Readers Write…

Readers of this column since 2008 have been entertained or informed about backyard squirrels, house cats, “Saving the Lido,” growing up in 1950s Walnut Creek suburbia, corporate life and post-corporate life, “Toilets 101”, songwriting, and how many poems I’ve long ago lost track of. So…I’m more than game to hear their Bucket Lists, what they need to read or hear about before their last caper on the planet, before “moving on,” before the Big Reward in The Sky so to speak…or I’ll just keep plugging on. They can write to the Herald directly at BeniciaHerald@gmail.com or me at PetrBray@aol.com.

Songwriting and Poetry Update

This Sunday the 19th, The Benicia Love Poetry Contest with a program at the Benicia Historical Museum will award its winners from 2 to 4 p.m., and it’s definitely a Hoot! I won in 2008 with:

Two Horses Run

Two horses run,
neither one leading
nor following the other
but both playing rhythms
off the other.
Maybe that’s the way
love’s supposed to be.
©Peter Bray 2008

Get on down to Rosanna’s European Delights at 305 First St., Benicia, every First Sunday of every month for cutting edge regional and local poetry from 2 to 4 p.m. Saddle up to your favorite pastry and coffee and join us to hear fresh, new regional poets, and follow that with our own brand of Open Mic’ First Tuesday Poets (www.Beniciafirsttuesdaypoets.com). Our current Poet Laureate, Johanna Ely (2016-2018) (bless her poetic socks), has worked with the owners and staff of Rosanna’s to bring us the last 4 to 5 months of fine First Sunday poetry. And if you want to sing, that’s cool too. This month I sang my “I Buy Jam” and “Two Right Shoes,” and I’ll be honest, singing an original song at Rosanna’s to such a discerning audience is a Kick in the Pants! A circumstance occurs, you convert it to song, rehearse it until you can sing it from memory, then go look for a place to let ‘er rip! Try Rosanna’s every First Sunday (2 to 4 p.m.) OR every First Tuesday (6:45 to 8:45) at the City Library on East L Street with First Tuesday Poets.

Songs on Youtube.com

Yes, I have at least 12 original songs there. Put my name, Peter Bray, into the Search window followed by any one of these* and enjoy my a cappella works. Also put “Peter Bray at the Rellik,” into the Search window for a 16-minute adventure occurring during one of our adventures there with Benicia Literary Arts (www.Benicialiteraryarts.org). Check it out and come see us! Wow! Who did their websites?

*
Two Right Shoes
I Buy Jam
Can’t Find the Pharaoh
Dog Food Commercial
Daddy Was a Hard Drive
Buy The Farm
Methane Jane
East Benicia Jail Song
The Compost News Blues
I’ve Been Better &
I’ve Been Worse
Bottom Back
Laid Off American Man
East Benicia Jail Song
(It’s a part of the Rellik piece)

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

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