From left to right: Loretta Campbell, Diane Ward, Elissa
Matthews, Alexandria Faiz, Betty Pierre, NWU fan from the audience, and Judy
Andrews (photo credit: Kip Matthews)
Dashing threats of storms, poets from NWU’s New York Chapter performed during a prime slot at this year’s New York Poetry Festival, an annual outdoor event on Governors Island organized by The Poetry Society of New York. Member Elissa Matthews served as our MC on Saturday, July 13. Our set on The White Horse Stage opened with NWU Delegate Betty Pierre describing how seeds sustain social justice and the environment over generations. Judy C. Andrews shared insights from her Gullah/Geechee heritage. Representing the West Indian NYC community, Diane Murray Ward read a memorial Daiku for The Magus Gustav Sallas.
The National Writers Union has been featured at the Poetry Festival multiple times. One of our members who helped sustain our presence is Michael McQuillan. Mending from a serious car accident, Mike couldn’t join us in person this year. Yet, we couldn’t perform without him, so Elissa read his poem “Reverie.” Loretta H. Campbell, who often writes anti-racism horror pieces, ended our set with a poem about a homeless woman.
Elissa reading Mike’s poem (photo credit: Alexandria Faiz)
Elissa, Loretta and Alexandria Faiz continue to give our members other opportunities to perform. Twice a month, the NWU hosts open mics with the New York Public Library. We will also have a booth at the Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday, September 29. Fellow member Americo Casiano has offered to help us in Brooklyn, but we still have space for you! Email nwuny@nwu.org if interested in the open mics or the Brooklyn Book Festival.
This post was written by member Alexandria Faiz.
