December Poetry Newsletter

[Benicia Poet Laureate]



Greetings, Poetry Lovers!

The sun is shining brightly today after quite an extended period of rainy/cloudy weather, but Mother Nature’s landscape has been nourished in this part of drought and fire prone California.  I hope the upcoming weeks nourish your soul as well!  To that end, here is the monthly newsletters of upcoming events!

(Remember our previous newsletters had listings of the regularly occurring Zoom events in our area.  Please send along any FREE ZOOM WORKSHOP OPEN TO ALL that you would like listed.)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3: FIRST TUESDAY POETS OPEN MIC, (Holiday edition) Benicia Library FIREPLACE AREA.  Sit in comfy chairs, enjoy holiday cookies and hot cider, and bring 2-3 poems to read or just come to listen to some heartfelt poetry.  Suggested topic for first round  of poems is your thoughts, feelings, experiences and observations of the holiday season, whether celebratory or counter-cultural. See flyer below.

UPCOMING EKPHRASTIC EVENT - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!  “I LIKE WHAT I SEE!”  

WEDNESDAY, DEC 11 - FRIDAY, DEC 20:  THE BENICIA LIBRARY in the Marilyn Citron Gallery will exhibit the works of John Tullis, who works in a variey of media with a variety of subject matter.  Come see what INSPIRES YOU, choose a piece, sign up for writing to that piece and then send me your work by January 1.  (The Library is closed for 2 weeks starting January 21).  Then…

SATURDAY, JAN 11, AT 2PM we will gather for a reading of the wonderful poetry (or other short literary works) inspired by this exhibit!  Flyer coming soon!

SATURDAY, DEC 7 at 4 - 6 pm:  EKPHRASTIC event with Fairfield-Suisun City Visual Arts Association at their gallery in the Solano Town Center mall.  Hosted by Fairfield Poet Laureate Suzanne Bruce.

SATURDAY, DEC 7 at 2pm on ZOOM:  The INA COOLBRITH CIRCLE 104TH Annual Poetry Contest awards.  For log in , visit www.coolpoetry.org.

SATURDAY, DEC 7 at 3 pm:  RUMI’S CARAVAN at the Sebastopol Senior Center.  Get more info/ Register online at sebastopolseniorcenter.org.

MONDAY, DEC 9 at 6:30 - 8: “WRITING FOR RELATIONSHIPS” in Creekside Room at Mill Valley Public Library, 375 Throckmorton Ave. Our Benicia Literary Arts President Debbie Weiss will be part of a 4 person panel on this interesting topic.  More info/register at millvalleylibrary.libcal.com.

MONDAY, DEC 9 at 6:30 - 8:30 PM:  “SHUT UP AND WRITE” at the Benicia Library.  A regularly reoccurring event, it is an opportunity to have a dedicated time and space, with a bare minimum of socialization to do exactly what the title suggests.  Sponsored by Benicia Literary Arts and hosted by Kyle Gerner.

THURSDAY, DEC 12 at 10:30 if you want brunch or 11 -12 am for the meeting:  “TABLE TALK” at the Inn at Benicia, 145 East D St.  This is an opportunity for writers in different genres and at different stages to share information, practices, craft, publishing tips, resources, etc. To reserve a chair and handout material, email host Beth Grimm at grimm...@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, DEC 14 at 3 - 5pm (note time change):  BENICIA LITERARY ARTS HOLIDAY PARTY at Estey Realty at 216 First St.  A chance for writers in all genres to meet, mingle, feast on hors d’oeuvres and raise a glass to the year in literature.  FREE to members, $10 to guests with membership incentives available at the door. Short readings by 4 writers who have lead the organization over the years - Lois Requist, Johanna Ely, Jim White and Mary Eichbauer.  Door prizes!  Sign up at Benicialiteraryarts.org.

SUNDAY, DEC 15 at 3:30-5 pm: VALLEJO YOUTH POETRY LETTERS ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH at the Alibi Bookshop, 624 Marin St., Vallejo.  Refreshments, fun, and young poets’ open mic. Hosted by Kathleen Herrmann and Jacalyn Eyvonne.

SATURDAY, DEC 21 at 1 - 3 pm:  DECEMBER CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS open mic at the Fairfield Cordelia Library, hosted by Suzanne Bruce, and introducing Fairfield’s new Poet Laureate, Michael Wyly!

Happy Thanksgiving and my best wishes for you all this holiday season!

In Poetic Peace,

Kathy

Katrina Monroe

Benicia Poet Laureate