On October 29th, WNBA-NYC and TTN (The Transition Network) co-hosted an evening of poetry, exploring “life through the female gaze.” Harriet Shenkman, poet-in-residence at TTN and the academic liaison at WNBA served as moderator and participant. She started the evening with a quote from Louise Gluck, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Gluck’s quote, “The advantage of poetry over life is that poetry, if it is sharp enough, may last,” set the tone for the night. The widely-published, participating poets went on to show the world from many vantage points.
The Poets and their Poetry
Poets who read included Shenkman, Marilyn D. Berkman, Carla Carlson, author of the chapbook Love and Oranges, Kimberly Nunes, who recently completed her first manuscript of poems, and Diane Schenker.
Harriet Shenkman
Shenkman’s publications include two chapbooks from Finishing Line Press, The Present Abandoned and Teetering. She read poems exploring the Daughter/Mother bond and poems written since the pandemic.
Marilyn D. Berkman
Marilyn D. Berkman, a freelance editor and UN representative for WNBA, has had a well-earned year of poetic success at the Comstock Review, the Journal of Undiscovered Poets, and other publications. She continues to explore the complexity of relationships.
Carla Carlson
Carla Carlson (also published by Finishing Line Press) teaches at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence. She read poems exploring illness and a new awareness of the quotidian moments of life.
Kimberly Nunes
Kimberly Nunes’s reading touched on the sights and sounds of New York, though she now lives in Northern California (blessings of Zoom). She holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence and has published widely.
Diane Schenker
Also published widely, Diane Schenker’s recent poems appear in Pen and Brush, No. 4. The author of a chapbook, Relation/Couch/Dreaming, she delved into housekeeping in its broadest sense.
Impressions
Laurel Stokes, who just completed her spectacular, long term as WNBA-NYC’s President, moderated an enthusiastic Q/A. TTN’s Barbara Stahura and Shawndra Card-Grant were thrilled to partner with WNBA, and generously shared remarks made by attendees:
Lovely poets presented some of their work – all impressive – and very willing to respond to ‘audience’ questions etc. Very enjoyable hour+
Tonight was great! thank you – would love to see more of this. Your high number of participants would echo my thoughts.
I am a novice poet who not only liked the diverse poetry but also the practical tips on how to develop your own style. I know it’s work to put these things together so thanks again.
More events like this, please.
We echo these sentiments, I’m sure. As for me, I went home and wrote a poem.
May poetry, written, read, and spoken, sparkle and illuminate our New Year as we see the world through literary lenses and the spirit of collaborative expansion.
Looking to attend more WNBA-NYC Virtual Events? Register for our next panel on March 4th — Reading & Writing Fiction in a Time of Crisis!
For more information about writing and meditation classes (now virtual), contact Sheila at sheilaklewis@gmail.com
Sheila Lewis is a longtime WNBA member. She is a freelance writer, editor, writing coach, and meditation teacher.
