WordTemple on KRCB-FM
3rd Wednesday at 7 PM
Alissa Valles and Bill Vartnaw
Wednesday, January 18 at 7 pm
"A gifted American poet with an unusually international sensibility." This is how Edward Hirsch describes Alissa Valles, a poet who was born in Amsterdam, grew up in the U.S. and the Netherlands and studied in London, Poland, Russia and the U.S. Tonight Valles reads from her collection, Orphan Fire, poems that explore the way a soul navigates the temporary dwelling in the body. Organized as a triptych, Orphan Fire is structured around the journey from entry to death. "Valles' poems refuse to be extinguished, they glow, they illuminate the fringes of our fear and celebrate our courage and frailty as we grope in the dusk searching for ways to be more human." — Jimmy Santiago Baca.
Also, Katherine Hastings speaks with Sonoma County's seventh Poet Laureate, Bill Vartnaw. Born and raised in Petaluma, Vartnaw is the founder of Taurean Horn Press and has published 14 books since 1974, including his own In Concern for Angels (1984). Vartnaw earned his MA in Poetics from New College of California. His work has appeared in various literary magazines.
Finally, a number of Sonoma County residents read some of their favorite humorous verse. Perhaps a little Ogden Nash, a little Wendy Cope. Tune in for some serious, and not so serious, poetry on WordTemple!
Listen Wednesday January 18th at 7 pm 
More information at wordtemple.com
Subscribe to the WordTemple Podcast!
WordTemple on KRCB features Northern California poet Katherine Hastings in discussion with poets and writers. The program showcases authors by presenting interviews and readings of their work, and exposes the KRCB community of listeners to a wide variety of voices and styles. Reconstructions highlighting the work of poets and writers posthumously will also be featured. From the Beats of San Francisco to Russia's Ratushinskaya, WordTemple will feature some of the most interesting work and stories in the world of literature.
More information at wordtemple.com
Also, Katherine Hastings speaks with Sonoma County's seventh Poet Laureate, Bill Vartnaw. Born and raised in Petaluma, Vartnaw is the founder of Taurean Horn Press and has published 14 books since 1974, including his own In Concern for Angels (1984). Vartnaw earned his MA in Poetics from New College of California. His work has appeared in various literary magazines.
Finally, a number of Sonoma County residents read some of their favorite humorous verse. Perhaps a little Ogden Nash, a little Wendy Cope.
On this WordTemple, Katherine Hastings introduces and plays the entire reading. Hughes is known primarily for his portrayals of black life in the 20s through the 60s - his work stands as a pillar of the Harlem Renaissance and was among the most important in shaping that movement. Hughes is also known for expressing the influence of jazz in his work.
All together, he authored over two dozen books of poetry and prose, 11 plays - including one co-authored with Zora Neale Hurston - and his autobiography, The Big Sea. He called his poems "down to earth," grown from his own life. Here, he reads his poems and gives extraordinarily interesting background to his work. Did you know that Hughes wanted to be a streetcar conductor as a child and that he didn't write his first poem until after he was nominated "class poet" in the 8th grade? This program offers lessons in history, poetry, politics, race and humor in this rare personal talk by one of America’s greatest.
Also, John Olivares Espinoza reads from his collection, The Date Fruit Elegies, his first full-length collection of poetry after his two chapbooks,
Aluminum Times and Gardeners of Eden.
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