April Is the Coolest Month...

Because it's National Poetry Month!

Hello, fellow poets and poetry lovers of Santa Cruz County. There is much poetry news to share, but first, this bit of excitement: For days, we’ve been listening to the call of a bird we didn’t recognize – a sharp, loud, wicka-wicka-wicka that rises and falls in volume, occasionally interspersed with a rapid drumming. My daughter-in-law said it sounded like we were living in the jungle. I finally got a good look with binoculars and saw a beautiful, buff-colored bird covered with black spots, sporting a red head patch, a black mustache and bib. I ran for my Sibleys. Hello, Northern Flicker! While I’ve read that they are not rare in this area, it was the first time I’ve seen one and I felt that flicker of excitement (yes, pun intended) one gets when they discover something entirely new in the world. True confession – I am only a wannabe-birder, but I still get a thrill every time I successfully identify a new bird. It’s like when I discover some new insight about poetry (because I will always be a student of craft) or I fall in love with a new poet or poems and want to share them with friends.

And that’s what I hope this newsletter is all about: my opportunity to share with you the poetry news and events from around Santa Cruz County (and sometimes beyond).

And so we’re off…

Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home - Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm - (THIS IS TODAY!)

Join a panel reading, discussion, and conversation with poets featured in the book “Latino Poetry: The Library of American Anthology” on Saturday, April 5 from 1-3pm at the Watsonville Main Library. This program will be both in-person and virtual.

Local poets Aideed Medina, Christopher Rendon, and Sara Santistevan will read their poems alongside Aldo Amparán, Natalia Treviño, and Laura Villareal who appear via Zoom. The poets will be in conversation with Adela Najarro about Latinidad and the places we call home. Register here.

To attend virtually the Zoom link is: https://bit.ly/3PTFBvK

Also, visit the Círculo de poetas & Writers event page for more information - here.

April 10^th Is Poem in Your Pocket Day.

Every April, people celebrate this day by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others throughout the day at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, and on social media using the hashtag #PocketPoem. Join us in celebrating Poem in Your Pocket Day this year! Details at: https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day

I always have a hard time choosing just one poem to share with others – but I think this year I’ll share “Small Kindnesses” by Santa Cruz County’s Poet Laureate Emeritus Danusha Lameris. Please let me (and others) know what poem you plan to share in the notes below.

April 14 from 7-8 pm Poet Laureate Celebration with Farnaz Fatemi & Nancy Miller Gomez

I have the great honor of reading at Bookshop Santa Cruz with Farnaz Fatemi, our outgoing Poet Laureate. Please join me in celebrating all of her wonderful achievements over the past two years and help me step into my new role! There will be food and wine on hand (although nothing gloppy – because it is a bookstore). Register for the event here.

Tuesday, April 15 · 7 - 9 pm Inter/Act Spoken Word and Poetry at Satori Arts - Winter in America (Again: Poets Respond to 2024 Election)

Join poet-editors Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs (from Seattle) and Roxi Power, along with contributors Dane Cervine, Julia Chiapella, Veronica Eldredge, Dion O’Reilly, and David Sullivan. Over 100 poets responded with nuance, compassion and a long view of the road ahead for our democracy.

April 16, 5:30 PM - The World Language Poetry Showcase

The public is invited to hear young people recite poems in multiple languages and view posters created by young language ambassadors. The event will be in the multi-purpose room at Soquel High from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm. The program will include poetry recitations and poster presentations in multiple languages. There will be participants from Watsonville High, Soquel High, Harbor High, and PCS.

April 17, 7 PM Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate Celebration

The Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate program (SCCYPL), in partnership with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, is thrilled to announce the 2025-26 Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate Celebration event to take place April 17, 2025 at 7 pm, at Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College (Aptos). The event will celebrate teen poets, with poetry readings from the outgoing SCCYPL Dina Lusztig Noyes, other members of the outgoing cohort, and the five incoming 2025-26 finalists. The event is free and open to the public, with reservations and more information here. Free food and beverages precede the 7 pm start.

Congratulations to the 2025-26 finalists:

Sylvi Kayser, Aptos High School;

Mason Leopold, San Lorenzo Valley High School;

Finn Maxwell, San Lorenzo Valley High School;

Noemi Romero, Pajaro Valley High School; and

Xander Shulman, Santa Cruz High School.

April 26 - Library Festival – Meet Me at the New Downtown Library!

1-4 PM at the Corner of Cedar and Lincoln Streets.

You’re invited to an immersive visit to the future Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library The site of the new library will be transformed for one incredible afternoon of fun!

Music - Food Trucks - family-friendly activities and Poetry! Please come say hello and create a cento or an erasure poem with me! There will be a prize for the best poems (and I’ll include them in my next newsletter!).

Explore FREE library programs and hands-on activities for children, teens, and adults –From poetry to puzzles, local history to bubbles, to borrowing things that are nothing like a book – you’ll discover something you never knew you could do in the library! More info here.

Monthly Reading Series:

Inter/Act Spoken Word and Poetry at Satori Arts

Every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Free. At Satori Arts, 815 Almar, #9, Santa Cruz (warehouse building near the back, follow signs).

Share your spoken word work or poetry with the community and support local poets! Sign up to read starting at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit www.maginei.com/openmic.

Mic Drop THROWS DOWN THE MONTHLY OPEN MIC

The last SUNDAY NIGHT of the Month - 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at The 418 Project 155 South River Street Downtown Santa Cruz

Workshops: etc.:

Every Monday, from 4:-5:30 The Santa Cruz Poetry Project

A poetry workshop for “anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.” The workshops are held in the Life Literacies Center at the downtown Santa Cruz library.

The Santa Cruz Poetry Project, which offers these weekly workshops, also brings poetry to incarcerated members of our community through the Poetry in the Jails program that has been offering poetry workshops to incarcerated women and men throughout Santa Cruz County since 2015.

Poetry Series with Magdelena Montagne: How to Write a Political Poem

Boulder Creek Library - April 5, 2025, 2-4 pm; Garfield Park Library, April 7, 5-7 pm.

Click Here - for a complete schedule to library workshops

Tuesday, April 8, 6:30-8:00 pm - Happy Ink: Crafting Poetry From Simple Pleasure

A Poetry Workshop led by Kimberly Gomes at the Capitola Library. If you’re ready to mine inspiration from simple pleasures and the everyday, then this workshop is for you. In this generative workshop, we’ll get inspiration from other writers and dive into some sensory-driven writing prompts. Writers will walk away with both a new poem, as well as writing exercises to dive into, Info here.

April 12, 2-4 pm - Teen Poetry Workshop - with Madeline Aliah

Tinkering with the Tarot, Felton Library Teen Room

April 28, Capitola Library, noon to 1 p.m. The Spoken Experience: A Lunchtime Learning Series: READING POEMS TOGETHER

Come join a community of readers who meet on the 4th Monday of each month to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers. Discussions facilitated by Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn. Registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome.

April's conversation focuses on the poems of Mary Oliver. Information here.

Please let me know if I’ve missed anything, and please keep me apprised of any other upcoming events so I can share them with our community.

But now, it’s late… and sleep beckons. So that’s a wrap for now. I hope to see you at one of these events.

Thanks for reading The Elegant Turn! Please feel free to share, and subscribe for free to receive new posts.

Yours in Poetry,

Nancy