Today we’re treated to thought provoking readings of some works by two local poets. Our guests are Joseph Somoza, retired NMSU English Professor and current Organ Mountain High School English teacher, Tim Staley, reading selections of their own poetry. These writers reflect on their personal writing processes, and concepts of poetry in general, and more. The conversation touches on how language and poetry both shape and express the seen and the unseen aspects of who we are as individuals and as cultures. It’s a fun and thoughtful peek into the personal and professional realms of poetry. Their poetry books are available at some local bookstores and at online booksellers.
Back in mid March, 2020, I was on fire with vigor and optimism. This shows the transition from the classroom to the backyard spitting of fire by MC FLASHCARD:
2. STALEY’s EASTER 2020
In early April there was lots of eating and drinking and being miserable, but no weeping. Here’s a trailer from our family Easter festivities:
3. The Covid-19 Compliment
There came a point in late April 2020 when everybody in my family thought they belonged to the suckiest family in the world. Like we could not even give an honest compliment to each other. See for yourself:
4. DEAR SENIORS
Then, in late May, my Seniors graduated and I wrote them this poem while suffering mid-grade cabin fever. The weeping had begun–slow at first, then steady:
5. MAD COWS – MYSTIC PICKLE
My first band was called the Mad Cows. When we started we were in the 10th grade, Montgomery, Alabama. We reunited in the pandemic, and after 9 weeks of work, all we came up with is this.
Eric Magrane, a poet/geographer from NMSU, put together a killer project in the form of Spiral Orb 15. I encourage you to check out how he designed the online experience of the journal (it doesn’t rely on graphics and yet it holds me). For Spiral Orb, each writer was assigned a species found in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in Southern New Mexico.
I wrote a poem to my favorite fern. When I found out my fern was called the Fairy Sword Fern, I thought I was getting lucky. The speaker in the poem struggles with aging and marriage, and when he looks to the fern he is envious and this leads to anger.
Magrane put together a spirited reading where I got to perform my fern poem and hear top-notch poems about some of my favorite species like the ocotillo and the phainopepla. Here is the flyer for the reading that already happened, you know, for your records:
Have you ever done time in a New Mexico public school? if so, these bars are for you. Hear MC FLASHCARD preach over a beat made by Dr. SWA, one of his finest students. Flashcard delves into the New Mexico Public Education system from both sides of the dais.
• Poet, lyricist, rapper, teacher, mentor, and motivator Tim Staley will receive the Arts in Education Award, honoring “an individual whose leadership and pioneering spirit promote and shape visual and performing arts education initiatives.”
Staley, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, has a master of fine arts in poetry from New Mexico State University. He has taught at Oñate High School and as an adjunct instructor at NMSU. He started a KTAL radio open mic event. He sponsored the state “Poetry Out Loud” contest for eight years, and his students have gone on to national competition in Washington, D.C. He founded Grandma Moses Press in 1992 and currently serves as publisher. He is the author of “Lost On My Own Street” and “The Most Honest Syllable Is Shhh.”
This year’s “For Love of Lit” reading, in conjunction with “For Love of Art Month” in Las Cruces, will be held Saturday, February 27, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Branigan Cultural Center.
Last year our audience spilled over from the smaller Schwartz Room, so this year we are scheduled for the larger Shannon Room.
THE READERS: LeeAnn Meadows, Joanne Townsend, Christine Eber, Ellen Roberts Young, Catherine McGeehan, Caitlin Ferguson, Anna Underwood
and
Peter Goodman, Frank Varela, Dick Thomas, Joe Somoza, Gerry Stork, Terry Hertzler, Tim Staley
You are correct if you conclude that they are not reading in this order. There will be an intermission. Come hear some of our local Las Cruces area poets.
Tim Staley, poet 