100 Thousand Poets for Change – Racine

100 TPC - Asheville graphic

Two years ago Barbara Gravelle and I helped organize a 100 Thousand Poets for Change event at The Downtown Market Asheville. The evening was memorable on so many levels. Reading poetry with long-time friends and poets, reuniting with other poets and meeting new poets were highlights of that night. It also marked the beginning of a long farewell to my adopted hometown.

A lot has happened in two years. Relocation. New employment. New material written. New material published. And so on.

This year I will join Nick Demske and other Racine, Wisconsin poets at the May’d Ent Buidling for the 2015 100 Thousand Poets for Change global event. The Wisconsin poets and writers in Racine and Milwaukee (and other places in between) are talented and engaged.

Saturday night’s 100 Thousand Poets for Change at the May’d Ent Building (433 Main Street, Racine, WI) should be an exciting event of poetry and more. Doors open 5:30 p.m., but get there early and hangout with new friends.

Found poem commemorating AVL 100TPC 2013

As promised last week, here is a found poem I constructed based on the poets who read at the Asheville 100 Thousand Poets for Change event.

Poem for 28 September, 2013

Do not wonder when I say it directly to your ear,[1]
“I am writing a letter to my dead sister. . . “[2]

We anticipate the leap into freedom. [3]
We make our vows in the beach dunes. [4]
We need visual signs of healing. [5]

All that remains is the small few. . . [6]
A home where the family never can return. [7]

They sold their own inheritance. . . [8]
And must return to the center. . . to learn more. . . [9]
It is possible to have everything. . . or at least twenty dollars. . . [10]

NOTES: Each line in this found poem is from the following poets who read at the Asheville 100 Thousand Poets for Change event on September 28, 2013.

[1] Britt Kaufmann
[2] Barbara Gravelle
[3] Steve Brooks
[4] Jeff Davis
[5] Jessica Newton
[6] Jeff Davis
[7] Caleb Beissert
[8] Britt Kaufmann
[9] Jessica Newton
[10] Brian Sneeden

100TPC Quote Brian Sneeden

100TPC QUOTE Sneeden

From 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville, a quote from a poem by Brian Sneeden: “It is possible to have everything… or at least twenty dollars…”

100TPC Quote Britt Kaufmann

100TPC QUOTE Kaufmann

From 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville, a quote from a poem by Britt Kaufmann: “They have sold their own inheritance…”

100TPC Quote Caleb Beissert

100TPC QUOTE Beissert

From 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville, a quote from a poem by Caleb Beissert: “A home where the family never can return…”

100TPC Quote Jessica Newton

100TPC QUOTE Newton

From 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville, a quote from a poem by Jessica Newton: “We needed visual signs of healing…”

100TPC Quote Barbara Gravelle

100TPC QUOTE Gravelle

From 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville, a quote from a poem by Barbara Gravelle: “I am writing a letter to my dead sister… “

100TPC Quote Jeff Davis

100TPC QUOTE Davis

From 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville event last weekend, a quote from a poem Jeff Davis read: “We made our vows in the beach dunes…”

100TPC Quote Steve Brooks

100TPC QUOTE Brooks

If you missed the 100 Thousand Poets for Change Asheville event last weekend, quotes from each poet will be featured here. The first quote is from a poem Steve Brooks read: “We anticipate the leap into freedom…”

This week in Asheville, 100 Thousand Poets for Change

100TPCAVL Web Poster
Just a few more days until the Asheville 100 Thousand Poets for Change event!

Join Caleb Beissert, Steve Brooks, Jeff Davis, Davon Dunbar, Barbara Gravelle, Shanita Jackson, Britt Kaufmann, Matthew Mulder, Jessica Newton and Brian Sneeden at Sly Grog Wine and Beer Lounge (The Downtown Market, 45 South French Broad Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina), Saturday, September 28, 2013, 7 PM – 9 PM.