NEW POETRY GROUP TO MEET AT ARROYO’S WINE BAR, 1/8

04 Jan NEW POETRY GROUP TO MEET AT ARROYO’S WINE BAR, 1/8

Under the non-profit umbrella of the Telluride Institute and in collaboration with the Wilkinson Public Library, Arroyo Telluride and Between the Covers Bookstore, a new poetry group has formed: the Talking Gourds Poetry Club. The first gathering takes place Tuesday, January 8, 8 p.m. at Arroyo’s fine art gallery and wine bar, 220 E. Colorado Ave.

Although the program will be open to all those interested in poetry, $25 annual memberships are available. Members will receive regular updates on monthly meetings and special events. Membership contributions are tax-deductible.

Daiva Chesonis of Between the Covers will be offering chits to all attendees giving a 10% discount on one book at her store. The first member to sign up at the Tuesday inaugural meeting also receives a free poetry book.

Hosts for the poetry club are Word Woman Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and Art Goodtimes. They will kick off the series with a combined reading of erotic and spiritual poetry, including the work of San Francisco poet Lenore Kandel and Persian Sufi poet Rumi (Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī), as translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

Readings will be followed by an interactive discussion of the work.

“In Western culture, the erotic and spiritual are sometimes seen as opposite poles, but in many traditions – including indigenous cultures of the Americas – they are complementary aspects of the sacred,” explained Goodtimes.

After the reading and discussion – which the Wilkinson Library will film and post on YouTube – there will be an unfilmed gourd circle, where folks can bring erotic and spiritual poetry to share, either their own work or the work of poets they love. Or they can just listen in as part of the group.

The series will normally be held on the first Tuesday of each month.