Tonight we’re attending a play, but first…

Hi everyone,

Busy day today. I’ll give a keynote talk in Branson at the Ozark Writers League (OWL) Spring Conference from 10:30-11:30. Then SANDY and I will head back to Springfield so I can read several nature poems during the From Page to Park event in Jordon Valley Park in Springfield from 3:00-4:00. Here’s a link to one of the articles about that.

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2024/04/09/missouri-poet-laureate-others-to-share-work-at-drury-university-symposium/73260081007/?fbclid=IwAR2CnA5tRXaE69zXU1X2wdKb_4sjHBsDGJ7D9hD5tJkGXUPvCbnYgMZNRxY_aem_AZpAPnH94KTi2qhdqadVM2gm8pgIBZV2AjMjH6R6pZahkKhX0fNxdjsvzxmYUkUp8C7yJK2XwcblQA5MQFqtcgzY

To prepare for the reading in the park, I made a file of twenty-five poems and sent it to our emcee for the event, Dr. KATHERINE (KATIE) GILBERT, from Drury University, and she chose the poems that work best with those of other readers. It should be a good event. Don’t forget, this event is free and open to the public. I hope to see some of you there.

Nile Stanley coming to Poetry from Daily Life

Hi everyone,

This weekend we’ll be joined by a friend of mine who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, NILE STANLEY. Dr. Stanley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching Learning and Curriculum. College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida. He is a founding board member of Hope at Hand, Inc.  a nonprofit organization that produces the annual Jacksonville  poetry festival  and provides poetry lessons for vulnerable and at-risk youth. When he goes out to visit kids in schools, they know him as Nile the Crocodile!

Nile’s column will appear in print tomorrow in Springfield News-Leader. It will also appear in two other newspapers in Missouri, one in Kansas, and one in North Carolina. On Sunday morning, I’ll post a link from the e-edition in the News-Leader so everyone can see and enjoy the column. Thank you, Nile!

Byron Biggers Band is performing for free public event

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I rehearsed with fellow members of Byron Biggers Band — CHRIS CRAIG and GALE CLITHERO. We are prepared to play ten pieces this Thursday evening (April 11) in Springfield at Kentwood Hall on St. Louis Street. This is part of Missouri State University’s “Kentwood Series” and is sponsored/hosted by The Meyer Library.

Portraits from Fall photo days, September 4, 2019. Visual Media/Missouri State University

I’ll start the event by reading/talking for twenty to twenty-five minutes. Then the band will play. All of our pieces are poems of mine that Chris has arranged as songs with guitar and percussion accompaniment. I especially love “Monday,” “Worms,” and “Teacher Has Eyes in the Back of Her Head.” We have such a good time! The evening is free and open to the public. Families with children are encouraged to attend. It should be a pleasant hour of entertainment. Lots of free parking available not far from the door.

Coming soon: From the Page to the Park

Hi everyone,

I had a fine time Saturday in St, Louis, presenting the poetry workshop to members, both in person and online, of the St. Louis Writers Guild. This week promises to be another busy one, including a program from 3:00 – 4:00 at Jordan Valley Park in Springfield on Saturday afternoon, April 13. Here’s a flyer on that one.

Those of us who will be reading were asked to select poems from our work that speak to the importance of parks and natural habitat. We each sent a list of possibilities to our EMCEE for the event, KATHERINE GILBERT. Dr. Gilbert is Associate Professor of English Language & Literature and Director of Humanities and Ethics Center at Drury University. She will put together the program. I’ll learn this week which of my poems she has chosen for me to read. If you live in the area, I hope you can attend. We’ll be in the amphitheater in Jordan Valley Park in Springfield. Some people will bring folding chairs, others will spread quilts on the grass to enjoy the readings in such a beautiful setting. My thanks to LISA CARRICO, Program Director for Missouri Humanities and Missouri Center for the Book, for putting this event together.

I’ll give a keynote talk in Branson that morning during the OWL (Ozark Writers League) Spring Conference, then make a dash for Springfield in time to take part in From the Page to the Park. I hope to see some of you there!

The link to Poetry from Daily Life guest columnist, Laura Purdie Salas

Hi everyone,

With thanks to my guest this week, the prolific writer of children’s literature, LAURA PURDIE SALAS, here is the link to her guest column on Poetry from Daily Life. Thank you again, Laura!

https://www.news-leader.com/story/entertainment/2024/04/07/poetry-from-daily-life-poetry-plus-math-equals-no-wrong-answers/73199254007

Read, enjoy, and pass it around!

I spoke at length about the column yesterday in St. Louis during my poetry workshop. I even quoted from some of the columns to reinforce key points. My thanks to you for that! I recommend that approach to any of you who might be giving a talk somewhere. Might as well call on colleagues for great quotes.