April 1 kicked off National Poetry Month, an event “inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 . . . when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.” Although National Poetry Month is held every April, and Sacramento and its neighbors are celebrating in various ways, Sacramento is certainly no stranger to poetry and the banding together of poets. About poetry, bookseller Richard Hansen, aka The Book Collector (24th a

Bob Stanley, Poet Laureate, and the Brubeck Jazz Institute have been refining Saturday, November 19 evening's, performance at California Stage (25th and R streets).  The Wonder Of This Moment, Jazz and Poetry Live featuring James Humphrey's poetry with Bob Stanley, Norma Humphrey and son, Saroyan, Eve West Bessier, Lawrence Dinkins, and Mary Zeppa.  Beginning at 7 p.m., there will be wine and food tastings, a raffle with 17 prizes, the sale of the poet's books.  It will be an intense show with music composed for nearly all the poetry.  Quoting a prominent poet, Bob Stanley, "This is going to be quite an event!"  A donation of $25  for Stanford Home for Children is requested.  Call (916) 24

Throughout his 50 years as a poet, James Humphrey (1939-2006), twice nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, commited himself to the one thing he could do, write about his challenging babyhood, youth and teen years to teach elementary through college-aged individuals how to overcome their abuse.  It was a rich legacy of works, both words and abstract art, "too rich to leave behind", his widow of 43 years, said.  Fellow poet, Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) wrote: "Humphrey's poems--believe them.  He's lived them.  He knows that pain and suffering bloom like eternal flowers.  He knows that trying is the one thing we have left." A retired librarian from NY, Mrs. Humphrey moved to Sacrame

Second in a series about the poets of Sacramento Susan Kelly-DeWitt One of Sacramento’s most acclaimed poets, Susan Kelly-DeWitt has an eye for detail that sometimes startles the reader. Her work has been published in Poetry, Prairie Schooner, North American Review, Cutbank, Iris, Comstock Review, Oxymoron, Poet Lore, Cimarron Review, Spoon River Quarterly, and many other journals and magazines. She has also published numerous chapbooks, including Cassiopeia Under the Banyan Tree (Rattlesnake Press, 2007). Susan’s most recent book, The Fortunate Islands (Marick Press) appeared in 2008. Walter Pavlich wrote, “Kelly-DeWitt’s poems remind us, as we must be reminded, that no matter what, a

James DenBoer is the first poet I’ve selected for County Lines. James’s work is rich in image, and leaves us, as good poetry does, with both joys and concerns, a kind of balance sheet of life. Sandra McPherson says that DenBoer’s poetry “has ties to the comic and the suffering.” I love hearing Jim read – there’s a warmth that always comes through, and his poems reflect who he is – caring and thoughtful, deep and discerning. The poem “The Concert” is included in The Sacramento Anthology (2001), which is available from the Arts Commission. Jim DenBoer’s recent book of selected poems, Stonework, is available from Swan Scythe Press. The Concert Twelve Harleys roar, circle the Crocker Museum

County Lines: The Poetry of Sacramento You may not know this, but Sacramento is full of poets. From Elk Grove to South Natomas, from Folsom to downtown, there are hundreds of people who write, read, and share their poems. Teenagers in Oak Park, retirees in Citrus Heights, college students, state workers, people young and old share this ancient art form. If you know where to look, you can find them, working on their craft, because Sacramento is full of poets. As the new Poet Laureate of the city and county of Sacramento, my goal is to help people find a little poetry in their lives. I'm already working on organizing readings and workshops around the region, and want to help writers learn

Introducing Sacramento's next Poet Laureate: Bob Stanley. Last month The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC) voted to ratify Stanley as Sacramento’s fourth Poet Laureate. Yesterday, he was officially introduced to the SMAC as Poet Laureate. In a charming introduction speech and reading, Stanley promised to see through his vision of increased awareness of poetry in our region. He also believes poetry can reach a broad audience. He said, “Poetry is something everybody can get into.” Stanley added, “I like it when it’s just right there on the page. You read it and you know it’s poetry, but you don’t exactly know why. But you get something from it, and you feel like you’ve learne