Endless summer, poetry style
It's not just back to school season.
There’s a lot to read about again this issue but I want to especially call your attention to the opportunities at the bottom of this post—including a reminder about the application/nomination process closing August 30th for the role of Watsonville Poet Laureate, to succeed Bob Gómez, who has been so accomplished and inspiring in this capacity.
In the next installments of For Better or Verse I have much to share on the next iteration of the SC County Youth Poet Laureate programming, including projects the teen cohort are putting together themselves, and several poetry drop-in opportunities for teens around the county. A couple of these already appear below. Stay tuned (and keep spreading the word)!
Readings
Tuesday Aug 20, 7pm. Inter|Act Spoken Word Open Mic. Featured Artist Joseph Jason Santiago Lacour. At Satori an artist space, 815 Almar, Unit 9, Santa Cruz.
Friday, Aug 23, 7-9pm. Spoken Word Event produced by Barrio Poetry & Writers of Color—Santa Cruz County. Watsonville (see graphic for details).
Saturday, Aug 24, 2:30pm. Community Writers of Santa Cruz County, via Zoom, will host Patrice Vecchione. 2:30-4pm with open mic.
Saturday, Aug 24, 2-4pm. Heavy Lifting Listening Tour: 4th anniversary of CZU Lightning Complex Fire. Felton Public Library, 6121 Gushee St, Felton. This introduction to the Heavy Lifting project opens with a display of Felicia Rice's artists' book and the experimental film, On Heavy Lifting. Followed by a conversation between poet Theresa Whitehill and the audience, in which she alternates reading her poems with an invitation for audience members to share their own work or stories in response.
Saturday, Aug 31, 2-4pm. “The Book Launch that Almost Wasn't.” Aptos Public Library. Maggie Paul, Dan Philips, Kathleen Nakfoor and Magdalena Montagne.
Tuesday, Sept 3, 7pm. Inter|Act Spoken Word Open Mic Featured Artist Julia Chiapella. At Satori an artist space, 815 Almar, Unit 9, Santa Cruz.
Friday, Sept 6, 7pm. Satori Arts First Friday Open Mic Featured Artist Deena Kohanna Davis. Davis is a poet, lyricist, vocalist and voice and writing coach.
Tuesday, Sept 10, 7pm. Hive Live! The Hive Poetry Collective hosts poets from Hummingbird Poetry Press for a very special evening of poetry. Eight poets read from recent work. Full details in graphic below. Register to save your space at Bookshop Santa Cruz here.
Workshop for Teens
Friday, Sept 13, 4pm. Youth aged 13 to 18 are invited to a Voxteen poetry workshop! (Vox is Latin for voice.) Learn about four unique styles of poetry with 18-year-old published poet and Youth Poet Laureate finalist, Madeline Aliah. Garfield Park Branch Library. More info here.
Save the Dates (Details in the next FBOV)
Sept 22, 3-5pm People and Land Poetry Event, Studio Judy G in Watsonville
Sept 28, 2:30pm Dina Lusztig, Youth Poet Laureate (In-Person at the Porter Memorial Library in Soquel)
Oct 6, 1:30 Poetry and Music in the Park continues at Mesa Village Park in Watsonville. Maggie Paul, Andrew Fague, and Kimberley Bermender.
Oct 8, 7pm Hive Live! Danusha Lameris and Joshua Jennifer Espinoza, Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Oct 10, 6:30pm Writers of Color - Santa Cruz County. More info here.
Watsonville Poet Laureate Position 2025-26
Applications and Nominations are being accepted until August 30th! The selected Watsonville Poet Laureate will be appointed by the Mayor via a proclamation at a city council meeting and serve a two-year term with a small honorarium.
Nominations: Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by other city residents to be the Watsonville Poet Laureate through an application made available at the Watsonville Public Library.
Submission Opportunities
The annual Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Prize is now open for submissions. Deadline is September 30. Poets may submit one poem (one entry only), up to two pages in length. The winner of the prize will receive $1,000, and an invitation to read their winning poem at The 15th Annual Morton Marcus Poetry Reading at UC Santa Cruz on November 7th. This year’s reading will feature Santa Cruz poet Ellen Bass. This year’s judge is Santa Cruz poet Brad Crenshaw.
Porter Gulch Review seeks submissions of poetry, prose and visual art. Extended deadline is now September 1. See previous issues of For Better or Verse for more info. Email submissions to pgrsubmissions@gmail.com.