A Little Solace in Poetry
I know I’m not alone in feeling adrift (among other sensations) in the world right now. I have been taking solace in the hyper local and the imaginative power poetry can remind us we all have. In these next weeks, I wish that for you, too. I’ll check in again before the end of October. Meanwhile, here are some places to focus.
Calendar of Readings & Events
Tuesday Oct 15, 7pm Inter|Act Spoken Word Open Mic Featured Poet Adela Najarro. At Satori an artist space, 815 Almar, Unit 9, Santa Cruz. Upcoming: November 5: No Inter|Act - Election Night. November 19: Featured Poet Julie Murphy.
Wednesday Oct 16, 7pm Sophie Falco and Farnaz Fatemi. I’m delighted to help launch Santa Cruz local (and UCSC alum) Sophie Falco’s newest book of poems, If My Hands Were Birds. Readings will be followed by a conversation moderated by Allison Herman. At Books Inc. Palo Alto. 74 Town & Country Village Palo Alto, CA 94301. Register and more information here.
Friday Oct 18, 6pm Poetry Jam, hosted by Writers of Color - Santa Cruz County. At Somos Cafe and Community Center, 112 E Beach St. in Watsonville. See graphic for more info.
Saturday Oct 19, 3-5pm Jessica Cohn’s Book Launch. **Celebrate the Gathering Season*** featuring Gratitude Diary: Poems by Jessica Cohn. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Garden Room. 750 Front St. in Santa Cruz. Music. Refreshments. Readings by Locals. Free.
Saturday Oct 19, 1-3pm Community Poetry Circle at the Felton Library. No registration required for these free workshops offered by Magdalena Montagne. All levels encouraged.
Saturday Oct 26, 2-3pm Living Memories: Writing Odes and Elegies for Día de los Muertos, led by Sara Santistevan. Garden Room, at the MAH. 750 Front St in Santa Cruz. Join us as we explore the art of writing poems that honor our loved ones and the life cycle. In this reflective reading and generative writing session, you'll learn how to celebrate the beauty of life and the memories of those who've passed, using poetry to weave together themes of remembrance, love, and gratitude. Whether you're a seasoned poet or just starting out, this workshop offers a warm, supportive space to express your emotions and craft meaningful tributes that celebrate life.
Events For Teens
Please help spread the word about these forthcoming events for teens! Note that several upcoming workshops will be led by current Youth Poet Laureate Dina Lusztig Noyes and other Youth Poet Laureate finalists. Full descriptions of all fall workshops, including those not listed below through November, can be found here.
(Anime & Poetry workshop, above, led by YPL finalists Sylvi Kayser and Simon Ellefson)
Apply to be Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate
The application period for the 2025-2026 Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate is open through October 30, 2024. Information about the process and how to apply can be found here. I’m also happy to answer questions about my own tenure or the position more generally.