Nancy Simpson and Janice Townley Moore
Janice Townley Moore read poems from the anthology, most of them related to sounds of birds, for example, “ Songbird” by John Brehm, which she said was one of the best poems in the book. Moore also read “Cardinal” by Bruce Bond, and she read her poem, “Teaching the Robins,” which is the title poem of her chapbook, published at Finishing line Press. “Teaching the Robins,” gives the reader an image of an English teacher attempting to teach the grief poetry of Emily Dickinson to the students in her classroom.
Nancy Simpson read several poems from the anthology, including Linda Pastan’s “The Birds,” and Gray Jacobik’s “ Flamingos.” She also read , “Cranes in August,” by Kim Addonizio and she dedicated the crane poem to poet Maren O. Mitchell who is a proficient poet as well as accomplished at making paper cranes. Nancy Simpson read her poem chosen for the anthology titled, “Carolina Bluebirds.”
The editors of THE POETS GUIDE TO THE BIRDS presented 151 contemporary American poets. Nancy Simpson said, “This is a different kind of field guide. You see a bird but when you look it up in this “poet’s guide”, you will find ten poems listed under Cardinal, thirteen under Crow, only one under Carolina Bluebird, and only one under Nuthatch and so on. Twenty-five poems are listed under Birdsong/Sound.
Editor Ted Kooser expressed the hope that “readers will enjoy this book just half as much as if they’d actually seen all the birds these poems represent.”
Poets attending Coffee With the Poets read their original poems in the open mic reading. Some of those poets celebrating birds were: Karen Holmes, Carole Thompson, Brenda Kay Ledford, Ellen Andrews, Maren O. Mitchell, Ann Cahill, Linda Smith and Glenda Barrett.
Poet Maren O. Mitchell
Poet Karen Holmes
Poet Glenda Barrett, author of WHEN THE SAP RISES, Finishing Line Press
To order a copy of THE POETS GUIDE TO THE BIRDS: www.anhinga.org or www.amazon.com or contact Phillips and lloyd Bookstore in Hayesville, NC.
