National Poetry Month in Sacramento

2012-04-11T07:07:40Z

April 1 kicked off National Poetry Month, an event “inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 . . . when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.” Although National Poetry Month is held every April, and Sacramento and its neighbors are celebrating in various ways, Sacramento is certainly no stranger to poetry and the banding together of poets.

About poetry, bookseller Richard Hansen, aka The Book Collector (24th and J), says, “I like to find ways to make poetry part of my life every month, but I am always excited when April rolls around and various folks and organizations find special ways to celebrate National Poetry Month.”

The Book Collector boasts a large poetry section which showcases talented local poets. On the shelves might be found works by Ann Menebroker, Carol Louise Moon, Danyen Powell, or anthologies and journals like Brevities, WTF?! and Primal Urge, publications by Rattlesnake, Swan Scythe and little m presses. On certain days, poetry is presented live. In April, poetry comes in one of its many manifestations when Hansen hosts Anna Joy Springer, Tisa Bryant and Doug Rice on April 21 to celebrate the release of Rice’s book, Memoirs of a Fabulist, published by local Copilot press.

About Sacramento and poetry, Hansen says, “There's an exciting poetry culture in Sacramento with numerous poets, several small poetry presses and many venues, including our bookstore, where you can experience poetry live.”

Live poetry thrives in Sacramento as can be seen by the offering below.

Sacramento City College is featuring an exhibit of poems located on the second floor of the library to celebrate National Poetry Month. According to Judith Howe, the curator of the exhibit, which includes illustrated poems, free verse and various forms, the library has hosted this exhibit for several years. Poems may be dropped off at the library desk on the second floor or emailed to howej@scc.losrios.edu to be included.

Additionally, an interactive display, "Wordplay," teaches people about poetry forms and provides ideas for creating poems. A display of books and other media showcases poets from around the world including Sacramento poets featured in a DVD titled, “I Began to Speak.” The library's impressive collection of poetry includes works by Neruda, Rilke, Rumi, Ginsberg, Kerouac, and names less familiar that might be found in the many anthologies.

The Guild Theatre will host the "Poetic Voices Flor Y Canto C.O.R.E. Fundraiser" on April 20 and will feature many of the area's finest poets including JoAnn Anglin, Francisco X. Alarcon, Nancy Aidé González and Betty Sánchez. More information is available by contacting Miguel Cordova at mcordova@ca-core.org.

Monday, April 2 was the first of five Monday readings at the Sacramento Poetry Center (SPC) and featured “volunteers and students who participated in the New Folsom Project, a year-long exchange between poets on ‘the outside’ and ‘the inside.’”

About SPC, Tim Kahl says, “We endeavor to promote talent from across the country as well as local talent.”

Perhaps the biggest event at this organization that hosts poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction events is its annual Spring Writers Conference to be held on April 14. The event is open to members and non-members for fees ranging from $20 to $30. Included will be workshops on writing and publishing, and readings by presenters. This year, a special reception for Julia Connor, Sacramento poet laureate emeritus, will take place in the center’s art gallery where her art is featured.

Other events include a special fundraising event on April 30 featuring Davis poet laureate Allegra Silberstein, Josh Fer nandez and others, hosted by Lytton Bell. All funds raised will benefit the Sacramento Food Bank. Frank Dixon Graham hosts the fifth Mondays, featuring different organizations, such as his successful annual autism awareness readings.

The Sacramento Public Library is also on board with National Poetry Month, and a sprinkling of events to be found include a “Tag-Team” reading (April 4) at the South Natomas library, hosted by Lana Adlawan, the library's branch supervisor. Featured poets read from their work and from the work of poets who inspired them. Also at South Natomas (April 21) is an “Altered Book Poetry” program for teens. North Natomas library will host “Haiku Collage” on April 26, and Central library featured “Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives - From Homer to Hip Hop” (April 4).

Other locations and events in and out of Sacramento include Emmanuel Sigauke, editor of Munyori Journal, at Luna’s Café (April 5) and Sacramento poet laureate Bob Stanley on April 12. Luna’s is home to the long-running “Poetry Unplugged” series begun by Joe Montoya and offers readings by five different hosts every Thursday. In addition to featuring readings by local poets and musicians, the largest open mic in Sacramento welcomes poets at various stages of their writing.

The Rattlesnake Press publication, WTF?!, featuring art, music and poetry from near and far, is released four times each year at Luna’s (third Thursday with host and editor Frank Andrick). The submission date for the next issue is April 15. Little m press, a Sacramento press, releases chapbooks by area poets (second Thursday with host and publisher Geoff Neil). Other hosts include Mario Ellis-Hill, Sho'nuff & Jenilynn, and Robert Grossklaus, publisher of local Polymer Grover press. If you’ve never been to Luna’s, it’s always exciting.

Also exciting are the many readings like the “Poetry With Legs” series at Sacramento’s Shine Café on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. This series is underwritten by Primal Urge Magazine. Hosted by Bill Gainer, this series welcomes poets working in all forms, from traditional to experimental. Like Luna’s, Shine offers food and drink, seating, and a host of local and not-always local poets like Brigit Truex and Phillip Larrea (April 11) and Rachel Leibrock (co-editor of WTF?! and columnist for Sacramento News & Review and Sage Alejandra (April 25).

About the series, Bill Gainer writes that “the audience is encouraged to be part of the show.”

Shows featuring poetry may be found at Queen Sheba, where the Mahogany Urban Poetry Series is hosted by NSAA on Wednesday evenings. This month David Scott will be featured. Also to be noted are events sponsored by Terry Moore including “Big Daddy Night for all Fathers and Father Figures” (April 5) and the monthly event, “The Show.” Mondo Bizarro also hosts Midtown Out Loud, which runs an open mic every first and third Wednesday of the month.

Other Sacramento area readings include the Crossroads series, which will feature Lisa Abraham-Dominguez and Susan Kelly-DeWitt on April 21 at the Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento. This series features distinctive voices and is “dedicated to enriching the interplay between literary and visual artists,” according to the website. It is also the only daytime reading series in Sacramento.

Daytime readings, however, may be found in Davis when Rebecca Moos hosts her long-running “Poetry in the Garden” series each spring. The next reading will feature Sacramento poet laureate Bob Stanley and Davis host Andy Jones (April 26).

Also in Davis are evening readings at the Natsoulas Gallery on the first and third Thursday where Andy Jones hosts “The Poetry Night Reading Series” and at the Unitarian Universalist Church on the third Friday of the month where Davis poet laureate Allegra Silberstein hosts her series, “The Other Voice,” which will feature Laura Sandage and Kirk Ridgeway on April 20.

Woodland has joined Sacramento and Davis with a monthly reading series at the Woodland Public Library where host Jessica Kristie presents a featured poet and an open mic on the last Wednesday of each month in the “Inspiring Words” series.

The listings above are but a sampling of what’s available in and around the Sacramento area. For more information, ask other poets, look for flyers in your local cafes, coffee shops and libraries, visit the venues, seek out other poets and check out two of the most comprehensive online event calendars for Sacramento and beyond.

SPAM – Sacramento Poetry Art and Music offers event listings in a traditional calendar format where the viewer can be overwhelmed by the number of events on any given day. Additionally, this site links to area writing groups and workshops.

Medusa’s Kitchen offers event listings, workshop listings, poetry, art, submission opportunities and covers all of Northern California. See poets in action, their artwork and photos, read their words and find out what’s going on in Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Lincoln, Reno, Stockton, Modesto and points beyond.

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National Poetry Month in Sacramento