The Poet’s Corner: Food for the Soul | Entertainment

Fifteen courageous, masked and aloof poets and writers gathered at the Yountville Community Hall on January 8 to view poetry as food for the soul.

“Every moment is a new beginning.” – TS Elliot

John Petraglia led a discussion on poetic ways of imagining hope, gratitude, new beginnings and community. Our objective for the afternoon was to fashion a found poem. The poets offered a line or two of their poems. John would take these lines and shape a poem. This found verse will be placed in the 500 bags distributed to the Napa Food Bank. Thanks to Copy Corner in Napa for free printing of the poems.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not for speaking words but for living according to them.” John kennedy

Alan Arnopole has chanted songs to inspire verse. Some shared their drafts with a poet next to them. Other writers were very silent, waiting for the muse to urge them to shape a line. I was so impressed with these talented writers and the inspiring verses they created.

“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and thought has found its words.” – Robert Frost

Here is the found poem that John Petraglia created and the wonderful poets mentioned below who contributed to this verse. What a joy to be in the presence of such soul feeders.

New Beginnings: Poetry is Food for the Soul

With the glow of the silver moon quarter

one foot forward, another follows

At night we see stars from distant galaxies

light frees darkness

Early dawn breaks the darkness

so it’s time to savor

more nutritious when shared

In a whirlwind of bright colors

radiate the love of the sun, the earth, the sky

embrace the gifts of nature

mustard blooms under the vines

mountains flooded with greenery

preferring like me the whole alive

I see how I hear moving in the flow

knowing that intonation can change reality

forward the road full of hope

Contributing poets included John Petraglia, Linda Kay Murphy, Cathy Carsell, Alan Arnopole, Eileen Tabios, Lance Burris, Joan Osterman, Robin Gabbert, John Armstrong, Jim McDonald, Suzanne Bruce, Kathy Edwards, Bill Murphy.

“The hope is to be able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu,