Poet's Lane
About Cynthia Bryant
Poet Laureate Emerita
Pleasanton, CA
2005-2007
&
Poet Laureate
Pleasanton, CA
2011-2013
"Let's change our world one poem at a time."
Cynthia Bryant
Contact: Poetslane@comcast.net
Cynthia's UPCOMING READINGS:
|
Laureates-Speak of the World *
FireHouse Arts Center
4444 Railroad Ave.
Pleasanton, CA 94566
925-931-4840
Sunday, December 18, from 2-5pm
Rebound Books
|
Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 4-6 pm
940 11th
Street
Modesto, CA 95354-2319
(209) 572-2341
The Beginning...
The Ritual
Covers up over the chin
tucked in around my body
Teddy hugged closely to
my chest, arms crossed
Legs stiff out straight, clamped together
and crossed at the ankles
Breathing quiet and shallow
until it virtually disappears
Closet doors shut all the way
bedroom door open wide
Supersonic hearing activated
eyes focused on the open door
Is this the way all 7 year old
girls prepare for sleep?
© 1996 Cynthia L. Bryant
Two Views of Child Abuse and Recovery through Literature- 1998*
With Fred Norman
Livermore Library
Livermore, California
Cynthia Bryant stumbled upon poetry while recovering from child abuse in 1993. She entered a national child abuse poetry contest and won third place in 1997 and an honorable mention for another poem in 1998. Cynthia has been published in Waves and Whispers, 1997 and 1998 editions, and in The Healing Woman—a newsletter for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Most recently, she had ten of her poems published in The Las Positas College anthology Treasure House.
She speaks frequently in the community about her experiences of child abuse and the difficult process of dealing with the aftereffects. She has spoken at the Tri-Valley Haven, christening their new building. In addition, she has spoken to students at local continuation high schools about incest and sexual abuse. She helped train rape counselors with her poignant story of abuse and has also spoken to women at a local battered women's shelter, sharing the importance of writing to help heal. Most recently, she visited women in a federal prison, all of whom had also been abused as children.
The importance of this subject cannot be overlooked, for to do so would give it free reign to continue. Cynthia's poetry speaks with a rare honesty about both the horrors of abuse and the life long process of healing.
POETRY READINGS
Waves & Whispers 1997
Morris Center
San Francisco, California
An Evening of Literary Enjoyment – 1997
Pleasanton Library
Pleasanton, California
Coffee and Poets- 1997*
Sister’s Coffee Company
Pleasanton. California
Valley High School-1997and1998*
Dublin, California
Tri-Valley Haven 1997-1998-1999 and 2000*
Livermore, California
Open Mike Poetry Readings-1997-2001*
Coffee Beans & Bistro (Hostess)
Pleasanton, California
Open Mike Poetry Readings-2001*
Kookaburra Café
Livermore, California
Open Mike Poetry Readings-2002-2003*
Coffee Roast Express
Pleasanton, California
Two Views of Child Abuse and Recovery through Literature- 1998*
With Fred Norman
Livermore Library
Livermore, California
Poetry Reading- 1998
Tracy Library
Tracy, California
Poetry Reading-1998
Stockton Library
Stockton, California
Lunchtime Poetry-1998 and 1999
San Ramon Community Center
San Ramon, California
Open Mike Poetry-1999-2000 and 2001
Barnes and Noble Bookstore
Walnut Creek, California
Many Poets, Many Voices – 1999, 2001 and 2002
Pleasanton Library
Pleasanton, California
Federal Prison –1999 and 2000*
Women's group at Camp Parks
Dublin, California
Love, Lust and Desire 2000
Pleasanton Library
Pleasanton, California
Images of Character 2000
Pleasanton Library
Pleasanton, California
Poetry Awards Ceremony 2000 and 2002
Las Positas College
Livermore, California
Poetry Series 2000-2008*
Century House
Pleasanton, California
Alameda County Fair 2000-2007*
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton Poetry & Arts Festival 2002
Pleasanton, California
Poetry to Remember-2002
Barnes & Noble Books
Walnut Creek, California
Poetry-Three Personal Journeys 2002*
With Charlene Villella and Connie Post
Towne Center Books
Pleasanton, California
The Wine of Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath 2002
Pleasanton Library
Pleasanton, California
Stand up Poetry 2003*
Little Valley Vineyard
Sunol, California
Open Mike 2003-2007
Primo’s Coffee House
Walnut Creek, California
Poet’s Dinner Prize Winners Reading 2003
Ina Coolbrith Circle
Orinda, California
Ina Coolbrith Circle, open reading
Orinda, California
Poets against the War 2003*
Panama Bay
Livermore, California
Second Sunday Poetry Readings 2003-2008
Valona Deli
Crockett, California
Poetic Medley 2004-2007
Barnes & Nobles
Dublin, California
Solano County Fair 2004
Vallejo, California
Open Mike 2004
Boulder Creek, California
Primo's Reading 2004-2006
Walnut Creek, Ca
Beckett & Bird Books 2004
San Francisco, California
Sacred Grounds 2004-2005
San Francisco, California
The Society of Cleo Poets
Summer Showcase 2005
Roseville, CA
Ravenswood Mansion
Feature reading 2005
Livermore, CA
Open Mic Night*
The Bookstore 2005-2007
Pleasanton, CA
Poetry Express 2005
Priya Restaurant
Berkeley, California
Writers Read
Colored Horse Studio 2005
Ukiah, CA
Song of the San Joaquin
Winter Edition reading
Kingdom Koffee 2005
Modesto, California
Rubber Chicken Poetry Slam
Morgan's Coffee and Tea 2005
Monterey, CA
Healing with Poetry workshop
Placentia Library 2005
Placentia, CA
Poet Laureates Panel
Alameda Literati Book Faire 2005
Alameda, CA
Frank Bette Center for the Arts
feature 2006
Alameda, CA
Everything Poetry Poets *
Towne Center Books 2006
Pleasanton, CA
Billy Collins (introductions and read poem to him)
Amador Theatre and Carr America 2006
Pleasanton, CA and Dublin, CA
Poets in the Park
Golden Gate Park 2007
San Francisco, CA
Two Poets (with Deborah Grossman)
Borders Bookstore 2007
Dublin, CA
Poetry in the Park Festival
Solano County Library 2007
Fairfield, CA
Poetry Feature/workshops
Mission College 2006-2007
Santa Clara, CA
Everything Poetry Poets*
Towne Center Books 2007 and 2008
Pleasanton, CA
Open mic
Downtown Neon Gallery 2010
Kansas City, MO
The Pit
Prospero's Books 2010
Kansas City, MO
Music+Poetry+Art-feature
Downtown Neon Gallery 2010
Kansas City, MO
Music+Poetry+Art
Dharma Gallery-12/5/10
Kansas City, MO
Main Street Rag-feature with Rhiannon Dickerson
The Writers Place
Kansas City, MO
ME & MY FRIENDS
Open Mic 6/2011 through present
Pleasanton, CA
Poet's Picnic
8/6/2011
18 past and present poets laureate from all over California read
First Street Park-Benicia, CA
Coming Home *
8/21/2011
Century House Poetry Series
Pleasanton, CA
Official Proclamation Poet Laureate 2011-2013
10/4/2011
City Council Chambers
Pleasanton, CA
Laureates-Speak of the World *
12/18/2011
FireHouse Arts Center
Pleasanton, CA
*(Readings that I organized)
Published Poetry
Waves & Whispers
1997
Morris Center, San Francisco
The Healing Woman Newsletter
March-April 1997
Healing Woman Inc.
Treasure House
Las Positas College Anthology 1998
In Our Gardens: Flora and Fauna
March 1999
DACA Poet’s Society
Artistic Expressions in Black & White
July 1999
DACA Poet’s Society
Eclectic Reflections
Las Positas College Anthology 2000
Enlightenment: The Open Mind
June 2000
DACA Poet’s Society
Town and Country
Eugene O’Neill’s TAO House
September 2000
DACA Poet’s Society
Myths, Legends& Dreams
Abstract and Surrealism
January 2001
DACA Poets Society
Stirring the Melting Pot
Las Positas College Anthology (C)2001
ASCA NEWS- December 2001
Web: http//www.ascasupport.org
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
The Morris Center, San Francisco
Women on a Wire Volume 2
a poetry collection E-Book ©2001
September 11, 2001
This Community Remembers…
…For Them
DACA Society of Poets (C)2002
Spinning Perspectives
Las Positas College Anthology (C)2002
A Community of Swords
Las Positas College Anthology (C) 2003
The Gathering 7
Ina Coolbrith Circle Anthology (C)2003
Into Wonderland
Las Positas College Anthology (C)2004
Languageandculture.net
July 2004
Taproot & Aniseweed
Volume 32 No. 4 August 2004
Song of San Joaquin
Fall issue 2004
Taproot & Aniseweed
Volume 32 No. 6 October 2004
Song of San Joaquin
Winter issue 2004
Modesto, CA
Livermore Literary Harvest 2005
Livermore, CA
Ficker to Flame
Las Positas College Anthology 2005
Livermore, CA
Song of San Joaquin
Winter issue 2005
Modesto, CA
Remember the Future
Las Positas College Anthology 2006
Livermore, CA
Other Voices
1/18/07
Yesterdays
Benicia Library First Tuesday Poets 2/2007
Benicia, CA
Athena’s Anthology Index
http://wuzzle.org/athena/poetry.html
1997 to present
LadyBugFlights-12/1/10
http://www.ladybugflights.com/featured.htm#SPPOETRYTimeless
Sometimes in the Open
Poems from California's Poets Laureate
edited by Bob Stanley
2009 by Sacramento Poetry Center Press
www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org
San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly
#48 Fall issue 2010
Los Angeles, CA
Johnson County Library
National Poetry Month 2011-Poem of the day
Lenexa, KS
Poem's Post
5 of my poems used- summer of 2011
in this project held by Benicia's Poet Laureate Ronna Leon
LadyBugFlights
Featured
September Issue 2011 (POVERTY)
The Gathering 11
The Ina Coolbrith Circle
Poetry Anthology 2011-2012
******************************
Timeless Tears*
©1997 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Calico Canvas*
©1998 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Rewrites & Other Favorites*
©1998 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Many Poets Many Voices
April 1999 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Special edition for event
Across the River Writers’ Roundtable
Point of Entry *
©2000 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Those Who Reach For the Sky*
©2000 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Special limited edition for federal prisoners at Camp Parks, Dublin
Dark Mother—Living on the Borderline*
©2001 By Cynthia L. Bryant
Pebbles in the Shoe *
©2005 By Cynthia L. Bryant
No Time to Shoot the Poets-ISBN 0-9785122-1-9
Small Poetry PRESS
P.O. Box 5342
Concord, CA 94524
* self published
Awards in Contests
Waves 1997
3rd place "The Ritual"
Published in anthology
Morris Center S.F.
Waves 1998
Honorable Mention "The Voice"
Published on their web site
Alameda County Fair
Theme Poem Award 1999
"County Fair Gold"
DACA (Danville Area Cultural Alliance)
April Theme (Spring) 2000
2nd place "Rotation Song"
3rd place "Springtide"
DACA
May (no theme) 2000
3rd place "Memory in 45 rpm"
DACA
Open Studio 2000
1st place "Millennium"
Published in their chapbook
Alameda County Fair 2000
Silver Award: "Grandmother’s African Man"
Theme Award: "Dustbowl Dreamers"
Las Positas College Contest 2002
Honorable Mention: "Advice to a Poet"
Alameda County Fair 2002
Silver Award: "Something Usual in Any Other Circumstance"
Sold to Fair: "Celebrate the California Dream"
Sold: "Something Usual in Any Other Circumstance"
77th Annual Poet’s Dinner/Contest 2003
2nd Place: "Crossroads"
2nd Honorable Mention: "Passing Thought"
Alameda County Fair 2003
Silver Award: "Sojourn"
Silver Award: "My Instant Vacation"
Honorable Mention: "New Shoes"
Ina Coolbrith Circle Contest 2003
1st Place: "Mastectomy"
2nd Honorable Mention "What the Wind Blew In"
Las Positas College 2004
Honorable Mention: "Promenade"
Honorable Mention: "New Shoes"
Las Positas College 2005
3rd Place "Maim"
Alameda County Fair 2006
Best of Show: Southern Breeze
Sold: Southern Breeze
Silver Award: Questioning Mother
Honorable Mention: Madhatter’s Party
Honorable Mention: My Time
Alameda County Fair 2007
Honorable Mention: Venice Beach
Ina Coolbrith Circle Contest 2011
LOVE: 2nd Honorable Mention: Memento
Affiliations
Across the River Writers’ Roundtable
1997-2003
I served on the Board of Directors as Public Services Director designing flyers for events, maintaining mailing lists/ email lists. I have taken part in most of our literary programs either in the program and/or setting them up. I was the poetry open mike hostess for four years: setting it up, sending reminders, organizing the flyers, advertising, booking the guest poets, introducing poets and reading poetry at the events.
Danville Area Cultural Alliance (DACA) Society of Poets
1998-2004
I participated in readings with them at bookstores and the gallery, entered poems that hung in gallery and were published in chapbooks. I also was consulted when they were putting together a poetry contest and gala.
Valley Voices-Lead by Charlene Villella-Pleasanton Poet Laureate
1998-2001
I participated in reading performances with them at bookstores/libraries. We critiqued each others poetry and gave suggestions for bettering performances.
Ladybug Books
1998-2001
Part of an online woman’s writers group sharing poetic works and ideas. I was a poetry reader for the online radio show for poets. I was also published in their anthology entitled Women on the Wire 2.
Century House Readings
1999-2001 and 2003-2007
I have assisted Pleasanton Poet Laureates, Charlene Villella and Kirk Ridgeway with setting up, handing out flyers, greeting the audiences as they arrive, taking the money for admittance. I brought decorations, set out snacks and answered any questions people had about the readings. I was also a reader for one of the programs at Century House in Pleasanton, California.
Ina Coolbrith Inner Circle
2003-present
I served as an official greeter for their annual dinner. I also served as the decoration committee chair for a contest dinner.
Alameda County Fair
2001
I served as a poetry judge in a contest with over sixty entries that competed for cash and ribbon prizes.
Purely Poetry
2003
I organized this poetry critique group along with Pleasanton’ Poet Laureate, Kirk Ridgeway to give Pleasanton poets a serious critique group to sharpen their skills.
The Literary List
1998 to present
Over the years I have compiled and kept an up to date email list that I have used to let fellow writers/poets know about events, publishing opportunities, work-shops and contests that people send to me and that I then forward to others on the list.
The Pleasanton Poetry and Arts Festival
2003-2007
I was on the committee to put on this festival in April of 2004. I worked the promotion and publicity for the event. I used my contacts to find and hire a musical act to perform between workshops for participants. I was also the official greeters to the festival and handed out the packets to participants.
Crystal Writers
2004-2008
I was a member of this poetry critique group that meets the first Saturday of the month in Walnut Creek, California.
California Federation of Chaparral Poets/Modesto Division
2004-2005
I served as a poetry judge in a contest with over eighty entries that competed for cash prizes.
Everything Poetry Poets
2005-present
I started this diverse critique, perform and send work out group as part of my poet laureate programs. This group still meets today
Alameda County Fair
2004-2006
I was the Poetry Coordinator for Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton, California. During my first year at this position I put together a poetry reading of thirteen Bay Area poets that won a first place award for Alameda County Fair from the Western Fair Association. I was also one of the readers at the event. I also helped procure a poetry judge for the California Youth Building’s contest for kids this year.
As part of my duties as Poetry Coordinator for the fair, I secured two judges for the adult poetry contest every year. I was expected to submit any changes and editions to the Fair catalogue the winter before the next fair.
I also searched out new places to let more poets know about the opportunities to enter our contest as well as their chance to perform before an audience.
I accepted the framed poetry for the contest, checked all the entry forms to make sure all the proper information was included and to answer any questions regarding the contest. I was there when the judges did their work to help them with any questions that came up during the judging. After the judges picked the winners and a number of other poems to hang during the duration of the fair, the people who were not chosen to have their poems hung were asked to pick up their works. I, along with one of the judges was there to talk to anyone wanting information on how to improve their work.
I was there to help hang the poetry with the fine arts in a pleasing manner to the eye and to attend the Gala the night before the fair opened where the fine arts and poetry were browsed and purchased by people attending the party.
There were planned poetry events for the 2005 Alameda County Fair every day the fair ran; June 24 through July 10 in 2005. Two events were scheduled every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the duration. The events were made up of every kind of poetry from performance poetry to cowboy poetry, and beat poetry to Haiku.
There was a poetry table in the Fine Arts area of the fair that read "COME OUT AND PLAY with words". It held information on poetry events as well as forms of poetry. The table had volunteer poet or two at it every day between 11am-4pm to help answer poetry questions to fairgoers. There were also some poetry chapbooks of performing poets on sale at this table.
Poet Laureate Emerita, Pleasanton, California
(2005-2007)
Poet Laureate, Pleasanton, California
(2011-2013)
The Writers Place, Kansas City, MO
(2008 to 2011)
KCWG Kansas City Writers Group, Kansas City, MO
(2010)
Poetry Workshops I have attended
Jim Ott
Charlene Villella
Dr. Edmond Chow
Susan Wooldridge
Bonnie Nish
Lynn Knight
Kirk Ridgeway
Kim Addonizio
Richard Dry
Blanche Abrams
Ellen Bass
Robert Sward
William Minor
Cheryl Dumesnil
Toby Bielawski
Armand Brint
Dorianne Laux and Joseph Millar
Al Young
Susan Browne
Tshaka Campbell
Andre Rodriquez
Glenn North
Maril Crabtree
Molly Fisk
Jannie Dresser
My latest poetry book:
NO TIME TO SHOOT THE POETS -Cynthia
L. Bryant
(c)2006 Small Poetry Press ISBN 0-9785122-1-9
Available at 
Prospero's Books
1800 W 39th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
816-531-WORD
or in California
Towne Center Books
555 Main Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Bus: (925) 846-8826
E-mail:
TowneCenterBooks@sbcglobal.net
Taste of My Poetry
Red Bird
It must have been the seduction
of an unseasonably warm breeze
backdoor left open to allow my restless pacing
From the wooden porch I heard the mischief
syncopated knocks enmeshed in flutter flux
A cardinal wearing its black mask
led by some inner bravado
had snuck into the house
But when he turned toward home
gleaned through a picture window
in terror he hit glass
landed on the sill
frantic pecking and pawing
We met
two stranded creatures
admitted into sacred space
our hearts beat as one
Accepted by cupped hands
for the seconds
we took to transcend the door
the red bird flew away
it took me longer
(C) 2011 (Published in Ina Coolbrith Circle anthology-The Gathering 11)
****************************************************************************
Venice Beach
All along Candle Café’s rain gutter
the committee lines up
wing feather to wing feather
Jesters come and go along the walkway of tattoo parlors,
tee-shirt palaces, piercing vendors and other assorted artists
who congregate along the path above the beach
An experiment of melanin pushed to its limit, where every race
of beings have become tawny brown to ebony sheen
the exception an occasional tourist with glare of alabaster skin
Some ride wheels on boards, on bikes, on roller blades
while others push strollers, meander, jog, panhandle
sit on benches, people watch
These plain gray birds eye those beneath
care nothing for what adorns people’s bodies or hue of their skin
only what is discarded, recycled or dropped
Up on Titanic’s rooftop a lone white seabird stretches majestic wings
quietly takes it all in, while I relax under harbored shade
lost in a thousand judgments behind polarized eyes
©2006 Cynthia L. Bryant
************************************************************************
Small Town
Shocks of red oleander
run parallel
partition oncoming traffic
from those going down
old Highway 99
in California’s Central Valley
A solitary A&W stand
visible from the road
marks access to the town
where I am forever caught in amber
its yellowed ill-defined edges
hold me there
Michael stayed
who taught my heart to flutter
with his soprano voice of angels
Unfairly nurturing residual memory of me
finite flawless fifteen
while time ravaged his bride
Endless days spent splitting onions
in a wooden farming shed
His nights now linger alone
with shots of fog to tender terror
of never being willing
to move down that road
© 2004 Cynthia L. Bryant
**************************************************************************
Something Usual In Any Other Circumstance
The afternoon is sunny after the storm
as Joe and I make our way
up the incline of Black Road
slow going in the old V.W. Bug
Our son rests on my lap
something not frowned upon
before child safety-seat laws
only he’s in a small cardboard box
inside a plastic bag
tied with a twist
I think of the many times
we’ve traveled this road
him wiggling on my lap
gurgling with glee
I attempt to shade his eyes
from the blaze of light
as we drive that final mile
for the last time
park in front of the empty lot
scorched black where our house stood
the week before
open the small cardboard box
untie the twist on the plastic bag
and one last time he is animated
playing on the sudden breeze
that rises to guide him to his rest
© 2004 Cynthia Bryant
******************************************************************************
Crossroads
Nightfall contained pitch-thick air of desert
though muted nightlights glistened above
no light made its way through the doorless opening
into the adobe pueblo with earthen floors
floors to sit, fitfully sleep upon
ample water from a nearby well
Daylight hours spent in town
daughter perched on hip
husband’s eyes hawk-like from a distance
as we pulled manna from the hearts of tourists
for formula, diapers, food
enough to gas the psychedelic painted van
bartered for in Colorado the month before
Barely into my seventeenth-year
on the sly with Army-deserter husband
who hid beneath a dark-haired wig
tied with rawhide band at his forehead
Our hungry daughter
whose bottom prickled with rash
that year outside of Taos
Summer heat brought happy diversions
shared with brightly clad wanderers
whose long hair, beads, bandanas
colored my world
as they trickled eastward
toward rumors of days and nights
filled with free-love, music
We stayed on
unable to follow the dreamers
Our young family
pressed further into earth
that summer of ‘69
battling survival and dysentery
against colorless New Mexico backdrop
under shadow of fading youth
©2005 Cynthia L. Bryant