Distinguished Writer Series  Presented by The City of Tacoma and Puget Sound Poetry Connection

Sometimes being man’s best friend is a ruff gig. Training and caring for my humans is an arduous but rewarding process.

Puget Sound Poetry Connection

The goal of our readings is to bring poets of import to Tacoma to

help local poets learn and set goals for their own works.

We also provide a showcase for local poets to share their new work.  All venues are free, physically accessible, and open to the public.   Want more information about "What's Happening" in the poetry realm: email ckwalle@msn.com and ask to be put on the "Everything" list.

DISTINGUISHED WRITER SERIES

June 14th , 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Kings Bookstore, (218 St. Helens, Tacoma)

FEATURING

Chris Jarmick

Christopher J. Jarmick Poet-Author-Journalist curates and organizes two monthly poetry readings 2nd Wednesdays at Kirkland’s Park Place Books, 3rd Fridays at Seattle’s Bookworm Exchange. His latest poetry collection is 2010’s Ignition: Poem Starters, Statements, Septolets and Double Dog Dares. He also released a spoken word CD with Pulitzer nominated Los Angeles based poet Michael C. Ford (produced by Entertainment Tonight producer Kevin Gershan) in 2009 entitled Radio Mysteries; Aural Anxieties. He co-wrote the mystery novel The Glass Cocoon. He’s published poems, articles, interviews with poets, and filmmakers in various regional and national newspapers, magazines and E-zines. He has been the executive vice president of the Washington Poets Association, President of Pen-Washington and board member PEN-USA. Born on the East Coast, he worked as a screenwriter, documentary film-maker and TV Producer in Los Angeles for three decades before moving to Seattle in 1994. He has three daughters and 5 step-children and lives in Kenmore with his wife Teresa. Email: emeraldchris@yahoo.com

The Parakeets of Seward Park

By Christopher J. Jarmick

The parakeets of Seward park

perhaps from Peru,

chapman mitred conures

feasting on the big leaf maple flowers

of Pinoy Hill.

Wild, free, watching for red tail hawks

raiding nearby suburban bird feeders

for gourmet sunflower seeds,

dancing on telephone wires

with barn swallows, crows,

then back into Seward Park

amongst Anna’s hummingbirds,

woodpeckers, song wrens,

chickadees, screech owls

and occasional curious poets

scratching marks onto tree products

about Peruvian transplants

giddy in green, green forest.

July 12th  FEATURE

Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo