February 2nd (Groundhog day) meeting

Well, we keep drawing new folks to our poetry event, adding our first two "Johns" to the list, but we only had one of our regulars show up. Perhaps because we had it in a new room (Meeting Room C) and I did not have a chance to call others with all our programs going on during African American History Month. It's even taking me almost 2 weeks to post minutes to the meeting, so I apologize for that (but the AA History Month programs have been great!).

John and John (not related, but both musicians) brought some new perspectives to our poetry group. John (or "Juan") the percussionist gave us some great Native American vision quest poems written is his favorite form (not a sestina, but if you come to the next meeting you can ask him yourself). They both have a lively musical quality to them as well as excellent natural and, sometimes, supernatural images. John the singer/songwriter, who is more of a novelist than a poet but wanted to get some perspective on the poems he has written, showed us a couple of his poems. One depicted an ancient hex on a sailor in a dark and disturbing way; the other showed a loving, melancholy longing for youth and the times he had. Great efforts all around, guys!

Diane, our lone regular, brought a couple of her poems including one about a rascally squirrel and her bird lady neighbor. She's always finding characters to write about and bring to life through her rhymes and this was no small effort of hers.

Thanks to all who showed- we hope you all can make it for the Open Mic on 2/19 from 6:30-8 and our next Poetry Group on 3/2 from 7-8 p.m. Keep writing!