Guest Column: Bay Area Poets Speak Up on Labor Day

The Bay Area Poets Coalition held its annual Labor Day picnic Monday at a secluded cove by a stream in Live Oak Park. Some of the foremost Bay Area poets were among the 30 or so people in attendance. And, though writers came from around the area, Albany Library's poetry programs were frequently cited as points of both personal and professional inspiration.

Mark States, an award-winning slam poet, said Alison Seevak's Albany poetry workshop was his favorite, "a marvelous place to write, with the help of creativity prompts, and then share with others."

He continued, "In many other workshops people only write but don't read. Here, even shy people feel comfortable sharing. Albany poets are well known around the Bay Area. I think Christina Hutchins, the Albany poet laureate, is amazing." States runs a weekly event called Poetry Express at Priya restaurant on San Pablo Avenue, Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m.

Long-time Albany resident John Rowe, president of the poets coaltion, served as master of ceremonies for two hours of readings that followed an hour of feasting. His genial Clark Kent good looks and demeanor helped calm the frequently excitable and unruly poets at the event.

Rowe, a premier Bay Area poet himself, politely took the final slot of the day, which he may have regretted when a loud explosion elsewhere in the park interrupted his recitation. But he managed to recovered his aplomb and continued with his reading. He ended by announcing the Maggi H. Mayer Memorial Poetry Contest for 2010. The coalition's annual poetry potlucks were traditionally held in Mayer's front yard until her passing several years ago.

Other poets at the event included Garrett Murphy, a prolific  writer who is a quiet and thoughtful man. He expresses strong political convictions through his poetry, and often reads at Albany Library sessions. He said he likes the breadth of selections at the library and frequently finds inspiration there.

Another man, Vince, regaled me with tales of Albany in the 60s, when he attended Cornell School and graduated from Albany High. He not only fondly remembered the Menikettis but also a fellow who used to sit at a bus stop at Solano and Stannage every morning in his pajamas and bathrobe. "Does anyone else remember him?" he mused.

Many people are intimidated by the thought of writing poetry and sharing it publicly. It is something I never would have considered were it not for an encounter with Alison Seevak's workshop five years ago. The first sessions were a bit rough, until I found my voice, but they eventually became a joy. I was saddened recently to hear they ended.

Perhaps with some encouragement they can be resumed. It might help if librarian Julie Winkelstein were to return from back east to reprise her fabulous inspirational brownies at the workshops. I would certainly return if she did.

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