Sonoma County Literary Update

Dear Literary Folk,

My husband and I have returned from our Rocky Mountain tour and revisit of the adventures we shared 45 years ago. The glaciers of the Canadian Rockies are still spectacular, though they are receding rapidly. As promised, here are a couple of side-by-side comparisons of these great ice-beings. We are lucky to share the planet with them, and I hope they will be with us for a while. Climatologists predict they may be gone by the end of the century. The top two photos are of Crow’s Foot Glacier. The bottom two are the Athabasca Glacier. Both are visible from the Icefield Parkway.





45 years ago, we traveled in a VW bug, camping most of the way. The trip took us from Pacific Grove to Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, then into Alberta as far as Jasper; we returned by way of British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, and down the California coast back to Monterey Bay. It took us 7 weeks. This recent trip was by bus and focused just on the Rocky Mountains. We flew into Calgary and out of Jackson Hole; we were on the road for 11 days.

One of the oddest things we saw was an historical display in Banff, which featured a VW bug packed with camping gear. There was also a canvas camping tent beside it. It made us laugh to think our VW adventure is now considered an historical artifact.



Bruce Johnson — In Memoriam
Bruce Johnson, renowned local sculptor and long-time resident of Sonoma County passed away during a tragic accident at his studio on February 14, 2023. Looking back over the posts in March–July, I found a lovely “In Memoriam” on the County News page, but I didn’t see a feature in the posts of the Literary Update to honor Bruce’s work and his influence in Sonoma County and beyond—an oversight I hope to amend here.

One of my favorite memories of my years at SRJC is the time Bruce Johnson demonstrated his sculpture technique as part of a three-day residency in 2001.He brought his chainsaw and a huge stump of salvaged old-growth redwood, and set to work in front of Analy Hall, right in the center of campus.

And then in 2005, I was lucky to be present at the installation of Poetry House, his collaboration with Elizabeth Herron, first at Paradise Ridge Winery, then at Sonoma State University. While Poetry House was installed at Paradise Ridge, I held several creative writing classes there. It’s a deeply inspirational space, which Bruce described as “an empty space where attention resides.”

Elizabeth Herron, the current poet laureate of Sonoma County and long-time friend of Bruce, wrote a short “pocket poem” upon learning of his passing: “Losing a dear friend/we must be brave/remembering/laughter through tears.”

For those who wish to learn more about Bruce, his life, and the incredible art he created (including Poetry House, the Sonoma County History Museum has included some links below.

Form and Energy: Bruce’s Website 
Press Democrat Article
Documentary by Kirsten Dirksen

Benefit for Sebastopol Center for the Arts
You are warmly invited to a sparkling evening of poetry & music, a Benefit for Sebastopol Center of the Arts on Sunday, August 6, at 6:00 pm. with eco-poets  Elizabeth Herron, Sonoma County’s current Poet Laureate, Maya Khosla, also a Sonoma County Laureate, and Raphael Block. There’ll be music with improvisational cellist, RutiCelli, accompanied by Paul Lamb on bass, and food and wine to celebrate the event and Raphael’s book launch!



Please buy your tickets here.

A Sampling of Other Upcoming August Literary Events
Napa Valley Writers’ Conference
This year’s conference runs from July 30 through August 4. While applications for the conference workshops are closed, the conference schedule also includes talks by faculty writers, special panels, and readings by the faculty at Napa Valley wineries and these readings, panels and lectures are open to the general public (for a fee). Each daytime event takes place on the Napa Valley College main campus, at 2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy, Napa, CA 94558. Tuesday’s evening event will be held at Silverado Winery.

EVENING READINGS
(McCarthy Library Courtyard, Napa Campus, Napa Valley College)
Tuesday, August 1, 6:30 pm – Victoria Chang & Crystal Wilkinson
Wednesday, August 2, 5:30 pm – Brenda Hillman & Lan Samantha Chang
Thursday, August 3, 6:30 pm – Robert Hass & featured participants

DAILY CRAFT TALKS
(Performing Arts Center, Napa Campus, Napa Valley College)
Tuesday, August 1, 9 am, Ilya Kaminsk; 1:30 pm, Peter Orner
Wednesday August 2, 9 am, Carl Phillips; 1:30 pm, Katie Crouch
Thursday, August 3, 9 am, Victoria Chan; 1:30 pm, Crystal Wilkinson

FREE DROP-IN COMMUNITY CLASSES
(Community room, McCarthy Library, Napa Campus, Napa Valley College)
Monday, July 31 – Friday, August 4: Poetry Encounter with Katie Farris 10:30 am
Monday, July 31 – Thursday, August 3: Guided Reading Class with Caroline Goodwin 4:30 pm

2023 PRICING for public admission
(tickets sold on-site prior to each Reading and Craft Talk)
Individual reading: $20
Individual craft talk: $25
Full week pass (all craft talks and readings): $275
Lectures-only pass (all 9 craft talks): $200
Readings-only pass (all 5 readings): $90
Single-day pass (two lectures and one reading): $65

Julia Park Tracey’s New Novel The Bereaved
Friday, August 18, 7:00 p.m. Copperfields Books welcomes local author Julia Park Tracey, featuring her new historical fiction novel The Bereaved. Based on the author’s research into her grandfather’s past as an adopted child, and the surprising discovery of his family of origin and how he came to be adopted, Julia Park Tracey has created a mesmerizing work of historical fiction illuminating the darkest side of the Orphan Train. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma. More information: www.copperfieldsbooks.com/event/julia-park-tracey-0

Mistakes Authors Make: A Presentation with Brent Ridgeway
I’ll bet we can all think of mistakes we’ve made in our writing lives, whether it’s sending our work to the absolute wrong kind of journal or acting on editing advice that ends up stealing the heart right out of our work. But there are also the lovely serendipitous mistakes that enrich our writing by freeing us from our conscious intentions. These might be typos, misheard words, handwriting so illegible we’re forced to make up the words we might have intended.

I’ve chosen a poem on this theme of mistakes as the poem for August. The poem comes with a surprising twist regarding the mistaken identity of its author. Scroll down for this.

To hear what Brent Ridgeway has to say about the mistakes writer’s make, join Redwood Writers Club on Saturday, August 19, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Ridgeway’s focus will be on Essential Steps for Achieving Success as an Author. The presentation will be at the Finley Center, Cypress Room, 2060 W College Ave, Santa Rosa. CWC members: $5; nonmembers: $10. Details and registration at: redwoodwriters.org.

Whether you are a published author or have always wanted to write, there’s a place for you at Redwood Writers, a branch of California Writers Club. New member enrollment is open from July 1 through September 30. For more information and to join: redwoodwriters.org/membership/join/

Rumi’s Caravan
Sunday, August 20, 7:30 p.m. Rumi’s Caravan Returns to the East Bay. An improvised poetic conversation with music. At Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley. All proceeds from the performance will support the work of the Middle East Children’s Alliance. Advance tickets, $25. Details and tickets: https://secure.thefreight.org/12750/rumis-caravan

Poem for August
On the theme of mistakes writers make, I found this poem, attributed to Jorge Luis Borges. On closer inspection (and in search of the Spanish text and translator), I discovered that this may not be by Borges at all. Possible authors include humorist Don Herold and Nadine Stair.

One online source offered this:

Spanish versions with the shape of a poem were wrongly attributed to Borges by literary magazines like Mexican Plural (May 1989, pages 4–5) and books (such as Elena Poniatowska‘s “Todo México”, page 144).

In December 2005, Irish pop singer Bono read in Spanish some of the lines of the poem on Mexican TV show Teletón México 2005 and attributed them to the “Chilean poet Borges.”

Of course, Borges was Argentinian, not Chilean, but the attribution error was so extended that even the poet and scholar Alastair Reid translated one of the Spanish versions into English under the belief that it was a work from Borges. Reid’s translations starts,

If I were able to live my life again,

next time I would try to make more mistakes.

I would not try to be so perfect.
I would be more relaxed.

I would be much more foolish than I have been. In fact,

I would take very few things seriously.

I would be much less sanitary.

Whoever the author and translator might be, here is a poem celebrating making more mistakes.

Moments: If I Could Live My Life Again
(incorrectly) attributed to Jorge Luis Borges

If I could live my life again
I’d try to make more mistakes,
I wouldn’t try to be so perfect,
I’d be more relaxed,
I’d be more true-to-life than I was.

In fact, I’d take fewer things seriously,
I’d be less hygienic,
I’d take more risks,
I’d take more trips,
I’d watch more sunsets,
I’d climb more mountains,
I’d swim more rivers,
I’d go to more places I’ve never been,
I’d eat more ice cream and less lima beans,
I’d have more real problems and fewer  imaginary ones.

I was one of those people who live prudent
and prolific lives each minute of their existence.
Of course, I did have moments of joy
yet if I could go back I’d try
to have good moments only.

In case you don’t know what life is made of,
only moments; don’t miss the now.

I was one of those who never
go anywhere, without a thermometer,
without a hot-water bottle,
without an umbrella,
without a parachute.

If I could live again
I’d travel light,
I’d try to work barefoot,
from spring to fall.
I’d ride more carts,
I’d watch more sunrises,
play with more kids,
if I could live my life again.

But now I am 85,
and I know I am dying.

Source: : https://fabricegrinda.com/moments-by-jorge-luis-borges/

Poema atribuido a Borges, pero cuyo real autor sería Don Herold o Nadine Stair.

Si pudiera vivir nuevamente mi vida,
en la próxima trataría de cometer más errores.
No intentaría ser tan perfecto, me relajaría más.
Sería más tonto de lo que he sido,
de hecho tomaría muy pocas cosas con seriedad.
Sería menos higiénico.
Correría más riesgos,
haría más viajes,
contemplaría más atardeceres,
subiría más montañas, nadaría más ríos.
Iría a más lugares adonde nunca he ido,
comería más helados y menos habas,
tendría más problemas reales y menos imaginarios.

Yo fui una de esas personas que vivió sensata
y prolíficamente cada minuto de su vida;
claro que tuve momentos de alegría.
Pero si pudiera volver atrás trataría
de tener solamente buenos momentos.

Por si no lo saben, de eso está hecha la vida,
sólo de momentos; no te pierdas el ahora.

Yo era uno de esos que nunca
iban a ninguna parte sin un termómetro,
una bolsa de agua caliente,
un paraguas y un paracaídas;
si pudiera volver a vivir, viajaría más liviano.
Si pudiera volver a vivir
comenzaría a andar descalzo a principios
de la primavera
y seguiría descalzo hasta concluir el otoño.
Daría más vueltas en calesita,
contemplaría más amaneceres,
y jugaría con más niños,
si tuviera otra vez vida por delante.

Pero ya ven, tengo 85 años…
y sé que me estoy muriendo.

Source: https://www.poemas-del-alma.com/instantes.htm

___________

Terry Ehret
Co-editor, Sonoma County Literary Update