January Beacon Bards with Stangeland & Horowitz

The robust crowd just keeps growing; more chairs, more chairs!

Poetry continues to reign each 2nd Wednesday of the month at the cozy and inviting Station Cafe in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood thanks to the ROCKitT Community Arts. Last night we were graced with listening to two very fine poets, Joannie Stangeland and David Horowitz. It might have been cold and dark outside, but inside we were warmed by their words.

It is a distinct honor to be host to such a wonderful group of local writers--2012 WA State Book Award Winner Christine Deavel and the multi-talented, ever-prize winning Molly Tenenbaum are on tap for March, followed by Poetry Northwest editor Kevin Craft and the delightful (and multitasking) Katharine Ogle in April.

I am heartened to curate this series at a venue where both newcomers and regulars can join together once a month to share in the simple pleasure of listening.  I've come to look forward to Betty Jean's recitation of Hafiz during the open mic that follows the featured readers, and to hear what Helen has been working on since our last gathering (last night it was a villanelle, her first).

If you haven't yet made the pilgrimage to The Station, consider checking it out on March 13 and/or April 10.

David Horowitz shares poems about the middle east, Seattle snowstorms, and the virtues of scotch tape,

Joannie Stangeland, who donates all proceeds from her books to Cancer Care Alliance, reads poems
about a friend's bout with cancer.

Note: As Nick Flynn will be reading for Seattle Arts & Lectures the 2nd Wednesday in February, 2/13, there will NOT be a Beacon Bards reading that night; I invite you instead to purchase a ticket to hear Flynn read at Benaroya Hall. A memoirist and poet, Nick Flynn is the author of the hugely successful Another Night in Suck City, along with several books of poetry, including Ether.