POETRY people

Poem I composed, inspired by a Lincoln HS student...

2011-08-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

NEAT TENTH GRADER

His hair looks like whipped cream, if it was black.

The buzz around his ears is not just a road, but a wave, or is that merely a fade?

Earrings appear as black screws, unless he turns his head, they turn into coned seashells.

He wears a dark blue cardigan that could have been Mr. Smith’s on the TV program Lost In Space (complete with contrasting white collar tee).

Around his birth-tanned wrist, a black plastic band declares in white letters, I <3 Boobies.

Bottomed-out by jeans which seem to be slacks, or is it the other way around (21st century technology)

and black suede Vans, wallaby-ribbed, like I wore in the 70’s when I was in high school.

GUEST POETS AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE THIS SUMMER!

2011-06-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

I again taught Writers Seminar for high school students in Occidental College's Upward Bound Program this summer. (This was my 27th summer doing so, woo hoo!)

So, once more, thanks to the generosity of L.A. poets, I got to give these students an unforgettable poetic experience...each day! Each Guest Poet shared poems with them, answered any questions they might have had, and (optionally) offered a writing idea.

I know they loved, learned from, and appreciated the visits (as they have in the past). Here were this summer's poets:

Monday, June 27th, 10am to 11am - MIKEL WEISSER

Tuesday, June 28th, 10am to 11am - JIM BABWE

Wednesday, June 29th, 10am to 11am - KHADIJA ANDERSON and MARY TORREGROSSA

Thursday, June 30th, 10am to 11am - ANDREA CARTER BROWN

Friday, July 1st, 9am to 10am - ELI GOITEIN and CHRISTOPHER LUKE TREVILLA

Tuesday, July 5th, 10am to 11am - CALOKIE and RINA ROSE

Wednesday, July 6th, 10am to 11am - STEVEN KUTCHER and DORI MARLER

Thursday, July 7th, 10am to 11am - RON GREGUS and MARY FRANCES SPENCER

Friday, July 8th, 9am to 10am - SEAN RAYMOND HILL

Monday, July 11th, 10am to 11am - NEIL AITKEN and MAJA TROCHIMCZYK

Tuesday, July 12th, 10am to 11am - SHARON RIZK and RON BACA

Wednesday, July 13th, 10am to 11am - ED ROSENTHAL and RADOMIR VOJTECH LUZA

Thursday, July 14th, 10am to 11am - LYNNE BRONSTEIN and CHARLES HARMON

Friday, July 15th, 9am to 10am - JAMES MAVERICK and MICHAEL J CLUFF

Monday, July 18th, 10am to 11am - TOTI O'BRIEN and TAOLI-AMBIKA TALWAR

Tuesday, July 19th, 10am to 11am - PETE JUSTUS and JESSICA WILSON

Wednesday, July 20th, 10am to 11am - MIKE THE POET

Thursday, July 21st, 10am to 11am - BETH CHENG, KATHERINE DAVIS and REYNALD ROMEA LUMINARIAS

Monday, July 25th, 10am to 11am - FRANK MUNDO

Tuesday, July 26th, 10am to 11am - DAN GARCIA-BLACK and REX BUTTERS

Thank you all for volunteering to visit our class,
Don

Judge and Performer!

2011-05-30T01:31:00.000-07:00

I was asked to be one of the judges for the first ever Pasadena High School Poetry Slam in their Little Theater on Friday evening, May 27th, 2011. As a bonus, I got to perform a poem I wrote on the spot called Because I'm A Student In The Theater Of Life (First Draft, of course) inspired by these surroundings.

Guest Poet

2011-04-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I made my 12th annual visit to Clark Magnet High School as a Guest Poet in Mrs. Guarino's Creative Writing classroom. We all had fun having the students ask me questions. I then read some of my poetry from a specially made chapbook I gave to them. Finally we composed new poetry. I always seem to get inspired by their energy (and in this case by the cover of my chapbook, photo below), so here's the poem I wrote:

E3995P1

On a street corner
in a suburban city

Hangs a metal box
attached to a light pole

No bigger than a book
bolted onto cement composite

And on the front of this
rectangle is a face

Two bulbous eyes,
left red, right blue

A small shiny push
button worn nose

And a tiny round flat screw
mouth that mouths, oh!

Like it's shocked that
it's spent decades here

With an affixed white
"hair" plate that points

The way to walk across on
which while someone was waiting

Took the time to etch
HARSH inside the black arrow

For now labeling the life
of an anthropomorphic creation

Saturday Guest Poets, Round 2

2011-01-08T05:13:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SIGNED-UP TO BE GUEST POETS FOR MY SATURDAY STUDENTS!

This year I will again be teaching Creative Writing to a small group of middle schoolers (grades 7-9) at the Chiao Hsin Chinese Language School on 2231 Findlay Ave. in Monterey Park on Saturday mornings. We all love having poets and writers visit us.

I know your performances greatly benefit and inspire the kids, as they also certainly do during the summer at my Occidental College gig. Guest Poets will visit between 11am and 12pm, share three poems, answer any questions the students may have, even share a writing idea if you wish...then afterwards, we can head off for lunch together (my treat) if you like. Here is the schedule:

Saturday, January 8th, 11am to 12pm - JASON BRAIN & RADOMIR VOJTECH LUZA

Saturday, January 15th, 11am to 12pm - TOTI O'BRIEN

Saturday, January 22nd, 11am to 12pm - MIKE THE POET

Saturday, January 29th, 11am to 12pm - ELIZABETH ARANA, CALOKIE & LALO KIKIRIKI

Saturday, February 5th, 11am to 12pm - SCOTT KAESTNER

Saturday, February 12th, 11am to 12pm - LYNNE BRONSTEIN

Saturday, February 19th, 11am to 12pm - FRANK MUNDO

Saturday, February 26th, 11am to 12pm - JIM BOLT

Saturday, March 5th, 11am to 12pm - POETBROKER, SEAN HILL & NARINDA HENG

Saturday, March 12th, 11am to 12pm - LESLIE SILTON & MICHELLE ANGELINI

Saturday, March 19th, 11am to 12pm - ALICE PERO

Saturday, March 26th, 11am to 12pm - CHRIS WESLEY & KARINE ARMEN

Saturday, April 2nd, 11am to 12pm - CHARLES HARMON & TRACI KATO-KIRIYAMA

Saturday, April 16th, 11am to 12pm - JIM BABWE

Once again, thank you to all who have volunteered to visit my students in the past...may we all have poetic futures!

Your comrade in lines (poetic and otherwise),
Don

WANT A POET IN YOUR CLASSROOM?
Email: poetrypeople@charter.net

Saturday Guest Poets

2010-09-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new Saturday morning job this...Saturday...and for the next nine weeks. I will be teaching Creative Writing to middle schoolers (grades 7-9) at the Chiao Hsin Chinese Language School on 2231 Findlay Ave. in Monterey Park.

So...I just want to thank the poets below ahead of time for volunteering to be Guest Poets. I know my students will be greatly benefitted and inspired...just like the many times before at Occidental College. The poets will visit for the most part between 11am and 12pm, share three poems each, and answer any questions the kids may have.

Saturday, September 11th, 11am to 12pm - THAINE ALLISON, JR. & CALOKIE
Saturday, September 18th, 11am to 12pm - PETE JUSTUS & MIKE THE POET
Saturday, September 25th, 11am to 12pm - TOTI O'BRIEN & PATRICK JEFFRIES

Saturday, October 2nd, 11am to 12pm - E. R. SANCHEZ
Saturday, October 9th, 10:30am - 11am - MONA JEAN CEDAR
Saturday, October 9th, 11am to 12pm - ALICE PERO
Saturday, October 16th, 11am to 12pm - NEIL AITKEN & GENIE NAKANO
Saturday, October 23rd, 11am to 12pm - LYNNE BRONSTEIN & JAMES MAVERICK
Saturday, October 30th, 11am to 12pm - KHADIJA ANDERSON & REYNALD ROMEA

Saturday, November 6th, 11am to 12pm - RON BROWN & RADOMIR LUZA
Saturday, November 13th, 11am to 12pm - MARVIN DORSEY

Once again, thank you to all who have volunteered to visit my students in the past...may we all have poetic futures!

Educational Tool!

2010-07-21T22:12:00.001-07:00

I've been published after Yeats (my poem The Artist) and Shakespeare (my poem Top Of The News) in this compendium...great for high school classrooms!!

http://www.amazon.com/Mentoring-Poems-Centuries-Selected-Poetry/dp/1449090095/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279760260&sr=1-1

Guest Poets visit Occidental College!

2010-06-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Bloggers,

It's Summer #26 for me teaching Creative Writing at Occidental College in the Upward Bound program. For decades, wonderful poets have volunteered to perform for my students. Here are the latest:

Tuesday, June 29th, 10 to 11am - CALOKIE

Tuesday, June 29th, 2 to 3pm - LISA CHEBY

Wednesday, June 30th, 10 to 11am - ELI GOITEIN

Wednesday, June 30th, 2 to 3pm - MAJA TROCHIMCZYK & BRENDA VARDA

Thursday, July 1st, 10 to 11am - MICHELLE ANGELINI

Thursday, July 1st, 2 to 3pm - MARVIN LOUIS DORSEY & CHARLES HARMON

Friday, July 2nd, 9 to 10am - BETH CHENG & KAT LANSING

Friday, July 2nd, 11am to 12pm - JIM BOLT

Monday, July 5th, 10 to 11am - MINA V. KIRBY

Monday, July 5th, 2 to 3pm - PAULINE DUTTON & RICHARD DUTTON

Tuesday, July 6th, 10 to 11am - MIKE THE POET

Tuesday, July 6th, 2 to 3pm - ANN TWEEDY

Wednesday, July 7th, 10 to 11am - PAUL KOENIG

Wednesday, July 7th, 2 to 3pm - MONA JEAN CEDAR & JON EDWARD EPSTEIN

Thursday, July 8th, 10 to 11am - DORI MARLER

Thursday, July 8th, 2 to 3pm - JIM BABWE, RON BROWN & CHRYSTINE JULIAN

Friday, July 9th, 9 to 10am - ALICE PERO

Friday, July 9th, 11am to 12pm - XOCHITL-JULISA BERMEJO & PHILLIP DOZAL

Monday, July 12th, 10 to 11am - TOTI O'BRIEN

Monday, July 12th, 2 to 3pm - MARY FRANCES SPENCER

Tuesday, July 13th, 10 to 11am - JAMES MAVERICK

Tuesday, July 13th, 2 to 3pm - WAYNE LeVINE & MARY TORREGROSSA

Wednesday, July 14th, 10 to 11am - PETE JUSTUS

Wednesday, July 14th, 2 to 3pm - ELIZABETH ARANA & ANDREA CARTER BROWN (photo unavailable)

Thursday, July 15th, 10 to 11am - KAREN GREENBAUM-MAYA

Thursday, July 15th, 2 to 3pm - SCOTT C. KAESTNER

Friday, July 16th, 9 to 10am - ED HOUSTON

Friday, July 16th, 11am to 12pm - DOROTHY RANDALL GRAY

Monday, July 19th, 10 to 11am - BARRY SCHWAM

Monday, July 19th, 2 to 3pm - MARIE LECRIVAIN

Tuesday, July 20th, 10 to 11am - ALANA SALTZ

Tuesday, July 20th, 2 to 3pm - ELOISE KLEIN HEALY, STEVEN KUTCHER & REYNALD ROMEA

Wednesday, July 21st, 10 to 11am - JASON BRAIN

Wednesday, July 21st, 2 to 3pm - LEAH BROWN & RADOMIR VOJTECH LUZA

Thursday, July 22nd, 10 to 11am - JEFFRY JENSEN (no photo available)

Thursday, July 22nd, 2 to 3pm - MICHAEL CLUFF & RUTH NOLAN

Monday, July 26th, 10 to 11am - ERIKA AYON

Monday, July 26th, 2 to 3pm - JESSICA JOY REVELES (no photo available) & JUDITH TERZI

Tuesday, July 27th, 10 to 11am - DON NEWTON

Tuesday, July 27th, 2 to 3pm - KATHERINE NORLAND (no photo available)

Wednesday, July 28th, 2 to 3pm - JUAN ESGUERRA, CHARLOTTE INNES, LALO KIKIRIKI & ED ROSENTHAL

A big thank you to all those who have visited for being very generous with your time!

Poetic love,
Don

Kingfisher performs Godzilla...

2010-06-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

...at the 7th annual McGroarty Puppetry Festival!

Puppetry and Poetry!

2010-06-06T20:48:00.001-07:00

Yesterday CALOKIE and DON KINGFISHER CAMPBELL read at the McGroarty Art Center on 7570 McGroarty Terrace in Tujunga as part of a Children's Poetry and Puppetry Festival.

Plaques!!

2010-05-16T06:58:00.001-07:00

CaLokie and Kingfisher receive plaques commemorating their participation in the faculty poetry reading at Roosevelt High School on Cinco de Mayo.

Reading!

2010-05-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

I will be reading poetry from my new book "Amongst The Detritus" at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights during lunchtime on Cinco de Mayo as part of the Faculty Poetry Fiesta...with delicious freshly made food fueling our performing abilities!

Kingfisher assists Bermejo and Torregrossa!

2010-04-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo lead a very fun poetry writing workshop for kids this afternoon at the San Gabriel Library. We all wrote about feelings using our senses.

Mary Torregrossa ably co-piloted the workshop, which ran extra smoothly thanks to her expertly performed poetry and precise advice to young poets.

Oh yeah, I helped too.

Poetry Slam!

2010-04-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Last night Alhambra High School was well-represented at the Crowell Public Library's second-ever Poetry Slam. Ana Osuna (far left) won third prize in the youth division. And yours truly placed second in the adult competition. Woo hoo!!

No foolin'!

2010-03-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 1st I will be performing a poetry writing workshop for Mrs. Guarino's Creative Writing students at Clark Magnet High School in Glendale/La Crescenta.

Coaching student poets!

2010-02-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

On Monday, March 1st during lunchtime in the library I will be coaching students on their performance techniques in preparation for their 2nd annual Alhambra High School Poetry Slam on Saturday, March 6th at 3:30pm in the cafeteria as part of the AHS Latino Heritage Festival.

2/6/2010 Poetry Workshop @ Altadena Library

2010-01-30T00:55:00.001-08:00

1/19/2010 Teen Tuesday poetry at the Riviera Recreation Center in Bullhead City, AZ

2010-01-24T16:16:00.000-08:00

Student Addie Molisee

Student Patti Hyatt

Student Sean Kelly Simpson

Teachers Mikel Weisser and Terrin Musbach

An out-of-state poetry workshop!

2010-01-04T06:14:00.001-08:00

I will be performing poetry writing workshops for teens all day at Mohave High School in Bullhead City, Arizona on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. Check back here for photos soon after that date.

6th Grade Poet!!!!!!

2009-11-25T17:09:00.001-08:00

Anthony P. Gonzalez of Burbank Middle School wrote this recently in my poetry workshop there:

AFTER SCHOOL

I walk home
in freshness
for millions of
drops of water

Then I sit
for roasted
crispy chicken
and liquid

After I finish
mathematics
I get a cold
icy treat on
a stick

Next I kick
a ball with
black pentagons
on it

When I come
home
I have
liquid from skin

Finally I fall
on cotton
and close eyes
for another day

New compilation for school use...

2009-11-17T20:06:00.000-08:00

...contains 12 food poems (a very delicious subject) I share with high school students to inspire them to create poetry in classroom workshops:

A Bowl

French Toast

Owed To Aluminum

Wanna Go With Me?

Another Green World

If I Could Smell Heaven

99 Cent Store Life

Nap Kin

El Planeta De Los Oreos

Just An Apple

13 Ways Of Looking At Little Chocolate Donuts

One Potato, Two Potato

Order your copy by going to http://paypal.com, selecting Send Money, and directing payment of $5 (shipping included) to kingfisher1031@charter.net, then just wait by the ol' mailbox for fast first-class delivery.

A Gigantic THANK YOU to 53 Guest Poets!!!!!

2009-08-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

THESE ARE THE WONDERFUL GUEST POETS WHO VISITED MY UPWARD BOUND WRITERS SEMINAR CLASSES THIS SUMMER AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE:

PERIOD 1

Monday, July 6th - Eli Goitein
Tuesday, July 7th - Sharmagne Leland-St.John
Wednesday, July 8th - Ryfkah
Thursday, July 9th - Eric von Mizener
Friday, July 10th - Brandon Cesmat

Monday, July 13th - Ron Baca
Tuesday, July 14th - Chrystine Julian
Wednesday, July 15th - Alice Pero
Thursday, July 16th - Scott Kaestner

Monday, July 20th - Eric Morago
Tuesday, July 21st - Michelle Angelini
Wednesday, July 22nd - Pete Justus
Thursday, July 23rd - Thea Iberall
Friday, July 24th - Katherine Norland

Monday, July 27th - Neil Aitken
Tuesday, July 28th - Robert Lundy & Elizabeth Yahn Williams
Wednesday, July 29th - Emma Rosenthal
Thursday, July 30th - Stosh Machek

Monday, August 3rd - Maureen Alsop
Tuesday, August 4th - JD Glasscock
Wednesday, August 5th - Marvin Dorsey

PERIOD 2

Monday, July 6th - Mike Sonksen
Tuesday, July 7th - Mina Kirby
Wednesday, July 8th - Dan garcia-Black
Thursday, July 9th - Steven Kutcher & Radomir Luza
Friday, July 10th - Brandon Cesmat & Paul Koenig

Monday, July 13th - CaLokie & Tucker Smallwood
Tuesday, July 14th - Regina Higgins
Wednesday, July 15th - Russell Salamon
Thursday, July 16th - Andrea Carter Brown
Friday, July 17th - Ed Houston

Monday, July 20th - Joseph Camhi
Tuesday, July 21st - Jack Bowman & Lisa Helene Donovan
Wednesday, July 22nd - Mikel Weisser
Thursday, July 23rd - Leah Brown, Mona Jean Cedar & Maja Trochimczyk
Friday, July 24th - Barbara Cogswell & Lois P. Jones

Monday, July 27th - Lynn Thompson
Tuesday, July 28th - Jeffry Jensen & Mary Frances Spencer
Wednesday, July 29th - Corrie Greathouse
Thursday, July 30th - Ron Gregus

Monday, August 3rd - James Maverick
Tuesday, August 4th - Amelie Frank
Wednesday, August 5th - Reynald Romea
Thursday, August 6th - Brendan Constantine & Mani Suri

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finalized line-up of Guest Poets for Occidental College Upward Bound SUMMER 2009!

2009-06-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Poetry People,

This is the first time I've used Facebook to help fill Guest Poet slots for my Writers Seminar classes at Occidental College Upward Bound...and it was a rousing success! Thanks to you, my students will be experiencing an onslaught of...people who love writing...and live it!!

We'll be meeting in Johnson Hall, room J204 every day. And all are welcome to sit-in to experience their favorite poet. You might even get a chance to share a poem too!

PERIOD 1 GUEST POETS:

Monday, July 6th, 10am to 11am - Eli Goitein
Tuesday, July 7th, 10am to 11am - Sharmagne Leland-St.John
Wednesday, July 8th, 10am to 11am - Ryfkah
Thursday, July 9th, 10am to 11am - Eric von Mizener
Friday, July 10th, 9am to 10am - Brandon Cesmat

Monday, July 13th, 10am to 11am - Ron Baca
Tuesday, July 14th, 10am to 11am - Chrystine Julian
Wednesday, July 15th, 10am to 11am - Alice Pero
Thursday, July 16th, 10am to 11am - Scott Kaestner
Friday, July 17th, 9am to 10am - no poet

Monday, July 20th, 10am to 11am - Eric Morago
Tuesday, July 21st, 10am to 11am - Michelle Angelini
Wednesday, July 22nd, 10am to 11am - Pete Justus
Thursday, July 23rd, 10am to 11am - Thea Iberall
Friday, July 24th, 9am to 10am - Katherine Norland

Monday, July 27th, 10am to 11am - Neil Aitken
Tuesday, July 28th, 10am to 11am - Robert Lundy & Elizabeth Yahn Williams
Wednesday, July 29th, 10am to 11am - Emma Rosenthal
Thursday, July 30th, 10am to 11am - Stosh Machek

Monday, August 3rd, 10am to 11am - Maureen Alsop
Tuesday, August 4th, 10am to 11am - Hilda Weiss
Wednesday, August 5th, 10am to 11am - Marvin Dorsey

PERIOD 2 GUEST POETS:

Monday, July 6th, 2pm to 3pm - Mike Sonksen
Tuesday, July 7th, 2pm to 3pm - Mina Kirby
Wednesday, July 8th, 2pm to 3pm - Dan garcia-Black
Thursday, July 9th, 2pm to 3pm - Steven Kutcher & Radomir Luza
Friday, July 10th, 11am to 12pm - Paul Koenig

Monday, July 13th, 2pm to 3pm - CaLokie & Tucker Smallwood
Tuesday, July 14th, 2pm to 3pm - Regina Higgins
Wednesday, July 15th, 2pm to 3pm - Russell Salamon
Thursday, July 16th, 2pm to 3pm - Andrea Carter Brown
Friday, July 17th, 11am to 12pm - Ed Houston

Monday, July 20th, 2pm to 3pm - Joseph Camhi
Tuesday, July 21st, 2pm to 3pm - Jack Bowman & Lisa Helene Donovan
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2pm to 3pm - Mikel Weisser
Thursday, July 23rd, 2pm to 3pm - Leah Brown, Mona Jean Cedar, & Maja Trochimczyk
Friday, July 24th, 11am to 12pm - Barbara Cogswell & Lois P. Jones

Monday, July 27th, 2pm to 3pm - Lynne Thompson
Tuesday, July 28th, 2pm to 3pm - Jeffry Jensen & Mary Frances Spencer
Wednesday, July 29th, 2pm to 3pm - Corrie Greathouse
Thursday, July 30th, 2pm to 3pm - Ron Gregus

Monday, August 3rd, 2pm to 3pm - James Maverick
Tuesday, August 4th, 2pm to 3pm - Amelie Frank
Wednesday, August 5th, 2pm to 3pm - Reynald Romea & Julia Stein
Thursday, August 6th, 10am to 11am - Brendan Constantine & Mani Suri

Thank you everyone for your interest and involvement!

One extremely grateful teacher,
DKC

Guest Poets Still Wanted!

2009-06-29T18:40:00.001-07:00

Hey So Cal Poets,

Because so many of you wanted to visit my teens...and it killed me to have to turn you down because of budgetary concerns...I'm going to try something new...I might be crazy but...let's try an afternoon Guest Poet schedule exclusively for my 2nd Period class...in addition to the already scheduled morning one which will now be only for my 1st Period.

These 2nd Period sessions will take place between 2pm and 3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (no lunch, of course)...and between 11am and 12pm on Fridays (with lunch). And just like with the poets visiting my 1st Period, you need only share three of your own poems, answer any questions the kids might have, and, if you'd like to, offer them a writing idea. So, if you couldn't get onto the Period 1 schedule, and you'd still like to share your poetry, please let me know which date is best for you...and I will find a way to compensate you for your time.

Here are the openings for poets to visit my 2nd Period class:

Monday, July 6th, 2pm to 3pm - Mike Sonksen
Tuesday, July 7th, 2pm to 3pm - Mina Kirby
Wednesday, July 8th, 2pm to 3pm - Dan garcia-Black
Thursday, July 9th, 2pm to 3pm - Steven Kutcher
Friday, July 10th, 11am to 12pm - Paul Koenig & Ruth Nolan

Monday, July 13th, 2pm to 3pm - CaLokie & Tucker Smallwood
Tuesday, July 14th, 2pm to 3pm - Don Newton
Wednesday, July 15th, 2pm to 3pm - Russell Salamon
Thursday, July 16th, 2pm to 3pm - Andrea Carter Brown
Friday, July 17th, 11am to 12pm - Ed Houston & Abel Salas

Monday, July 20th, 2pm to 3pm - Joseph Camhi
Tuesday, July 21st, 2pm to 3pm -
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2pm to 3pm - Helen Graziano & Mikel Weisser
Thursday, July 23rd, 2pm to 3pm - Leah Brown & Maja Trochimczyk
Friday, July 24th, 11am to 12pm - Lois P. Jones

Monday, July 27th, 2pm to 3pm - Lynn Thompson
Tuesday, July 28th, 2pm to 3pm - Jeffry Jensen
Wednesday, July 29th, 2pm to 3pm - Frankie Salinas
Thursday, July 30th, 2pm to 3pm - Theresa Antonia & Ron Gregus

Monday, August 3rd, 2pm to 3pm - James Maverick
Tuesday, August 4th, 2pm to 3pm - Amelie Frank
Wednesday, August 5th, 2pm to 3pm - Reynald Romea
Thursday, August 6th, 10am to 11am - Brendan Constantine & Mani Suri

AND HERE'S THE PERIOD 1 SCHEDULE:

Monday, July 6th, 10am to 11am - Mary Torregrossa
Tuesday, July 7th, 10am to 11am - Sharmagne Leland-St.John
Wednesday, July 8th, 10am to 11am - Ryfkah
Thursday, July 9th, 10am to 11am - Eric von Mizener
Friday, July 10th, 9am to 10am (no lunch) - Brandon Cesmat

Monday, July 13th, 10am to 11am - Ron Baca
Tuesday, July 14th, 10am to 11am - Chrystine Julian
Wednesday, July 15th, 10am to 11am -
Thursday, July 16th, 10am to 11am - Scott Kaestner
Friday, July 17th, 9am to 10am (no lunch) - Marie Lecrivain

Monday, July 20th, 10am to 11am - Eric Morago
Tuesday, July 21st, 10am to 11am - Michelle Angelini
Wednesday, July 22nd, 10am to 11am - Pete Justus
Thursday, July 23rd, 10am to 11am - Mary Frances Spencer
Friday, July 24th, 9am to 10am (no lunch) - Katherine Norland

Monday, July 27th, 10am to 11am - Neil Aitken
Tuesday, July 28th, 10am to 11am - Elizabeth Yahn Williams
Wednesday, July 29th, 10am to 11am - Emma Rosenthal
Thursday, July 30th, 10am to 11am - Stosh Machek & Angel Uriel Perales

Monday, August 3rd, 10am to 11am - Maureen Alsop
Tuesday, August 4th, 10am to 11am - Hilda Weiss
Wednesday, August 5th, 10am to 11am - Marvin Dorsey

And a galactic thank you to all those who have visited in the past for being very generous with your time!

Poetic love,
Don

Thank you for signing up as Guest Poets for my Upward Bound classes!

2009-06-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hey So Cal Poets,

It's going to be Summer #25 for me teaching Creative Writing at Occidental College in the Upward Bound program. For decades, wonderful poets have volunteered to perform for my students. Now's it's time to do it again, or, for some, to try it out. What will they get? A free lunch and the infinitely good karma of sharing their love of poetry with impressionable teenagers!

Due to budget restrictions in this day and age, I can only have one poet come in each day. They will be asked to share three of their own poems, answer any questions the kids might have, and, if they'd like to, offer them a writing idea. Yes, you've all bowled me over once more, you good ones, having reserved the date of your choice. Here's our schedule:

Monday, July 6th, 10am to 1pm - Mary Torregrossa
Tuesday, July 7th, 10am to 1pm - Sharmagne Leland-St.John
Wednesday, July 8th, 10am to 1pm - Ryfkah
Thursday, July 9th, 10am to 1pm - Eric von Mizener
Friday, July 10th, 9am to 11am - Brandon Cesmat

Monday, July 13th, 10am to 1pm - Ron Baca
Tuesday, July 14th, 10am to 1pm - Chrystine Julian
Wednesday, July 15th, 10am to 1pm -
Thursday, July 16th, 10am to 1pm - Scott Kaestner
Friday, July 17th, 9am to 11am - Marie Lecrivain

Monday, July 20th, 10am to 1pm - Eric Morago
Tuesday, July 21st, 10am to 1pm - Michelle Angelini
Wednesday, July 22nd, 10am to 1pm - Pete Justus
Thursday, July 23rd, 10am to 1pm - Mary Frances Spencer
Friday, July 24th, 9am to 11am - Katherine Norland

Monday, July 27th, 10am to 1pm - Neil Aitken
Tuesday, July 28th, 10am to 1pm - Elizabeth Yahn Williams
Wednesday, July 29th, 10am to 1pm -Emma Rosenthal
Thursday, July 30th, 10am to 1pm - Stosh Machek & Angel Uriel Perales

Monday, August 3rd, 10am to 1pm - Maureen Alsop
Tuesday, August 4th, 10am to 1pm - Hilda Weiss
Wednesday, August 5th, 10am to 1pm - Marvin Dorsey
Thursday, August 6th, 10am to 11am (no lunch) - Brendan Constantine & Mani Suri

And a big thank you to all those who have visited in the past for being very generous with your time!

Poetic love,
Don

Pictures from Kidspace!

2009-06-17T20:08:00.001-07:00

Michelle Angelini gets the kids involved!

Kingfisher introduces Lindy!

Lindy Hill used to be a Kindergarten teacher!

Mary Torregrossa surveys the audience!

Thanks to Yvonne Chavez Lombardi for taking and allowing us to post these photos.

Poetry Night @ Kidspace is coming!

2009-05-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here is the list of the 14 Guest Poets who will be performing one of their poems at the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena for the Family Poetry Night I'm hosting on Tuesday, June 2nd at 6pm:

MICHELLE ANGELINI
THERESA ANTONIA
MARCIELLE BRANDLER
CALOKIE
BETH CHENG
JEFFRY JENSEN
MINA KIRBY
DEBORAH P KOLODJI
STEVEN KUTCHER
SHARMAGNE LELAND-ST.JOHN
LAURA LONGORIA
RADOMIR LUZA
JAMES MAVERICK
MARY TORREGROSSA

If anyone else would like to visit, you are welcome...and if one of the Guest Poets fails to show up, or if we are given extra time, you might even get a chance to perform a poem. All of us will also help the kids to each write a poem.

Two exhibitions of poetry!!

2009-05-13T06:07:00.000-07:00

I've got two exciting local featured reading opportunities coming up where I will be performing for young people:

1
Thursday, May 14th
Don Kingfisher Campbell & other poets
The Bozana Poetry Show
Pasadena City College
1570 E Colorado Blvd
L Building
Harbeson Hall
7pm

2
Tuesday, June 2nd
Don Kingfisher Campbell & Friends
Free Family Poetry Night
Kidspace Museum
480 N Arroyo Blvd
Pasadena
6pm
http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events

Hope to see you at either or both,
DKC

Student poems from our Napa Elementary School visit!

2009-05-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here are three poems that were composed by students in Ms. Cross' classroom during our presentation last month:

Dianna T.

WHAT IF

What If
There was something
watching you
haunting you as they
say
think hard you’ll never know
unless you see it
imagine if they were there?
should we know?
Is it true?

Oscar D.

DISASTER MONSTER

What if Godzilla was real and
was eating people and throwing
them away from here? He is so
evil and angry. He is big and strong
and not scared of anything.

Maria A.

FISH

If a fish could talk
I’ll be scared and surprised
Maybe he’ll be helping me with my homework
He’ll tell me stories that he made up.

Aveson School of Leaders in Altadena

2009-05-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Had the opportunity today to perform three poetry writing workshops for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for two classrooms. The kids were wonderful. I had a great time performing A First For Me, I Vacuumed A Bee; Godzilla!; and 13 Ways Of Looking At Little Chocolate Donuts...then lead them into writing emulations. I got to give a lot of individual advice on their newly composed poems, and wrote two myself:

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL

I visit a classroom
and share poetry

The kids all so nice
diminuitive adults

I feel like a giant
sharing my love

of poetic ideas
One girl sits in a chair

adjusts the fit of her shoe
I say that's a good start

Then there's a boy who puts
his arm behind his head

It looks like it's growing
out of his hair

So what can I do
I'll make another poem

and growl with pleasure
over every newborn couplet

ATCH!

Looking for a batch
to catch

I had to detach
from my hatch

go to a klatch
unhook a latch
find a match

Now I can say natch
about needing a patch

All this helps me ratchet
up the contents of my satchel

Just watch!

And tomorrow...I'm reading at Roosevelt High School for the faculty poetry reading during their extended Cinco de Mayo lunchtime celebration. Woo hoo!

Another gig!

2009-04-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be performing a demonstration poetry writing workshop at Aveson School Of Leaders in Altadena on Monday, May 4th for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. I'll be sharing three of my poems, answering any questions, and sharing with the kids how I created each one of them...then it will be their turn to compose using whichever of the ideas I present they prefer. I'll keep you posted on what I create there as well.

Poem from my La Crescenta visit

2009-04-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

On April 8th I visited Mrs. Guarino's Creative Writing class at Clark Magnet High School. We started off with her students asking me many questions about my poetry (which they had obviously researched on the internet...far out). I then shared all 12 poems from my new chapbook compilation for high schools (at their insistence, with additional questions asked). After that it was time for everyone to write (payback). I gave them no instructions, just time. The poems they shared were awesome. The poem I wrote definitely demonstrated my favorite quick creation idea: to use objects in the room for inspiration. Here it is:

SMOKE DETECTOR

My heart is
a black teddy bear
looking at humanity

Oh, I've been many places
mountains, tall buildings,
beaches

I've always sought
pink roses
to educate me

amidst the multitude
of colorful faces I've seen
(some cat ears, blue cheeks)

It's like reading
a clock on the wall
I tell the hanging flag

of my brain sometimes I need
a fire extinguisher to leave
my green field mindset

The view out these eyes
so naturally inclined
to want trees, clouds, sky

forgets I can find truth
and beauty in meeting
another new individual

gum chewing human
who sits in a plastic chair
thinking thoughts

And then the little black
teddy bear that is
my wandering soul

smiles just to gaze
upon hair, limbs,
minds which create

poems to share our insides
so we see we are
each others fluorescent lights

New chapbook suitable for high school classrooms

2009-04-07T01:18:00.000-07:00

Contents
CAR TROUBLE
CATALINA AND WASHINGTON
HOMO SUPERIOR
JOSHUA TREE SERVICE
LXXVII
ONLY MINUTES
POETRY IN THE PARK
700 BILLION DOLLARS
SIXTH PERIOD CHEMISTRY
SOUNDTRACK
STREAKED HAIR BLUE
THE RELOCATION OF THE JAPANESE DURING WORLD WAR II

I've created it to share with high school classrooms these 12 poems written in the last year.

Gets its first road test on Wednesday, when I visit Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta.

You can order a copy (or copies) of this chapbook for just $3 each by going to http://paypal.com and selecting Send Money to kingfisher1031@charter.net, then just wait at your ol' mailbox for rapid first-class delivery by postal employee. (Think of how this will help the economy!)

Poem commemorating our visit to Napa Elementary School

2009-04-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

Mary Frances Spencer

POETS INVADING

we infiltrated another
elementary school
weapons
locked loaded
shooting ideas
bombs overhead
pencils in hand

the enemy
blank lined sheets
white paper
crying out for mercy
as the young

students scribbled
unleashed
their
poetic volley
word by word

we left
creative wreckage
and maybe some bits
of inspiration
floating in the dust

Poem inspired by a Napa Elementary School student!

2009-04-02T17:42:00.001-07:00

Don Kingfisher Campbell

THE BOY WITH POEMS IN HIS HEAD

He keeps them inside
Always smiling

He's tapping his pencil
On the desk to beats

He quietly laughs
For his own reasons

His hair stands up
And then his teeth

Move a little in his mouth
Whispering words

So nobody can hear
Don't you wish

You had verses inside you too
He taps his noggin some more

Did you write a poem at Napa today? Send it to poetrypeople@charter.net and I'll post it!

Also look below to see 13 poets who shared their poetry this afternoon with Napa students....

POETRYpeople visit Napa Elementary School!

2009-04-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

CaLokie

Maja Trochimczyk

Michelle Angelini

Poet X

Radomir Luza

Laura Longoria

Beth Cheng

Jeffry Jensen

Toti O'Brien

Ron Gregus

Sharmagne Leland-St.John

Mina Kirby

Mary Frances Spencer

Photos by Don Kingfisher Campbell

A big gig!

2009-03-15T05:05:00.000-07:00

On April 2nd, as part of National Poetry Month, I will be leading 13 poets to perform our poetry for 13 Napa Elementary School classrooms in Northridge. Now, that's exciting! Here are the poets who will be joining me there:

3rd grade
MINA KIRBY - Carolyn Taylor's Room 1
MARY FRANCES SPENCER - Olga Diaz' Room 3
SHARMAGNE LELAND-ST.JOHN - Nancy Gelber's Room 4
RADOMIR LUZA - Arnold Rosenthal's Room 23
LAURA LONGORIA - Karen Eskildsen's Room 24

4th grade
RON GREGUS - Elizabeth Cross' Room 37
TOTI O'BRIEN - Donna King's Room 38
POET X - Cecilia Garcia's Room 30
MICHELLE ANGELINI - Christina Riggs' Room 29

5th grade
JEFFRY JENSEN - Tina Gilmore's Room 25
BETH CHENG - Rebecca Platt's Room 26
CALOKIE - Emilio Arauz' Room 27
MAJA TROCHIMCZYK - Christy Moore's Room 28

We'll be performing between 1:15pm and 2:15pm. One poet to a classroom. Performing three poems, answering any questions, and sharing a writing idea. Oh, and receiving a $20 stipend too.

Here's a Google Map that shows the school's exact location:

View Larger Map

How's that!

Shared a poem with Ms. Foley's students yesterday...

2009-03-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

...shared "I Got The American Right" at Garfield High School and a student dared me to write a poem on the spot, so I got out my look around the room technique, and here 'tis:

HUMANITAS

My face feels out of order

One eye higher than the other

I'm a beautiful pig

Posing by a big flower

I say welcome to my world

It's time to draw hearts

Walk through open doors

Dream about college days

Then I get a light bulb

In the TV screen of my brain

I am turning into Shakespeare

See, my forehead rises

Like a proud pinata

Standing firm but fragile

Like a row of books on a shelf

We'll all be dust in another century

A great visit!

2009-02-23T16:49:00.000-08:00

Visited Zane Grey High School today in Reseda. Sharmagne Leland-St. John read her moving poetry to the teens, then it was my turn. After that, a little writing time. I recommended they look around the room for ideas. Here are the poems Sharmagne and I wrote:

Sharmagne Leland-St. John

UNTITLED

clock ticking
flag unfurls
savannah sunset
darkness covers
a weary world
temple gongs are rung
echoing ancient songs unsung
sun in shadow
birds take flight
stain the sky with wings of white

Abraham watches
then bows his head to pray.

Don Kingfisher Campbell

I'M A CURIOUS TIGER

carefully walking
around the room
with my eyes

I look out the window
trees are still
more patient than me

I know the sun is in the sky
even though I can't see it
I feel the warmth of the world

so this is my valentine existence
If I had a loud speaker
I'd use it to tell all

I love to go through classroom doors
Happily growl as I pass plastic squares
full of other people's words

The TV screen inside my head
may be blank again, but I stare
intently and find a spider

woven into my heart
where I sense time beating
and a smile from decades ago

wears red high heels
to remind me ideas are reproducible
If I make like an elephant

and eat every flower of memory
I can bite claw scratch to remember
while I'm on the third planet

and then poof
back to the cosmos
just to change my station

I'm going to visit another classroom!

2009-02-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Just got a gig to perform my poetry for students at Zane Grey Continuation High School next to Reseda High School on 18230 Kittridge St. It's on Monday, February 23rd at 11:30am. Y'all drop down if you wanna hear and/or join me! Here's a link to a Google map to help you find it: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=18230+Kittridge+St+Reseda,+CA+91335&fb=1&geocode=17988157074447922316,34.189967,-118.530576&oi=manybox&ct=14&cd=1&resnum=1