Monterey Bay Poetry

2003-04-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

The Permanent Site is UP...come check it out.

www.montereybaypoetry.com

This blog has served us well, but ends here.

2003-03-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

In Conjunction with the City of Pacific Grove and Bookworks
The Whitney Latham Lechich Reading Series presents

Edward Jarvis

7:00 pm on Saturday March 29th at Bookworks
[667 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA]

Edward Jarvis was born in the San Joaquin Valley and raised on a ranch east of Tulare. His interest in literature began when he was sixteen years old upon reading the first sentence of Sean O’Casey’s autobiography which is three pages long. He has published in numerous literary magazines and his book of poetry, Palimpsest, was published in 2001. He holds degrees in the humanities and chiropractic, the latter he practices in Pacific Grove.

The Several Eggs Scavenged

The several eggs scavenged
from a ravaged nest were
laid upon the table for
consideration. Seagulls are,
after all (so the argument
went) a hardy lot; survivors.
Weeks of warmth were
incubation enough and five
bald and flopping
fledglings broke free from
their brittle containers. They

learned quickly, each
personality differing from
the other, learned
to dive for fish by retrieving
sticks through water whirled
from a lawn sprinkler. One,
a studious sister, undertook
the role of mother and included
among her charges the featherless
human who saw to them, supervising
and scolding as the need arose.
When wings had strengthened from
trials of grounded stretching
it arrived suddenly: the time
to discourse the fattened sky.

Lined like soldiers on the peaked
roof they faced their fates,
human arms pumping among them to
offer example, to catalyze
the moment. One by one they
lifted off, circled once and
were gone. Except the last
who returned repeatedly to
the flightless madly flapping
human, coaxing with her
maternal voice the futile
efforts of the strange one
who could not, for all his obvious
turmoil, rise as they into
this obligation of lucid air.

2003-03-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

Open Letter to Monterey Peninsula Businesses & Individuals

Dear Sir or Madam:

We’re pleased to announce that the Monterey Bay Poetry Festival is scheduled for May 4th, 2003 at Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove. In addition to some of the finest poets from Big Sur to Santa Cruz, the festival will feature performances from local elementary, middle, and high school poets, a memorial reading for beloved community poet and union activist Bonnie Gartshore, an exhibit of jade sculpture by world-renowned sculptor and local legend Don Wobber, and much more.

As well as being fun and groundbreaking for this area, the Monterey Bay Poetry Festival should promote a great deal of business for local merchants. That’s where you come in.

Although we’ve received funding from The City of Pacific Grove, we are asking local businesses and individuals to donate what they can in terms of services or money to help make the Monterey Bay Poetry Festival a success.

The Monterey Bay Poetry Festival expects to attract over 200 people and will be broadly advertised. Businesses which donate goods, services, or money will be featured on the Festival’s handsome t-shirts, posters, chapbooks, programs, and on its website.

$100 and up – T-shirts, posters, chapbook, website, and program

$50 - $99 – Posters, chapbook, website, and program

$25 - $49 – Website and program

If you are interested in helping out, but aren’t sure what the best way to contribute may be, please call Festival Coordinator Ryan Masters at 831-373-3829 or email him at montereybaypoetryfestival@hotmail.com. If you are interested in donating money, please make checks payable to: City of Pacific Grove with a memo that reads “Monterey Bay Poetry Festival.”

The Monterey Bay Poetry festival has the potential to become something very special for years to come and I hope you will be excited by the prospect of being involved with something from its outset.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Sincerely,

Monterey Bay Poetry

2003-03-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Tonight's Workshop Cancelled

We'll reconvene next Wednesday: 03/19/03

2003-03-07T11:32:00.000-08:00

Accepting Submissions for the Fall 2003 issue of

The Bathyspheric Review
A Journal of Fine Poetry of and for the Ocean

The Bathyspheric Review is an electronic journal carrying fine poetry devoted to oceanic themes and imagery. Founded on a deep desire to celebrate the world's oceans, waves and beaches through poetry, we do not restrict our content to naturalism, but only request that it explores the imagery of the shore, the tidal zone, the impact zone, the surface, the mid-water, the deep. Two of our favorites are Adrienne Rich's "Diving into the Wreck" and Walt Whitman's "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life." We will consider select short fiction, but the same standards will apply. Not a word out of place. Photos are also considered.

We look for the best writing available and are pleased to introduce new writers. We set no limit to words or pages but, practically speaking, the longer your work, the more we've got to love it. We do not pay at this time, but hope to compensate our contributors in the future.

The Bathyspheric Review comes out twice a year - April 1st and October 1st. Deadline for the October 1st, 2003 issue is September 15th.

Check out the Spring 2003 issue on April 1st at www.montereybaypoetry.com.

E-mail submissions and queries may be sent to bathysphericreview@hotmail.com.

Physical submissions may be sent to:

The Bathyspheric ReviewRyan Masters, editor
140 18th St
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

2003-03-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Monterey Bay Poetry Festival Schedule (tentative)

- 11:00 AM -

Pacific Grove Middle School - Monterey Bay Haiku Project (15 minutes)

Description:

Students from Sandra Jordan’s 8th grade class at Pacific Grove Middle School present their haiku about the Monterey Bay. Includes contributions from Sandra Jordan, Ellen Pastore, and Ryan Masters.

- 11:15 AM -

Whitney Latham Lechich Poetry Workshop Reading (45 minutes)

Description:

Poets read work generated in popular local workshop. Featured readers include George Donald, Sean Smith, Kitty Petrucelli, Sue Ellen Stringer, Gabriel Days, Megan Lee, and more.

- 12:00 PM -

Bonnie Gartshore Memorial Tribute (30 minutes)

Description:

The Monterey Public Library staff are proud to honor Bonnie's memory with a reading of her poetry. The readers are Readers Services staff Kim Bui-Burton and Susan Hoffman (poets in their own right) and Special Services Coordinator, Jeanne McCombs.

- 12:30 PM -

Ron Lampi, Bert Glick, and Ric Masten (45 minutes)

- 1:15 PM-

Del Rey Woods Elementary Poets (15 minutes)

Description:

Seaside's Del Rey Woods Elementary School 4th and 5th graders have been writing poetry this winter and spring. Discover the wow of their voices. Hear the luster of their language. Hosted by Patrice Vecchione.

- 1:30 -

Patrice Vecchione, Barbara Rios, and Patricia Grube (45 minutes)

- 2:15 -

High School Poetry Readings (30 minutes)

Description:

Local High school poets share their work. Featured readers include winners of the 10th annual Robert Campbell Poetry Award winners, sponsored by Carl Cherry Center for the Arts.

- 2:45 -

Susan Hoffman, Kim Bui-Burton, and Maria Tabor (45 minutes)

- 3:30 -

Tricia Yost, Debra Busman*, and Akasha Hull* (45 minutes)

-- Break / Drumming Exhibition --

- 4:30 -

Victor Henry, Morton Marcus, and Ken Weisner (45 minutes)

- 5:15 -

Diana Garcia and Frances Payne Adler (60 minutes)

Description:

Garcia, and Adler present their politically charged poetry. Reading followed by a short panel discussion of poetry as a means of social action.

- 6:15 -

Joseph Stroud, Robert Sward, and Ellen Bass (45 minutes)

Description:

- 7:00 -

Joseph McNeilly, George Lober, and William Minor (45 minutes)

- 7:45 -

Kent Fielding

Description:

Author of Chief Iffucan (Wasteland Press) reads from his book.

- 8:00 -

Monterey Bay Poetry Open Mic/Close

Description:

Floor opened to any and all poets. Hosted by Ryan Masters.

2003-03-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Call for Photos and Artwork!

Montereybaypoetry.com is under construction. If you have any photos or artwork representative of the area, we'd be happy to consider them for publication on the website!

Don't miss the Poets Against The War Reading at the Rio Theatre tomorrow night in Santa Cruz (see below).

2003-02-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

We have closed submissions for the Spring 2003 issue of The Bathyspheric Review, but will continue reading for the Fall issue.

The Spring 2003 issue will feature

Jayne Fenton Keane - John Stokes - Bev Braune - Juan Carlos Vargas - Chris Allen Clark - Mark O’Flynn - Peter Goldsworthy - MTC Cronin - Paul Cliff - Ellen Lindquist - Morrie Greene - Peter Boyle

and will be available on April 1st, 2003.

2003-02-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

Monterey Bay Poets Against the War Reading at the Rio Theatre

•Tuesday, March 4, 7:00 pm - Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.

Featuring poems or brief statements from poets and political figures: Emily Reilly, Adrienne Rich, Mark Primack, Cynthia Matthews, Rafael Lopez, Antonio Rivas, Shirley Ancheta, Len Anderson, Chuck Atkinson, Ellen Bass, Tim Fitzmaurice, Diana Hartog, George Lober, Nathaniel Mackey, Morton Marcus, Tom Marshall, Joseph McNeilly, William Minor, Ekua Omosupe, Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, Tilly Washburn Shaw, Roz Spafford, Debra Spencer, Joseph Stroud, David Sullivan, Amber Coverdale Sumrall, David Swanger, Robert Sward, Jeff Tagami, Patrice Vecchione, Ken Weisner, Gary Young.

2003-02-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

WLL Reading Series

Frances Payne Adler & Diana Garcia

Saturday, February 22nd at 7 pm at Bookworks

This is not the reading to miss. Adler's awards include a California State Senate Award for Artistic and Social Collaboration and a National Endowment for the Arts Award. She was also a Western States Book Award finalist for Raising The Tents. Garcia is the author of When Living Was a Labor Camp, which won a 2001 American Book Award. Both women teach writing at CSU Monterey Bay and are involved in the Social Action Program there. Don't miss this reading and come early for seats. It is going to be packed.

Complete Bios: Frances Payne Adler and Diana Garcia.

Monterey Bay Poetry Festival Organizational Meeting

Friday, February 28th - 6 pm at Bookworks

If you're interested in helping organize the Monterey Bay Poetry Festival scheduled for May 4th, 2003 at Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove, come to this meeting.

To date we have well over twenty regional poets (see list below), a slam, a spoken word workshop, the Monterey Bay Haiku Project presented by PG Middle School students, drumming, and possibly even a performance of Jeffers poetry set to music.

What we need to do at this point is to try some community outreach, ie get some sponsorship from local businesses, design graphic elements for advertising, discuss the feasibility of making some money with things like t-shirts and chapbooks, and also draw up a "needs" list- PA, chairs, decorations, stage, tables, podium...everything we think we need to make this a lively and well-run event.

If you have any questions or there is a scheduling conflict with the meeting and you still want to help, don't hesitate to send me an email or call Ryan at 373-3829.

Confirmed poets

Frances Payne Adler
William Minor
George Lober
Robert Sward
Ric Masten
Shailja Patel
Ron Lampi
Patricia Grube
Maria Tabor
Victor Henry
Joseph McNeilly
Barbara Rios
Morton Marcus
Bert Glick
Ken Weisner
Susan Hoffman
Patrice Vecchione
Kim Bui-Burton
Diana Garcia
Joseph Stroud
Sean Smith
George Donald
Kitty Petrucelli
Garland Thompson*
Taelan Thomas*

2003-02-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Poets Against the War

8300 poets against the war and counting...

...Sam Hamill's letter has touched a nerve (see below).

Weekend Readings

Friday

Poets Ed Jarvis and John Schatz read their work. Both poets are known for their "unique and quirky perspectives"

7 pm at The Thunderbird Bookshop, 3600 The Barnyard, Carmel. 624-1803. $5.

Saturday

Ed Ricketts Lecture. Learn more about Steinbeck's Beat Marine Biologist buddy through slides and letters. Presented by Katie Rodgers, author of a new book on Ricketts.

2 pm at the Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3949. FREE.

Plus, next Tuesday Nikki Giovanni will read from Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, Poems and Not Quite Poems. Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. Free.

2003-02-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

Speaking of the Monterey library (see below), if you haven't read Victor Henry's poetry, you must. This Viet Nam vet is the poetic Tim O'Brien. Truly captivating stuff. He'll be at the Monterey Bay Poetry Festival May 4th along with Frances Payne Adler, William Minor, George Lober, Robert Sward, Ric Masten, Shailja Patel, Ron Lampi, Patricia Grube, Maria Tabor, Joseph McNeilly, Barbara Rios, Morton Marcus, Bert Glick, Ken Weisner, Kent Fielding, Tricia Yost, Susan Hoffman, Kim Bui-Burton, and Diana Garcia among others.

While we're on the subject of the Festival, we need volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, contact Ryan at 373-3829. Specifically we need fundraisers, graphic designers, and people with advertising experience.

Workshop tomorrow night. 6:30 pm at Bookworks (667 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA)

2003-02-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

Lauren Shera

Tuesday, February 11, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Apparently this 14 year-old songwriter is really, really good. After this little gig at the library she's heading down to play The House of Blues in LA if that's any indication of how good. There's an open mic afterwards for high school students. Adults may attend but only high school poets ages 14-19 may read at the Open Mike.

Admission free. For information call 831.646.3949 or email Jeanne McCombs at mccombs@ci.monterey.ca.us.

2003-02-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Poetry Reading

Sam Hamill and Joseph Stroud at Cabrillo College

•Monday, February 10, 7:30 pm

Room 508 (Building 500), Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Road, Aptos

2003-02-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

Workshop Tonight - 6:30 pm at Bookworks (667 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove).

For more information call 831-373-3829.

2003-02-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

below the low-water mark

Ryan Masters' chapbook below the low-water mark will be published later this year by Pudding House Press (Johnstown, OH). Start saving your pennies and nickels now so you can buy one from him.

Accepting Submissions for the Spring, 2003 issue of

The Bathyspheric Review
A Journal of Fine Poetry Of and For the Ocean

The Bathyspheric Review is an electronic journal carrying fine poetry devoted to oceanic themes and imagery. Founded on a deep desire to celebrate the world's oceans, waves and beaches through poetry, we do not restrict our content to naturalism, but only request that it explores the imagery of the shore, the tidal zone, the impact zone, the surface, the mid-water, the deep. Two of our favorites are Adrienne Rich's "Diving into the Wreck" and Walt Whitman's "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life." We will consider select short fiction, but the same standards will apply. Not a word out of place. Photos are also considered. A website will be up by late winter 2003 with more detailed guidelines.

We look for the best writing available and are pleased to introduce new writers. We set no limit to words or pages but, practically speaking, the longer your work, the more we've got to love it. We do not pay at this time, but hope to compensate our contributors in the future.

The Bathyspheric Review comes out twice a year - April 1st and October 1st. Deadline for the April 1st, 2003 issue is March 15th.

E-mail submissions and queries may be sent to bathysphericreview@hotmail.com.

Physical submissions may be sent to:

The Bathyspheric Review
Ryan Masters, editor
140 18th St
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

2003-01-31T17:07:00.000-08:00

A message from Sam Hamill

Dear Friends and Fellow Poets:

When I picked up my mail and saw the letter marked "The White House," I felt no joy. Rather I was overcome by a kind of nausea as I read the card enclosed:

"Laura Bush requests the pleasure of your company at a reception and White House Symposium on "Poetry and the American Voice" on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 at one o'clock."

Only the day before I had read a lengthy report on the George Bush's proposed "Shock and Awe" attack on Iraq, calling for saturation bombing that would be like the firebombing of Dresden or Tokyo, killing countless innocent civilians.

I believe the only legitimate response to such a morally bankrupt and unconscionable idea is to reconstitute a Poets Against the War movement like the one organized to speak out against the war in Vietnam.

I am asking every poet to speak up for the conscience of our country and lend his or her name to our petition against this war, and to make February 12 a day of Poetry Against the War. We will compile an anthology of protest to be presented to the White House on that afternoon.

Please submit your name and a poem or statement of conscience to:

kokua@olympus.net

There is little time to organize and compile. I urge you to pass along this letter to any poets you know. Please join me in making February 12 a day when the White House can truly hear the voices of American poets.

Sam Hamill

2003-01-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

Workshop 01/29/03 - Poems from George, Sean. Fiction from Megan.

Monterey Bay Poetry Festival Update!

The first Monterey Bay Poetry festival is scheduled for Sunday, May 4th at Chautaqua Hall in Pacific Grove, CA.

To date, the festival will feature, among other events, many of the area's finest poets, a small press fair, a poetry slam competition, a spoken word workshop with Shailja Patel, a Poetics as Social Action discussion panel, a theatrical performance of "Jeffers as Playwright" by Garland Thompson and Taelan Thomas, and even poetry performances by area schoolchildren. As readers are confirmed, we will begin scheduling. Poets will read in blocks of three and readings will be grouped thematically.

Once our budget proposal has been officially cleared by the City of Pacific Grove, an organizational meeting will be scheduled. Information packets for all confirmed readings will be in the mail by late February.

Confirmed readers to date:

Frances Payne Adler
William Minor
George Lober
Robert Sward
Ric Masten
Shailja Patel
Ron Lampi
Patricia Grube
Maria Tabor
Victor Henry (Bausch)
Joseph McNeilly
Barbara Rios
Morton Marcus
Bert Glick
Ken Weisner
Kent Fielding
Tricia Yost

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer money, time, or advice, please contact Ryan at 831-373-3829.

2003-01-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Workshop tomorrow night. 6:30 pm at Bookworks.

Poems from Megan, George, and Ryan. Possibly from Sean.

All are welcome. Extra poem packets will be available at the workshop itself.

Just a reminder that William Minor is reading this Saturday at Bookworks!

Bill was attracted by the "multimedia" work of William Blake, e.e. cummings, Kenneth Patchen and Shiko Munakata, (and the voice of Dylan Thomas) and began to write poetry 37 years ago, producing his first book containing poems and prints, Pacific Grove, in 1974. Bill has, since that time, published four more books of poetry: For Women Missing or Dead, Goat Pan, Natural Counterpoint (with Paul Oehler; nominated for Pushcart Prize XI), and Poet Santa Cruz: Number 4. His poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies--Poems from Hawaii, New Poetry Out of Wisconsin (Stanton & Lee), Quarry West: Poets and Writers of the Monterey Bay--along with short fiction in Best Little Magazine Fiction (NYU Press) and The Colorado Quarterly Centennial Edition. A one-act play, Contacts, was performed at MPC and then published in The Bellingham Review. A memoir, "On the Nature of Literary Friendship: Paul Oehler," appears on Web del Sol. His most recent book of poetry is Some Grand Dust.

MOKER'S UNBORN DAUGHTER

Moker's unborn daughter shuts her eyes.
She sees a blaze of orange and blue,
discordant sun. Eyes open, she says,
"Now that was just too good to be true,"

and runs to her father, asking him to try.
"Try what?" he says. "Hey, I'm way too old
for ...""Color?" she inquires, then spins off
into that glutinous world of liquid gold,

of Rubens-Renoir serious amber,
leaf-green, pedigree burnt umber
dance of light not his. "Great God," he thinks,
"She is the stuff I long to see, to be,

so much more of--susceptible as flowers--
soft glory of a world so far beyond
my own that's drying out." Yet Moker,
his eyes shut tight, can only find, now,

the distant fading color
of his unborn daughter.

William Minor will read at 7 pm on January 25th at Bookworks. For more information, call me at 831-373-3829.

2003-01-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

Monterey Bay Poetry Festival Date Change

The Monterey Bay Poetry Festival has been moved up from June 1st to May 4th

Take note!!!!

For more information contact Ryan at 831-373-3829.

2003-01-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Upcoming Events

Monterey

Tuesday, January 21, 7:00 p.m.
High School Poetry Circle
Poet Patrice Vecchione will host the open mike for high school poets. Bring your poems, discuss poetry and meet other poets. Let your voice be heard! We'll provide the coffee and goodies. Admission free. For information call 831.646.3949.

Santa Cruz Poetry Update

Sunday, January 19
2:00 p.m. POET/SPEAK Open Reading with featured readers Kathryn Petruccelli and Kate Noakes.
At the Santa Cruz Main Library, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz.

Friday, January 24
7:00 p.m. All Poets Day Celebration, including an Open Reading, Workshops, Awards Ceremony, Reading, Food and more.
At the Grace Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1075 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz.

2003-01-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

Monterey Bay Poetry Festival Update

The first Monterey Bay Poetry festival is gathering steam! Firmly scheduled for June 1st at Chautaqua Hall in Pacific Grove, CA, the festival will feature, among many other events, over fifteen of the area's finest poets, a small press fair, a poetry slam competition, a spoken word workshop with Shailja Patel, and even poetry performances by area schoolchildren.

Confirmed readers to date:

Frances Payne Adler
William Minor
Robert Sward
Ric Masten
Shailja Patel
Ron Lampi
Patricia Grube
Maria Tabor
Victor Henry (Bausch)
Ellen Bass
Joseph McNeilly

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer money, time, or advice, please contact Ryan at 831-373-3829.

2003-01-10T10:24:00.000-08:00
Excellent weekend for poetry in Monterey

Friday

Noami Shihab Nye - 8 pm - Performing Arts Center, Santa Catalina School, 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey.

The reading is free, but reservations are required at 655-9310.

Diane Garcia and Maria Garcia Tabor - 7:30 pm - Thunderbird Bookshop, 3600 The Barnyard, Highway 1 and Carmel Road.

$5 admission. 684-0854.

Saturday

Philip Levine - 8 pm - Morgan's Coffee & Tea, 498 Washington St, Monterey

Tickets are $25 general/$10 students and include wine and cheese reception with Levine after the reading. 373-1479.

2003-01-08T09:26:00.000-08:00
The Bathyspheric Review - A Journal of Fine Poetry Of and For the Ocean

Call for Submissions

The Bathyspheric Review is an electronic journal carrying fine poetry devoted to oceanic themes and imagery. Founded on a deep desire to celebrate the world's oceans, waves and beaches through poetry, we do not restrict our content to naturalism, but only request that it explores the imagery of the shore, the tidal zone, the impact zone, the surface, the mid-water, the deep. Two of our favorites are Adrienne Rich's "Diving into the Wreck" and Walt Whitman's "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life." We will consider select high-quality fiction, but the same standards will apply. Not a word out of place. A website will be up by late winter 2003 with more detailed guidelines.

Until then, please visit our temporary site at:

www.montereybaypoetry.blogspot.com

TBR comes out three times a year - April 1st, August 1st, and December 1st. Submission deadlines fall two weeks before each issue’s date of publication.

E-mail submissions may be sent to: bathysphericreview@hotmail.com

Physical submissions may be sent to:

The Bathyspheric Review
Ryan Masters, Editor
140 18th St
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

2003-01-08T09:13:00.000-08:00
Guess what? Philip Levine is reading at Morgan's (498 Washington St, Monterey) this Saturday, January 11th. $25 general admission and $10 for students. Don't miss this opportunity to hear one of the great American poets of the 20th century read his work. Reading starts at 8 pm with a reception afterwards. Awesome opportunity to meet the Pultizer Prize-winning poet.

Workshop tonight- Wednesday - 6:30 pm

Field trip to the Rubber Chicken Poetry Slam!!!!

One Year Anniversary of The Rubber Chicken Slam at Morgan's - 8:00 pm

2003-01-07T11:36:00.000-08:00
Workshop tomorrow night at 6:30 pm at Bookworks. Call Ryan at 373-3829 for more information.

2003-01-06T16:52:00.000-08:00
Friday, January 10

Diana Garcia and Maria Tabor

7:30 pm National Writers Union Reading Series. Thunderbird Bookstore, 3600 The Barnyard, Carmel, $5.

Diana Garcia

Born in a migrant labor camp in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, poet Diana García is the author of When Living Was a Labor Camp, which won a 2001 American Book Award. García teaches at California State University, Monterey Bay, where she is acting director of the Creative Writing and Social Action Program and she coordinates the Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking Program at the Institute for Human Communications. She has been an assistant professor of creative writing at Central Connecticut State University and an exchange professor at the University of Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany. She has also been a single mother on welfare, a secretary, a retail store-owner, a personnel manager, and a sentencing consultant to criminal defense attorneys. Her poetry has appeared in many anthologies including El Coro, Paper Dance: 55 Latino Poets, and Touching the Fire: Fifteen Poets of Today’s Latino Renaissance. García earned her BA and MFA at San Diego State University.

COTTON ROWS, COTTON BLANKETS

Sprawled on the back of a flatbed truck

we cradled hoes, our minds parceling rows

of cotton to be chopped by noon. Dawn stuck

in the air. Blackbirds rang the willows.

Ahead, a horse trailer stretched across the road.

Braced by youth and lengths of summer breeze

we didn't give a damn. We'd be late, we joked,

stalled by a pregnant mare draped in sheets.

Later, backs to the sun, bandanas tied

to shade our brows, hands laced with tiny cuts;

later, when the labor contractor

worked us through lunch without water; our dried

tongues cursed that mare in cotton blankets

brought to foal in the outlines of summer.

Maria Tabor

Maria Tabor is a poet and writer of short stories. She teaches at Hartnell College and is the editor of The Homestead Review. Check out her website for more information and poetry.

The Thimble

The rocking chair moves
like a sewing machine.
The baby's cheek forms a seam
with his father's shoulder,
his saliva a dropped stitch
coloring his shirt with patches
of deep blue. He quilts a yawn
with the heaviness of the moon.

The mother watches from her cushioned
position where she is pinned
by his eye. If she moves
he will sit up, his spine
straight like a needle
so she threads herself onto the couch,
a pattern of stillness.

His eyes begin to roll
like bobbins spooling
into satin dreams. His cheek
twitches as if pulled
by a string. The mother tears him
away from where he blankets
his father's frayed lap,
and frames his sleeping
softness with a crib
where he embroiders himself
on the flannel of night.

2002-12-30T10:46:00.000-08:00
For those of you who didn't make it, you may rest assured that Sean Smith and George Donald blew minds on Saturday night at Bookworks. Well-attended and wholly enjoyed by all, this month's reading was a certifiable success. Congratulations to both Sean and George.

Next up will be remarkable poet/visual artist/jazzman William Minor.

Bill was attracted by the "multimedia" work of William Blake, e.e. cummings, Kenneth Patchen and Shiko Munakata, (and the voice of Dylan Thomas) and began to write poetry 37 years ago, producing his first book containing poems and prints, Pacific Grove, in 1974. Bill has, since that time, published four more books of poetry: For Women Missing or Dead, Goat Pan, Natural Counterpoint (with Paul Oehler; nominated for Pushcart Prize XI), and Poet Santa Cruz: Number 4. His poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies--Poems from Hawaii, New Poetry Out of Wisconsin (Stanton & Lee), Quarry West: Poets and Writers of the Monterey Bay--along with short fiction in Best Little Magazine Fiction (NYU Press) and The Colorado Quarterly Centennial Edition. A one-act play, Contacts, was performed at MPC and then published in The Bellingham Review. A memoir, "On the Nature of Literary Friendship: Paul Oehler," appears on Web del Sol. His most recent book of poetry is Some Grand Dust.

MOKER'S UNBORN DAUGHTER

Moker's unborn daughter shuts her eyes.
She sees a blaze of orange and blue,
discordant sun. Eyes open, she says,
"Now that was just too good to be true,"

and runs to her father, asking him to try.
"Try what?" he says. "Hey, I'm way too old
for ...""Color?" she inquires, then spins off
into that glutinous world of liquid gold,

of Rubens-Renoir serious amber,
leaf-green, pedigree burnt umber
dance of light not his. "Great God," he thinks,
"She is the stuff I long to see, to be,

so much more of--susceptible as flowers--
soft glory of a world so far beyond
my own that's drying out." Yet Moker,
his eyes shut tight, can only find, now,

the distant fading color
of his unborn daughter.

William Minor will read at 7 pm on January 25th at Bookworks. For more information, call me at 831-373-3829.

Meanwhile, the Monterey Bay Poetry Festival continues to gather momentum and attract some heavy meter slingers. Some of Monterey Bay's finest poets are already slated to read at the June 1st event. The festival will double as a small press fair and triple as the belated formal launch of www.montereybaypoetry.com and its accompanying literary journal The Bathyspheric Review.

2002-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

Looking for information about The Bathyspheric Review?

2002-12-27T07:49:00.000-08:00
Whitney Latham Lechich Poetry Reading Series

Sean Smith & George Donald

December 28th, 7:00 pm

Bookworks
667 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA
(831) 372-2242

This month’s installment of the Whitney Latham Lechich Reading Series features two local poets, Sean Smith and George Donald, both are core members of the PG Poetry Workshop.

Sean Smith

Author of a chapbook, Poems, Short Stories and other Solemnities, Sean Smith is a young PG poet and visual artist.

"Sean Smith is the kind of guy who takes a strange pleasure in burying a beer can in the forest. He doesn't write about anything, but after his words echo in your mind like a recurring dream, you'll realize that he writes about everything- and with an unusual insight. He gives personality and importance to meaningless happenings and his writings sway gracefully from self-referential to hauntingly familiar." ~ Imogen Peony Gorgon

George Báird Donald

Born in 1957, the second son of an Episcopal minister and the bishop’s daughter, George grew up in a series of rectories in the south. An MA candidate in translation at the Monterey Institute, George is an interpreter at Natividad Medical Center. He has worked as a cab driver, schoolteacher, clam farmer, choir member, law clerk, student pilot, flight line worker and child actor. His poetry is deeply rooted in a private, Gothic South.

The Whitney Latham Lechich Reading Series is made possible by the City of Pacific Grove and the Pacific Grove Arts Commission. Previous readings have included Ryan Masters (September), Patrick W. Flanigan (October), and Ted Gerhke (November). January 25th, 2003 brings the remarkable poet/artist/musician William Minor to Bookworks.

2002-12-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Looking for information about The Bathyspheric Review?

The Henry Miller Library

Things are a little slow down in Big Sur this time of year. Everyone's hunkered down and riding out the big wind and water, hoping that the mud won't slide, but that doesn't mean there's no poetry going on. If you can make it down Highway 1, don't miss this singular literary landmark.

Open Mike - Sundays at 3 pm

A weekly open mike poetry reading, for all ages.
Henry Miller Library, Hwy 1, Big Sur, 831/667-2574
11AM - 6PM - Wednesday through Sunday

"Henry Miller Library a non-profit organization championing the works of the Americam author, artist & Big Sur resident, Henry Miller. Located in the heart of Big Sur the library offers a treasure of fine books, art & history of the area, concerts, readings, workshops, free internet access, musical instruments, art supplies, tea and coffee. Many items, including rare books and art, are for sale. Also available for private events."

2002-12-18T13:55:00.000-08:00
Workshop tonight, 6:30 pm

We will meet at Bookworks tonight instead of the Little House. The Gay Alcoholics have wrested our turf out from under us with their wicked combination of slick street smarts, tight denim and overpowering aftershave...actually I just kind of up and let them have it. We'll either change workshop to Thursdays or move it permanently to Bookworks. Check back for more information.

2002-12-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

Accepting Submissions for the April 1st, 2003 issue of

The Bathyspheric Review - A Journal of Fine Poetry Of and For the Ocean

The Bathyspheric Review is an electronic journal carrying fine poetry devoted to oceanic themes and imagery. Founded on a deep desire to celebrate the world's oceans, waves and beaches through poetry, we do not restrict our content to naturalism, but only request that it explores the imagery of the shore, the tidal zone, the impact zone, the surface, the mid-water, the deep. Two of our favorites are Adrienne Rich's "Diving into the Wreck" and Walt Whitman's "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life." We will consider select short fiction, but the same standards will apply. Not a word out of place. Photos are also considered. A website will be up by late winter 2003 with more detailed guidelines.

We look for the best writing available and are pleased to introduce new writers. We set no limit to words or pages but, practically speaking, the longer your work, the more we've got to love it. We do not pay at this time, but hope to compensate our contributors in the future.

The Bathyspheric Review comes out three times a year - April 1st, August 1st, and December 1st. Deadline for the April 1st, 2003 issue is March 15th.

E-mail submissions and queries may be sent to bathysphericreview@hotmail.com.

Physical submissions may be sent to:

The Bathyspheric Review
Ryan Masters, editor
140 18th St
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

2002-12-16T13:31:00.000-08:00
Monterey Public Library's High School Poets Circle

Click here to read selected poems presented at the Poetry Circle.

Tuesday, December 17, 7:00 p.m.
Monterey Public Library
Poet Patrice Vecchione will host the open mike for high school poets. Bring your poems, discuss poetry and meet other poets. Let your voice be heard! We'll provide the coffee and goodies. Admission free. For information call 831.646.3949 or email Jeanne McCombs at mccombs@ci.monterey.ca.us.

2002-12-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

Three Poems from George Donald for 12/18/02 Workshop

Morning After ( enigma in glass and tin)

He burn bright for awhile
‘cause he flame
but he don’t last too long, no
he curl, dive
make sound like train,
drown out all the crickets
winding they watches by night.
but lo, he come! the brick hits mud
and the wake ain’t even a shiny black car
wink of empty bottles pointy heads in a can
the sun pound like lead when they taken ‘em away.

Samson and the Ceramic Heart

Fluted bricks she put in front of him –
these were her verses,
and rhymes the smoother tiles she showed him –
the wheel ran all the time he slept.

They lay on the roof, the heat cooled
when the sky was yellow at its edges –
he cut the roast against the grain
and she dabbed his veiny fingers.

They dreamed and the dreams were separate –
his was of bone and knotted rope
and hers was of a lake of iodine
and of jars whose lids she would glaze tomorrow.

On the coolness of metal

A lamp, a bell, the hands of a clock
have common earth, the lack of silver
is common to many, as common as tarnish
behind locked glass, as common as the cap
of a vodka bottle.

About platinum and zink I know very little-
I’ve never seen through foundry doors.
But there’s ore they grind and mix for roads,
some they heat and pound into cars, some
will pull a nail across a table.

Nail or chalice coin or plug
it’s cold until you hold it.
The gut of a cat is soft, so
it’s steel they use for autoharp strings.
A pewter cup holds a smoky mead.

In the hospital, on the second floor,
there’s a standing Christ with outstretched arms
and Sacred Heart of Gold.
His eyes held oceans, mountains
and the heads of saints on plates of lead.

Every day, metal changes, changes from
pocket to hand, from hand to hand,
it changes from scrap to cinder, it
warps, bends and the hand that chooses its shape
has a soul like mist on the coolness of metal.

2002-12-13T09:18:00.000-08:00
Kent Fielding's Chief Iffucan has been released from Wasteland Press.

Kent Fielding is not only a close friend of mine, but a tremendous poet, promoter and publisher. Among other things, he's published The Dalai Lama, Jimmy Carter, Allen Ginsberg, Hunter Thompson, and William Burroughs as a founder of White Fields Press (with Ron Whitehead), and co-founded The Insomniacathon. He will be in Pacific Grove to read from Chief Iffucan and other works in 2003, so stay tuned. Here's a 2001 article from the Courier-Journal in Louisville about Kent and The Insomniacathon.

Chief Iffucan, composed of two narrative poems, deals with the struggles of abuse: sexual, physical, psychological and substance. Both poems are made up of monologues written in short segments, and each takes opposite ends of the spectrum. “TARA” is told from the standpoint of a woman who survives and finds control and stability, while “Chief Iffuccan” is told from the standpoint of a man who can not find stability and, in a sense, goes crazy.

Some reviews:

“With bittersweet elegance, Kent Fielding conjures up images of what Langston Hughes called "The Sweet Flypaper of Life" in this masterful poetic meditation. Somehow, in Chief Iffucan, this young Kentuky poet has learned how to make time stand still.”

-Douglas Brinkley, Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies

“Kent Fielding is our guide through this tender, unflinching look at how both angels and demons are locked in mortal combat to create great art. Kent’s tragic and hip portrayal of the 'Chief,' a possessed musician, illustrates that in the end it doesn’t matter who wins, but only if the warrior can bore into our consciousness and ease the path through his wilderness that makes up our human existence. The book is the flesh and bones of what Lorca called the Duende.”

-W. Loran Smith, author of Night Train

"By coincidence I was listening to Billie Holiday when I started reading Kent Fielding’s Chief Iffucan. I found his work in many places to be as haunting as Holiday’s music. In Fielding’s hands the long poem becomes a blue note capable of expressing deep feeling. I like how he writes. Chief Iffucan is a book filled with substance and complexity. Read it with your ears and see how your eyes listen."

-E. Ethelbert Miller, African American Resource Center-Howard University

If you need further impetus to buy Kent's book, its cover features a painting by my wife, Dana Masters (Catanzaro).

2002-12-12T13:27:00.000-08:00
Rough Draft
[working drafts of poetry from the workshop posted for open critique]

California (Rough)

Burned by your chaparral
box canyon brushfires,
shaken as a baby
in St. Andreas arms,
I have danced upon your plates
and lain buried in unmarked
mudslides beside the bones
of those Indians not found
in any Mission records.

California,
the lighted exit signs shine
from the corners of your darkened
theaters, I am up the nowhere
staircases down the shrinking
hallways of your Winchester
Mystery Houses. At home
among the disorientation
of your wastelands
and business parks,
I was born on any one of your
ten thousand El Camino
Boulevards.

In your deserts littered
with chunks of turquoise,
obsidian arrowheads and the ground
glass of coolie opium vials,
I have dug through your strip
mine tailings, sailed cold dark water,
the sound of your underground
streams and seeping fissures,
water flowing upwards
into your bathyspheric trenches,
bathing your sculpins and monkey eels,
your fragile, catacomb structured
jellies which hurl themselves
upon your shores and glisten
like puddles of mercury
in the sand.

In your blonde hills
teeming with thirsty garrapatta,
and the ancient crowns of oak,
where Ishi and his wise sadness
finally descended to Parnassus
long after the gold was gone,
I have buried my head
into your skin and drank
of your buried sluices, rusted
pans and busted bottles,
your shovelheads, your
decayed handles, hands
long ago worn raw
against the 1/16th-inch
screens of desire.

In your Fertile Fields,
I was fed upon the calluses
and folksong of migrant labor
from a Golden Age of pesticides.

I have weathered the wind,
the arch and crash
of your boom times like winter
waves in cold deep northern
bays where tides rip
through thunderous mist
and the dazzling light
of low rise sun, frenzied rushes
to your breast of steel and brick,
spray-painted wild with murder
and renewal, as the blood
after the gold rush is hosed
down storm drains
back into the brown Bay
Delta of rich black soil
its water still and warm
and sticky, big mouth bass
hovering fat and calm
in the Central Valley sky
while we wait for the thunder
to peel all the way to Fresno
from here— where your woodpiles
are alive with black widows
which crawl out onto my arms
like shiny bulbs of blown obsidian
while I carry your grape stakes
from one end of this property to another.

-Ryan Masters (12/11/02)

Comments, suggestions, explications, critiques? Respond to bibliolibra@hotmail.com

2002-12-12T13:07:00.000-08:00
FYI

Saturday, December 21

10:30 am - Poetry by the Bay Community writing workshops for all ages led by Patrice Vecchione. Santa Cruz Main Library, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free.

Friday Jan. 31-Sunday Feb. 2

Poetry Workshop with Robert Bly at Asilomar. (831) 457-9340 or email Wendy Martyna at wmartyna@earthlink.net for more information.

ONGOING EVENTS

Every Sunday
8:00-9:00 pm
The Poetry Show - KUSP 88.9 FM. Hosted by Dennis Morton, Morton Marcus and Kim Nelson. Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.

Every Sunday
10:00 am -12:30 pm
Please Stand By - KPIG 107.5 FM. Live music and poetry or spoken word during band setup.
Various weekdays Capitola BookCafe hosts many author events, with local and visiting authors. Visit their website at http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/events.html for an up-to-date schedule.

Every Sunday
Poetry Santa Cruz in the Santa Cruz Sentinel Style section (print edition only). Poetry selected by Dennis Morton.

Every Monday
8:00 pm Poetry Santa Cruz readings videotaped by the National Writers Union, are shown on Community TV, channel 27. Followed by announcements.
(December 9, 16 and 23: Aliki Barnstone and Jennifer Michael Hecht)

Every Wednesday
8:00-9:00 pm
Out Of Our Minds - KKUP 91.5 FM. Hosted by Dancing Bear. Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.

Every Wednesday
3:00-3:30 pm Cover to Cover KPFA 94.1 FM. Hosted by Jack Foley.

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 11, 25 Rubber Chicken Poetry Slam Morgan's Coffee & Tea, 408 Washington St., Downtown Monterey. Cover $5, slammers $2. Hosted by Kathryn Petrucelli & Garland Thompson. www.rubberchickenpoetry.com

Every 1st Thursday
7:00 pm
Thursday December 5 Open Mic, music or spoken word. PA provided. Free. Wooden Nickel Bar and Grill, Freedom Blvd. and Green Valley Blvd. Freedom. 728-6040

Every 1st Saturday
2:30 to 5:00 pm
Saturday, December 7 - Lost Poets Salon Open Reading and Discussion. Free. Downtown Bagelry, 320 Cedar St., (831) 425-0211

Every 2nd Friday
Friday, December 13 - 8:00 pm
Verbal Moonshine Open Reading, Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, 9341 Mill Blvd., Ben Lomond, across from the Ben Lomond Market. 7:30 signup, 8:00 reading. Hosted by Phyllis Mayfield. Enjoy the current art exhibition. Refreshments served. $3 Donation requested for Art Center.

Every 2nd Friday
Friday December 13
7:30 pm National Writers Union Reading Series. Featuring William Minor and Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts. 7:30 pm, Thunderbird Bookstore, 3600 The Barnyard, Carmel, $5.

Every 3rd Wednesday Wednesday December 18
7:30-9:00 pm Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Trans Writing Group meeting at the Diversity Center, 177 Walnut, Avenue, Santa Cruz. Call Kate Hitt at 427-8805.

Every 3rd Wednesday Wednesday December 18
7:00-9:00 pm Art of Words Open Reading, Atelier Gallery, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. Hosted by Kate Avraham.

2002-12-12T09:48:00.000-08:00
Apologies to those workshoppers who showed up late at the Little House last night to find it populated by a band of gay alcoholics in recovery. It seems we've been booted by a Machiavellian Queen- the Treasurer of Pacific Grove's Gay AA Chapter has executed designs upon our Wednesday night slot. But fear not, we shall persevere. And if he proves too slippery an adversary, we can always reconvene at Bookworks on Wednesday nights at 6:30.

2002-12-11T16:27:00.000-08:00
Monterey Cowboy & Poetry Festival December 13-15th

The Cowboy Poets and Balladeers will gather at the Monterey Conference Center for three days of rope burns and little doggy getting alonging. Haven't been myself, but it's supposed to be a kick in the ass. Many participants are also involved in the Elko Festival, which is the Grand Daddy of Cowboy Poetry Rodeos. Peter Rowan's going to be there and as far as I'm concerned that's reason enough to clank some spur, hoss. Friday through Sunday at Monterey Conference Center. (831) 372-8520. Check out the website: http://www.montereycowboy.com/

In honor of the event, I clambered about the net reading cowboy poetry. After about a half hour or so, I decided that most Cowboy Poetry must benefit a great deal from its delivery. Here's a cowboy poem from a poet who can't necessarily be classified as solely of the cowboy variety:

The BUCKING HORSE MOON - by Paul Zarzyski

A kiss for luck, then we'd let 'er buck -
I'd spur electric on adrenaline and lust.
She'd figure-8 those barrels
on her Crimson Missle sorrel -
we'd make the night air swirl with hair and dust.

At some sagebrush wayside, 3 a.m.,
we'd water, grain, and ground-tie Missle.
Zip our sleeping bags together,
make love in any weather,
amid the cactus, rattlers, and thistle.

Seems the moon was always full for us -
its high-diving shadow kicking hard.
We'd play kid games in the big night sky,
she'd say "that bronco's Blue-Tail Fly,
and ain't that ol' T.J. spurrin' off its stars?"

We knew sweet youth's no easy keeper.
It's spent like winnings, all too soon.
So we'd revel every minute
in the music of our Buick
running smooth, two rodeoin' lovers
cruising to another -
beneath Montana's blue roan
bucking horse moon.

The Augusta perf at 2, we'd place again,
then sneak off to our secret Dearborn River spot.
We'd take some chips and beer and cheese,
skinny-dip, dry off in the breeze,
build a fire, fry the trout we caught.

Down moonlit gravel back to blacktop,
she'd laugh and kill those beams for fun.
That old wagon road was ours to own -
30 shows since I've been thrown
and 87 barrels since she'd tipped one.

We knew that youth wouldn't keep for rainy days.
It burns and turns to ash too soon.
So we'd revel every minute
in the music of our Buick
running smooth, two rodeoin' lovers
cruising to another -
beneath Montana's blue roan
bucking horse moon.

Paul Zarzyski's bittersweet poem "The Bucking Horse Moon" is taken from Buckaroo: Visions and Voices of the American Cowboy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2002-12-11T16:01:00.000-08:00
Whitney Latham Lechich Poetry Reading Series

Sean Smith & George Donald

December 28th, 7:00 pm

Bookworks
667 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA
(831) 372-2242

This month’s installation of the Whitney Latham Lechich Reading Series features two local poets, Sean Smith and George Donald, both are core members of the PG Poetry Workshop.

Sean Smith

Author of a chapbook, Poems, Short Stories and other Solemnities, Sean Smith is a young PG poet and visual artist.

"Sean Smith is the kind of guy who takes a strange pleasure in burying a beer can in the forest. He doesn't write about anything, but after his words echo in your mind like a recurring dream, you'll realize that he writes about everything- and with an unusual insight. He gives personality and importance to meaningless happenings and his writings sway gracefully from self-referential to hauntingly familiar." ~ Imogen Peony Gorgon

George Báird Donald

Born in 1957, the second son of an Episcopal minister and the bishop’s daughter, George grew up in a series of rectories in the south. An MA candidate in translation at the Monterey Institute, George is an interpreter at Natividad Medical Center. He has worked as a cab driver, schoolteacher, clam farmer, choir member, law clerk, student pilot, flight line worker and child actor. His poetry is deeply rooted in a private, Gothic South.

The Whitney Latham Lechich Reading Series is made possible by the City of Pacific Grove and the Pacific Grove Arts Commission. Previous readings have included Ryan Masters (September), Patrick W. Flanigan (October), and Ted Gerhke (November).

-----------------------------------------------------

2002-12-11T15:55:00.000-08:00
Workshop Tonight - 6:30 pm

We'll discuss:

Submitting work to small presses, journals, and contests
New work
December 28th reading by Sean Smith and George Donald
Writing exercise

------------------------------------------------------

2002-12-11T14:38:00.000-08:00
Welcome to Monterey Bay Poetry...a new web resource by and for California poets and writers from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Contact me at bibliolibra@hotmail.com to post poetry, announce upcoming literary or music events, or ask questions.

Pacific Grove Poetry Workshop - Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the "little house" of Jewell Park in downtown PG. Contact Ryan at 831-373-3829 for more information.

Announcing the Inaugural Monterey Bay Poetry Festival - June 1st, 2003 at Chautauqua Hall in downtown Pacific Grove. Contact Ryan at the above email address or phone number to volunteer your time or for more information. More information forthcoming.

-------------------------------------------------------