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Byron-Bergen senior qualifies for Poetry Out Loud state competition

By Press Release

Press release:

On Feb. 15th, Senior Libby Piper and Sophomore Jade Wolff participated in the 2023 Poetry Out Loud Semifinal Competition held at Buffalo State University. The event was co-hosted by the Western New York Writing Project. Piper and Wolff had previously advanced to this round after winning the Byron-Bergen School-Level competition. During the event, they competed against students from around the Western New York area including schools such as Brighton High School, the Westfield Academy, and Jamestown High School.

During the first two rounds of the competition, the students were required to recite two poems: one poem needed to be 25 lines or fewer and the other must have been written before the 20th Century. Piper recited William E. Stafford's Traveling Through the Dark and Ella Wheeler Wilcox's Friendship After Love while Wolff recited Carl Sandburg's I am the People, the Mob and Edgar Allen Poe's To Helen. The students were evaluated on categories such as physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, and accuracy.

After the first two rounds, three students were selected to advance to the third round and recite a final poetry selection. Piper was selected and recited Jeffrey Skinner’s The Bookshelf of the God of Infinite Space. After the final scores were tabulated, Piper was named the Western New York champion.

With this award, Piper has earned the right to move on as one of only 20 students from the state of New York and compete in the Poetry Out Loud New York State Finals held at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, NY on March 11, 2023. The winner of this competition will advance to the 2023 Poetry Out Loud National Finals to be held May 8-10th in Washington, DC. 

Spoken word reading by Jason Irwin and Eric Zwieg plus open mic

By Howard B. Owens

The Glass Roots Family and Visual Truth Theater Ensemble presents spoken word readings by Jason Irwin and Eric Zwieg.

An open mic will follow the readings.

In the Glass Roots parking lot, 12 Center Street, Batavia.

Bring your own camping chair for seating.

Event Date and Time
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Poetry Month: Gregory Hallock reads poems by Annette Daniels Taylor

By Howard B. Owens
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Gregory Hallock, executive director of GO ART!, reads poems by Annette Daniels Taylor for National Poetry Month.

Poetry Month: Eric Zwieg reads 'Sometimes We Wake Transformed' by Jason Irwin

By Howard B. Owens
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Eric Zwieg, a writer and musician from Batavia, reads "Sometimes We Wake Transformed" by Jason Irwin for National Poetry Month.

Poetry Month: Bill Kauffman reads 'To a Siberian Woodsman' By Wendell Berry

By Howard B. Owens
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Elba resident Bill Kauffman reads 'To a Siberian Woodsman' by Wendell Berry for National Poetry Month.

Poetry Month: S. Shade Zajac reading 'Power' by Jim Morrison

By Howard B. Owens
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S. Shade Zajac, conductor and musical director for the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, reading "Power" by Jim Morrison for National Poetry Month.

Poetry Month: 'Flamingo Watching' by Kay Ryan read by Nici Johnson

By Howard B. Owens
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Nici Johnson, radio personality with WBTA, reads "Flamingo Watching" by Kay Ryan.

Poetry Month: 'Nostalgia' by Billy Collins read by David Reilly

By Howard B. Owens
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For National Poetry Month, David Reilly reads "Nostalgia" by Billy Collins.

Poetry Month: Byron Hoot reading 'The Discomfort of Healing'

By Howard B. Owens
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Byron Hoot is not a Batavia resident but over the years he's become a significant part of our local literary climate, attending local literary events and the annual John Gardner Society reading of the famous author's work at the Pok-A-Dot each October.

He's reading one of his own poems, "The Discomfort of Healing."

April is National Poetry Month.

National Poetry Month: 'Sick' by Shel Silverstein read by Matthew Calderon

By Howard B. Owens
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For National Poetry Month, we asked several local school superintendents to read a poem for us. The first submission comes from Matthew Calderon, superintendent of Pembroke Central schools. He's reading "Sick" by Shel Silverstein.

Poetry Month: 'The Shortest Day' by Sarah Cooper read by Wendy Williams

By Howard B. Owens
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Poetry Month: "The Shortest Day" by Sarah Cooper read by Wendy Williams.

Poetry Month: 'Pangur Ban' read by Dorothy Gerhart

By Howard B. Owens
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April is National Poetry Month, and as we did last year, we've asked Batavia Players to read some poems for us. Today, "Pangur Ban" is read by Dorothy Gerhart.

You, members of our community, are also invited to submit videos of yourself reading a poem. Please record your video with your camera set to produce a horizontal frame, keep it steady, well-lit with good quality audio. You can send us your video via wetransfer.com, emailed to: howard@thebatavian.com.

Poetry: 'In the Woods' by Oscar Wilde read by Stephen VanValkenburg

By Howard B. Owens
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April is National Poetry Month, and as we did last year, we've asked Batavia Players to read some poems for us. We start with 'In the Woods' by Oscar Wilde read by Stephen VanValkenburg. 

You, members of our community, are also invited to submit videos of yourself reading a poem. Please record your video with your camera set to produce a horizontal frame, keep it steady, well-lit with good quality audio. You can send us your video via wetransfer.com, emailed to: howard@thebatavian.com.

Elba vet pens thoughtful Christmas poem for a unique yuletide

By Press Release
"Reflective Christmas of 2020"
 
By Beth Allen, DVM,  12-8-2020
 
This Christmas I looked in "the mirror" and what did I see?
The eye of a country saying, "How can this all be?"
A flicker of light splashed across "the iris,"
Another deadly day against the war with the virus.
The colors I see within all matter without question,
So why do some deny that all souls deserve a place that, to them, is called heaven?
There should be endless gratitude to those that really care,
Look harder to see that it's really not all that rare.
Janitors, truck drivers, grocery workers and teachers,
Hard-working people with incredible features.
To some our indebtedness can never be repaid,
There's our healthcare workers, especially the doctors and nurses...
While still others, in some political roles, think only of lining their purses.
What would it take to reach those who think it's all fake?
Hoarding toilet paper and other items, not sharing for Pete's sake!
It's more than just surviving that the reflection displays,
It's the Soul of our Nation that this mirror portrays.
Mighty Army of Angels, take grip of our hearts!
With all the life energies of those who depart,
Together with an explosion of loving kindness, to infuse a collective vision and take fast....
The much needed empathy, the fuel...onto the virus we'll cast!
If all will commit to mere basic actions, this reflection can be real,
Believing in a different future and choosing to simply feel.
 
P.S. I'm praying that our nation isn't growing numb to the staggering daily coronavirus number of deaths. We need to hang on, feel the impact, and do our patriotic duty to truly care about one another.

Poetry Month: Howard Owens reads 'Third Avenue in Sunlight' by Anthony Hecht

By Howard B. Owens
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Howard Owens reads "Third Avenue in Sunlight" by Anthony Hecht.

Hecht was a Literature professor at the University of Rochester. Below is a short video of Hect talking about poetry.

This concludes our poetry month readings. I hope you enjoyed them.

Poetry Month: Avey Williams reads Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess

By Howard B. Owens
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Avey Williams reads Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess. Avey is associated with Batavia Players.

Poetry Month: Lucine Kauffman reads 'Leisure' by W.H. Davies

By Howard B. Owens
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Elba resident Lucine Kauffman reads "Leisure" by W.H. Davies.

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