Poet's
Lane
Comments
Send questions, comments and complaints to
poetslane@comcast.net
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-
You are having
fun! One hand stirring the poetry kettle in
Kansas and the other one stirring the poetry
kettle in CA. So, it is great
to be in touch again. You will be spreading the
words across the whole USA. Keep up the
momentum! Best.
LaDonna Fehlberg
Poetslane is
beautiful and Don's leaf is glistening there.
Wanda Smith
Cynthia, I love
your poem called "The Ritual" as it is so powerfully moving, yet stated simply.
I hope to contribute to your poetslane site. Bless you for your faith in
yourself and others and your fortitude.
Donna
Hello,
I hope I'm not disturbing you,
but I wanted to compliment you on the page
http://www.poetslane.com/links to poets index.htm, I
love to read...books, poetry, magazines, everything! I came across the page
while searching for information on poetry and writing, there are some great
resources, thank you!
I think Literature and Language
Arts are best enjoyed when they are shared, so I also wanted to share a great
resource page for poets located at
http://www.amsterdamprinting.com/Article/Poets+Paradise+A+Collection+of+Helpful+Resources/6820/Default.aspx
. It has has lots of great information for those wising to learn, write, and
teach poetry, so it may be a helpful addition to your page. I hope you find this
article useful, and have a wonderful holiday season! :)
Take care,
Kate Jones
**********************************************************************
Thanks to Poet's Lane and to Glenn North
for sharing his haunting poem, "The Lynch Family Blues." I'm grateful I got to
hear the poem and see it interpreted in dance and music at The Writers Place
last summer. Now I can pass it along to others.
Alarie Tennille-Kansas City, MO
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Caught this link while hitchhiking
off
medusaskitchen.blogspot.com.
"A brief stroll," I said to myself. Well, there's nothing brief about it. Great
site. Eye catching, informative, and well worth the long walk. Feel like I've
crossed the country, met a wealth of poets, and haven't left this chair.
sincere thanks,
Charles Mariano
"Yes she is a
wealth of information in poetry land." Cynthia
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Cynthia, I'm one
of Don
Kingfisher
Campbell's
friends. I took
a cruise around
your site and I
think it's
fantastic! When
I am not so busy
with the 2
classes I'm
taking now, I'll
get back to
writing poetry -
although, my
poetry may not
be in the same
caliber as
Kingfisher's.
Michelle (aka
Chelle)
Rose-L.A., CA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This site
is necessary! Baron James Ashanti-New York City, New York
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hi, Cynthia:
I hope all is going well for you and your poetry. California misses your energy
and dedication.
Best, Ronna
Leon
Third Poet Laureate of Benicia, CA
****************************************************************
Dear Cynthia Bryant,
Please consider adding my profile to your list of poets from the
international community.
I enjoyed my recent tour of your web site recently and appreciate
your commitment in trying to establish contact with poets from
around the world.
Frank William Finney, Jr
Thammsat University
Department of English Language & Literature
Rangsit Campus
Klong Luang, Prathum Thani
Thailand
02-696-5632
So glad you're back. Hope to send something soon.
Arlene Mandell
Santa Rosa, CA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Cynthia, thanks for posting about the Poetry Super
Highway giveaway - I got a lot of great chapbooks! You are appreciated for what
you do!" Deborah Fruchey
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hello,
Cynthia!!! How are you doing? I'm hanging in there by the skin of my teeth. I'll
check out your new site; and you can check my progress on my site at:
www.writerjc.com
JC
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Congrats. A great
way to start Mayday.
All best to you.
I'm a frequent visitor.
Peace/poetry, Kit
Kit Kennedy
http://authorsden.com/kitkennedy
http://poetrybites.blogspot.com
http://gallerycafereadingseries.blogspot.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hi Cynthia,
It's fabulous to see this up and all the old links there again. I hope that all
is well.
Lynn
Writer Advice Managing Editor,
www.writeradvice.com
Author of YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Cynthia,
The poem looks great! Thanks for supporting poetry and my poetry in
particular.
Best Wishes with the new Poets Lane,
Gary
PS I’ve told my poetry students about you. So you may be getting
some submissions from them for December.
Great to
hear from you and your trip over the rainbow. I'm proud of you continuing this
valiant effort. Now all I need is the time to sign in with some of my stuff.
Love and Peace, JC
Dear Cynthia:
So glad you're back on
line with your charming and valuable Poet's Lane.
Arlene L. Mandell
Santa
Rosa, CA
Cynthia, what a delightful surprise, hope you are well up
and running now. POETRY is the answer.
Love from Claire J. Baker "Claire"
Glad to see The LANE is up again. I sent it out.
Looks good.
Martha
Cynthia,
thanks for the info. Have been out of it for a while. Will write later. Glad
Poets Lane is back up and running. Congratulations.
Peggy M.
I am glad you are back. Please keep me in your loop.
Bella
Cynthia:
Glad to hear you did NOT fall down a well in Kansas...keep up the good work, was
thinking about you just the other day and was gonna rattle your windows with
these: (Go to What the Hell Are We Fightin' For page to view poems)
Peter Bray
Welcome back
to your rightful place as the Queen of Poet's Lane, Cynthia. Site looks
beautiful.
Jan
Jan Steckel
www.jansteckel.com
Winner of the
2008 Gertrude Press Fiction Chapbook Contest
Check
out my books on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/profile/JanSteckel
Hi Cindy!
This is great!
I especially enjoy your poets' laureate post.
I think of you
from time to time. Glad to "hear your voice." So hope that, in time, Kansas
becomes home for you.
Blessings from
Pleasanton!
Barbara
Good news, Cynthia. I hope you continue to be
enthused and successful with Poets Lane. You perform a good deed. And you are a
special person!
Love, Cleo
Hi Cynthia,
Soooooooooooooooooooooo glad to hear from you again. I am enclosing guidelines
for a poetry contest I chair, from the New Mexico State Poetry Society chapter
of
the High Prairie Poets in Roswell.............for your consideration to be
posted on your
site. I'll be sending along some more of my work...........thanks for the
invitation
to do so and for providing space for us to share our work.
Even though I have moved to Oklahoma, they want me to continue to chair this
contest. Please share the guidelines with your friends and fellow poets in
California
as well as Kansas.
Thanks.
carol dee meeks
2008 Oklahoma
Senior Poet Laureate HONOR SCROLL AWARD
2007, 2005,
2004 Senior Poet Laureate of New Mexico
Welcome back!!
Raffi Del Bourgo
Thanks much, Cynthia, and I like your new site a lot. Guess I haven't been
there for awhile. It's attractive and easy to navigate. Bravo! Have a good
holiday season.
Patricia
Hi Cynthia,
I just wanted to commend you for all you do to keep the ever-expanding
poetry network buzzing.
Arlene
(Arlene L. Mandell)
Hi, Cynthia! I'm glad it was something that Comcast was able to "fix" as
I've enjoyed receiving your mailings and putting them to good use . Also
very glad I got to meet you at Century House! Thanks for all of your hard
work. :-)
All the best,
Ethel Mays
Wow Cynthia - you are really blazing along. You rarely get
feedback from me, and for that I apologize. I spend all day on the pc at work
and so try to minimize it at night. But your page is wonderful, and all the
ideas below - superb. I'll spend some time this weekend poking around and send
more feedback later.
You rock.
Maria
Thanks so much, Cynthia. One of the women on your list wrote to
me about reviewing. =) I really appreciate the way you help spread the word.
Lynn
Cynthia,
I, like others, wish to send my congratulations on the recognition your
hard work and your site have been given. There are times that people DO
realize what others have done to make the world better; this is one of
those times and you and POETSLANE are the example. Enjoy the award; be
sure to tell us all about the event afterwards. Wage Poetry, Not War.
I bow to you three times,
James Downs, Yosemite
Cynthia Fred emailed me your award news from the artists embassy and I think
that is so great!!! Congratulations. You deserve it. Bonnie
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora's Collective
"Promoting The Arts That Inspire The World To Take Notice Of
Itself"
Congratulations, Cynthia! Well deserved. You do a huge service for all
poets of the extended area. I won a Grand Prize at AEI so plan to be
there to see the dance created for it. Maybe we'll get to say hello.
Patricia Wellingham Jones
Hi Cynthia,
I have been meaning to
send you a note for days — to congratulate you for your much deserved award
from Artist’s Embassy International. It is great to see you get some
recognition for all your hard work.
Gayle Eleanor
Hi, Cynthia.
I want to thank you profusely for all the work you do to increase everyone's
awareness of poetry. You do a great job ... but as a graphic designer of some
experience, I am offering a suggestion.
Please, please do not gussy up your e-mails with color, font changes, size
changes, etc. It does not make it easier to read, it doesn't attract anyone
since each e-mail is going directly to the recipient anyway and designwise it
goes back to the days when the personal computer was first on the market and
everyone was besotted with all the cutsey fonts that became available to the
user. No more typesetters, yeah, we can do whatever we want. But ... it didn't
last long. Always ... the direct way to an advertiser's clientele (and in a way
what you do is advertisement/public relations) is simplicity, simplicity,
simplicity. Easy to read, to the point, direct access and where to buy, go,
listen, look at. All that extra stuff just gets in the way.
I WANT to get your information, I think you are amazing, a wonderful poet. Every
time you send out a notice, an announcement, I WANT to get at it and all that
fancy stuff gets in the way. It doesn't emphasize it, it buries it. I've been in
the graphic design business for more than 40 years, I designed both the first
(and now the second Every First Tuesday book). I worked with The Nature Company,
North Face, Hilltop Mall, Sierran Designs and many more, have won awards.
Elegance does not shout, it whispers, it tickles, it sneaks into the
subconscious and grabs you but first and foremost it GIVES YOU THE INFORMATION.
I hope this information (which is intended only to help) gives you
something to think about, to work with. I am at your service should you want
some help with design, if you want your e-mails to stand out. Free. (I told you
I love what you do.)
Most sincerely,
Carole
Dwinell
www.caroledwinell.com
"today
is the day to DO IT!"
You deserve it, Lady!!! Love and Peace, JC
Congratulations Cynthia, well earned.
Your friend and admirer,
Gloria M. Rodriguez
Cynthia in my vernacular " MAZELTOV"
which simply means congratulations with a delicious Yiddish flavor.
It's an honor you deserve and have earned . All of us who
benefit from your skilled labors thank you most kindly. Sylvia
Congratulations Cynthia-- Great Job --Well
done---
Have a blast -- How cool to receive an award at
the Legion of honor ---once again
CONGRATULATIONS
Looking Forward
Peace
Kevin
Congratulations, Cynthia! A big rousing cheer for this well-deserved award...
Mark States
Congratulations Cynthia! Well deserved! See you there.
Maria
Oh,
CONGRATULATIONS! That's a worthy addition to your accomplishments! BRAVO! I
hope you have a great time accepting that award. Don't forget to put a "blurb"
on your website opening page! HUG! Ursula T. Gibson, Poet Laureate of
Sunland-Tujunga (UrsulaTG1@aol.com
)
WOW !
Congrats ---you deserve it all.
Tshaka
Cynthia
Congratulations!
Which shoes are you going to wear to Dance?
judy
Hi Cynthia,
Congratulations! Much-deserved... you've been very generous, very active,
very helpful to us all...
-robt.
Congratulations, Cynthia. Well deseerved. I look forward to receiving your
emails.
Peace,
Kit Kennedy
Cynthia,
Wow! You've come a long way, Baby!
In all seriousness, what AE says about you is right (write) on. You are
invaluable. If you ever get discouraged, think about this award.
Congratulations.
Fred
That's great Cynthia.
You sure deserve an award for all
the hours you put in.
Very few have that much
dedication.
Congratulations on your Artists Embassy
International Award! And from me, too -- thanks for all you do.
Really looking forward to seeing you in Pleasanton soon.
Warmly,
Jan
Cynthia: Nice to see the new
format...how cool...good photo of you 4 also at
the Century House too...keep up the good work!---Peter Bray, Benicia, CA
Great job, Cindy, on Poets' Lane. Nice look. Clean, clear, well
organized.
Hope all is well!
Barbara
Thanks
so much, Cynthia. I appreciate your support of poets and poetry.
Cynthia, I like this very much:
Many thanks and blessings upon you, poet.
Your website is the best I've encountered -- even easy for me who has
computer problems from time to time.
Claire J. Baker
Phone: (510) 724-4117
I guess "Get it off your chest" would be where I'd place it! Thank you so
much for accepting me, and hope I can become a part of your poetry
community. I have done spoken word throughout the southland, and am looking
to expand into the rest of the state. I've read in NYC, the Bahamas, and
have my 2nd book at the publishers working on number 3, also working on a 15
poem CD with music currently. I'd love to do a tour of Cali and read up and
down my state now! Any suggestions? I love what you're doing!! Yea
Poetry!!
Thank you!
Wow! 33 pages of people expressing their individual opinions! You're doing a
real service! HUG! Ursula-Poet
Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga
Sorry. But could you remove my address from your list. I'm on a dialup here,
in a rural area where there is no high-speed hookup. When you send long graphic
files--like the one for the the big poster for the reading that we got today--
it causes a big problem for us and turns into a real disservice to anyone in our
position. Between bad phone lines and slow dialup speeds it can take up to an
hour to clear the line so that our email becomes usable again. Couldn't you send
such notices in a non-graphics form--or at least smaller files.
Sorry to miss your news but such is life until we get better service here.
Hal Zina Bennett, author/writing coach
www.halzinabennett.com
Dear Cynthia Bryant:
Artists Embassy International
appreciates your excellent work on behalf of the art of poetry with your
illuminating web site:
www.poetslane.com.
Creating, sharing and extending information and knowledge of the poetry
opportunities and all manner of informational events is an outreach of grand
proportion which is much appreciated by Artists Embassy International, the
Dancing Poetry Festival and the community of poetry in general. The ideal and
mission of Artists Embassy International is to promote the arts which contribute
to understanding and good will through the universal language of the arts. For
your wonderful achievements and service to the poetry community, you have been
nominated by our board for our Artists Embassy Award.
We would like to honor you by
presenting this award at our 14th annual Dancing Poetry Festival to
be held Saturday, September 29, Noon to 4:00 p.m., at San Francisco’s Palace of
the Legion of Honor. Please call with any questions you might have about this
event or any information that might be helpful: 510-235-0361 or email me at
naticaaei@aol.com. Also please see
our website: www.dancingpoetry.com.
Here is some information you
might like to know:
Artists Embassy International
was founded in 1951 by Althya Youngman, a Red Cross representative to the Geneva
Convention and active Opera Singer, who was invited to a world peace conference
in India to share with Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent international
dignitaries in discussions and meetings on peaceful co-existence. As a creator
of San Francisco’s first opera in English performance company, she and many of
her artist companions realized that their presence at this prestigious world
event created “friendly space” for disagreeing factions to find a common ground
of enjoyment and sharing in cultural arts exchanges. She became friends with
Gandhi and his family and soon found discussion of the importance of the artist
as a window for seeing, experiencing and sharing the feelings of other diverse
cultures and peoples. The role as artist, poet, musician etc., as vital
intercultural mediator, educator, and ambassador, plus the possible role as
artist as peace maker were much discussed and shared. She then founded Artists
Embassy and the organization continues to serve the arts and the world in many
outreach programs and events.
The Dancing Poetry Festival,
under the auspices of Artists Embassy was created by “the poet and the dancer”,
Natica and Richard Angilly, to continue international outreach and
understanding through the sensitivities and thoughts inherently carried in the
arts of poetry and dance. This easily transmitted communication using visual,
vital and moving poetry has been honored to be written in the Congressional
Record of the United States as the “mother tongue of the world.” The Dancing
Poetry Festival, now in its 14th annual presentation, encourages and brings
together the creative actions of many international and local artists for
presentation and illumination of the vitality and significance of poetic thought
in the life of all culture. Artists Embassy has a website at
www.artistsembassy.org.
Thanks for your contributions
toward the same goals. Much appreciation from all of us at Artists Embassy.
The enclosed VIP tickets let you
bypass the Museum entry lines and go directly into the exhibition and theater
areas. At the theater foyer, please check in with Dancing Poetry Festival staff
so we will know you are present for your award.
Congratulations. We highly
appreciate your wonderful dedication and talents in poetic creativity.
Sincerely
Natica Angilly
President, Artists
Embassy International
Sponsoring
organization for
The Dancing Poetry
Festival
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you for your fabulous website. It continues to amaze and inspire me, and
provides such an invaluable service to the writing community in the Bay Area.
Terry Ehret (Poet Laureate Sonoma County 2004-2006)
tehret99@comcast.net
Thanks for your continued Poet's Lane emails. They are a great
resource. I just wanted you to know that I read and sometimes attend events. I
get great pleasure in knowing what is going on in the lives of other wordworkers
in this area. Personally I am deep in the writing cycle on a project. So I am
not able to get up and out. Send me good writing faeries to hold the Velcro on
my seat and fingers to the pc. Smile, Ilsa
Cynthia,
I went over the whole list of the monthly themed poems. Will do so again.
How wonderful to have this outlet to share. And such strong work. Thanks so
much.
Claire
Dear Cynthia,
'Thank you' seems paltry to describe
how deeply grateful I am for including my poems in your 'lane'. Being
published for my poetry is new to me and you can't imagine how I feel
gaining affirmation from you, a poet laureate no less.
It's more than a lonely yet
uplifting journey for me and my poems. For one thing, I still don't belong
to a community having recently migrated to Vancouver. For another, I'm
writing in a language not native to me--though it's the only language I've
been reading and writing all my life.
But now, I feel less like a
lone weed floating aimlessly in space with PoetsLane. How descriptive that
I, a waif of a weed, fell on it or I was laid down by that loving breeze,
which had held me on air.
Again, thank you for being a
generous gardener--where even wild flowering weeds, like me, who had strayed
into your lawn (lane) just blossom.
Alegria Imperial
Dear Cynthia
Congratulations on a
job well done as Poet Laureate.
You were what the
city of Pleasanton needed - a full time, dedicated, and involved
poet to open the eyes, ears and hearts of the citizens to the
beauty of poetry.
I sincerely regret
not having been able to attend your final event as Poet
Laureate. I felt compelled to host a poetry event in my home
town from 9:00 AM to 4:00 Sunday and just couldn't say "no."
You will be a hard
act to follow for the next Poet Laureate of Pleasanton.
I'm sure we will
meet again and often too.
My very warmest
regards.
Joel Fallon(Poet
Laureate of Benecia, CA)
|
Hi Cynthia....
Congratulations on such an energetic and successful term as poet laureate of
Pleasanton. It was good to meet you along the way. Thanks for keeping me
informed about Poet's Lane events. It sounds like your work with Poet's Lane
will continue apace as you leave being poet laureate...that's great!
You might like to know about this (click the link) new web site...it's just
getting started....but it took root during a workshop I led up in Spokane and
then blossomed on it's own.
Click Here: Check out "Harnessing the Power of Words to Change the World"
I'd like to hear Jack Hirschman on the 4th but am trying to drive less because
of gas prices! I hope it goes very well. His is a voice we need now more than
ever.
best to you,
John Fox
You're the best Cynthia!!! You do more for poetry info. on the web than any of
the yahoo and other on line groups combined. All this and very little pay is
admirable. Love and Peace, JC
Thank you for all your good works in the name of poetry. The Iraqi
project should be a stellar achievement.
Arlene Mandell
I was surprised to
here that you have not been receiving limericks for March. I find it
hard to believe in a St. Patrick’s Day without limericks.
Attached is a
compound limerick. I hope to have a couple more for your March page
soon.
Dick Weingart
Good morning Cynthia. Thank you for providing such lively and
diverse poetry in this accessible format.
Here is "Spring Thaw, Yosemite" for the March Springtime category.
Arlene Mandell (see poem on monthly themed page)
Cynthia,
Thanks very much. I just checked out the section called
Poets in the Know and
was surprised to find several poets I know. Would you please add me
to the list?
Many
Thanks for supporting poetry.
Gary
Lehmann
Thank you for all the work
you put in doing the Poet's Lane.
It obviously requires a lot
of hours.
Great job
R. Dusty Rhodes
aka
Frank Thornburgh
Young and old
Shy and bold
Tales to spin
Hearts to win
Dear Cynthia,
I can't tell you
how happy it makes me to see your email every single day! Hope two
isn't one too many! I have another titled Osama Rant if you are
interested in 9/11 poetry...Thank you for the opportunity to submit
poems to you.
Cecilia A Hampton
Dear Cynthia,
I just love your e-mails. I have been sharing your updates with a
friend who is a good poet and hope that we both get a chance to go
to a poetry reading soon. It is so healthy to write from the heart
and when others listen and feel with you, there is such a
validation of feelings. Thanks again.
Debby Eggers
Cynthia
Surfed your site but couldn't figure out how to submit poems. This one
might work for your civil rights theme.
Thanks for your support of literary publishing!
Cheers, Ed Zahniser
Hello. Hope all is well with you. I just came from your wonderful
website and was wondering if you could please add me to your mailing
list for further news and opportunities. Thank you! Stephen- Albany, NY
hi, Cynthia
thanks. and I have further investigated your
web page and see the evidence of the depth of your commitment to poetic
concerns.
this old world could genuinely use more
willing people like yourself...
I am convinced that the reading of poetry,
the writing of poetry and the effort it
requires to come to an appreciation, acceptance and happiness with the
sometimes mysterious forces that engage folks to plunge in where the
angels of our better nature at times resides is a liberating and
revolutionary action.
I'll see if I can pick up on next month's
theme and write something good
as I very much like the idea that entire
months can have a special different flavor from their cycling brothers
and sisters.
yes.
thank you.
Dean
Dear Cynthia,
Happy New Year! Hope all your poetry projects are going well. I am impressed
by your Poet's Lane
and just thinking and wondering about your experience with putting that
together. It is an idea for
us on the Sonoma County Poet Laureate Committee - that I am just starting to
explore - so I'd love to hear
your experience with your website. Some of the questions that I have for you
are; do you have guidelines
for poets, and what are the guidelines, is there a geographic boundary that
you represent, and what are the
sort of issues that have come up?
One other question that I need to ask you is whether it would it be all
right for me to seek publication
in a literary journal for the poem "Costs" which is part of The Gift of
Words. It is that time of year, for
submissions, and new year's resolve!
Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you.
Nancy
Cynthia,
you certainly have my support -- if not bodily at your events, then in
spirit.
I like the idea of a page like How has Poetry changed your life? Right now I
would answer that one one as: Quite a lot: it saved my life.
Yours in poetry,
Claire
Good morning Cynthia. I've sent your message on
to my Scribe Tribe. We're a diverse group of woman, ages 34-78,
who meet twice a month to critique our work and share our lives.
I thought you might like to know that I'm reading the poem I
sent you for the Iraq anthology, "To an Iraqi Grandmother,"
today at the dedication of a peace sculpture in Sebastopol, CA.
Arlene Mandell
Hi Cynthia:
You do a great job on spreading
the news.
A small cowboy poetry event
last Saturday the 13th (yesterday) is worth crowing about..
A group called Second Saturday
Written Word hosted a small cowboy poetry event at the historical
Yountville Veterans Home. About 15 poets and storytellers presented
their work. Susan Parker was the featured performer. She gave an
outstanding performance doing 10 pieces from memory. Her enthusiasm for
western culture is quite evident. Susan is closely associated with
www.CowboyPoetry.com and
the BAR-D Ranch newsletters.
Frank Thornburgh
Cynthia:
Rich and fortunate we are
to have your venue for our views,
as if we could stand upon our pews,
cavorting without distorting
our poetic views.
Thank you for your Poetslane,
highway, boulevard, and terrain.
If I were a searchlight
grasping in the fog and loss,
I'd grasp for the brilliance
at such a low cost;
let's change our world
one poem at a time.
Washington, DC or Sacramento
can't even find the rhyme,
let alone the time.
Dysfunction should be mothballed
when it's past its prime.
Peter Bray, Benicia, CA 12/23/06
Hello Cynthia,
I wanted to send a quick note to thank you for organizing the
extraordinary event at Century House on December 3rd.
I am new to the Pleasanton poetry scene and that was the first time I'd
shared any of my work in our local community so I was very nervous. But
everyone made me feel very welcome and I appreciated the positive comments I
received afterwards. I enjoyed seeing both familiar faces from Tri-Valley
Writers and meeting new people there as well.
The additional guest speakers, cultural history and food from Iraq made this
a very special afternoon, Cynthia, and I know that takes a lot of planning!
Thank you for all the work you put into organizing this event.
I shared my poem again with my critique group this week, and I have made a
couple of small changes to it, including the title. (The original working
title was Ordinary Afternoon).
I hope you will include it in your anthology next spring, and I would
like to send this to you in January, Cynthia, if that's okay? (We're leaving
for England this week, to spend the holiday with family). I'm
still pondering my revised copy and I like to let things sit for a few days
when I've made changes. I feel a little distracted this week!
This is a wonderful idea and I hope this project continues to grow and to
make people think. We are encouraging members of Tri-Valley Writers to get
involved, Cynthia, and I know you've received a lot of local attention
recently.
But I hope it makes a national impact as well, and that we can in fact,
"change the world, one poem at a time."
Happy Holidays to you and your family, and hopeful wishes for a peaceful New
Year for all.
Shalom,
Sue Tasker
*********
Sue Tasker, President
California Writers Club, Tri-Valley Branch
Email:
SueWordspinner@comcast.net
Phone: (925) 484 0887
Dear Cynthia,
Your idea of communicating with the people of Iraq through
poetry is outstanding. It is just another open door to the common thoughts
that we the people of earth can share. Words, music, art, dance Etc are
more effective than guns or bombs in spreading understanding between different
cultures, I spent my entire youth 17-23 from 1941-47 I the service U S N & the
Marine Corps. I saw the hell of war from Guadalcanal to Saipan. I am
now an old man of 82 and I pray each day for peace in Iraq and through out the
world.
I am strictly an amateur in writing poetry but I wish to thank
you in advance for the opportunity of expressing some of my feelings.
Sincerely, John Whalen
Walnut Creek, CA
Cynthia,
thanks a million for the moving event at C House. You are a born leader. I
loved your little light "in betweens." They seemed so natural and lifted
some of the heaviness. Swell food and atmosphere. So glad I came. And nicely
organized too.
Love & Best from Claire Baker
Hi Cynthia:
I'm so glad that you are doing the event for peace poetry on Dec. 3rd.
I wish I could be there to contribute but I'll be back east.
You are doing such an admirable job with Poets Lane - keep up the great work.
Best, and Peace,
Joan
Joan Gelfand
Vice President
Women's National Book Association
joangelfand@pacbell.net
74 San Jacinto Way
San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 665-9292
http://jg.typepad.com/ciel/
"Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for" – Jean Cocteau
Cynthia,
You know, this Iraqi poem project of yours is one of the best ideas to appear in
2006. I hope more people hear of it. You deserve some recognition for this, and
the Iraqi people deserve to know about you. Thanks.
Fred Norman
Hi
Cynthia,
I have a
poem (attached) to submit for the November theme. I wrote it as an anti-war
statement nearly 40 years ago, but it is still true today.
I looked
around your website and it is really a wonderful source of information for
poets. I will be passing it around to all my poetry acquaintances. I
participate in a monthly poetry workshop and also will be doing my first
reading as part of the Long Branch (NJ) Poetry Festival this month.
Thanks,
Evelyn
Hampton
Wanamassa, NJ 07712
Dear Cynthia,
Hello. As I mentioned, I teach at University of Phoenix. I am currently
teaching the Capstone course to a dozen tired, overworked soon to be BAs.
This evening, before talking about Ethics, lifelong learning and the value
of their college education, I read them the letter that introduces your
project and asked them to write a poem to the people of Iraq.
Some of these students, in their 30s and 40s, have never written a poem. We
wrote, we shared them, we cried. Tears are not often seen in classrooms at
a business university.
Even if none of the poems we submit are selected, the project helped to
enrich their lives...and for this, I thank you. One student even titled his
poem and signed his name both in Arabic.
I will attach the two poems that the students e-mailed to me. The rest I
will type up and send to you tomorrow.
Connie Van Guilder
Poet's Lane Offers a Wealth of Material
www.poetslane.com
Reviewed by B. Lynn Goodwin
"Let's change the world one poem at a time," says Pleasanton's
Poet Laureate Cynthia L. Bryant. To help poets do that, she shares resources,
venues, and networking opportunities on Poet's Lane,
www.poetslane.com.
Did you know there's a poetry reading almost every day in the
area? Click on ongoing, annual, and one-time poetry events for details. Many
venues have open mikes. Interested in who's who among local poets? Click on
Poet's in the Know to learn about local published poets.
Looking for a place to be published? Submit your own poetry, if
it meets the categories listed month by month inside "2006 Poems of the New
Year." Bryant asks that you please include your name and a photo and send it to
PoetsLane@comcast.net . Some
wonderful work has already been posted in 2006. For ongoing information and
networking, join the Literary List. It's an e-mail venue for poets and writers
that shares an amazing amount of valuable information. Whether you are new to
poetry or are ready to share your latest chapbook, the resources and venues at
Poet's Lane, www.poetslane.com can help.
I am a long time student of history and, being Mexican-American, I am
familiar with Medieval Spanish History which documents the long standing
Arabian, and probably Persian, etc., strong interest in poetry. For example,
when they had to select someone for Public Service they not only had to meet
specified requirements, (like good relatives? A joke.) but also had to enter
a Poetry Contest. The winner got the job.
Good Luck in your project, it is about time someone became interested in
the, other than bullets, aspects in promoting freedom.
Mike,
good for you, Cynthia!
I don't always follow closely,
but do support your efforts.
Zara
This young woman Cynthia gathers up our poems
to send you as bouquet
to cheer and comfort and to say, "We people do not wish you ill."
Sandra Wade
Hi Cynthia:
I am a stay-at-home
mother who was writing in isolation until I found the community
at Poet's Lane. I signed up for the email list at the Fair in
2005 as a total novice, and then I submitted a poem and won a
silver the next year.
Thanks for this message. I love Poet's Lane and this email
list. It has changed my life. It has given me so many ideas
about where to send my poetry.
I am
a relatively new poet, but I will be attending the Ina
Coolbrith Banquet this year. I already have tickets for
myself and my husband.
It's fun following your adventures, Cynthia. You
are the busiest poet I've ever known. More power to ya! I want to thank you for
passing along the information I send you; but I don't know how you find the time
to help all of us get the word out. One thing is for sure, you have to be a lot
more knowledgeable about the workings of these machines than I
am. Love and Peace, JC
Poets Lane, a
virtual literary salon, is your best source of information about the vibrant
poetry community in the North Bay and in fact much of the San Francisco Bay
Area. Kudos to its creator, Cynthia Bryant, for helping energize the local
literary scene.
Jan Steckel
Author of
THE UNDERWATER HOSPITAL
(Zeitgeist
Press,
2006)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi, Cynthia,
I appreciate the poet news. Thanks for keeping me on your list.
Zara Raab
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Cynthia: Thank you so much for bringing us the broadcast
of all the great poetry news in the bay Area.
I am just one of so many who really appreciate it. It is a
tremendous undertaking and you deliver in a timely
and courteous manner. Keep up the great work. My best
regards, LaDonna Fehlberg