In the trees all over town dozens of scarlet handkerchiefs wave farewell- that blazing autumn red how it flutters then drifts down into the beaks of migrating birds the nests of busy squirrels a color even brighter than the hummingbird’s flaming head or the shade of lipstick that I wore that fine October day when […]
Poetry Corner: “For Joel Fallon” by Ronna Leon
You called them “dead Mother poems” and scorned their cloying sentiment, easy forgiveness. Your poem about your Mother named her Kali. You hungered for life – anger, difficulty, competition, sex. You insisted that wringing a tear from a stone was superior to opening well oiled floodgates. Now you are dead and my tears come unbidden […]
Poetry Corner: “Hope is the Thing with Feathers (Dedicated to Joel Fallon)” by Johanna Ely
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops-at all” -Emily Dickinson If such a tiny bird, perhaps left for dead, or suffering from an injured wing, its feathers matted and torn, finds refuge in your broken heart, then reach inside yourself and […]
Joel Fallon, Benicia’s first poet laureate, dies
Joel Fallon, who had the distinction of being Benicia’s first poet laureate, died Thursday morning, according to an email sent out by current Poet Laureate Johanna Ely. He was 85. “Joel was a wonderful poet and mentor to many, who gave so much of his wisdom and energy to our community,” Ely wrote. “He […]
Poetry Corner: “Old Images” by Joel Fallon
How cumbersome the camera was, the tripod too and box of plates. The fuss to get the light just so, to make the whole thing straight and true was almost more than they could stand. Important too that everyone be still, not thrash or mill about. Regardless, trees moved in the wind and water flowed […]
Johanna Ely becomes Benicia’s sixth poet laureate
After months of searching, a new poet laureate for the city of Benicia has been named. For the next two years, Johanna Ely will be the city’s sixth poet laureate, succeeding Don Peery. The office of the poet laureate was established by Benicia Public Library’s Board of Trustees in 2005 to place an emphasis […]
Benicia poet laureate joins literary group board
Benicia Literary Arts, the nonprofit dedicated to publishing locally written works, has added three board members, including the city’s new poet laureate, Don Peery. “(Former Poet Laureate) Lois (Requist) invited me to be a board member of the Literary Arts group,” Peery said. After his first meeting, he said, “I am getting up to speed there.” […]