WAUKESHA – On Wednesday, March 26, The Poetry People, a group of local Wisconsin poets, will sound the advance of National Poetry Month (April) with a performance at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. They will hold a reading at 7:00 p.m. in the student lounge in the Commons, 1500 N. University Dr., Waukesha.
The presentation is part of the Visions & Expressions series sponsored by the campus University Convocations Committee and is open to the public at no charge.
The Poetry People met in a poetry workshop taught at UW-Waukesha by Phil Zweifel, associate professor of English and associate dean, and formed a performance troupe. Since April, 1997, they have appeared occasionally at venues in Waukesha, Oconomowoc, and Brookfield.
Each member brings a different life story to poetry-writing. Many are members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, and all are eager to share their joy of poetry with an audience.
Ten of the 14 affiliated poets expect to read at the performance March 26, and lecturer in English Sheila Griffin will introduce them. They are:
Paula D. Anderson, Wales, has had her work appear in many literary magazines, such as Plainsongs, Fox Cry Review, Free Verse, and the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar. She is the author of Electrified Hair: Epigrammatic Poetry.
Barbara Bach-Wiig, Waukesha, retired from working as speech/language pathologist to the fun of creating poems, some published. She enjoys combining words, language, and people. Her poems are short, deep, and frequently ironic.
Shirley Blanchard, Wales, has written four books of poetry: Your Funny Bone is Where?, Buffalo and Butterflies, Fly Your Own Kite, and Writing is Cheaper than Therapy. Her work has appeared in Chrysanthemum and the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, and she writes for Center Line, a newsletter focusing on nature and the environment.
Nancy Gregersen, Waukesha, dabbles in a variety of creative endeavors, from photography and drawing to poetry-writing. She reflects on nature and the joys and conundrums of life and has produced one chapbook, Alive, Awake, Aware, Amused.
Kathy Grieger, Menomonee Falls, an award-winning poet, hopes to introduce a program for women with epilepsy and has been using her poetry as a way to teach at hospitals.
Ramon Klitzke, Waukesha, grew up in Chicago and spent time in Indiana, New York, and Texas before moving to Wisconsin to teach law at Marquette University. Now retired, he writes free verse, often focusing on an unusual character or on nature, particularly that which he finds at his cabin near Rhinelander.
Robert Kokan, Ottawa, identifies with the poets of the 1950’s beat generation, exploring shadows, corners, dark alleyways, and dreams.
Katy Phillips, Waukesha, a grandmother and retired teacher, has found new voice in poetry, having studied it at UW-Waukesha and at the Clearing in Door County. She travels, investigates her Celtic heritage, and publishes some of her work.
Betty Irene Priebe, Waukesha, prepared herself for poetry after retirement with a career in visual arts. She has published work in Free Verse, Chrysanthemum, calendars, and anthologies.
Ann Strong, Pewaukee, writes introspectively and with passion, inspiring her fellow poets. Her free verse delves love and spirituality and she writes about people who have touched her life.
In addition to their performance at UW-Waukesha, The Poetry People have scheduled two more appearances in celebration of National Poetry Month in April. They will be at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop in Brookfield on April 2 and at the Waukesha Public Library on April 9. |
