Poets Salon: Fourth of July

POETS SALON

Apples, oil painting by Robert Stewart

– 06/30/21

Hosted by Kath Abela Wilson

Independence Day
dad’s bag at the door
leaving the union

~ Kath Abela

Ο Ο Ο

Dorothy Skiles, Parade 2012 (Photo – Bill Skiles)

Dorothy Skiles

Oh, Dad

Oh Dad, you picked a
mighty fine day to die
on the 4th of July!

You weren’t much
for parades, but you
sure loved those
homemade burgers
dripping with tangy
sauce and stuffed with
lots of pickles, and
a martini to boot!

Remember, when all
five of us kids stood
on Grandma’s front
porch watching with
wide eyes the fireworks
off Venice Pier?

You loved to shoot
off fireworks right
in the street -brilliant
colors that shone
in your eyes.
We’d top it off, with vanilla,
chocolate, strawberry
ice cream, life was so
much simpler then.

Oh Dad, you picked a
mighty fine day to die
on the 4th of July!

Ο Ο Ο

Village Poets in Fourth of July Parade (Photo – Village Poets)

Marlene Hitt

Those are not missiles
Up there in the sky.
Those are just fireworks.
It’s the fourth of July!
Sleep well all you people
War is not why
We celebrate those sparkles
Filling our sky.

Ο Ο Ο

Joe DeCemzo at Village Poets’ Fourth of July Parade in
Sunland – Tujunga (Photo – Village Poets)

Joe DeCenzo

From Sea to Shining Sea
(Honoring The Poem “Pike’s Peak” By Katharine Lee Bates)

Oh beautiful for hearts combined
That see beyond the gloom
Whose brothers crawl from every land
And know we still have room
America! America!
Thy bosom shall defend
The virtues of our ancestors
Against those who offend

Oh Beautiful for those who speak
Above the boisterous crowd
Crusading for the dignities
That all men are endowed
America! America!
For better or for worse
Whose amber waves and proud refrains
Deserve another verse

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Oh Beautiful for those few words
Those seldom heard in song
Reminding us of principles
That built our nation strong
America! America!
Forever shall we stride
To find our brothers arm in arm
Where liberties reside

Ο

Village Poets in Sunland -Tujunga Fourth of July Parade (Photo – Village Poets)

Fourth of July: Quotes and Credits

In 2020, Village Poets celebrated the 10th anniversary of its monthly readings at Bolton Hall with an anthology, edited by Marlene Hitt and Maja Trochimczyk, entitled ‘We\ Are Here: Village Poets Anthology’ and containing work by 80 poets, Many of whom have been featured in our Poets Salons.

Dorothy Skiles, the seventh Poet Laureate of Sunland Tujunga (2012-2014), has been writing poetry since her teenage years and claims that “poetry has always been in my blood.” The first poem she wrote was about her grandmother who died when Dorothy was fourteen years old. In 1970, Dorothy graduated from San Fernando Valley State College earning a B.A. in English. That same year she started her career with the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Social Services, and retired after 34 years of public service. While married, raising twin boys, and managing a career, Dorothy published her first chapbook entitled The Sidewalk Gallery (1979). Other chapbooks followed including Ear to Earth (1996), Spine Flower Blues (1999) – a collaborative effort with fellow members of the Chuparosa Writers of Sunland-Tujunga, and Riddle in the Rain (2003) – a joint venture with Marlene Hitt, former Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate.

Marlene Hitt was the first Poet Laureate of Sunland Tujunga (1999-2001). She has been a member of the Chupa Rosa Writers of Sunland-Tujunga and the Foothills since its inception in 1985. In addition to numerous poetry chapbooks, anthologies and readings, she has authored a non-fiction book Sunland-Tujunga, from Village to City. She serves at the Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga as Museum Director and docent. In addition to her poetry activities, she has served as history writer for the Foothill Leader, Glendale News Press, North Valley Reporter, and Voice of the Village newspapers, as well as the Shadow Hills Property Owners Association newsletter. She has been honored as the Woman of Achievement by the Business and Professional Women’s Club. She lives happily ever after with her husband Lloyd and an outdoor cat named Lautrémont. Her poetry collection Clocks and Water Drops was published by Moonrise Press in 2015.

Joe DeCenzo grew up in Los Angeles and majored in theater and English Literature. From 2004-06 he served as the third poet laureate of Sunland-Tujunga. He produced the Shouting Coyote performing arts festival and was a Department of Cultural Affairs grant recipient. His published works include The Ballad of Alley and Hawk and the Study Guide and Poetry Primer. His poems also appeared in Meditations on Divine Names anthology (2012) and on Village Poets blog. Joe currently serves on the planning committee for the Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga and as Chair of Poet Laureate Search Committee. In addition to his volunteer work for Village Poets, Joe DeCenzo was involved in developing or creating: 2002 Shouting Coyote Poetry Festival, 2004 Shouting Coyote Performing Arts Festival, 2005 Mother’s Day Brunch at Bolton Hall, and 2006 Commerce Ave Fair/Shouting Coyote Poetry Slam. A note on his poem included here, Joe says: ” I wrote original verses to go along with the verses written by Katherine Lee Bates that are the existing poem. I wrote the first second and sixth stanza. Bates wrote the third fourth and fifth.”

Ο

Send short poems, haiku, senryu, tanka, cherita haibun, tanka prose, short prose poems, etc., or your own unique approach, to Kath Abela (click here to email her directly) or via a Facebook message (@Kathabela).

1. Send directly in email or message, no attachments, except photos.
2. Suggest an original theme you would like to see, or consider:
   Openings, Taking care of one another, Encouragement, Good humor in challenging times, Consolations.
   
3. Send a short bio, and comments on the theme.
4. Send several photos or artwork by you, or a friend that would complement your writing if possible. Include one landscape (horizontal) photo or artwork.
   
5. We like to vary the poets, but please send every few months if you like, and contributions can be saved for later. Kath Abela will answer within a week from your sending.

End of article