Jeanette Maes has offered to do a program on Philip Levine, new Poet Laureate, for our Sept. 17 meeting. Thanks so much, Jeanette!
I will send out a reminder before the meeting. Come with your own poem(s) for gentle critique, a little food to share, and the willingness to offer your services, as Jeanette did, so that we can all learn a little more about the craft and art of poetry.
Apparently, some of you relied upon the information in this blog’s Contests page to send poems to the Mass State Poetry Society’s most recent contest. I am sorry. I have been blatantly absent for some time from the blog, but I just updated the information. Gertrude Callis, former contest chair for the MSPS, died this year. She is missed for her enthusiasm for poetry, for her quiet determination, for her sense of humor, for her generosity, and for her hard work on our behalf. In her place as contest chair for the MSPS is Roberta Hung, another wonderfully kind, gracious and hard-working poet. Those of us who are also members of MSPS are lucky to have her.
I have also updated the meetings schedule for the Forum….with almost no information! We neglected to set a program for this coming year. So, please join us on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Beverly Public Library, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ish, with some poems from a favorite or new or interesting poet we may not be familiar with so that we, too, can learn and enjoy. Please also bring a poem or two of your own, with copies, for gentle critique. And, be prepared to volunteer to give a program over the course of our next year at the Forum.
Some of you know that my husband died in April. This is one of the first times I’ve actually said that, and I don’t think I will ever get used to it….the saying it…the absence it only declares. In any case, although I may have shared this poem by Jane Kenyon before, it is the one I chose for my husband’s service.
BY JANE KENYON
…
…
…
…
There are a plethora of activities to celebrate National Poetry Month. Besides the one hosted by the Massachusetts Poetry Festival folk on April 14 (see prior post), the Tin Box Poets are also hosting an event that evening. Here’s the scoop:
CCAE’s Writer’s Life Series
Our popular series for writers and readers continues. Join us for three Wednesday evenings of informal discussions with local writers, focusing on a) anthologies and group publishing; b) writing about one’s own family; and c) narrative journalism.
A) When: Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 8:00pm
Who: Doug Holder, Dan Mazur, and Barbara Ross
What: Anthologies and Group Publishing: Learn about what’s behind group publishing from three writers who
have both edited and contributed to anthologies of poetry, comics, and crime stories.
Where: 56 Brattle Street, Harvard Square , Cambridge , MA , 02238 -9113
Price: $6
Phone: 617-547-6789 x1
Web: http://www.ccae.org
B) When: Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 at 8:00pm
Who: John Freeman, Katrina Kenison, and Marianne Leone
What: Writing About Your Family: Respecting Boundaries, Taking Risks – An intimate discussion of the choices, challenges, and rewards these authors faced when writing about their loved ones.
Where: 56 Brattle Street , Harvard Square , Cambridge , MA , 02238 -9113
Price: $6
Phone: 617-547-6789 x1
Web: http://www.ccae.org
C) When: Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 at 8:00pm
Who: Ethan Gilsdorf, David Valdes Greenwood, and Paige Williams
What: Narrative Journalism: Not Just The Facts, Story Too – Whether it be immersion journalism or creative non-fiction, this deeply personal genre transforms everyday reporting into a captivating novel. Discover the worlds inhabited and paths traveled by these writers.
Where: 56 Brattle Street, Cambridge , MA , 02238-9113
Price: $6
Phone: 617-547-6789 x1
Web: http://www.ccae.org
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————– And, most importantly, from the standpoint of the North Shore Poets’ Forum, is our own event, on Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m., at the Beverly Public Library. Hope to see you there.
April is National Poetry Month, and the North Shore Poets’ Forum is celebrating on Saturday, April 16, with readings by the winners of our Naomi Cherkofsky contest followed by an open mic. We have been doing this for probably six or seven or eight (how many?) years, and it has always been a wonderful time. We hope you will join us at the Beverly Public Library, from 11 a.m. to about 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. And, if you write poetry, please bring up to three to share.
In the meantime, you can discover new poets and enjoy a poem a day in celebration of National Poetry Month by clicking on this website, provided by Knopf Poetry, a division of Random House:
http://poem-a-day.knopfdoubleday.com/2011/04/01/welcome-to-poetry-month/?ref=poemaday_email
Enjoy!
Our next meeting is Saturday, March 19, at the Beverly Public Library, 11 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m. Melissa Varnavas will give a workshop about finding your creative inspiration.
Melissa received her MFA in poetry last summer and is full of fresh ideas and breadth of knowledge. She had given a terrific program this fall on imagery. Here’s hoping you will all come.
We expect to have time to have gentle critiques of one another’s poetry, so bring along a pesky poem or two to share.
This has been a tough winter, both in terms of raging weather and of personal losses. I offer two poems for contemplation — one that shows anger with, the other acceptance of, the end of things.
The following poem speaks specifically about the poet’s father, but it is universal in its plea…
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
…
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
…
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
…
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
…
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
…
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
….
This next poem is so quiet, with the repetitions reminiscent of prayer.
Let Evening ComeBy Jane Kenyon Let the light of late afternoon |
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UPDATE: one more poem added, from Marcia Molay.
The North Shore Poets’ Forum gathered at the Beverly Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 19, for its usual February meeting, but with a different plan than usual: we would spend part of the time remembering our dear friend Amy Dengler, who died the week before.
Some of our members had gone to the Celebration of her Life the prior Thursday morning in Gloucester, and were able to share the beauty of the service, which was planned entirely by Amy.
“I felt as though Amy was my hostess,” said Beverlee Barnes about the care and attention to detail evident throughout, which was typical of the graciousness intrinsic to Amy.
Claire Keyes had felt a tiny bit reconciled to Amy’s death when various people chosen by Amy read some of her poems. Keyes then led Forum members in reading from Amy’s book “Between Leap and Landing,” so that we all would know Amy is always with us — in our memories and in her poems. (See some excerpts from her book on this website under “Introducing Amy Dengler.”)
Amy had also put together another volume of poetry, which we are hoping to receive soon and share with some of you, if her family permits. In the meantime, here is one of Amy’s poems that was read at the celebration of Amy’s life, which Roberta Hung has forwarded.
Valentine
It was only a button, a device
to fasten one side to another yet
it kept reminding me that my winter coat
was missing its middle fastener. The coat,
still draped over the kitchen chair,
was one button short, brown thread trailing
from the empty space like a memo:
get to this soon. Instead
I wore the blue jacket with the zipper.
On Wednesday while I was out,
he found the sewing kit, brown thread, a needle,
and reattached the button, size of a quarter
and made of bone or horn or something durable
that didn’t mind fingers, didn’t mind the in and out
of its intention, didn’t mind the simple work
of holding things together.
February 2008
Amy Dengler
……………………..
Here is a poem by Roberta that she shared with Amy and the other Forum members at our annual summer outing in Gloucester:
Shelf Life
My bulging bookshelf threatens to mutiny
against the crowded conditions.
Some amigos will have to go
where expatriots get sent.
I hope they’ll be valued in their new homes.
…
A fellow poet recently humbled to Amy Dengler.
He’d paid a pittance at a resale
for her book, Between Leap and Landing.
His apologia suggested that he rescued it
from landing in the fire.
…
Personally, I think it leapt to a new shelf
to set more hearts aflame.
Good books are like the phoenix.
Amy, mon amie, my copy is a signed keepsake
of a lovely mentor and friend.
4/17/10
Roberta Hung
And, we also have the poem to which Roberta is referring, by Lee Eric Freedman:
(© 11/16/2009: Lee Eric Freedman, Tin Box Poets – Swampscott, MA)
Amy wrote poetry that made you smile.
There was a message but it never
hammered you; instead it made you aware
of daily tasks as you use simple kitchen tools…
a mixer, a chair, a spoon to lick.
…
She teased that she wrote about
the usual poet’s themes: crows, the moon,
utensils, family. Despite her persistent,
recurrent illness, she wrote poetry that
delighted and read them with a soft,
soothing voice that made us smile back at her.
…
Her generosity was legend. Encouraging
less experienced writers was part of her character.
No worry about who would shine,
she helped, based on her long experience with words
and her intuition about what the new poet
could absorb.
…
As a friend of mine said, aren’t all artists poor? Of course not, but still, a lot of young ones and many middle-aged to old ones could really use some affordable housing. I will soon be working for a company that is trying to find some struggling artists to rent affordable units to in Lowell, Mass.
The development company Trinity Financial is transforming an old mill in that city and creating 130 units, with preference given to artists. The management company is right now looking for artists to live in these apartments, due to be ready in April. There will be a panel to determine if, indeed, you are an artist, although they will not judge your art as art. Also, one must pass certain income qualifications.
All artists — visual, musical, written word, and everyone working in whatever mediums — are invited to submit applications. If you are interested or know anyone who is, just look online for lots more information — the big windows, the art display areas, the various sized apartments, and more — at the Appleton Mills project, www.liveappletonmills.com
The deadline is fast approaching for the Mass. State Poetry Society’s annual National Poetry Day Contest. It’s Aug. 1, so hurry up and get your poems typed up and sent by that date.
Maybe some of you entered the National Federal of State Poetry Societies‘ annual contest. I did, and according to its website they will post the winners soon. Can’t wait. I haven’t entered in years and years, because I’ve been so busy and distracted and stressed and lacking in self-confidence. The latter is still true, but I’m happy to say I quit my job at the newspaper after 13 years and look forward to a better, less stressful and more lucrative life! Here’s my goodbye editorial to the readers of the Danvers Herald, in case you’re interested.
It is almost August, which is my favorite month. But, July 4 is almost my favorite day, with its summer sun high and hot and the day long with seasonal celebrations.
The weather has been glorious, with gusts of wind rippling the leaves into applause for so much beauty. I am very happy, and I hope all the poets and poetry lovers/likers reading this are, too.
Best wishes in the contests! But, you can’t win unless you enter, as the Lottery hawkers say.
At our May meeting, we decided to have a summer outing at the Fitzhugh Lane house in Gloucester. It’s very pretty. Look for the hill on Rogers Street, I think, not too big, but prominent overlooking the harbor. It’s not very far from the center. You’ll find it, and if not right away, I have found the Gloucester folk to be very helpful! Then, just find a parking spot and climb on up.
We are gathering at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 19. Bring a lawn chair and some poems to share. Then, when we get hungry, we’ll go to the little restaurant nearby for sandwiches.
Hope to see you!
Chances are a lot of us are watching the Olympics whenever we can. There are so many great events and stupendous athletes. How about the Women’s Hockey Team, right? (Young people today seem to end all sentences with the word “right.”) There’s a Danvers young woman on that one, which I care about because I’m the editor of the Danvers Herald. I have to care.
But, really, they withstand such physical tests and such emotional tests. God. I’d rather not go through the pounding heart, sweat, tears, thank you, even if I had the talent.
Now that I think about it, when I was a child, during some very cold, wintry winters, when all of us in the younger set in my neighborhood seemed to go down to the local lake for ice skating, some of us with shovels (or did they just magically appear out of the snow-encrusted pine trees, which may have been dressed-up Ents harboring goodwill toward children?) so that we could skate every day. And, back then, while practicing figure 8 s and speeding along the straight-away portions, I used to dream that I would be in the Olympics someday.
Of course, I was comparing myself to one of my big sisters — actually, both of them — who were pitiful on the ice, one of the few places where I was the star to their distant moons.
And, I’ve also been thinking about the teachers in my children’s school, and some of the do-gooder parents, who used to talk about “dream killers” — that all children should keep hold of that feeling they can do whatever they want to do in the future.
Which brought to mind a poem by Shel Silverstein. Well, I’m elaborating and extrapolating a bit from the real thought process, which was — what poem might go with thoughts about the Olympics? Silverstein supplies more my style of Olympic thinking — that is, gone!
The Little Blue Engine
by Shel Silverstein
The little blue engine looked up at the hill.
His light was weak, his whistle was shrill.
He was tired and small, and the hill was tall,
And his face blushed red as he softly said,
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”
….
So he started up with a chug and a strain,
And he puffed and pulled with might and main.
And slowly he climbed, a foot at a time,
And his engine coughed as he whispered soft,
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”
….
With a squeak and a creak and a toot and a sigh,
With an extra hope and an extra try,
He would not stop — now he neared the top —
And strong and proud he cried out loud,
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!”
….
He was almost there, when — CRASH! SMASH! BASH!
He slid down and mashed into engine hash
On the rocks below… which goes to show
If the track is tough and the hill is rough,
THINKING you can just ain’t enough!
For poets in the Beverly area, please join the North Shore Poets’ Forum at the Beverly Public Library on Saturday at 11 a.m. to share poems and gentle critique.
Happy February (it’s almost….well… spring!)
North Shore Poets' Forum 