The A Cappella Handyman: Benicia, Love Poetry Capital of the World?

Benicia, Love Poetry Capital of the World?

It’s a tough title to aspire to, but if it looks like we’ve arrived, what damage can that do? It was our founder and First Poet Laureate Joel Fallon’s wish that Benicia have that warm and fuzzy title in the poetic world community. Well, suppose we’re there? Case in point: several of us rocked the Rellik Tavern this past Sunday. Benicia artist Erika Hoffe is currently headlining on the brick gallery walls of the Rellik Tavern at 726 First Street, and Benicia Literary Arts and Benicia First Tuesday Poets sponsored an ekphrastic event there. Ekphrastically where poets choose an art piece and write a poem about how it whets their imagination, provokes a wordflow, and the visual and literal worlds meld for an hour or two. Yee-Haw! Add an Open Mic after the formal program, and all manner of tall spirits coalesce and bounce from bar to stage to bricks and back again. Thanks to all who took part and to owners, staff, and management of the Rellik for the opportunity. Not the first nor last time we’ve been invited there.

Boatyard Series at Plein Air Gallery, Sunday August 6th

Same drill here, the visual and poetic arts merge. Plein Air Gallery artists (307 First Street) go out into the Phil Joy Boatyard, paint their souls and images to exhaustion, then the poets arrive and wrap their artistic goods in word flow. 3 to 5 p.m., poetry reading at 4 p.m. Same Sunday, the 6th, Rosanna’s European Delights at 305 First Street will be featuring out-of-town poet, Andrena Zawinski from 2 to 4 p.m. with an Open Mic after the featured poet. Last month, it was Gallerie Renee Marie at 1038 First Street that had an Art, Wine & Poetry event, and are we having fun yet? Come later this summer, there’s the Poets Picnic in the Park. (We’re working at it Joel, we’re working at it). Valentine’s Day next, we’re back to the Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barn for the Love Poetry Contest, our 14th annual! Got a First Tuesday night open? Come see us at the library, bring your own or a favorite poem, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m., Benicia First Tuesday Poets invite your best Heart and Art, give us a shot. Help pin us to the Global Love Poetry map.

Life’s Just a John Prine Song

He was blowing blue notes through the end of his horn,
wonderin’ why in the world that he had been born,
and I found him all alone with his music in the bowels of BART.

He said, “Life’s just a John Prine Song, it’s sad and it’s funny,
when you’re livin’ on love ’cause ya ain’t got no money,
and your teeth are all achin’ and sayin’ ‘Goodbye’ to their neighbors.”

I said, “Kleenex your heart, and help Phoenix your friends,
you’ll never know whether your fortunes may end,
and your heroes are homeless when they’re makin’ amends,
and Love’s on the backroads bein’ made by your friends.”

He said, “Life’s just a John Prine Song, it’s sad and it’s funny,
when you’re ridin’ on bald tires, ’cause ya ain’t got no money,
and your life’s just a scream cause you’re wonderin’ which one’ll go first.”

He said, “Life’s just a John Prine Song, no…matter…how…it…ends.”

Peter Bray lives, works, and writes in Benicia
and has written this column since 2008.