Benicia poet Jeremy Cantor will read at the St. Helena Library on Thursday, July 21

Thursday, July 21, 2016 — Jeremy Cantor will read from his debut collection, Wisteria from Seed, at the St. Helena Public Library at 7:00 PM. Refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase and signing.

Jeremy began writing poetry shortly before retiring from a career in laboratory chemistry. He has made and tested engine oil additives, detergents and pharmaceuticals, driven a forklift, worked in a full-body acid-proof hazmat suit, tried to keep his fingers working in a walk-in freezer at -40°F and worked behind radiation shielding. He prefers writing.

WISTERIA FROM SEED

“Almost no one grows wisteria from seed,”
I told my sons.
“This one has a healthy set of leaves
so it ought to flower
in about ten years.”

I’m sixty now.

When I was in school
a botany professor showed our class
a bamboo plant.
“This flowers every forty years,” he said.
“I won’t be here to finish the experiments
I might start now.
If any of you are planning graduate studies,
please see me after class.
I’ve got some ideas I’d like to try.”

I never thought myself a man of faith
yet I grow wisteria from seed
while others study bamboo
plant vineyards
grow olives
raise children.

Link to more poems
Link to program notes by former Boston Globe Classical Music/Arts Correspondent Michael Manning