First Poetry Workshop a success, Favorite Poem reading scheduled for Apr 29, noon to 3 PM

As part of National Poetry Month, the first of two poetry events were held at the Franklin Library. Two different workshops were conducted by Camille Bernstein and jamele adams. 

Camille's group worked on the concept of 'found poetry'. She provided bunches of textual material from which you could select your poems text and leave it in order or revise the order to make it work for you. You can find samples of her output on the Instagram accounts as follows:

• Ulysses found poems ->  https://www.instagram.com/ulyssesfoundpoems/ 
• 42 is the answer -> https://www.instagram.com/42is.theanswer/

jamele's group worked from a series of writing prompts that he provided. He would give the prompt, set some time for us to write the response, then if we choose to share the response. The conversation around the responses was equally as good as the responses.

The prompts and my responses can be found on my poetry page ->    https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/04/poetry-workshop-prompts-and-responses.html

As a reminder, the Senior Center has a writers group, the Senior Scribblers. We meet each Wednesday at 1 PM. Either at the Senior Center or virtually (via Zoom). Once a month (the fourth Wednesday) we meet at the TV studio to record our radio episode/podcast. If you want to get on the mailing list for the weekly meeting reminder on location (including the Zoom link), contact Steve Sherlock (shersteve at gmail.com)

Also a reminder, the second poetry event is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 from noon to 3 PM. Come to the Library to read your favorite poem. Additional details found here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/04/celebrate-national-poetry-month-with-2.html

In October 2017, there was a Favorite Poem Reading at the Senior Center. The listing of poems and readers a few days in advance of that event (I missed it) can be found ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/10/updated-readers-for-favorite-poem.html

poetry workshop participants pose for a photo

"poetry reminds me of those mysterious truths that can’t be reduced solely to linear thought"

"In this weary and vulnerable place, poetry whispers of truths that cannot be confined to mere rationality or experience. In a seemingly wrecked world, I’m drawn to Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Autumn” and recall that “there is One who holds this falling/Infinitely softly in His hands.” When the scriptures feel stale, James Weldon Johnson preaches through “The Prodigal Son” and I hear the old parable anew. On tired Sundays, I collapse into Wendell Berry’s Sabbath poems and find rest.

I’m not alone in my interest in this ancient art form. Poetry seems to be making a comeback. According to a 2018 survey by the National Endowment for the Arts, the number of adults who read poetry nearly doubled in five years, marking the highest number on record for the last 15 years. The poet Amanda Gorman stole the show at this year’s presidential inauguration, and her collection “The Hill We Climb” topped Amazon’s best-seller list.

There is not a simple or singular reason for this resurgence. But I think a particular gift of poetry for our moment is that good poems reclaim the power and grace of words."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required) 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/29/opinion/poetry.html

sherku: fear knot

I wake fearful

take a breath

realize

it is a

new day, we

can do this!

For more sherku and other verse I write visit https://www.quietpoet.com/

"in our age of social media, words are often used as weapons. Poetry instead treats words with care"

Governor's visit, summarized; short and sweet

These two sherku were written as a result of Governor Patrick's visit to Franklin's Senior center on Sunday. I am working to publish the audio of the session in sections so if you missed the event, you can still listen to what was said during his visit.

Gov Patrick says

Tough state budget choices
Most of these things we will
Pay for sooner or later

What is a sherku?

This is almost a "found" poem as it an amalgam of Gov Patrick's remarks when he visited Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).


-----------

Gov Patrick says

We better start behaving
Like we are members
Of the same community

What is a sherku?

This is a "found" poem - Governor Patrick said this during his visit to Franklin on Sunday (5/17/09).

Plan and revise

Long range planning efforts
Don’t do much good if you
Don’t keep the plan up to date

What is a sherku?


Note: I learned from the focus group meeting to review the current long range plan that there have been similar efforts before but by the third year of the five year plan, they were out dated and dropped, hence no confidence in the plan. Of course, a plan needs to be revisited regularly!

This was originally posted at quiet poet as part of my effort to celebrate National Poetry Month by creating a daily sherku.

Dark Tide - Book Review

I had published my short form book review of Dark Tide previously.

My long form of Dark Tide was published Tuesday as part of the month long Love Affair with Books on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog.

You have my permission, indeed encouragement to click on over, read it and participate in the conversation.

Dark Tide is the focal point for On the Same Page at the Franklin Library this year.