POETRY AT THE ARBORETUM

Left to Right: Howard Kogan, Ron Pavoldi, Alan Casline, Virginia Acquario,
John Abbuhl, Marion Menna, Rachael Ikins, Mimi Moriarity, Mike Burke,
Jim Williams and Dennis Sullivan

On Friday August 13, 2010 poets once again gathered at Pine Hollow Arboretum for what is quickly becoming a signature event for local poets of the Towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland. A number of poets from farther afield, including Rachael Ikins who has moved to near Syracuse, New York in the past year came to join in the celebration of Pine Hollow Arboretum's work. Member poets Alan Casline, John Abbuhl, Marion Menna, Mike Burke and first time poetry reader Virginia Acquario, welcomed their friends and colleagues for an evening of verse, old lines, omnifarious mutter and twisted syntax ( and that's just my own first poem). Other well appreciated poets who performed were Mimi Moriarity, Jim Williams, Obeeduid, Dennis Sullivan, Rachael Ikins, Ron Pavoldi and Howard Kogan. Unable to attend in person but present in her poetry read by her friends Mimi Moriarity and Marion Menna of Delmar Writers Group was Sharon Stenson. A nice audience of friends and poetry fans helped to make it a great evening. As one poet told me afterwards a beautiful setting and a good listening audience.
Jim Williams added to the second round robin session by bringing out his five wooded guitar and playing two original acoustic songs.

"Some of these trees used to be tiny," John Abbuhl tells Howard Kogan
Howard Kogan warms up poetic voice before the reading