BENICIA – Benicia’s 8th Poet Laureate, Mary Susan Gast, began her two-year tenure following a recent vote by the Benicia Library Board of Trustees. She will succeed 2018-2020 Poet Laureate, Thomas Stanton. “Benicia’s Poet Laureate program promotes the importance of poetry in daily life in our community, and it has done so successfully for 14 […]
A review of Joel Fallon’s ‘Book of Joel’
By Bruce Moody, Special to the Herald Poems are silent. They may have what is called “a voice,” and these have their voice. But these particular poems have a voice wider than just their voice, a voice that protects and delivers them like the firm shell of a nut. In the case of The Book […]
Benicia third grader wins AACI scholarship
Galen Kusic, Editor (This article was originally published in the June 23 print edition of the Herald) Asian Americans for Community Involvement’s (AACI) Growing Up Asian in America program collected 400 entries from K-12 Bay Area students in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month in May. The theme, “My Contribution to America” featured the voice […]
A “Capitol” celebration of Joel Fallon, Benicia’s first Poet Laureate with launch of ‘The Book of Joel’
BENICIA – Benicia Literary Arts announces its latest publication, The Book of Joel, selected poems by Benicia’s first Poet Laureate, Joel Fallon, as compiled by former Poet Laureate Don Peery. We cordially invite the public to this free book-launch event at the Benicia State Capitol Building, 115 West G Street, Benicia, from 5 to 6:30 […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Blue
My heart bleeds for blue It’s the color of pain That the writers of song Use to write sad refrains But to me blue can be Such a comforting sight That I’ve seen in the ocean And in the sky’s light And so here is my message To all that will listen; “Look up to […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Cud
I was just a blade of grass That grew upon a lea I soaked the sun and drank the rain So pleased that I was me The seasons came, the seasons went The time just trundled by The Earth engulfed my roots in warmth Beneath the vast blue sky A herd of milk cows came […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Working Stiffs
Corporate Moguls making money Sales are up its do or die Buying low and selling higher Soon they will diversify Business guys in office jungles Working is their way of life If they make a few more dollars They might get to see the wife Always work to fill that quota Push the limit win […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: To Read
What people read can shape their minds Between book covers when they find A clearly stated point of view That tells them what they ought to do Tall and short and old and young Read Charles Bukowski, Carl Jung, Oscar Wilde and Carl Sagan, Lenin, Marx and Ronald Reagan Writers in good stead and standing […]
Poetry Corner: Bud Light “A Double Exposure”
He was one of the best dressed men I ever saw; Latest cut lapel, with awe; I checked his suit, a light over plaid, of red with ochre-brown, for fad. He was superb, yet for awhile, I was perplexed. Such style. He wore the best, yet was ill-dressed. Because I never saw him smile.
Poetry Corner: Desmond Rutherford “Mirror in the Bog”
The susurrant music of the trees lulled me deeper into the moss-festooned forest Ladybird beetles expose mechanical wings and lift in a deafening machinery of emotion Earthworms expand and contract in an accordionic progression that, to the mole, is a scraping sandpaper shuffle Moles know moist dark movement is best, avoiding potato bugs is a […]