Tag: first friday poetry night

anthology, booksigning, First Friday Poetry Night, Warren Artists' Market

BIG HUGS AND BIGGER THANKS

Arlene

20151106_21275920151106_21075820151106_212937Big hugs and bigger thanks to all who came to the WAM 2nd annual anthology Book Release Reception on Friday the 6th. You made it a huge success and made us WAM folks walk on air in delight. Area writers in the anthology and featured readers were Cat Graham, LaVerne Gardner, D. Bernard Alston, Joyce Lindenmuth, Deanie Carter, Maggie Chalifoux, Jenny G. Gray, Swen Gerards, Sandra Butler Tubbs, Jack Peachum, Michael Layne, and of course, Thomas Park, and me. Sherman Johnson read his special poem about an 11 year old girl that touched us all. Chris Hunter sang a perfect ending for a perfect night.
The Warren FoodWorks presented a delectable array of hors’d oeuvres. Sterling Cheston carried us into and maintained our party atmosphere with his perfect music selections. Our sponsors, Dr. & Mrs. Cosmos George and John Earl Alston, are held in sincere honor for helping us bring our community together and in keeping the arts alive in Warren County. Also thanks to Jennifer Harris of the Warren Record for printing the article that called many listeners to join in.

First Friday Poetry Night, Poetry, Warren FoodWorks

FOR THOSE WHO MISSED FIRST FRIDAY POETRY NIGHT AT WARREN FOODWORKS

Arlene

       book photo                     

                    DSCF3636

A friend, who missed coming to FFPN at the Warren FoodWorks last week, asked me what I read. Attempting to step into the absent Thomas’ shoes, not an easy task-he is a natural emcee, I read a bit more than usual. As he is always asking everyone “Why do you write?” Reading one of my pieces from Jyoti Wind’s, The Creative Arc, An Anthology on Writing, seemed appropriate. My well-read copy is pictured here. Reading again and since WH Auden is one of many favorite poets, I read:
W H AUDEN QUOTE
“A poet is, before anything else, a person
who is passionately in love with language.”
W.H. Auden (1907-1973)
This quote from one of my favorite poets
sits with truth on my lips, slides down to
my heart and nestles there, as it finds a home.

In love with language, words that tickle me,
making me laugh; sometimes outright giggle
words can impress me with their sincerity
depress me without any reason just because
they are a word that forms an unhappy picture.

Poets take these words and move them around
write one higher on the line to make it jump
or rest quietly to let you sigh, take a deep breath
be happy to see it, special words can be italic
to touch you, you will remember those words
so precious that they imprint on your mind
and stay there

Bards play with accents as in persona poems
where you use the voice of another, allowing
your words to come from their mouth or is it
their words from your pen, after stepping into
their shoes, testing their waters, feeling how
someone else thinks. Is that possible?

Or is it guesswork and misunderstanding.
Playing with words on paper is part of that
love of language; moving them around
forming an outline of a heart or a tree
simply for pure delight. The power of a
printed word is image, to impress another
or catch their eye while playing like a child
hoping to leave a mark on the reader.
Arlene Sandra Bice © 3/2015