On Wednesday, the Benicia Public Library hosted “More Than Just Words: An Exploration of Poetry as a Life Force.” All of Benicia’s living poets laureate answered questions by the audience and emcee Mary Susan Gast (Far right) on how poetry has influenced their lives, and then they read some of their works. Current Poet Laureate Johanna Ely (Far left) talked about how a color book “Hailstones and Halibut Bones” influenced her to become a poet and events that have characterized her tenure thus far, including the First Sunday Poetry Series at Rosanna’s European Delights. She read her poem “Summer’s Twilight,” written in response to Rolando Barrero’s painting “Red Baron 17.” Don Peery (second from left) talked about a recommendation by first Poet Leaureate Joel Fallon to start a high school scholarship in Fallon’s name. Peery read his poems “Benicia the City” and “Other Children” as well as a few written by Fallon, who died last year. Requist (center) talked about her “rhyme, rhythm, repetition” process and read her poems “Labor Day 2017” and “On the Water’s Edge.” Ronna Leon (second from right) talked about bringing the community to poetry events through ekphrastic readings and getting teens involved through the initation of the Poetry Out Loud contest in Benicia. She read her poems “In Another Light” and “Deleting Emily,” as well as two poems by Benicia’s late second Poet Laureate Robert Shelby. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)