Go See This: Sunday Afternoon Poetry at the Joyful Jewel

This month’s “Go See This” is written by guest blogger Selbe Bartlett.

Sunday, September 17th will mark the first in a regular monthly series of Sunday afternoon poetry readings at Pittsboro’s Joyful Jewel. This new series provides an ongoing, consistent time and space for poets and poetry lovers in the area to gather. It will feature established North Carolina poets, as well as poets emerging as rising stars on the state poetry scene.

The Impetus
Mariah Wheeler, Joyful Jewel proprietor, is no stranger to Chatham County’s arts scene.  Mariah’s shop — an art, jewelry, and gift shop on Hillsboro Street near the Historic Chatham Courthouse — has long been opened to writers and storytellers, including Mariah’s Voices And Visions project. She was excited when poet and Pittsboro resident Tim Mattimoe came to her with the idea for the Sunday series.

Mattimoe, feels the people of Pittsboro need a place to hear local poets read their work on a regular basis right here in town, without having to drive to Durham, Sanford, or Chapel Hill.  “We need a place where the local poets, known and unknown, can have their work heard by an appreciative audience. I write poetry myself and have read to such an audience on several occasions over the past couple of years. I enjoyed the experience. I also like to hear other poets read their work. I believe that poetry is like music and meant to be heard, not just read off a page in a book or on-line.”

Featured Poets
Two featured poets will read from their work at each session, followed by an open reading period where local and area poets can read their own work.  Bonnie Korta and David Manning are featured poets for the September 17th session.

Pittsboro resident Bonnie Kurta has won awards for her poems from the North Carolina Poetry Council and, the Poetry Society of Virginia, and she is the winner of the 2017 North Carolina Poetry Society Poet Laureate Award. A member of the Friday Noon Poets in Chapel Hill, she has published or has poems forthcoming in journals, including Pinesong, Bayleaves, ALCA Lines: The Journal on the Culture and Literature of Appalachia, and Carolina Women Magazine. Her first published collection of poems, “It’s Twisted, I Say,” will be available in 2018. Bonnie is a member of the Friday Noon Poets in Chapel Hill.

Cary resident David Manning enjoyed a long career in organic chemistry before he began his next phase of life as a poet.  The long-time host of the Friday Noon Poets in Chapel HIll, David is a three-time winner of the North Carolina Poetry Society’s Poet Laureate Award. He has published widely in regional and national poetry journals, including Tar River Poetry, 32 Poems, and The Southern Poetry Review. David has published eight chapbooks and three full-length collections of poetry.

An Invitation for You
Tim Mattimoe is especially looking forward to hearing David and Bonnie read. When asked why poetry readings are important to him, Tim says “I’ve always felt that no one understands a poem better than the person who wrote it, and that understanding comes out in hearing the poet read.  Most poets like some sort of reaction to their work, if only in a pleased expression on someone’s face, a positive nod of the head, or — more exceptionally — a bit of applause at the end of a reading. Even an expression of disapproval can be useful, especially for future revisions and readings.”

Join in Chatham County’s long history of poets going back to George Moses Horton (1797-1883). Whether you are a novice poet taking a big leap, an experienced poet looking for an audience, or a poetry-lover who enjoys listening to free verse, iambic pentameter, and haikus, please join Tim, Mariah, Bonnie, David, and others on Sunday, September 17th at 2pm for the inaugural Sunday Afternoon Poetry at the Joyful Jewel.

Event Name:  Sunday Afternoon Poetry at the Joyful Jewel
Event Host:  The Joyful Jewel
Event Location:  44-A Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Event Days, Dates, Time:  Third Sunday of the month from 2-4pm , the first event is September 17th.
Cost of Admission: Donations appreciated
What kind of art does the event feature?:  Poetry
Is the event appropriate for children?:  Recommended for ages 13 and up — or for younger children who enjoy poetry enough to sit still and quiet for a couple of hours. Poetry may contain adult language or situations.