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Xylophone

April 1, 2015 By Guest

The length of the bars determine the sound
Vibrations ring out as hammer comes down

Melodic music of depth and of tone
That strange little instrument…the Xy-o-lo-phone!

One note struck…or sometimes two
At the same time, as we players will do

Beautiful harmony, sings out through the air
At home football game or State country fair

I stand at the back, of the orchestra pit
Or right up in front…I sometimes will sit

Playing my chimes, with dings and with dongs
Adding so much, to the orchestra’s songs

As kids we all got one, on Christmas tree morn
We banged on its bars, till Dad’s ears were torn

The one in the orchestra, sounds much better now
The chimes are in tune, with the conductor’s deep bow

Now I don’t have to play, in my room all alone
The crowd they all love…my XY-O-LA-PHONE!

—David Kettler

WOK National Poetry Month Project 2015

March 22, 2015 By Guest

April is National Poetry Month.

Many groups are hosting poetry challenges during the month. If you are engaged in one of these Writers of Kern celebrates your participation.

Writers of Kern invites its members to celebrate locally by submitting original poems to the WOK Blog. In that way, you can share your poetry and receive comments from fellow members.

Here’s how it works:

Send your poem(s) to submissions@writersofkern.com between April 1-30, 2015. Send one, five, or more poems as the spirit moves you.
Important: Include a headshot so we know who you are. “Hey, I know that poet.”
Be sure to visit the blog to read and comment on poetry by others. Repeat often.
If you are posting to another poetry site or participating in a poetry challenge, feel free to share your poems with WOK as well.
Always remember, poetry is for fun, for expressing the soul, for sharing with others.
No grand prizes, just poetry from the heart to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Please check out Portia Choi’s post on National Poetry Month events around Bakersfield.

April is National Poetry Month inaugurated by Academy of American Poets in 1996. In Kern County, National Poetry Month started 2010; now an annual event. Initiating the events in Kern County was influenced by two poets who have passed on. They are Helen Shanley, who was a founding member of Writers of Kern, and Lee McCarthy. They influenced poets while they were living; and continue their influence from the memory of them and the beauty and truth of their poetry.

This year, three college/university campuses will have poetry events:

NPM kick-off event Valley Life: Poetry about our Community, April 9, 7:00 p.m., Levan Center for the Humanities, Bakersfield College
Readings by Local Poets, April 21, 7:00 p.m., CSU Bakersfield, Dezember Room of Stiern Library
Reading by New York Times Published Poet Joseph Lease, April 30, 1:10 pm to 2:25 p.m., Taft College Cougar Room
April is Jazz Appreciation Month: Jazz and Poetry, April 26 at 2:00 p.m., Center for Spiritual Living

Other events are:

Poetry Open Mic featuring LisaAnn LoBasso, April 3, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Dagny’s Coffee
Feel, Heal, Write: Poems by Portia Choi, April 18, 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Art and Spirituality Center, Mercy Hospital, 2215 Truxtun Ave.

All events free to the public. For more information call (661) 717-1346 or email ssportia@aol.com.

Benefits of Blogging

September 9, 2014 By Annis Cassells

What are the benefits I reap from blogging? I get to try out and solidify ideas for myself. I learn and practice the craft of writing. My work is read, and I believe I’m contributing in some small way to others’ well-being.

The purpose of my blog, The DayMaker, is to inspire, uplift, enlighten, and encourage. I want to share ideas that I’ve found useful along my path. I attempt to report on my life events with a transparency that provokes thought and discussion. I am certain that people’s stories can help others.

In a gift shop on Maui several years ago, David Wagner’s book, Life as a Daymaker: How to Change the World by Making Someone’s Day, called to me. I felt his energy as I turned to the title page and read his autograph, “My best, David Wagner.”

Leafing through the first few pages, I could see that Wagner and I were on the same wavelength. We agreed on how we should treat the people who enter our lives, whether for the long haul—like family, friends, students, and co-workers—or for the short term—like cashiers, wait-staff, and fellow travelers. And, we agreed that fulfilling our quests to make our own day is what allows us to be available and able to help make other people’s days.

When I began The DayMaker in 2010, I did not think about all the benefits to me. I didn’t consider old and new friends contacting me, sharing memories and experiences. But, the comments on the blog site, on Facebook, and in email responses, connect me with friends. I am grateful to have the chance to tighten the threads and pull the time-and-distance-worn fabric of our lives around us. This is one extraordinary gift of my blog.

Annis Cassells is a life coach, speaker, writer. and poet who blogs at The DayMaker.

4 Can’t-Miss Reasons to join the WOK Blog Challenge

September 8, 2014 By Guest

wokheader

Where do you get your ideas?

Writers hear this too often. Yet faced with blog challenges, ideas dry up faster than Justin Bieber’s fan base.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

First, here are a few reasons to join the Writers of Kern “A to Z” Blog Challenge.

Inspiration

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to read your challengers’ blogs. This isn’t competition. It’s inspiration. What your fellow WOKians write will inspire your posts.

So when Dan McGuire reminds you that 1950s America was no place for women, you can blog about that time you rigged your husband’s computer to autocorrect all instances of “feminism” to “men are superior” so that he cried when he printed his essay for feminism class because it looked like a misogynistic hate crime. (Sorry, honey. I’m not sorry.)

Or you can write about that time you were excited to make Jasmine Lowe’s kiwi avocado smoothie, and it exploded over the ceiling like a green frost firebomb because you forgot to secure the blender. (The smoothie turned out awesome, if she asks.)

Authority

Once upon a time, publishers were the gate keepers. They had the printers, the distributors, and the marketing connections. But that was when writing had to be on paper. And that era is dead.

Now, the only barrier between you and readers is a mouse click. On sites like WordPress, it’s even free.

This is the age of not needing permission, writer. No longer can gate keepers imprison your prose. Authority is yours.

Credibility

Writers write, right?

Your blog is your platform. It builds your credibility as a writer who writes. It’s a sneak peek into your perspective, your style, your skilled turn of phrase.

But most of all, it proves you’re a writer.

Networking

Get to know your fellow WOKians.

Who can help you improve characterization? You’ll know after the challenge. Who can edit grammar? You’ll know after the challenge. You’ll know each WOKian’s talents better because you joined the challenge.

Now, a Hundred Things to Write About

51 Types of Blog Posts by Regina Anaejionu
50 Can’t-Fail Techniques for Finding Great Blog Topics by Carol Tice

Are you part of the WOK Blog Challenge?

Mandy Wallace is a writing coach by day and blogger by night. See what she’s made of during the WOK Blog Challenge, where she’ll blog through literary terms. It’ll be cooler than it sounds. Probably.