Hello everyone -- I'm working on a new poetry project, which Andy Christ has given me permission to share with you here:
The idea is basically to publish a bi-monthly poetry newsletter highlighting new and recently published work by Michigan writers (or writers with connections to Michigan). The publishing method will be threefold:
1. Emailed newsletter in PDF format
2. Archived newsletter in PDF format on a site/blog
3. Mailed newsletter to everyone who can't stand reading things online or prefers this method of delivery for whatever other reason.
This pretty much keeps costs at a minimum while still enforcing the need to stay connected and "up" on what projects others are working on, have had published recently, etc. It is also a pretty "green" way to go publication-wise, without wholly sacrificing the print option entirely.
If you're interested in learning more about the project, check out http://symbolonpoetry.blogspot.com/. I'm going to publish and archive the newsletter there at first. Snail mail and email subscribers will also receive the PDF in those formats.
In the meanwhile, if you have a recently published or unpublished poem you're working on to share, please send it along to symbolon.poetry@gmail.com. I'm gathering goods for the February issue.
Thanks for thinking on it. And Happy New Year!
Showing posts with label Michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan. Show all posts
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Theodore Roethke: Where Do The Roots Go?
Theodore Roethke, born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, is Michigan's only Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. The River Junction Poets, Saginaw's poetry group, narrate this video introduction to the man and his poetry. Additional contributors include Keith Taylor, Jim Crissman, Jay Steelstra, Chet Rogoza, Al Hellus, Jeff Danhoff, Pam Stump and Diane Hobson. This video took 2nd place in the 2001 Philo T. Farnsworth regional video competition in the documentary category. The video was recorded in Saginaw and edited at Midland Community Television in Midland, MI. Many thanks to Mary Ellen Roethke for access to the family photos.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My Favorite Poem Midland
In October of 2008, the first My Favorite Poem event was held in Midland, Michigan where I live. The event was sponsored by the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library and by the Poetry Society of Michigan. I owe many thanks to library employees Virginia McKane and Ron Suszek for enabling the library's sponsorship. Held in the Library Lounge, the event featured 16 Midland residents reading their favorite poems, introducing themselves and saying what it is about the poems that they like. Fortunately I had help from a few other Midland residents in organizing this event. John Palen, David and Jeannie Dellar, and Larry and Cheryl Levy all helped in one way or another. The following is a slightly revised version of the flier I used in my search for readers to participate:
-->
Yes! I love the idea and want to read a poem at the My Favorite Poem Midland event.
I understand that
- the event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 at the Library Lounge at 1710 West Saint Andrews Road.
- the poem I read must be published in a book and must not be a poem I or a friend or relative of mine wrote.
- I may recite the poem from memory or read it from a page.
- I am expected to speak about the poem after I read it.
- I am expected to tell something about why I like the poem as much as I do.
- I may tell how I found the poem.
- I am expected to tell something about myself, such as how long I've lived in Midland or where I work, etc.
- I am expected to speak from memory about the poem and not read from prepared notes.
- I may try to tell what the poem means to me.
- I may tell a story from my life that relates to the poem.
- I am not expected to provide a critique of the poem.
- I have six (6) minutes to talk about and then read the poem a second time.
- If it is a longer poem, I will choose a portion of it to read.
- I may talk for four (4) minutes and read for the remaining minute.
- I may talk and read for a total of less than five (5) minutes if I desire to do so.
- If the poem is in a language other than English, I will read it first in the non-English language and then I will read or have someone read a translation of it in English.
- My selection is due no later than the end of September 2008. Earlier is better.
- Following the event, light refreshments will be served in the Library Lounge and attendees and participants will have the opportunity to relax and mingle.
----------detach here--------retain top portion--------complete bottom portion and return-------------
The title of the poem I will read is ___________________________________________.
The poem I will read was written by _________________________________________.
My name is ____________________________________________________________.
My address ____________________________________________________________.
My phone number _______________________________________________________.
Return completed bottom portion no later than September 30, 2008 to:
My Favorite Poem Midland Event
P.O. Box
Midland, MI 48641
-->
YOU ARE INVITED!
WHO: THE MIDLAND COMMUNITY
WHAT: “MY FAVORITE POEM” EVENT.
MIDLANDERS READ THEIR FAVORITE POEMS.
WHEN: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008 AT 7 P.M.
WHERE: LIBRARY LOUNGE, 1710 W. ST. ANDREWS
WHY: CELEBRATE OUR APPRECIATION OF POETRY
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR TO PARTICIPATE, CONTACT:
ANDY CHRIST, [home phone number]
LARRY LEVY, [home phone number]
WATCH EXAMPLES ONLINE AT
SPONSORED BY THE GRACE A. DOW MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND THE POETRY SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN
It turns out that Midland has a user-friendly public-access television station. Appropriately, it is called Midland Community Television. Dave Dellar was kind enough to check out from MCTV a video camera, a shotgun microphone, etc and record the My Favorite Poem event. With some direction from the MCTV staff, I then edited the footage into a cablecast-ready production format. The video was shown on the public-access channel provided by Charter Cable and the City of Midland to the residents of Midland who subscribe to cable through the Charter Cable company. Subsequently, the staff at MCTV guided me in using the nonlinear editing software available at MCTV to transform the production recording into digital files which could then be edited further and stored as medium-quality streaming Quicktime movie files. Some of the 16 readers now appear in their respective video segments at YouTube, and here I embed some of those YouTube files into this post:
DVD copies that include all 16 readers can be ordered directly from MCTV by calling (989) 837-3474.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Wilfred Owen Birthday Party
What
A poetical celebration of Wilfred Owen’s birth, life and poetry.
When
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Where
Barnes & Noble Bookseller
3311 Tittabawassee Rd.
Saginaw , MI 48603
phone 989.790.9214
Who should come
Join us if you love poetry or are curious as to what poetry is all about. Join us if you'd like to talk to people whose hearts and minds are more open than closed. Join us if you can agree or disagree with someone's opinion respectfully. Bring a book if you can. It’s OK if it’s from your library.
Why
Find out what poems sound like out loud. Listen in on the group and then find a place where you can jump in and read something yourself. Great fun for the whole family. If you have specialized knowledge regarding our poet, do not hesitate to regale us with your story. Don't expect to leave our event with a definitive understanding of the poet or the poems but please do seek to experience and communicate the joys of poetry with others. Join in our informal discussion of poems we know and love and poems we are only just discovering. Better readers make better writers. Visit with our group where everyone's poetry is valued if not appreciated. If you have a smile to share be sure to bring it; otherwise be prepared to leave with one on your face and in your heart. If you're too far away to join us, create your own Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. Speak up now and forever share your peace. Tell (bring!) a friend.
How to find the organizer(s)
We are in the Poetry section, near the window that affords a view of Tittabawassee Road. The staff at Barnes & Noble will put up a sign that says 'This space reserved for The River Junction Poets at 7 p.m.' We'll be getting a few folding chairs to add around the coffee table there.
Details
Wilfred Owen (March 18, 1893 to November 4, 1918) After failing to gain entrance into the University of London, Owen spent a year as a lay assistant to Reverend Herbert Wigan in 1911 and went on to teach in France at the Berlitz School of English. By 1915, he became increasingly interested in World War I and enlisted in the Artists' Rifles group. After training in England, Owen was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
He was wounded in combat in 1917 and evacuated to Craiglockhart War Hospital near Edinburgh after being diagnosed with shell shock. There he met another patient, poet Siegfried Sassoon, who served as a mentor and introduced him to well-known literary figures such as Robert Graves and H. G. Wells.
It was at this time Owen wrote many of his most important poems, including "Anthem for Doomed Youth" and "Dulce et Decorum Est". His poetry often graphically illustrated both the horrors of warfare, the physical landscapes which surrounded him, and the human body in relation to those landscapes. His verses stand in stark contrast to the patriotic poems of war written by earlier poets of Great Britain, such as Rupert Brooke.
Excerpted from http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/305 accessed 3/16/08.
Soldier’s Dream
I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted bayonets with His tears.
And there were no more bombs, of ours or Theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, nor even a pikel.
But God was vexed, and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he'd seen to our repairs.
From http://users.fulladsl.be/spb1667/cultural/owen/soldier-s-dream.html accessed 3/16/08.
Expect more at the Birthdays of Poets Blog. Go now.
All best and see you Wednesday,
Andrew Christ
Legal stuff
Your e-mail address will not be sold or used by me for any purpose other than to promote these special events and the Birthdays of Poets Blog. If you prefer to not receive these messages, reply to this e-mail address (riverjunctionpoets at gmail dot com) and include the word ‘unsubscribe’ in the text of your message.
Parting Thoughts
Research indicates that better readers make better writers. Maybe this is why, in the Poet's Market, editors of literary magazines often recommend poets read more poetry. Are you not aware? You are a cultural event, and so is everyone else. Celebrate your humanity at Saginaw’s Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. May God continue to bless us mightily one and all. Be sure to thank a veteran for his/her service. Remember: only you can improve the audience for poetry. Please read, discuss and share responsibly. And vote.
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
R
iver Junction Poets Mission Statement
A poetical celebration of Wilfred Owen’s birth, life and poetry.
When
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Where
Barnes & Noble Bookseller
3311 Tittabawassee Rd.
Saginaw , MI 48603
phone 989.790.9214
Who should come
Join us if you love poetry or are curious as to what poetry is all about. Join us if you'd like to talk to people whose hearts and minds are more open than closed. Join us if you can agree or disagree with someone's opinion respectfully. Bring a book if you can. It’s OK if it’s from your library.
Why
Find out what poems sound like out loud. Listen in on the group and then find a place where you can jump in and read something yourself. Great fun for the whole family. If you have specialized knowledge regarding our poet, do not hesitate to regale us with your story. Don't expect to leave our event with a definitive understanding of the poet or the poems but please do seek to experience and communicate the joys of poetry with others. Join in our informal discussion of poems we know and love and poems we are only just discovering. Better readers make better writers. Visit with our group where everyone's poetry is valued if not appreciated. If you have a smile to share be sure to bring it; otherwise be prepared to leave with one on your face and in your heart. If you're too far away to join us, create your own Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. Speak up now and forever share your peace. Tell (bring!) a friend.
How to find the organizer(s)
We are in the Poetry section, near the window that affords a view of Tittabawassee Road. The staff at Barnes & Noble will put up a sign that says 'This space reserved for The River Junction Poets at 7 p.m.' We'll be getting a few folding chairs to add around the coffee table there.
Details
Wilfred Owen (March 18, 1893 to November 4, 1918) After failing to gain entrance into the University of London, Owen spent a year as a lay assistant to Reverend Herbert Wigan in 1911 and went on to teach in France at the Berlitz School of English. By 1915, he became increasingly interested in World War I and enlisted in the Artists' Rifles group. After training in England, Owen was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
He was wounded in combat in 1917 and evacuated to Craiglockhart War Hospital near Edinburgh after being diagnosed with shell shock. There he met another patient, poet Siegfried Sassoon, who served as a mentor and introduced him to well-known literary figures such as Robert Graves and H. G. Wells.
It was at this time Owen wrote many of his most important poems, including "Anthem for Doomed Youth" and "Dulce et Decorum Est". His poetry often graphically illustrated both the horrors of warfare, the physical landscapes which surrounded him, and the human body in relation to those landscapes. His verses stand in stark contrast to the patriotic poems of war written by earlier poets of Great Britain, such as Rupert Brooke.
Excerpted from http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/305 accessed 3/16/08.
Soldier’s Dream
I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted bayonets with His tears.
And there were no more bombs, of ours or Theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, nor even a pikel.
But God was vexed, and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he'd seen to our repairs.
From http://users.fulladsl.be/spb1667/cultural/owen/soldier-s-dream.html accessed 3/16/08.
Expect more at the Birthdays of Poets Blog. Go now.
All best and see you Wednesday,
Andrew Christ
Legal stuff
Your e-mail address will not be sold or used by me for any purpose other than to promote these special events and the Birthdays of Poets Blog. If you prefer to not receive these messages, reply to this e-mail address (riverjunctionpoets at gmail dot com) and include the word ‘unsubscribe’ in the text of your message.
Parting Thoughts
Research indicates that better readers make better writers. Maybe this is why, in the Poet's Market, editors of literary magazines often recommend poets read more poetry. Are you not aware? You are a cultural event, and so is everyone else. Celebrate your humanity at Saginaw’s Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. May God continue to bless us mightily one and all. Be sure to thank a veteran for his/her service. Remember: only you can improve the audience for poetry. Please read, discuss and share responsibly. And vote.
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
R
iver Junction Poets Mission StatementTuesday, March 11, 2008
Poetry Out Loud
Last Saturday (the 8th of March, 2008), I drove to Lansing so I could see the finalists compete in Michigan's Poetry Out Loud contest. I saw fifteen students that day at the Library of Michigan compete for the chance to advance to the national competition that is to be held in Washington, D.C. Teachers and parents were there, and the room had theater-style seats - I'd say there were 200 of them - and a stage. Poet Aurora Harris was there to demonstrate the performance and the recitation of a poem. She performed a poem with great emotional expression, and then recited the same poem without the emotional gravity. The winner of the contest, Charles White, is a student at Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids. His teacher's name is Sarah Scobell. He won $200 in addition to the expenses for his trip to the national competition in D.C. The runner-up, Brian Weber, is a student at Dansville High School; his teacher's name is Pauline Lee. He won $100.
#####
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 8, 2008Contact: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer, shirko@mihumanities.org, 517-372-0029 ext. 25
Charles White Of Forest Hills Central High School (Grand Rapids) Wins Poetry Out Loud State ChampionshipCharles White to receive $200 and a trip to national finals in Washington, D.C.; Brian Weber of Dansville H.S. takes 2nd place & $100.
(LANSING)-----Charles White of Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids won the 2008 Poetry Out Loud state championship hosted today in Lansing by the Michigan Humanities Council. White bested 13 other contestants from across Michigan to win the title. He will receive a $200 cash award and an all-expenses paid trip to the national finals in Washington D.C. from April 28-29, 2008. Forest Hills Central High School will also receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Brian Weber of Dansville High School was named the runner-up in the competition. He will receive $100, along with $200 for the Dansville High School library. The competition was held at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing.
Each student recited two poems; the top four students competed in a final, championship round. The students competing in the championship round recited a third poem. Each student's performance was judged on six categories: Physical Presence; Voice and Articulation; Appropriateness of Dramatization; Level of Difficulty; Evidence of Understanding; and, Overall Performance. Judges for the competition were: Sheri Jones, WLNS TV-6 news anchor; Chris McElroy, director of production for Michigan Television; and, playwright Sandra Seaton.
The three poems Charles White recited were:
Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes
Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes, by Thomas Gray
My Last Duchess, by Robert Browning
The students competing on Saturday were:
MID- MICHIGAN
Dansville High School. Student: Brian Weber. Teacher: Pauline Lee (leepauli@msu.edu, 517-623-6120 ext. 234).
Holt High School. Student: Korrey Hurni. Teacher: Margaret Charette (mcharette@hpsk12.net, 517-699-6430).
Ionia High School. Student: Kendra Moon. Teacher: Jack Powell (jlpowell@ionia.k12.mi.us, 616-527-0600 ext. 244).
Owosso Christian School. Student: Kayleena Heslip. Teacher: Betty Melrose (bbmelrose@verizon.net, 989-723-4510).
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
Milan High School. Student: Megan Cary. Teacher: Erin Jones (growley@milan.k12.mi.us, 734-439-5000).
North Branch High School. Student: Kyle Mathei. Teacher: Cindy Stevens (cstevens@nbbroncos.net, 810-688-3001 ext. 2153).
Osborn High School (Detroit). Student: Angel Lipscomb. Teacher: Monique Guest-Schuh (momskorner@aol.com, 313-866-0343).
Southeastern High School (Detroit). Student: Deaira Littles. Teacher: Angela Mahone (amahone2@aol.com, 313-866-4500 ext. 4792).
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Alba Public School. Student: Molly Hensley. Teacher: Judith Zimpfer (zimpferj@gmail.com, 231-584-2000 ext. 125).
Leelanau School (Glen Arbor). Student: Kathryn “Kate” Elizabeth Little. Teacher: Norman Wheeler (nwheeler@leelanau.org, 231-334-5890).
Mackinac Island High School. Student: Arial Leeper. Teacher: Lance Greenlee (lgreenlee@eup.k12.mi.us, 906-847-3377).
Houghton High School. Student: Kate Griffith. Teacher: Julie Antilla (paldrich@houghton.k12.mi.us, 906-482-0450 ext. 1850).
WEST MICHIGAN
Buchanan High School. Student: Emily Elizabeth Chance. Teacher: Sharon Bitterman (sbitterm@remc11.k12.mi.us, 269-965-8403).
Forest Hills Central High School (Grand Rapids). Student: Charles White. Teacher: Sarah Scobell (sscobell@fhps.us, 616-493-8700).
The Poetry Out Loud program, a Michigan Humanities Council partnership program with the National Endowment for the Arts, The Poetry Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Library of Michigan, encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
Since November, Language Arts/English teachers spent at least two or three weeks of class time to prepare students for each school competition. Each school champion advanced to the state competition held earlier today. Poetry Out Loud builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Through this program, students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
White will compete at the National Finals, to be held on April 28-29, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Scholarships and school stipends totaling $50,000 will be awarded at the National Finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud national champion.
Previous Michigan Poetry Out Loud winners were Sarah Harris of Holt High School in 2007, and Travis Walter from Holt High School in 2006.
The Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state’s independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information on the Michigan Humanities Council, please visit: www.michiganhumanities.org or call 517-372-7770.
FACTS AND FIGURES FROM 2006-2007 MICHIGAN’S POETRY OUT LOUD
• 400 students in Michigan participated and returned evaluations
• 13 teachers participated and returned evaluations
• Teachers provided 180 hours of their time in addition to 139 hours of classroom time
• Over $100,000 in prizes were awarded to students and schools at state and national levels
Students who returned evaluations reported the following about Poetry Out Loud:
• 94% saw connections between poetry and everyday culture
• 84% understood that poetry can be a powerful tool for expression
• 67% developed their own individual interpretation of poems
• 66% could understand and explain different poetic elements
• 60% understood that poems meet different purposes and were led to explore challenging and unfamiliar poems
• 51% were more confident in their public speaking from reciting poetry
#####
Scott Hirko Public Relations Officer Michigan Humanities Council 119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 3B Lansing, MI 48912-1270 517-372-0029 ext. 25 http://michiganhumanities.org
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
River Junction Poets Mission Statement
#####
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 8, 2008Contact: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer, shirko@mihumanities.org, 517-372-0029 ext. 25
Charles White Of Forest Hills Central High School (Grand Rapids) Wins Poetry Out Loud State ChampionshipCharles White to receive $200 and a trip to national finals in Washington, D.C.; Brian Weber of Dansville H.S. takes 2nd place & $100.
(LANSING)-----Charles White of Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids won the 2008 Poetry Out Loud state championship hosted today in Lansing by the Michigan Humanities Council. White bested 13 other contestants from across Michigan to win the title. He will receive a $200 cash award and an all-expenses paid trip to the national finals in Washington D.C. from April 28-29, 2008. Forest Hills Central High School will also receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Brian Weber of Dansville High School was named the runner-up in the competition. He will receive $100, along with $200 for the Dansville High School library. The competition was held at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing.
Each student recited two poems; the top four students competed in a final, championship round. The students competing in the championship round recited a third poem. Each student's performance was judged on six categories: Physical Presence; Voice and Articulation; Appropriateness of Dramatization; Level of Difficulty; Evidence of Understanding; and, Overall Performance. Judges for the competition were: Sheri Jones, WLNS TV-6 news anchor; Chris McElroy, director of production for Michigan Television; and, playwright Sandra Seaton.
The three poems Charles White recited were:
Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes
Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes, by Thomas Gray
My Last Duchess, by Robert Browning
The students competing on Saturday were:
MID- MICHIGAN
Dansville High School. Student: Brian Weber. Teacher: Pauline Lee (leepauli@msu.edu, 517-623-6120 ext. 234).
Holt High School. Student: Korrey Hurni. Teacher: Margaret Charette (mcharette@hpsk12.net, 517-699-6430).
Ionia High School. Student: Kendra Moon. Teacher: Jack Powell (jlpowell@ionia.k12.mi.us, 616-527-0600 ext. 244).
Owosso Christian School. Student: Kayleena Heslip. Teacher: Betty Melrose (bbmelrose@verizon.net, 989-723-4510).
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
Milan High School. Student: Megan Cary. Teacher: Erin Jones (growley@milan.k12.mi.us, 734-439-5000).
North Branch High School. Student: Kyle Mathei. Teacher: Cindy Stevens (cstevens@nbbroncos.net, 810-688-3001 ext. 2153).
Osborn High School (Detroit). Student: Angel Lipscomb. Teacher: Monique Guest-Schuh (momskorner@aol.com, 313-866-0343).
Southeastern High School (Detroit). Student: Deaira Littles. Teacher: Angela Mahone (amahone2@aol.com, 313-866-4500 ext. 4792).
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Alba Public School. Student: Molly Hensley. Teacher: Judith Zimpfer (zimpferj@gmail.com, 231-584-2000 ext. 125).
Leelanau School (Glen Arbor). Student: Kathryn “Kate” Elizabeth Little. Teacher: Norman Wheeler (nwheeler@leelanau.org, 231-334-5890).
Mackinac Island High School. Student: Arial Leeper. Teacher: Lance Greenlee (lgreenlee@eup.k12.mi.us, 906-847-3377).
Houghton High School. Student: Kate Griffith. Teacher: Julie Antilla (paldrich@houghton.k12.mi.us, 906-482-0450 ext. 1850).
WEST MICHIGAN
Buchanan High School. Student: Emily Elizabeth Chance. Teacher: Sharon Bitterman (sbitterm@remc11.k12.mi.us, 269-965-8403).
Forest Hills Central High School (Grand Rapids). Student: Charles White. Teacher: Sarah Scobell (sscobell@fhps.us, 616-493-8700).
The Poetry Out Loud program, a Michigan Humanities Council partnership program with the National Endowment for the Arts, The Poetry Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Library of Michigan, encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
Since November, Language Arts/English teachers spent at least two or three weeks of class time to prepare students for each school competition. Each school champion advanced to the state competition held earlier today. Poetry Out Loud builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Through this program, students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
White will compete at the National Finals, to be held on April 28-29, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Scholarships and school stipends totaling $50,000 will be awarded at the National Finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud national champion.
Previous Michigan Poetry Out Loud winners were Sarah Harris of Holt High School in 2007, and Travis Walter from Holt High School in 2006.
The Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state’s independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information on the Michigan Humanities Council, please visit: www.michiganhumanities.org or call 517-372-7770.
FACTS AND FIGURES FROM 2006-2007 MICHIGAN’S POETRY OUT LOUD
• 400 students in Michigan participated and returned evaluations
• 13 teachers participated and returned evaluations
• Teachers provided 180 hours of their time in addition to 139 hours of classroom time
• Over $100,000 in prizes were awarded to students and schools at state and national levels
Students who returned evaluations reported the following about Poetry Out Loud:
• 94% saw connections between poetry and everyday culture
• 84% understood that poetry can be a powerful tool for expression
• 67% developed their own individual interpretation of poems
• 66% could understand and explain different poetic elements
• 60% understood that poems meet different purposes and were led to explore challenging and unfamiliar poems
• 51% were more confident in their public speaking from reciting poetry
#####
Scott Hirko Public Relations Officer Michigan Humanities Council 119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 3B Lansing, MI 48912-1270 517-372-0029 ext. 25 http://michiganhumanities.org
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Google Group and a Blast
Taras Shevchenko was born on this day in 1814. What are you doing to celebrate?
My e-mail blast grows and grows. I'm finding that an e-mail to 300 addresses brings out the permanent failure message to my e-mail inbox after I send the invitation to our next event. Typically these messages come from aol, Hotmail, and comcast. They have sensitive spam filters. Sometimes adding riverjunctionpoets at gmail dot com to the address book is not enough to prevent my e-mail blast from being filtered into the spam folder. Today I removed 47 e-mail addresses from my e-mail blast list to avoid the permanent failure messages next time. Thus, there seems to be a need for a subscription-facilitated e-mail blast.
No one is using these e-mail addresses for profit or anything else.
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Taras Shevchenko e-mail blast:
What
A poetical celebration of Taras Shevchenko’s birth, life and poetry.
When
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM
WhereBarnes & Noble Bookseller
3311 Tittabawassee Rd.
Saginaw , MI 48603
phone 989.790.9214
Who should come
Join us if you love poetry or are curious as to what poetry is all about. Join us if you'd like to talk to people whose hearts and minds are more open than closed. Join us if you can agree or disagree with someone's opinion respectfully. Bring a book if you can. It’s OK if it’s from your library.
Why
Find out what poems sound like out loud. Listen in on the group and then find a place where you can jump in and read something yourself. Great fun for the whole family. If you have specialized knowledge regarding our poet, do not hesitate to regale us with your story. Don't expect to leave our event with a definitive understanding of the poet or the poems but please do seek to experience and communicate the joys of poetry with others. Join in our informal discussion of poems we know and love and poems we are only just discovering. Better readers make better writers. Visit with our group where everyone's poetry is valued if not appreciated. If you have a smile to share be sure to bring it; otherwise be prepared to leave with one on your face and in your heart. If you're too far away to join us, create your own Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. Speak up now and forever share your peace. Tell (bring!) a friend.
How to find the organizer(s)
We are in the Poetry section, near the window that affords a view of Tittabawassee Road. The staff at Barnes & Noble will put up a sign that says 'This space reserved for The River Junction Poets at 7 p.m.' We'll be getting a few folding chairs to add around the coffee table there.
DetailsTaras Hryhorovich Shevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet, artist and thinker, was born on March 9, 1814, in the village of Moryntsi in central Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. His parents, H. Shevchenko and K. Shevchenko, were serfs on the land of V. Engelhardt….
Noted writers and artists bought Shevchenko out of serfdom. The 2,500 rubles required were raised through a lottery in which the prize was a portrait of the poet, Zhukovsky, painted by Karl Bryullov. The release from serfdom was signed on April 22, 1838. A committee of the Association for the Encouragement of Artists had examined drawings by Shevchenko and approved them. In 1838, Shevchenko was accepted into the Academy of Arts as an external student, practicing in the workshop of K. Bryullov.
In January, 1839, Shevchenko was accepted as a resident student at the Association for the Encouragement of Artists, and at the annual examinations at the Academy of Arts, Shevchenko was given the Silver Medal for a landscape. In 1840 he was again given the Silver Medal, this time for his first oil painting, The Beggar Boy Giving Bread to a Dog.
In the library of Yevhen Hrebinka, he became familiar with anthologies of Ukrainian folklore and the works of I. Kotlyarevsky, H. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, and the romantic poets, as well as many Russian, East European and world writers.
Shevchenko began to write poetry even before he was freed from serfdom. In 1840, the world first saw the Kobzar, Shevchenko's first collection of poetry. Later Ivan Franko wrote that this book, "immediately revealed, as it were, a new world of poetry. It burst forth like a spring of clear, cold water, and sparkled with a clarity, breadth and elegance of artistic expression not previously known in Ukrainian writing."…
Excerpted from http://www.infoukes.com/shevchenkomuseum/bio.htm accessed 3/9/08.A Reflection
The river empties to the sea,
But out it never flows;
The Cossack lad his fortune seeks,
But never fortune knows.
The Cossack lad has left his home,
He's left his kith and kind;
The blue sea's waters splash and foam,
Sad thoughts disturb his mind:
"Why, heedless, did you go away?
For what did you forsake
Your father old, your mother grey,
Your sweetheart, to their fate?
In foreign lands live foreign folks,
Their ways are not your way:
There will be none to share your woes
Or pass the time of day."
Across the sea, the Cossack rests --
The choppy sea's distraught.
He thought with fortune to be blessed --
Misfortune is his lot.
In vee-formation, 'cross the waves
The cranes are off for home.
The Cossack weeps -- his beaten paths
With weeds are overgrown...
Taras Shevchenko
St. Petersburg, 1838.
Translated by John Weir, Toronto
From http://www.infoukes.com/shevchenkomuseum/poetry.htm accessed 3/9/08.
Expect more at the Birthdays of Poets Blog. Go now.
All best and see you Wednesday,
Andrew Christ
Legal stuffYour e-mail address will not be sold or used by me for any purpose other than to promote these special events and the Birthdays of Poets Blog. Comments are encouraged, perchance anonymously, at the blog. If you prefer to not receive these messages, reply to this e-mail address (riverjunctionpoets at gmail dot com) and include the word ‘unsubscribe’ in the text of your message.
Parting Thoughts
Research indicates that better readers make better writers. Maybe this is why, in the Poet's Market, editors of literary magazines often recommend poets read more poetry. Are you not aware? You are a cultural event, and so is everyone else. Celebrate your humanity at Saginaw’s Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. May God continue to bless us mightily one and all. Be sure to thank a veteran for his/her service. Remember: only you can improve the audience for poetry. Please read, discuss and share responsibly. And vote.
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued." River Junction Poets Mission Statement
My e-mail blast grows and grows. I'm finding that an e-mail to 300 addresses brings out the permanent failure message to my e-mail inbox after I send the invitation to our next event. Typically these messages come from aol, Hotmail, and comcast. They have sensitive spam filters. Sometimes adding riverjunctionpoets at gmail dot com to the address book is not enough to prevent my e-mail blast from being filtered into the spam folder. Today I removed 47 e-mail addresses from my e-mail blast list to avoid the permanent failure messages next time. Thus, there seems to be a need for a subscription-facilitated e-mail blast.
No one is using these e-mail addresses for profit or anything else.
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Taras Shevchenko e-mail blast:
What
A poetical celebration of Taras Shevchenko’s birth, life and poetry.
When
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM
WhereBarnes & Noble Bookseller
3311 Tittabawassee Rd.
Saginaw , MI 48603
phone 989.790.9214
Who should come
Join us if you love poetry or are curious as to what poetry is all about. Join us if you'd like to talk to people whose hearts and minds are more open than closed. Join us if you can agree or disagree with someone's opinion respectfully. Bring a book if you can. It’s OK if it’s from your library.
Why
Find out what poems sound like out loud. Listen in on the group and then find a place where you can jump in and read something yourself. Great fun for the whole family. If you have specialized knowledge regarding our poet, do not hesitate to regale us with your story. Don't expect to leave our event with a definitive understanding of the poet or the poems but please do seek to experience and communicate the joys of poetry with others. Join in our informal discussion of poems we know and love and poems we are only just discovering. Better readers make better writers. Visit with our group where everyone's poetry is valued if not appreciated. If you have a smile to share be sure to bring it; otherwise be prepared to leave with one on your face and in your heart. If you're too far away to join us, create your own Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. Speak up now and forever share your peace. Tell (bring!) a friend.
How to find the organizer(s)
We are in the Poetry section, near the window that affords a view of Tittabawassee Road. The staff at Barnes & Noble will put up a sign that says 'This space reserved for The River Junction Poets at 7 p.m.' We'll be getting a few folding chairs to add around the coffee table there.
DetailsTaras Hryhorovich Shevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet, artist and thinker, was born on March 9, 1814, in the village of Moryntsi in central Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. His parents, H. Shevchenko and K. Shevchenko, were serfs on the land of V. Engelhardt….
Noted writers and artists bought Shevchenko out of serfdom. The 2,500 rubles required were raised through a lottery in which the prize was a portrait of the poet, Zhukovsky, painted by Karl Bryullov. The release from serfdom was signed on April 22, 1838. A committee of the Association for the Encouragement of Artists had examined drawings by Shevchenko and approved them. In 1838, Shevchenko was accepted into the Academy of Arts as an external student, practicing in the workshop of K. Bryullov.
In January, 1839, Shevchenko was accepted as a resident student at the Association for the Encouragement of Artists, and at the annual examinations at the Academy of Arts, Shevchenko was given the Silver Medal for a landscape. In 1840 he was again given the Silver Medal, this time for his first oil painting, The Beggar Boy Giving Bread to a Dog.
In the library of Yevhen Hrebinka, he became familiar with anthologies of Ukrainian folklore and the works of I. Kotlyarevsky, H. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, and the romantic poets, as well as many Russian, East European and world writers.
Shevchenko began to write poetry even before he was freed from serfdom. In 1840, the world first saw the Kobzar, Shevchenko's first collection of poetry. Later Ivan Franko wrote that this book, "immediately revealed, as it were, a new world of poetry. It burst forth like a spring of clear, cold water, and sparkled with a clarity, breadth and elegance of artistic expression not previously known in Ukrainian writing."…
Excerpted from http://www.infoukes.com/shevchenkomuseum/bio.htm accessed 3/9/08.A Reflection
The river empties to the sea,
But out it never flows;
The Cossack lad his fortune seeks,
But never fortune knows.
The Cossack lad has left his home,
He's left his kith and kind;
The blue sea's waters splash and foam,
Sad thoughts disturb his mind:
"Why, heedless, did you go away?
For what did you forsake
Your father old, your mother grey,
Your sweetheart, to their fate?
In foreign lands live foreign folks,
Their ways are not your way:
There will be none to share your woes
Or pass the time of day."
Across the sea, the Cossack rests --
The choppy sea's distraught.
He thought with fortune to be blessed --
Misfortune is his lot.
In vee-formation, 'cross the waves
The cranes are off for home.
The Cossack weeps -- his beaten paths
With weeds are overgrown...
Taras Shevchenko
St. Petersburg, 1838.
Translated by John Weir, Toronto
From http://www.infoukes.com/shevchenkomuseum/poetry.htm accessed 3/9/08.
Expect more at the Birthdays of Poets Blog. Go now.
All best and see you Wednesday,
Andrew Christ
Legal stuffYour e-mail address will not be sold or used by me for any purpose other than to promote these special events and the Birthdays of Poets Blog. Comments are encouraged, perchance anonymously, at the blog. If you prefer to not receive these messages, reply to this e-mail address (riverjunctionpoets at gmail dot com) and include the word ‘unsubscribe’ in the text of your message.
Parting Thoughts
Research indicates that better readers make better writers. Maybe this is why, in the Poet's Market, editors of literary magazines often recommend poets read more poetry. Are you not aware? You are a cultural event, and so is everyone else. Celebrate your humanity at Saginaw’s Birthdays of Poets Reader’s Workshop. May God continue to bless us mightily one and all. Be sure to thank a veteran for his/her service. Remember: only you can improve the audience for poetry. Please read, discuss and share responsibly. And vote.
-- "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued." River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Kay Ryan
Kay Ryan Thinks the River Junction Poets Are Great - She Told Us So Herself
On Thursday, September 7th, 2006, I was among seven people who met to read poems by Ms. Kay Ryan. Although we live in mid-Michigan and Ms. Ryan lives in northern California, we met on the occasion of her birthday. Some of the group are regular members of the River Junction Poets, the poetry group in Saginaw (Michigan). We met at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Tittabawassee Road. We met from 7 to 9 p.m. and learned a little about Ms. Ryan and her poetry. For instance, we learned that she enjoys teaching introductory writing at a college in northern California. We learned from Garrison Keillor's new show that she has a 'literary friendship' with Dana Gioia. And we observed that Ms. Ryan has a wide variety in her poems. Her poems sometimes have humor and sometimes they are philosophical. We read enough to see that much and more.
While we were there, we bought and signed a birthday card to send to Ms. Ryan. I took the card with me, and the next day I found her address online. I addressed the envelope and put the card in the mail. On September 15th I received a response from Ms. Ryan in my mailbox. How cool is that! Ms. Ryan addressed her card 'to the River Junction Poets c/o Andrew Christ.' She writes:
To the River Junction Poets of Saginaw - What a wonderful birthday surprise! I think you're great. Thanks. (signed) Kay Ryan 9-12-06
I particularly enjoyed that she underlined the word 'great' twice. On the other side of the card she added
'(This is a spare page from a fine-press book made by printing students in San Francisco.)'
On one side of the card is a poem titled 'Crustacean Island,' and on the other side of the card is a poem titled 'A Cat/A Future.'
Crustacean Island
There could be an island paradise
where crustaceans prevail.
Click, click, go the lobsters
with their china mitts and
articulated tails.
It would not be sad like whales
with their immense and patient sieving
and the sobering modesty
of their general way of living.
It would be an island blessed
with only cold-blooded residents
and no human angle.
It would echo with a thousand castanets
and no flamencos.
A Cat/A Future
A cat can draw
the blinds
behind her eyes
whenever she
decides. Nothing
alters in the stare
itself but she's
not there. Likewise
a future can occlude:
still sitting there,
doing nothing rude.
Thank you Kay Ryan - no longer a stranger - another friend we haven't met yet.
On Thursday, September 7th, 2006, I was among seven people who met to read poems by Ms. Kay Ryan. Although we live in mid-Michigan and Ms. Ryan lives in northern California, we met on the occasion of her birthday. Some of the group are regular members of the River Junction Poets, the poetry group in Saginaw (Michigan). We met at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Tittabawassee Road. We met from 7 to 9 p.m. and learned a little about Ms. Ryan and her poetry. For instance, we learned that she enjoys teaching introductory writing at a college in northern California. We learned from Garrison Keillor's new show that she has a 'literary friendship' with Dana Gioia. And we observed that Ms. Ryan has a wide variety in her poems. Her poems sometimes have humor and sometimes they are philosophical. We read enough to see that much and more.
While we were there, we bought and signed a birthday card to send to Ms. Ryan. I took the card with me, and the next day I found her address online. I addressed the envelope and put the card in the mail. On September 15th I received a response from Ms. Ryan in my mailbox. How cool is that! Ms. Ryan addressed her card 'to the River Junction Poets c/o Andrew Christ.' She writes:
To the River Junction Poets of Saginaw - What a wonderful birthday surprise! I think you're great. Thanks. (signed) Kay Ryan 9-12-06
I particularly enjoyed that she underlined the word 'great' twice. On the other side of the card she added
'(This is a spare page from a fine-press book made by printing students in San Francisco.)'
On one side of the card is a poem titled 'Crustacean Island,' and on the other side of the card is a poem titled 'A Cat/A Future.'
Crustacean Island
There could be an island paradise
where crustaceans prevail.
Click, click, go the lobsters
with their china mitts and
articulated tails.
It would not be sad like whales
with their immense and patient sieving
and the sobering modesty
of their general way of living.
It would be an island blessed
with only cold-blooded residents
and no human angle.
It would echo with a thousand castanets
and no flamencos.
A Cat/A Future
A cat can draw
the blinds
behind her eyes
whenever she
decides. Nothing
alters in the stare
itself but she's
not there. Likewise
a future can occlude:
still sitting there,
doing nothing rude.
Thank you Kay Ryan - no longer a stranger - another friend we haven't met yet.
"It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued."
River Junction Poets Mission Statement
River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Linda Pastan sends Best Wishes and a Poem to the River Junction Poets
Our Newsletter editor, Pat, recommended in April (2006) that we read Ms. Pastan's poetry at one of our Birthday Poetry events. Late in May, around the time of Ms. Pastan's birthday, nine River Junction Poets met to read poetry she had written. She lives in Maryland, but our group has decided it's fun to meet on the occasion of poets' birthdays and read poetry by them. We met at the Barnes & Noble in Saginaw (Michigan). We enjoyed her poems, and in particular the 'accessible' quality of them. We also enjoyed learning a little more about her - we learned, for instance, that she served as Poet Laureate of Maryland.
I was particularly glad to find this poet. I had not known of her poems before. It was a nice surprise for me to see on the cover of one of her books a comment by William Stafford, one of my favorite poets.
In addition to reading her poems, we bought a birthday card, signed it and mailed it to the addess Pat, our Newsletter editor, had. Ms. Pastan wrote back immediately with warmth and kindness:
Dear River Junction Poets,
What a lovely surprise your card and comments were! Sometimes I forget there is anybody out there reading my poems -- with thanks and best wishes!
(signed)
Linda Pastan
Are you anywhere near Grand Rapids? I'll be reading there in March -- And I have a new book, Queen of a Rainy Country, due in the fall.
Ms. Pastan wrote her response on the back of a proof of an older poem of hers, to be published 'in a forthcoming issue of MSS.' Here's the poem:
At My Window
I have thought much
about snow,
the mute pilgrimage
of all those flakes,
and about the dark wanderings
of leaves.
I have stalked
all four seasons
and seen how they beat
the same path
through the same woods
again and again.
I used to make a multitude
of trains, trusting
the strategy of tracks,
of distance.
I sailed on ships
trusting the arbitrary north.
Now I stand still
at my window
watching the snow
which knows only one direction,
falling in silence
towards silence.
Pat included Ms. Pastan's response to the birthday card in the River Junction Poets Newsletter. We hope to receive more responses from other poets as a result of this fun activity which brings us closer together, broadens our metaphorical horizons and connects us in a poetical sense to friends we haven't met in person.
We thought it was particularly delightful to receive the note from Ms. Pastan early in June (2006), so soon after we had sent the birthday card, and then on June 8th to hear Garrison Keillor read a poem by Ms. Pastan on his daily radio show 'The Writer's Almanac.' He read her poem 'After an Absence.' Coincidences can so tickle the cranium!
To update this story, I wrote to ask Ms. Pastan specifically where and when in Grand Rapids (MI) she will be reading. She will be reading at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 20 (2007) at 7:30p.m. Hopefully a few of us River Junction Poets will be able to travel to Grand Rapids to hear her read then.
And now for another update: in my kitchen, I have a poster measuring ~11x14 inches announcing Ms. Pastan's reading at the Wege Ballroom. I drove to Grand Rapids with Sandy and Marion for the occasion. Sandy teaches English at Central Michigan University and Marion is a tireless advocate for poetry in Saginaw, Michigan. In fact, she is one of the founding members of Saginaw's poetry group, the River Junction Poets.
Pam Luebke of Aquinas College and Ms. Pastan allowed me to videotape Ms. Pastan that evening. I am glad to have the event captured digitally because I have never personally witnessed so many people at a poetry reading. Apparently some of the teachers at Aquinas expected to see their students there. After I do some editing, the video will run on Midland, Michigan's public-access television station, MCTV-3. I will also send a copy to Ms. Pastan.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the audio recording of this event was of such a poor quality that the video production was scuppered.
"It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued." River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Our Newsletter editor, Pat, recommended in April (2006) that we read Ms. Pastan's poetry at one of our Birthday Poetry events. Late in May, around the time of Ms. Pastan's birthday, nine River Junction Poets met to read poetry she had written. She lives in Maryland, but our group has decided it's fun to meet on the occasion of poets' birthdays and read poetry by them. We met at the Barnes & Noble in Saginaw (Michigan). We enjoyed her poems, and in particular the 'accessible' quality of them. We also enjoyed learning a little more about her - we learned, for instance, that she served as Poet Laureate of Maryland.
I was particularly glad to find this poet. I had not known of her poems before. It was a nice surprise for me to see on the cover of one of her books a comment by William Stafford, one of my favorite poets.
In addition to reading her poems, we bought a birthday card, signed it and mailed it to the addess Pat, our Newsletter editor, had. Ms. Pastan wrote back immediately with warmth and kindness:
Dear River Junction Poets,
What a lovely surprise your card and comments were! Sometimes I forget there is anybody out there reading my poems -- with thanks and best wishes!
(signed)
Linda Pastan
Are you anywhere near Grand Rapids? I'll be reading there in March -- And I have a new book, Queen of a Rainy Country, due in the fall.
Ms. Pastan wrote her response on the back of a proof of an older poem of hers, to be published 'in a forthcoming issue of MSS.' Here's the poem:
At My Window
I have thought much
about snow,
the mute pilgrimage
of all those flakes,
and about the dark wanderings
of leaves.
I have stalked
all four seasons
and seen how they beat
the same path
through the same woods
again and again.
I used to make a multitude
of trains, trusting
the strategy of tracks,
of distance.
I sailed on ships
trusting the arbitrary north.
Now I stand still
at my window
watching the snow
which knows only one direction,
falling in silence
towards silence.
Pat included Ms. Pastan's response to the birthday card in the River Junction Poets Newsletter. We hope to receive more responses from other poets as a result of this fun activity which brings us closer together, broadens our metaphorical horizons and connects us in a poetical sense to friends we haven't met in person.
We thought it was particularly delightful to receive the note from Ms. Pastan early in June (2006), so soon after we had sent the birthday card, and then on June 8th to hear Garrison Keillor read a poem by Ms. Pastan on his daily radio show 'The Writer's Almanac.' He read her poem 'After an Absence.' Coincidences can so tickle the cranium!
To update this story, I wrote to ask Ms. Pastan specifically where and when in Grand Rapids (MI) she will be reading. She will be reading at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 20 (2007) at 7:30p.m. Hopefully a few of us River Junction Poets will be able to travel to Grand Rapids to hear her read then.
And now for another update: in my kitchen, I have a poster measuring ~11x14 inches announcing Ms. Pastan's reading at the Wege Ballroom. I drove to Grand Rapids with Sandy and Marion for the occasion. Sandy teaches English at Central Michigan University and Marion is a tireless advocate for poetry in Saginaw, Michigan. In fact, she is one of the founding members of Saginaw's poetry group, the River Junction Poets.
Pam Luebke of Aquinas College and Ms. Pastan allowed me to videotape Ms. Pastan that evening. I am glad to have the event captured digitally because I have never personally witnessed so many people at a poetry reading. Apparently some of the teachers at Aquinas expected to see their students there. After I do some editing, the video will run on Midland, Michigan's public-access television station, MCTV-3. I will also send a copy to Ms. Pastan.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the audio recording of this event was of such a poor quality that the video production was scuppered.
"It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued." River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Rita Dove
Rita Dove sends Best Wishes to the River Junction PoetsIn August (2005) thirteen of us met at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Saginaw, Michigan to read poetry by Rita Dove on the occasion of her birthday. During our time together, Pat, our Newsletter editor, said, "I wonder what she's doing to celebrate her birthday?" A few comments were made, and then Pat said, "Why don't we send her a birthday card?" So we did something we had never done before: Pat bought a birthday card, everyone signed it, and then Pat mailed it to Ms. Dove's publisher who forwarded it to Ms. Dove. Pat must have included the P.O. Box number of the River Junction Poets, because that is the address Ms. Dove sent her response to. We received a note from her in September of 2005. Here's what she wrote:
Dear River Junction Poets,
What a surprise to receive a birthday card from all of you! This has never happened to me before; it's such a sweet gesture.
It must feel terrific to be part of a group of like-minded people who gather to discuss each other's poetic efforts -- I think it's the best way to hone your craft and find your own voice. To have such a group of serious poets read and discuss my work is an honor. Thank you for marking my birthday as you did, and thank you for letting me know about it! Your card is propped up on my desk, where I can look at it and smile.
Best wishes to you,
[signed]
Rita Dove
We were thrilled to receive any response at all from such a highly esteemed and accomplished poet. The fact that she served as U.S. Poet Laureate came up during our time together. Pat quoted her note to us in the River Junction Poets Newsletter. That Ms. Dove responded with such warmth was just beyond our expectations. Ms. Dove's thoughtful response has encouraged us to send birthday cards to all the living poets whose birthdays and poetry we celebrate. "It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued." River Junction Poets Mission Statement
Sunday, February 03, 2008
This was us on January 16th, 2008. We met at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw, MI to read poems by Philip Levine. We talked about him and his work, the Spanish Civil War, ourselves, you name it. And isn't that the hallmark of great poetry? It includes everything. Nothing is out of reach for great poetry.
Click the picture to see a larger version of it.
Left to right: Andy, Marion, Maureen, Bev, Roz.
Photographer: anonymous fellow citizen
Guess which three are River Junction Poets?
"It is our goal to appreciate and improve our talents, to share our own work and to communicate the joys of poetry with others. Everyone's poetry is valued." River Junction Poets Mission Statement
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