By Michelle Haynes
I remember reading the poem “The Twa Corbies” in highschool:
As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane.
This anonymous tale from the 1700s left me wondering, “Why are you making me read this?!”
Poetry seemed like an “eat your vegetables” collection of unrelatable words. And this is coming from someone who loves words. I have a fondness [penchant] for my worn copy of “The Highly Selective Thesaurus for the Extraordinarily Literate.” As a child, I stowed away under the covers with a flashlight so I could read well past bedtime, and I preferred the company of a book in the quiet corner of the playground to being pummeled by a dodgeball. I just didn’t want to decipher poems.
But there were some poems that kept poetry within hugging distance. Shel Silverstein’s chore-avoiding master plan is to the point, relatable (and, in modern parlance, “actionable intelligence”):
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor—
Maybe they won’t let you
Dry the dishes anymore
And there’s Robert’s Frost’s reflections on choices:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Totally relatable; we all face the proverbial forks in the road that brought us to right here, right now.
And Ogden Nash’s “Tin Wedding Whistle” from the 1930s captures that gnawing anxiety of worrying why your loved one isn’t home yet, and the relief when they arrive safely:
And when you linger late in shops.
I long to telephone the cops.
Yet how worth the waiting for,
To see you coming through the door
Verses Among Canvases: Poetry at the Art Center
While some poetry leaves us mere mortals blank-faced, there are plenty of traditional and contemporary poems that resonate. Some poems feel like comfort food, while others ignite our fury. The art of poetry paints emotions just as acrylics and oils do. Poetry and visual art share a deep connection — both express emotions, tell stories, and capture moments in time, just through different mediums. Therefore, in February, we added the art of poetry to the CACB offerings and began hosting “Poetry at the Art Center.”
In this casual yet structured monthly meeting, we invite writers, readers, and listeners to just hang out, be human, and enjoy sharing poetry.
Writers:
Come and present your own poems. In addition to honoring us with your work, it’s helpful to experience presenting your poems. Get it out of your head, off the paper, and into the microphone. This includes song writers: come and read your lyrics to the group.
Readers:
Dig out that childhood poetry book or get a screen capture of your favorite Emily Dickenson piece, and read it to us! You don’t need to memorize anything, and you can read off your cell phone. Or, share your favorite song lyrics in a spoken format.
If you are consumed by stomach butterflies when you speak in front of others, this is a safe, short way to decrease your authentic fear of public speaking.
Listeners:
Having an audience matters. There is value in having guests who just want to experience that timeless vibe of hearing others read poetry.
Blooming Words: Join Our April Meeting
Join us on Wednesday, April 16, 6:30-8 to experience the art of words. The session is organized as three rounds that explore selected themes and poetic forms. Share in any or all of the rounds:
Round 1: Theme-based poems
April’s theme is “Bloom.” You choose what that means. You could read/write a poem about flowers, ideas, love. Or maybe it’s about blooming social injustice. Even algae blooms would qualify, if there are any biology poets out there!
Round 2: Explorations of form / technique
For April, we’re focusing on the literary techniques of Sound Devices, which poets use to convey and reinforce meaning. To find poems to share, simply ask your favorite web browser or AI assistant “Please help me find poems that feature sound devices.”
Round 3: Open choice finale
If you want to share a winter poem in July, go for it! Love reading “The Raven” out loud? Do it! (Time limit is two minutes, so choose your favorite stanzas.)
Come as You Are: Poetry Without Pressure
This adult (18+) group embraces poetry’s full range, from playful to profound. No experience is needed — just bring your love of language. We’ll even have poems on hand if you’d like to join in but haven’t brought your own. No critiques, no pressure — just the joy of experiencing poetry together.
And, as for those “Twa corbies” back in high school, forever pecking away at that dead and abandoned knight, I’ll be seeing you at this Halloween’s readings.
Michelle Haynes is a “sometimes” poet who leads the CACB poetry group. She is almost famous, as her father, Richard Deets, is the poet laureate of Dublin, California. She joined the CACB as an artist in the fall of 2024 and was nominated to the Board in January 2025. In her workshop, the Estella SheShop and Art Lounge, she reads poetry, chats with Claude AI, and crafts suncatchers and yard art. She also teaches the “Garden Charms” classes at the center.
