Adam Chiles & Moira Egan for the Joaquin Miller Poetry Series

Yesterday afternoon, June 16, we were again graced by a stellar performance for the Joaquin Miller Poetry Series. First up was Adam Chiles who read several "Landscape Variations" inspired by the work of  English painter David Hockney. He also reflected, to much delight, on the importance of the English pub.

After Adam, Moira Egan, an American poet based in Rome, took the floor. Moira admitted to altering her set for the "young and tender ears" in the audience! She ended her reading with several poems from her collection of Hot Flash Sonnets.

During the Q&A, issues of language and translation - specifically Moira's experience as an English-speaking poet living in Rome - and regionalism - specifically Adam's experience as a UK-North American transplant - were discussed. The featured poets were followed by a lovely open mic; many of the readers took time to reflect on Fathers' Day and a few touched on the subject with their performances!

                           

As always, we invite you to join us for the next program in the Miller series, which will feature Niki Herd and Carol Quinn, June 23rd at 3:00 PM at the Rock Creek Nature Center!

Joaquin Miller Poetry: LM Wiseman & 2013 Young Poets

June 9 Laura Madeline Wiseman, poet, scholar, professor, read with the 2013 Jacklyn Potter Young Poet Competition winners Elena Botts and Kathryn McDonald Matheson in the Joaquin Miller Poetry Series at Rock Creek Nature Center in Rock Creek Park.

Rosemary Winslow, co-director of the Miller Series, hosted. Perry Epes, director of the Jacklyn Potter Young Poet Competition, introduced the young poets who were selected by Donal Ilich.

Madeline Wiseman read from work focused on feminist writers and themes. Kathryn Matheson read her narrative prose poems. Elena Botts read from new work and her book a little luminescence, published by Allbook Books in their Young Artist Series.

 

Thanks to the 25 plus people who attended and those who participated in the opening reading. Our next Miller Poetry Reading on June 16 brings us Adam Chiles and Moira Egan.

Cafe Muse with Alyse Knorr & Barbara Buckman Strasko

Tonight, The Word Works hosted another successful reading in the Cafe Muse series! As is Cafe Muse tradition, the readings were preceded by a beautiful performance of classical guitar by Michael Davis.

Alyse Knorr took the podium first, reading several selections from her book Annotated Glass (Furniture Press Books). She also read several yet to be published poems inspired by the 1977 Voyager Expeditions, in which she imagined the recipients of the golden records sent out with the space craft coming to earth. The series exhibited equal parts wit and heart.

 Next, Barabara Buckman Strasko read from her book Graffiti in Braille (Word Press 2012), as well as other unpublished works. A personal favorite was Ode to the Berrigans, a piece inspired by the Berrigan brothers, two Catholic priests who destroyed draft files during the Vietnam war.

 Our two featured poets were joined by a few others who read during the open mic portion of the event. Thank you to all who attended and to these two lovely women for sharing their immense talent with us!

We encourage all poetry lovers to join us for future Cafe Muse Events. The next Cafe Muse will feature Kathi Wolfe and Dan Vera, Monday July 1 at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 South Park Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD