The guitar and vocals of David Partch greeted arrivals at the Hill House for the 18th consecutive revival of the Mendocino Spring Poetry Celebration. This was a return to in-person fellowship, following three years of withdrawal to a radio-only platform due to the pandemic.

Armand Brint, Daniel Barth, and Michael Riedell, former Poets Laureate of Ukiah, arrived from over the hill to lend their dignities. Michael Riedell announced moves toward a county-wide Poet Laureate program.

Martin Hickel came from Marin and trundled food trays from harvest market for both sessions of the day’s performance marathon. Zia Cattalini tended the food table with elegance.

Bill Vartnaw came from Petaluma with his new book of work by the late great H. D. Moe, formerly a regular supporter of the Celebration. The display table was stocked with work by attendees, including copies of the May issue of Real Estate Magazine, with articles on the history of this annual poetry event.

Dan Roberts, as regular host of the two reading sessions, is recovering from surgery, so his office was fulfilled by a consortium of Michael Riedell, Janferie Stone, , and Joe Smith. Nonetheless, Dan is preparing recordings of the poetry for broadcast, as usual, beginning this Sunday June 18 at 3pm, at kzyx.org on his show Rhythm Running River, which alternates the poems with selections from world music.

Here are the 42 poet contributors for 2023; Joe Smith, Janferie Stone, Bill Bradd, Riantee, Noemi, Serafina, Armand Brint, Mother Bear Scott, Notty Bumbo, Mike Edwards, Sean Casey, Belvie Rooks, Tina Ballantine, David Partch, Kirk Lumpkin, Greg Randall, Devreaux Baker, Christopher Hills, Cindy Frank, Martin Hickel, Michael Riedell, Radek Toma, Marty Durlin, Bill Vartnaw, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick- Vrenios, Joe Bridgman, Zida Borcich, Maureen Eppstein, Janice Marcell, Mary Rose Kaczorowski, Bill Craig, Gordon Black, Bill Bruneau, Beth Spencer, Tory Quintero, Scott Croghan, Dan Barth, Jamie Armstrong, Zia Cattalini, Daniel Hess, Zen Way, Virginia Sharkey.

Thanks to Zida Borcich for dedicating the cultural banquette of the May issue of REM, the Real Estate Magazine, for poems. and articles about poetry, and the history of the Mendocino Spring Poetry Celebration. Pick up a free copy of REM and see the articles by Dan Roberts and Gordon Black.

I recall a happy encounter with two German poets checking in at the Hill House, who chanced to attend the unexpected show of northern California American poetry, and stayed on for both sessions. I’m pleased to think they got our best. Pick up a free copy of REM, or try https://realestatemendocino.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/REM-769-1.pdf.

In coming weeks at KZYX, Mendocino County Public Broadcasting each poet will be heard, presented in segues with music, in the format for which Dan Roberts has earned a leading reputation. Tune in!

Questions? Happily entertained at gblack@mcn.org.

Listen to the interview about the event with Marty Durlin.