Bernadette Geyer and Rachel Richardson for the Joaquin Miller Poetry Series, July 21, 2013

This past Sunday, July 21, we closed the 2013 Joaquin Miller Poetry Series with beautiful performances from Bernadette Geyer and Rachel Richardson. In her introduction, Deborah Ager invoked the series' namesake, Joaquin Miller, a man whose legacy remains an inextricable mix of myth and truth.

Bernadette, whose book The Scabbard of Her Throat was published as a part of the Word Work's Hilary Tham Capital Collection, read first. Her performance included pieces on motherhood - "Thumbelina's Mother Speaks to Thumbelina" and "Nature Center" - and the summer weather - "Heat."

Rachel read next, also touching on themes of motherhood, as when she reflected on her grandmother's hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana in pieces like "Portrait of Lead Belly in a Pin-Striped Suit" and her Signs series.

These lovely performances were followed by several readers for the open mic portion.

  
 


It has been a wonderful summer of poetry and community in the Joaquin Miller Series! Thank you for joining us. We hope to see you all again next summer. Sail On! sail On!

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!