Mike Hickey's Poet Populist candidate statement
Less that 2% of Americans read poetry. And I ask myself WHY? Why would a medium so dynamic and powerful be so widely ignored? Is it because many contemporary poets have relieved themselves of the obligation to have a point, to advance some insight to their readers regarding love, politics, the human animal, the world in which we live? The poet Thomas Lux once told me that a large number of today's poets aren't worried about being misunderstood, they're worried about being understood, because essentially they don't have anything very important to say. Since 1995, I have been teaching students that one doesn't have to sacrifice clarity for creativity. And when a fourth grader writes, "A dress walked by with a woman inside..." I know that poetry is still very much alive and well. This is the message I would like to deliver if elected Poet Populist!
Mike will be reading with Poet Populist candidates on MON, OCT 27, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, at 4408Delridge Way SW
Special Guest: Pesha Joyce Gertler, Poet Populist 2005-2006
Don't forget to vote in this election and that other one.
Thanks for supporting the It's About Time Writers Reading Series
Esther
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thurs. Oct. 9, 2008 #231
6-7:45
Ballard Library
Carolyne Wright will emcee tonight's reading.
Thank you Carolyne.
Craft Talks continue next month
Elizabeth Socha Davis retired from two careers – zoology, then family therapy. She took a series of write-your-life-story classes, including ones from Esther. Elizabeth began writing poetry, has been published in Spindrift, The Oak, The Crone Connection, and has given readings at many locations in Seattle.
Susan Blair was a computer systems analyst, a salesperson, a Personnel Liaison Specialist with the federal government, and an aerobics instructor. Now she's a poet, a certified Nia instructor, a professional speaker --- and a whole lot happier! Seven of her poems have been published in Las Cruces Poets & Writers Magazine.
Brian McGuigan is a poet, performer, arts administrator and raconteur. He works at Richard Hugo House and is the co-founder and curator of "Cheap Wine and Poetry," Seattle's coolest reading series. Currently, Brian is at work on a
full-length manuscript of poems about gentrification entitled "Eat the Rich" and writes a regular column, "Bus Bitch," for The Rainier Valley Post. For more Brian: brianwithani.com.
Kate Lebo was raised in southwest Washington and lives in Seattle, where she works for Richard Hugo House, Seattle's literary arts center. Her poetry has been published in Filter, Knock, and the Seattle Public Library's "Lines on a Spine" project, and she was a senior editor for Rivet Magazine. She's working on her first chapbook.
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Don't forget to vote for Poet Populist
It's About Time Poet Populist nominee, Mike Hickey is from Belleville, IL., and the oldest of eleven children. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, 1987, an MFA from the University of Washington, 1992, and is currently working on a sequel to his first novel, Counterclockwise. He has also published a poetry chapbook, In Defense of Eve. as well as won awards for poetry, teaching, and as a labor leader for the American Federation of Teachers. In addition to being a tenured creative writing instructor at South Seattle Community College, he has taught as a volunteer to children at summer bereavement camps, to at-risk youth in White Center, and to prisoners at the Monroe Correctional Complex. He lives in West Seattle with his wife, Mona, and their two-year-old son, Nathan.
It's About Time nominated Mike Hickey for Poet Populist because: He has been participating in the It’s About Time Writers Reading Series for over a decade. Not only has he read his own work and presented a popular Writer’s Craft talk, he brings his students from both South Seattle Community College and UW Experimental College to participate, either through reading themselves or listening to others read. Mike’s years of teaching, as well as his involvement with the wider community, reflect his devotion to furthering fairness and justice in the public sphere. He represents It’s About Time's vision.
Vote for Poet Populist
Ballard Library
Carolyne Wright will emcee tonight's reading.
Thank you Carolyne.
Craft Talks continue next month
Elizabeth Socha Davis retired from two careers – zoology, then family therapy. She took a series of write-your-life-story classes, including ones from Esther. Elizabeth began writing poetry, has been published in Spindrift, The Oak, The Crone Connection, and has given readings at many locations in Seattle.
Susan Blair was a computer systems analyst, a salesperson, a Personnel Liaison Specialist with the federal government, and an aerobics instructor. Now she's a poet, a certified Nia instructor, a professional speaker --- and a whole lot happier! Seven of her poems have been published in Las Cruces Poets & Writers Magazine.
Brian McGuigan is a poet, performer, arts administrator and raconteur. He works at Richard Hugo House and is the co-founder and curator of "Cheap Wine and Poetry," Seattle's coolest reading series. Currently, Brian is at work on a
full-length manuscript of poems about gentrification entitled "Eat the Rich" and writes a regular column, "Bus Bitch," for The Rainier Valley Post. For more Brian: brianwithani.com.
Kate Lebo was raised in southwest Washington and lives in Seattle, where she works for Richard Hugo House, Seattle's literary arts center. Her poetry has been published in Filter, Knock, and the Seattle Public Library's "Lines on a Spine" project, and she was a senior editor for Rivet Magazine. She's working on her first chapbook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't forget to vote for Poet Populist
It's About Time Poet Populist nominee, Mike Hickey is from Belleville, IL., and the oldest of eleven children. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, 1987, an MFA from the University of Washington, 1992, and is currently working on a sequel to his first novel, Counterclockwise. He has also published a poetry chapbook, In Defense of Eve. as well as won awards for poetry, teaching, and as a labor leader for the American Federation of Teachers. In addition to being a tenured creative writing instructor at South Seattle Community College, he has taught as a volunteer to children at summer bereavement camps, to at-risk youth in White Center, and to prisoners at the Monroe Correctional Complex. He lives in West Seattle with his wife, Mona, and their two-year-old son, Nathan.
It's About Time nominated Mike Hickey for Poet Populist because: He has been participating in the It’s About Time Writers Reading Series for over a decade. Not only has he read his own work and presented a popular Writer’s Craft talk, he brings his students from both South Seattle Community College and UW Experimental College to participate, either through reading themselves or listening to others read. Mike’s years of teaching, as well as his involvement with the wider community, reflect his devotion to furthering fairness and justice in the public sphere. He represents It’s About Time's vision.
Vote for Poet Populist
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thurs Sept 11, 2008 #230
6 - 7:45
Ballard Library
Tonight's reading is dedicated to the memory of Irene Drennan (1922-2008)
Dear It's About Time Writers and Participants,
It is with profound sorrow that I announce the passing of Irene Drennan, one of It's About Time's earliest readers (1990) and our first Poet Populist nominee. Irene died last Sat night from leukemia. She was 85 and just getting started. Please come read and hear Irene's poems. She left us many.
The Writer's Craft: BELLE RANDALL is a former Wallace Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer in Poetry Writing at Stanford. Her poetry has appeared in Poetry magazine and the Treepenny Review. She is the author of 4 books of poetry and the recipient of a National Endowment of the Arts grant (2005-7). This year, she was awarded a Seattle CityArts grant to prepare a manuscript from her lifelong correspondence with the poet Thom Gunn--a project which influences her craft presentation tonight.
Sheila Alexander is a poet, originally trained as a journalist. She walks, swims, hikes and is active in her community and family.
Philip Red Eagle, co-founder of Raven Chronicles, writes poetry, fiction and essays. He was born in Tacoma, Washington and educated at the University of Washington. He received a B.F.A. in 1983 and B.A. in Journalism in 1987. He is the author of Red Earth - A Vietnam Warrior's Journey and other works.
Monica Schley's poems have been published in Burnside Review, Cranky, Cream City Review, Naked Joy, Raven Chronicles, Wandering Hermit Review, and a forthcoming Seattle Review issue. She has received assistance from the Espy Foundation and performed at the 2007 Seattle Poetry Festival. She is a classically trained harpist and is president of the Seattle Harp Society
Thank you for supporting It's About Time,
Esther
Ballard Library
Tonight's reading is dedicated to the memory of Irene Drennan (1922-2008)
Dear It's About Time Writers and Participants,
It is with profound sorrow that I announce the passing of Irene Drennan, one of It's About Time's earliest readers (1990) and our first Poet Populist nominee. Irene died last Sat night from leukemia. She was 85 and just getting started. Please come read and hear Irene's poems. She left us many.
The Writer's Craft: BELLE RANDALL is a former Wallace Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer in Poetry Writing at Stanford. Her poetry has appeared in Poetry magazine and the Treepenny Review. She is the author of 4 books of poetry and the recipient of a National Endowment of the Arts grant (2005-7). This year, she was awarded a Seattle CityArts grant to prepare a manuscript from her lifelong correspondence with the poet Thom Gunn--a project which influences her craft presentation tonight.
Sheila Alexander is a poet, originally trained as a journalist. She walks, swims, hikes and is active in her community and family.
Philip Red Eagle, co-founder of Raven Chronicles, writes poetry, fiction and essays. He was born in Tacoma, Washington and educated at the University of Washington. He received a B.F.A. in 1983 and B.A. in Journalism in 1987. He is the author of Red Earth - A Vietnam Warrior's Journey and other works.
Monica Schley's poems have been published in Burnside Review, Cranky, Cream City Review, Naked Joy, Raven Chronicles, Wandering Hermit Review, and a forthcoming Seattle Review issue. She has received assistance from the Espy Foundation and performed at the 2007 Seattle Poetry Festival. She is a classically trained harpist and is president of the Seattle Harp Society
Thank you for supporting It's About Time,
Esther
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thurs. Aug.14, 2008 #229
6:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Ballard Library
The Writer's Craft: Ron Starr on No Things But in Words: Chance, Form, and Procedure
Ron Starr lives and writes in Seattle. He is an editor at Floating Bridge Press and the author of A Map by a Dim Lamp (Ravenna Press). His work has appeared in the Oulipo special issue of Drunken Boat.
Nora Jarvis, a native of Seattle, graduated from Earlham College in Indiana where she majored in Peace and Global Studies and minored in Creative Writing. She has been writing poetry since she was child but has become more invested in it over the past few years. She has been published in a few mildly discerning literary magazines and currently works for a Day Care Center, bountiful in poetic material.
Janet Leister, a Washington native, has worked as a life drawing model, bikini seamstress, technical support rep, cab driver and reference librarian. She was a founding member and original webmaster of poetry site quillandparchment.com. Janet currently lives in SW Washington, where she is publisher and editor of Flamestomper Press/Helios House. She is a member of the Poetry in Motion band, and her book, Eclipse, is just out.
Rosemary O'Hara is a Seattle poet whose work appears in local and national journals including Willow Review, Spindrift, and Vox Populi, 2007. She was born in West Virginia, had a nursing career in New York City and retired after twenty years from a private practice in Marriage and Family Therapy. Rosemary studies piano at Cornish College of the Arts and is a docent at the Seattle Japanese Garden.
Ballard Library
The Writer's Craft: Ron Starr on No Things But in Words: Chance, Form, and Procedure
Ron Starr lives and writes in Seattle. He is an editor at Floating Bridge Press and the author of A Map by a Dim Lamp (Ravenna Press). His work has appeared in the Oulipo special issue of Drunken Boat.
Nora Jarvis, a native of Seattle, graduated from Earlham College in Indiana where she majored in Peace and Global Studies and minored in Creative Writing. She has been writing poetry since she was child but has become more invested in it over the past few years. She has been published in a few mildly discerning literary magazines and currently works for a Day Care Center, bountiful in poetic material.
Janet Leister, a Washington native, has worked as a life drawing model, bikini seamstress, technical support rep, cab driver and reference librarian. She was a founding member and original webmaster of poetry site quillandparchment.com. Janet currently lives in SW Washington, where she is publisher and editor of Flamestomper Press/Helios House. She is a member of the Poetry in Motion band, and her book, Eclipse, is just out.
Rosemary O'Hara is a Seattle poet whose work appears in local and national journals including Willow Review, Spindrift, and Vox Populi, 2007. She was born in West Virginia, had a nursing career in New York City and retired after twenty years from a private practice in Marriage and Family Therapy. Rosemary studies piano at Cornish College of the Arts and is a docent at the Seattle Japanese Garden.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Thurs. July 10, 2008 #228
6:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Ballard Library
July 10th's reading is dedicated to CRYSTA CASEY (1952 - 2008). Open mike will be devoted to reading her work.
The Writer's Craft:
Esther Altshul Helfgott on The Work of CRYSTA CASEY
Tonight's readers are from out of town. Come help us welcome them:
DAVID MATTHEWS was born in South Carolina and lives in Portland, Oregon. Poems have appeared in Chattahoochee Review, Quill and Parchment, Red River Review, Tryst, Magnapoets, and elsewhere. He is author of Notes to One Who Is Far from Here.
SHARMAGNE LELAND-ST. JOHN has been published in literary journals, anthologies, and on line. She was nominated for the 2007 The Pushcart Prize. Sharmagne is a Native American poet, concert performer, lyricist, artist, and film maker. She edits QuillandParchment.com.
For a list of 2008 readers, visit the It's About Time website. Also find our Writers Craft talks there.
Thanks for supporting It's About Time,
Esther
Ballard Library
July 10th's reading is dedicated to CRYSTA CASEY (1952 - 2008). Open mike will be devoted to reading her work.
The Writer's Craft:
Esther Altshul Helfgott on The Work of CRYSTA CASEY
Tonight's readers are from out of town. Come help us welcome them:
DAVID MATTHEWS was born in South Carolina and lives in Portland, Oregon. Poems have appeared in Chattahoochee Review, Quill and Parchment, Red River Review, Tryst, Magnapoets, and elsewhere. He is author of Notes to One Who Is Far from Here.
SHARMAGNE LELAND-ST. JOHN has been published in literary journals, anthologies, and on line. She was nominated for the 2007 The Pushcart Prize. Sharmagne is a Native American poet, concert performer, lyricist, artist, and film maker. She edits QuillandParchment.com.
For a list of 2008 readers, visit the It's About Time website. Also find our Writers Craft talks there.
Thanks for supporting It's About Time,
Esther
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
CRYSTA CASEY
May 27, 1952 - June 24, 2008
Our lovely Crysta died yesterday at 6:01 a.m., probably earlier. Her dear friends George, Irene, Deborah, Cody, Sherry, Monica & others stood vigil through the last weeks. Irene was with her until the end.
Crysta helped define Seattle's literary landscape and we will miss her. Her first book, Heart Clinic, was published by Bellowing Ark Press in 1993. She had been reading for It's About Time since 1992. July's reading will be dedicated to her.
Crysta waged a fifteen year battle against cancer, all the while managing her schizophrenia. She was one of the most courageous people I've known. She died at the VA hospital in Seattle. May her memory be for a blessing.
Our lovely Crysta died yesterday at 6:01 a.m., probably earlier. Her dear friends George, Irene, Deborah, Cody, Sherry, Monica & others stood vigil through the last weeks. Irene was with her until the end.
Crysta helped define Seattle's literary landscape and we will miss her. Her first book, Heart Clinic, was published by Bellowing Ark Press in 1993. She had been reading for It's About Time since 1992. July's reading will be dedicated to her.
Crysta waged a fifteen year battle against cancer, all the while managing her schizophrenia. She was one of the most courageous people I've known. She died at the VA hospital in Seattle. May her memory be for a blessing.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thurs. June 12, 2008 #227
Carol Levin 's chapbook Sea Lions Sing Scat was published 2007 (Finishing Line Press). Red Rooms & Others is due in August(Pecan Grove Press). Work appears in The Massachusetts Review, Third Coast,The Seattle Review, Pedestal, Cortland Review, Comstock Review & has collaborated in translating Chekhov’s plays.
Hadiyah Carlyle says she is now old enough to be a part of history. In the 60’s she was a single parent in Haight Ashbury. In the 70’s, she was the first and only female shipyard welder in Bellingham. Now she's completed UW's memoir writing program and hopes to get her story out “one of these days.”
Jourdan Keith, playwright, Griot, activist and educator, is Seattle Poet Populist Emeritus and Seattle Public Library Naturalist-in-Residence. Her work blends the textures of political, personal and natural landscapes to offer voices from the margins of American lives. Founder and Director of Urban Wilderness Project, she is a Hedgebrook alum.
Crysta Casey has been published in "Seattle Review," "Fine Madness," "Arkansas/Kansas Quarterly," "Berkeley Poets' Co-op," "Pontoon," and others. Her first book Is Heart Clinic (Bellowing Ark Press, 1993). She is the recipiant of a Richard Hugo Prize & is in her second decade of reading for It's About Time.
For the list of 2008 readers, visit the It's About Time. Also find our Writers Craft talks there.
Hope to see you soon,
Esther
Hadiyah Carlyle says she is now old enough to be a part of history. In the 60’s she was a single parent in Haight Ashbury. In the 70’s, she was the first and only female shipyard welder in Bellingham. Now she's completed UW's memoir writing program and hopes to get her story out “one of these days.”
Jourdan Keith, playwright, Griot, activist and educator, is Seattle Poet Populist Emeritus and Seattle Public Library Naturalist-in-Residence. Her work blends the textures of political, personal and natural landscapes to offer voices from the margins of American lives. Founder and Director of Urban Wilderness Project, she is a Hedgebrook alum.
Crysta Casey has been published in "Seattle Review," "Fine Madness," "Arkansas/Kansas Quarterly," "Berkeley Poets' Co-op," "Pontoon," and others. Her first book Is Heart Clinic (Bellowing Ark Press, 1993). She is the recipiant of a Richard Hugo Prize & is in her second decade of reading for It's About Time.
For the list of 2008 readers, visit the It's About Time. Also find our Writers Craft talks there.
Hope to see you soon,
Esther
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