The Origami Poems Project at the Towers of Narragansett
Sunday afternoon, April 21, 2013
The Origami Poems Project was honored to present poetry & art at the renowned Towers of Narragansett. This free event was made possible by Event Coordinator, Kate Vivian's kind invitation to the OPP. We had the support of many friends and colleagues who gave their time (to fold micro-chapbooks, greet guests, photograph poets) & their resources (refreshments, wine, chocolates!) to make the afternoon a unique pleasure.
We also want to thank Adam Slater of Slater Design for his eye-catching poster artwork.
(Visit our Photos & Slideshow page for slo-motioned highlights.)
Towers Celebration Micro-chapbooks - the story
A young woman, Jen Slater, who attended the event was so moved by the experience she went home and wrote a poem for us.
This prompted our call to other poets asking for "Poems Inspired by the Towers Event."
Enjoy the results below.
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Most of the poets included in these special editions have previously published Origami micro-chapbooks. Their bios and additional work can be seen under the 'Pick a Poet' menu. Here are brief bios of the non-OPP contributors:
- Jen Slater teaches 6th grade English and social studies in Franklin, MA. She currently lives in North Attleboro, MA,
- but will always call Rhode Island (and it's glorious beaches) home.
- Pat LaRose is a librarian, actress, birdwatcher, and member of Ocean State Poets. Her poems have been published
- in "Balancing the Tides", the Loft Anthology 2012 Winners, and the 10th Anniversary anthology of the Block Island
- Poetry Project "Where Beach Meets Ocean". She is happy to join the community of poets at the OPP.
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Origami Micro-chapbook |
Selected Poems |
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In Poetry and Verse
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Photo by Richard Benjamin
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{mooblock=Sleight Of Hand}
the free-fall ride {mooblock=The Towers, 2013}
On 4/17 folks went to The Towers
to listen to poets for a couple of hours.
There was Chandler, Dennigan, Dolphin and Brown
who read poem after poem, all winners, hands down!
The cupcakes and cookies were really delicious.
The wine was delightful, the occasion auspicious.
'Twas Poetry Month, a cause celebre
and on this spring day, bon mots filled the air.
We sat in the round, overlooking the beach,
thoroughly enjoying Origami's outreach. •
Helen M. D'Ordine © 2013
{/mooblock} {mooblock=Haiku}
poets fill the room
their poems like prayer flags encircle us all
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Pat LaRose © 2013
{/mooblock} {mooblock=Haiku}
waves remind the shore
of promises to return footsteps wash away
semi-circle chairs
poet’s podium aligned words remind the world
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O.R Gami © 2013 {/mooblock} {mooblock=I AM Not A Poet}
I am not a poet
I do not like Discussing the weight of words Or The way his voice melted, velvet As he read about the mother he lost When he was eight I find black coffee Intolerable And had to look up the word superfluous In the dictionary yesterday And yet there is comfort When ink tattoos blank pages Fills vacant spaces
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Jen Slater © 2013 {/mooblock} |
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On a reading of poems at the Towers
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Photo by Richard Benjamin
- by kind permission - //richardbenjamin.zenfolio.com |
{mooblock=Opening Lines}
They come slowly up, swim
reddened seas to get here. The night before they could not sleep, eyes fixed on feckless words, lines criss-crossed, passed over, tossed into black wastebaskets, declarations unsaid. Some things are not meant to be read. They’ll force a galaxy into an ocean, sunrise into the glow of a clock, a great wave of sighs into the kiss goodnight.
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Beatrice Lazarus © 2013 |
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{mooblock=Acknowledgments}
We thank photographer, Richard Benjamin, for his ongoing permission to use photos of the RI landscape
for our Origami micro-chapbook covers.
See more of his inspiring work at //richardbenjamin.zenfolio.com - LINK
{/mooblock} |
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