Lots to See & Hear, Here
The days are shortening but poetry is still here to lift us up. Below the calendar is an offering of many good poetry-world morsels to sink your teeth into. Please let me know news from your corner to share.
Calendar of Readings & Events
Tuesday (Today!) Nov 19, 7pm Inter|Act Spoken Word Open Mic Featured Poet Julie Murphy. At Satori an artist space, 815 Almar, Unit 9, Santa Cruz. Upcoming: Tuesday Dec 3 Feature: Cabrillo College Poetry Workshop Poets.
Wednesday Nov 20, 4pm Teen Poetry Workshop @ Felton Library. Sharpening: A Poetry Writing Workshop with Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate, Dina Lusztig Noyes.This workshop for teens will focus on the practice of cutting words. The goal is to give the audience only enough information to enjoy what you create and to be able to think about it further without forcing an interpretation on them, figuring out what is right for each individual poem.
Thursday Nov 21, 4:30pm Teen Poetry Workshop @ Watsonville Library. Telling Your Truth: La Verdad Gana with poet Adela Najarro. Write your heart and explore the power of poetry. All the language(s) we speak can ignite into the dynamic and true. Let's explode our inner landscapes onto the page and write poems. No experience is necessary. Just bring el corazón y ganas. Come as you are!
Friday Dec 6, 7pm Satori First Friday Open Mic featuring Bo Aucoin. Open mic follows. Satori—an artist space, 815 Almar Ave. Unit 9, Santa Cruz. More info and signup here.
Monday Dec 9, 7-9pm Porter Gulch Review Reading & Celebration. Room 5005 at Cabrillo College Horticultural Center.
Round Up of Poetry & Music in the Park 2024
I loved hosting Poetry & Music in the Park over the past two years, getting the chance to listen to poets read on Sunday afternoons at Brommer Street and Mesa Village Parks, accompanied by some wonderful musicians. Here’s some photographic highlights of the poets from 2024. I can’t wait to see if this series continues.
Call for Submissions to Read at The Muse 2025
The Hive Poetry Collective is pleased to announce its call for applications to participate in the annual literary event, The Muse. Deadline is February 1, 2025. Eighteen poets will be selected to read their work for a two-hour, in-person reading on Friday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Resource Center for Nonviolence. All women, women identified, and non-binary poets are encouraged to apply. More information including application link here.
Morton Marcus Reading Updates
Although Ellen Bass had to cancel her reading at the 15th Annual Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Reading due to illness earlier this month, here is some related news.
The Hive Poetry Collective and the Morton Marcus Poetry Prize Committee announced that Elizabeth Jacobson of Santa Fe, NM, won the Morton Marcus Poetry Prize for her poem, “One Taste” selected by judge Brad Crenshaw.
Maggie Paul joined me on The Hive where she interviewed Ellen Bass in advance of the Morton Marcus event. That episode is available to listen to here. Maggie also wrote a rich and thoughtful interview with Ellen which is available here. Both of these interviews feature Ellen’s candor, rigor and intelligent conversation. Check them out.
New Watsonville Poet Laureate Named
If you haven’t already heard this fantastic news, Poet, Fiction Writer, and Cabrillo College Instructor Victoria Bañales has just been named the 2025-2027 Watsonville Poet Laureate. If you know her, you know that Watsonville won the lottery on this one, coming on the heels of the wonderful Bob Gomez as the city’s first poet laureate. Congratulations, Vicky!
