For as long as I can remember, I have written stories, song lyrics and poetry; what ever comes to mind. I have this itch, this craving to do this. The way I scratch that itch has taken a lot of different forms over the years. I don't know why, I just do.
So round about 1990 I came across a notice on a bulletin board at of all places, Meijer. It was an add for publishing poetry chapbooks and for a group of poets meeting in a library in Saginaw. I was...
interested, so I grabbed the little cut out tag for a phone number and called. The very nice lady sent me a flyer for the Saginaw Poets group. They were meeting next wednesday, bring a poem to read, join the fun.
So I thought about it, dug through a morass of poems and said, well why not. I went to that meeting, I knew no one there, had no idea what to expect. It was a leap into the local poetry world. I was just a kid writing poems. No really, I was about twenty years younger then most of the folks there. But you know what? I fit in and was accepted.
Those folks were just plain ol' good people. They loved writing poetry and anyone who shared their passion was welcomed. I admit I wasn't to sure about the whole thing, I felt like an outsider, but that was just me thinking again. These folks took me in, inspired me, helped me write better, challenged me. All with a cup of tea and cookie and how was your day attitude that was just awesome.
They wrote of the joys and sorrows of life with humor and honor and dignity; they loved to rhyme. There wasn't any angst, or protest or vehement statements of the inequities of life. No free form in your face kind of poetry, but pure, honest emotion that made sense. For a couple of years, it was just what I needed.
The Saginaw Poets of Now became the River Junction Poets. Everyone submitted a name and we chose my idea, river junction. I was honored. It is where the valley rivers meet, where the poets meet, where the ideas and hopes and dreams meet, at the junction.
The poets do all sorts of cool things within the community. They sponsor writing contests in the local schools and support art all across the valley. And on occasion, they gather someplace cool and do a poetry reading. I got to read a couple poems at this gathering, sold a few chapbooks of a collection of poems I had done, and had a great time.
You know, I have not really thought about that for a long, long time. I was digging through my mounds of scraps of paper, digging digitally through the old mac, and found a bunch of stuff from that time. I had continued to write poetry, but was trying my hand at short stories and forever working on a novel idea and kinda lost track of the time.
Those folks still meet up one night a month. Maybe it is time for me to go see some old friends, have a cup of tea, a cookie, and share in the joy of writing. Next meeting is in July . I think it is time.
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