divine Names and many anthologies by Poets on Site.

She was the coordinator and host for Camelback Readings held at the Sunland-Tujunga Library. Elsa is a member of the Chuparosa Writers, volunteers at the Friends of the Library Bookstore and at the Noise Within Theater (Pasadena) and is poetry editor and translator for the Spanish language literary magazine la-luciernaga.com.  Her new venture as Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga (2014-2016) is the blog Poetria.org where poetry and travel with stops along the way from philosophy to food are welcome. Her local musings Walking Around can be read monthly in Voice of the Village.


Faith and the Nectarine

In matters of faith,
I'm with the nectarine.
It prepares its sap
where it can't be seen,

spells winter,
suspects spring,
and knows it's still
not time.

Heat is a dance
on summer's skin.
The long hours beat,
sugar jingles,

autumn can't wait.


Elsa S. Frausto

Poets are welcome to sign-up for the open reading.  Come and enjoy an early evening of poetry, light refreshments and eclectic conversation. A $3.00 donation is appreciated.

THE POET LAUREATE AND VILLAGE POETS IN THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

Look for the decorated car of Village Poets in the Fourth of July Parade in Sunland-Tujunga, starting from Mt. Gleason Avenue down Foothill Blvd. to Sunland Park.  We will be presenting Elsa S. Frausto, the new Poet Laureate, accompanied by former poets laureate Joe DeCenzo, Marlene Hitt, Dorothy Skiles and Maja Trochimczyk.

See the album of photos from the Fourth of July 2014 on Picasa Web Albums. Photos by Maja Trochimczyk, Bill Skiles, and others. 

Elsa Frausto, Joe DeCenzo, Dorothy Skiles, Marlene Hitt, Maja Trochimczyk

Drumming up the applause for Elsa S. Frausto, Eight Poet Laureate of Sunland Tujunga

Julia Stein as Featured Poet on June 22, 2014 at Bolton Hall Museum

We are thrilled to welcome Julia Stein as Featured Poet on June 22, 2014 (4:30 p.m.) at the Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga. The reading will include two open mike segments and the featured poet's presentation will be followed by a reception.  We pass George Harris's Hat (the builder of the Bolton Hall Museum) to collect donations for the Little Landers Historical Society, suggested amount $3, for the upkeep of the Museum.

JULIA STEIN

Julia Stein’s seventh book of poetry What Were They Like? was published March 2013. In the last two years she edited two books of poetry: Every Day is an Act of Resistance: Selected Poems of Carol Tarlen by the brilliant S.F. poet Carol Tarlen who died in 2004 and Walking Through a River of Fire: 100 Years of Triangle fire Poetry. Stein is the 2011 Joe Hill Poetry Award winner. She has worked on an oral history project interviewing pioneers of the San Fernando Valley including children who grew up in Sunland-Tujunga to pioneer families 1900-1920.

AFTER THE FIRE STORM 

  We hiked into the burnt-black Simi hills,

headed past a forest of black shrubs,

saw tiny green buds beginning to grow,

stopped at the sandstone rock quarry where

the foundation stones of Los Angeles were dug,

climbed up footholds of the rock wall to the top

to see four leeching ponds cut into sandstone

where Chumash women leeched the acid out of acorns,

yes, we could learn from them how to cut into stone

and leach acid out of plants to get the hidden nourishment.

We walked up to the stone ruins of the stagecoach house,

saw blackened weeds in the middle of stone cisterns,

started hiking up the brown-stone devil’s slide where

once a stagecoach route cut across the hills;  now

we can learn to find the path through the stony land.

We saw against the black ash a green weed

with stinking yellow lemon gourds--the calabash.

Yes, we need to be green weeds and lemon gourds

stinking up the blackness of this city, saying we can

grow again, making this city a good green place.

HAWLEY AND JUSTUS READING IN MAY 2014

Photos from the reading are now available on the Picasa Web Album.

https://picasaweb.google.com/Maja.Trochimczyk/VillagePoetsHawleyAndJustusMay2014

Sharon Hawley and Pete Justus, Featured Poets at Bolton Hall on May 25, 2014

Joined by the new Poet-Laureate, Elsa S. Frausto, the Village Poets invite all poets and lovers of poetry to the next Village Poets Reading at the Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga. Scheduled for Sunday afternoon, May 25, 2014 at 4:30 p.m., the reading will feature two poets, Sharon Hawley and Pete Justus.  There will be two open mike segments for poets and refreshments will be provided. The two poets have a wealth of experience between them, both having retired from successful careers and both being avid cyclists. Should you bring your bike?

SHARON HAWLEY

Sharon Hawley is a poet, photographer, and adventurer from Pasadena.  When asked for information about herself she responded:

"As far as a bio goes, I avoid publishing, and pursue adventure.  As we speak, I’m in Alpine, Texas, riding a bicycle from Del Rio to San Diego.  I will return about a week before the May 25 feature at Bolton Hall.  I have added you to my mailing list, to which I send updates whenever I have internet, and refer to my blog at http://sharonbybicycle.blogspot.com/.  I send these almost daily, and you may find them too much.  If so, just ask to be removed.  On the blog you will find links to my other adventures.  For my feature at Bolton Hall in May, I have prepared a special poem for that occasion, and will read only that poem.  The poem is twenty minutes long and will be accompanied by projected pictures.  Perhaps Joe will have the projector and screen ready; I will use my computer.  I have spent quite a bit of time preparing this single poem, which I call “Wild Innocence.”  I don’t know how to put this into a bio, and I really have no credentials."

Her modesty is as amazing as her adventurous spirit - she published many poems in Poets on Site anthologies and other venues; she traveled to Death Valley in the summer, to the coldest city in the U.S. in the winter, to Pakistan and many other locations. Twice, she has bicycled across the continent of North America; the second adventure is approaching its end and we'll have her speak just a week after its completion.

PETE JUSTUS

Pete Justus is a retired history teacher and avid cyclist. He started writing poetry in 1972, when he was 26 while spending that summer backpacking through Europe. He kept writing when he returned and about 25 years later began to read his poetry at open mics around Southern California. Within a year he became the host of the then long running reading at the famed Midnight Special Bookstore in Santa Monica. A little over a year later he became the founder and the first host of the now nearly 14 year old reading at the Rapp Saloon in Santa Monica. Pete also organized a series of readings by established Southland poets at the school he taught at that at. Those readings called “The Pen is Mightier” attracted hundreds of students and encouraged many of them to begin writing their own poems. He has written two books of poetry, "The Edge of a Brighter Day" which is out of print and "Truths, Taps and Time." Pete has read at numerous venues throughout Southern California and has been the featured poet at various venues from Huntington Beach to Santa Barbara and as far north as San Luis Obispo. He was featured at the San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival and has read yearly with the “100,00 Poets For Change.” Over the years Pete has written nearly 600 poems.

Pete writes narrative poems from his wide range of experience. Using simple words and concrete moments he captures the truth of much larger human details. He has poems that everyone can identify with and a humble nature that surprises a listener with his insight. Pete's poetry is lyrical and deceptively simple, but sticks with an audience with an impact similar to a great rock song.  Many who have heard him read comment on his unique style and delivery. His poems range in subject matter from the deeply personal to the state of the world. He has a style that tends to wander through time as he incorporates his background as a history teacher and intertwines past events into poems on subjects ranging from personal struggles to world events. His poetry, although simple on one level, is wistful, poignant, analytical and reflective on another. Once you’ve heard him read you will always recognize his style and will always know, within seconds that you are hearing a Pete Justus’ poem.

Elsa Frausto Becomes our Poet Laureate in the Passing of the Laurels Ceremony on April 27, 2014

The Sunland-Tujunga Poetry and Literature Committee

Presents

The Passing of the Laurels

The Induction of

 Elsa S. Frausto

Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate 2014

 Sunday, April 27, 2014, at 3:00 pm

McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 

McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, CA  91042

An afternoon of poetry and music, with poets Dorothy Skiles, Joe DeCenzo and guests. 

The program includes poetry readings, as well as music for piano and for guitar.

Free to the public. Reception to follow. 

Government representatives from local and federal offices will be in attendance.