The Holidays always makes me think about family, those living and those lost. I am fortunate to have a sister with whom I am close and a husband who sometimes knows me better than I know myself. Both of my parents died too young. I find that the rituals I engage in at this time have roots in my childhood; the ornaments I put on my tree, the "London Fogs" we drink as we open presents Christmas morning. But the longing I have for my mother and father is strongest at Christmas time. I turn to poetry to help me understand the connection with family and the loss of parents. I was reading Terrance Hayes' poem, Arbor for Butch in this month's APR and remembered how complicated family really is. Although I do not have children of my own, feeling the link between generations is as fundemental as our DNA. Poetry must be in our DNA. I like to think so.

The Skagit River Poetry Project began years ago so that our area students could learn from working, real life poet professionals. Students at the heart has always been our main focus and the Festival was the natural extension. Since 1998 when education leaders convinced community leaders to support the idea of a Skagit River Poetry Project, thousands of area kids have been touched by poets. Poetry has become something that is alive and relevant to our rural students and audiences. We have been fortunate to bring nationally known poets like Billy Collins and Jane Hirshfield to our community and we continue this important work even in the face of large budget cutbacks. By offering fewer poets at the Festival and more poetry events in the community, this helps us be less dependent on grants. We are committed to maintain the quality of past Festivals and school projects this cycle with the help of our community of passionate poetry lovers.
Please consider a tax-deductible end of the year contribution. Checks made out to Friends of the Poetry Project and sent to LA Conner School District, PO Box 2103, La Conner, WA 98257, ATT: David Cram
Thank you

I was reading a quote from Stanley Kunitz yesterday where he said, "Poetry is the medium of choice for giving our most hidden self a voice--the voice behind the mask that all of us wear." And I was thinking about those masks and how poetry helps to keep me honest, to myself and to those around me. I think the writing and reading of poetry is a leveling field for our emotional interaction with our world. It's one that can make things clear and define how we find our way in the world.
Write a poem today and share it.
Here's mine:

Winter Walk

It's a celery day
that snaps
and clears my head
from the grog of yesterday's rain.
Color glitters.
I walk until there never was
the unlifted fog or Skagit drizzle
Just the sound of wintering swans.