A Gallery
of Poems
An Anthology
of Poems
by Students
Poets
in the
Galleries
A Gallery of Poems
An Anthology of Poems from
Poets in the Galleries
A program of the
Education Department
at the
Fine Arts Museums
of San Francisco
Edited by
devorah major
Fall 2001–Spring 2002
Copyright © 2003
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
All rights reserved
Cover photograph: Paris Opera, 1924, Oskar Kokoschka.
Bequest of Mrs. Ruth Haas Lilienthal.
The Poets in the Galleries program and this publication
were made possible by The Mary Harrison Fund.
Additional funding was provided by the California Arts Council.
For more information about Poets in the Galleries
at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco contact:
Jeannine L. Jeffries, Assistant Director of Education
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
Lincoln Park, 100 – 34th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94121-1693
415 / 750-3640
e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.thinker.org
Harry S. Parker III, Director
Book design: Elaine Joe
Printing: Coast Litho
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4
Introduction
6
About the Program
7
Special Thanks
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
9
Decorative Arts of Europe
31
European Paintings
67
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
71
Special Exhibition: Masterworks of
New Guinea Art: Selections from the
Marcia and John Friede Collection
80
About the Poet
INTRODUCTION
■
4
INTRODUCTION
W E L C O M E T O T H E California Palace of
the Legion of Honor’s Gallery of Poems. I
encourage you to go through it as you would
tour through the museum. Just as in any
gallery some pieces will make you stop and
linger for a long time, others will encourage
you to stay and ponder how you feel about
the piece, and you will inevitably pass by
others only to return on a future visit, wondering how you had missed that particular
work the first time around.
Over twenty five-hundred poems were
created by the participants in the Poets in the
Galleries program in the fall of 2001 and the
spring of 2002. The hundred or so poems in
this volume are certainly the best of the best.
However, I could have created an anthology
three times as large and had the same high
quality of poetics and perception. Sadly, I
was again forced to leave out more excellent
poems than I could include. As I was selecting
the poems, returning again and again to this
folder or that poem, I found myself consistently amazed and re-amazed at the depth
these students could show in only two sessions at the museum. With one or two group
poems under their belts, and perhaps one
5
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
practice poem hastily scribbled on their pads,
I let the students tour the galleries and find
one piece of art that called to them. I encouraged them to use visual art devices that were
also poetic devices: perspective, texture,
form, and imagery to form a relationship
between themselves and the art. As you will
see, some became the art, some became the
painter, some climbed inside the painting or
sculpture, and some wrote as omniscient
viewer. Some embraced the challenge of form
and content, and like the visual art they
engaged, created a balance between the two.
In my seven years of working with the
Fine Arts Museums, one of my recurring
pleasures is to have a young person’s poem
make me look more closely at a painting that
I had repeatedly passed by or one that had
grown too familiar. When 8th-grader Max
Snelling writes, “His lips needing nothing
more than to be kissed,” I found myself seeking out the painting of Paul Mounet to see
the vulnerability that Max saw in the portrait. When 4th-grader, Nate Gilchrist “tastes
the crispness of the wind” I am encouraged
to go back to the Cabin on a Hill and see
what flavors I might savor. When Rita Tam,
a 5th-grader, becomes the painting and asks
Jan-Frans van Dael to “Paint me silk petals
of life and beauty,” I am invited to look at a
favorite painting from a new perspective. I
had to listen to the Guarnerius violin as 11thgrader Lorena Leite did before she imagined
the relationship the violin had with its player
and penned, “Her maple complexion shines,
glows and loves him,” carefully sculpting the
graceful shape of the violin in her poem’s
form and content. Although I have over these
years spent an aggregate of days standing in
front of most of these paintings, sculptures,
and artifacts, although I may have had hundreds of young people compose a group
poem about a particular sunset or describe
the beauty of a specific gallery without using
the word beauty, when I read a particularly
vibrant poem, I must again seek out the
poem’s object of inspiration which has been
made fresh by the images the student evokes.
I invite you to experience the galleries through
young people’s eyes, to see what they found
compelling, important, amusing, humbling,
and majestic in this Gallery of Poems.
devorah major
Poet and Editor
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
■
6
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
offered in museums
relate the language arts to the visual arts.
However, through a poetry program, students can enhance their verbal and written
skills while learning about and viewing actual
objects. Students learn to communicate about
visual art through the literary art form of
poetry, and in so doing they create their own
personal interpretation of the subjects of their
poems.
To this end, the Fine Arts Museums
have presented since 1987 the Poets in the
Galleries program to students in the fourth
through twelfth grades. Each poetry session
is one-and-a-half hours long and each class
visits the museum twice. The specific goals of
the program are to introduce students to the
visual arts in the museum through an interdisciplinary approach that includes looking,
observing, learning about art objects and
poetic styles, and listening to and reading
poems. The program also gives students the
opportunity to meet and work with an actual
poet, devorah major. She selects the area or
areas of the museum to be used during the
FEW PROGRAMS
poetry sessions, but the students choose the
objects that will be the subjects of their poems.
They are given ample time to look, think,
and reflect while writing their poems and at
the end of the poetry session are encouraged
to read their poems aloud to the class.
During the academic year 2001-2002,
students learned about the works of art from
the permanent collection of European paintings and decorative arts at the Legion of
Honor; viewed highlights from the permanent collection of art from Africa, Oceania,
and the Americas; and toured the special
exhibition entitled Masterworks of New
Guinea Art: Selections from the Marcia and
John Friede Collection.
With this edition we are resuming the
printing of the annual poetry anthology. The
anthology may have been gone for a few
years but it was never forgotten. Illustrated
with photographs of the works of art in the
Museums, the poetry anthology highlights the
creative spirit and enthusiasm of these Bay
Area young people.
Jeannine L. Jeffries
Assistant Director of Education
August 2002
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
SPECIAL THANKS
I M U S T O F F E R thanks to many people
for the success of this volume. I know that in
these days it is popular to find short-comings
and deficiencies in our schools or teachers,
our children, our community organizations.
Perhaps I simply see the cream of the cream,
or perhaps there is indeed more hope than
many would believe. I thank the committed
teachers who brought their polite and prepared classes to the museum, as well as the
parents and teacher aides who helped with
discipline and spelling, and helped to ensure
positive and productive student participation.
I also thank the docents, who continue to
give me ideas on new ways to present a
painting or an art era; the volunteers, who
helped young people and their chaperones to
enjoy the museum more fully; the curators
and curatorial assistants, who gave me
insights into particular pieces, especially in
the New Guinea collection; and those guards,
who in gentle and considerate ways helped
the students to be responsible visitors to the
Legion of Honor. I want to give my sincere
thanks to the Museums’ education department, especially Jeannine Jeffries, Assistant
Director of Education, who is constantly
helping me smooth out rough spots and find
solutions to various problems. I am also
grateful to the book’s graphic designer, who
worked through the challenge of the students’
concrete poems with aplomb and skill.
Finally, my largest thanks go to the students,
who opened themselves up to the art and to
themselves and wrote with passion, intelligence, humor, and sensitivity. Thank you one
and all!
d.m.
PARTICIPATING TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS
Alamo Elementary, San Francisco: Margaret Ames
Bolinas-Stinson Elementary, Bolinas: Andrea Parker
Brandeis-Hillel Day School, San Rafael: Maria Seward
Cabrillo Elementary, San Francisco: Kathy Kozuch
Clarendon Elementary, San Francisco: Renee Theriault, Rusty Pendrey
Crystal Springs Upland, Hillsborough: Elizabeth Miller
El Granada Elementary, Half Moon Bay: Susan F. Hatfield
Enola D. Maxwell Middle School of the Arts, San Francisco: Robin Brasso
SPECIAL THANKS
■
8
Foster City Elementary, Foster City: Julie Sitton
Guadalupe Elementary, San Francisco: Ben Eiseman
Havens Elementary, Piedmont: Joan Twohy, Gretchen Schnitzer
H. J. Kaiser Elementary, Oakland: Jill F. Reese
Kittredge School, San Francisco: Emily K. Evison
Jefferson Elementary, San Francisco: Loret Peterson, Carolyn Ann Weiss
Leadership High School, San Francisco: Laura Putnam, Eve Gordon
Leonard R. Flynn Elementary, San Francisco: Maria J. Blanco
Marin Home Educational Cooperative, Mill Valley: Carol B. Cann
Marin School, Albany: Casey Hoosier, Christine Julian
Meadows Elementary, Millbrae: Kathleen Lynch
Museum Ambassador Program, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Napa Adventist Junior Academy, Napa: Janet Wright
Ocean Shore School, Pacifica: Patricia McNally
Ohlone Elementary, Palo Alto: Marry Bussmann, June Fuji
Old Mill Elementary, Mill Valley: Erin Lyons, Linda Tanguay
Park Elementary, Mill Valley: Danielle Ross, Rod Septka
Presidio Hill, San Francisco: Lisa Jeli
R. L. Stevenson Elementary, San Francisco: Libbie Schock
Rooftop Elementary, San Francisco: Ann Henry, Richard Mattson
St. Brendan Elementary, San Francisco: Sister Christine Ostrowski
St. Isabella Elementary, San Rafael: Kathleen Adams
St. John’s Elementary, San Francisco: Joan F. Andres
St. Stephen’s Elementary, San Francisco: Barbara Conti, Gina Zarich
St. Thomas More, San Francisco: Evelyn Trauner, Zodine Spiegel
Sonora Elementary, Sonora: Kelli Noteman, Susan Walter
Stuart Hall for Boys, San Francisco: Dennis Estrada
Town School for Boys, San Francisco: Pam Abendroth
Vallemar School, Pacifica: Retta L. Guel
William deAvila Elementary, San Francisco: Donna Lee
Windrush Elementary, El Cerrito: Nicola Berlinsky
9
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Decorative
Arts
of
Europe
e k
iss
Th
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
ik
is l e
loving one another. The kiss is like holding
one another in case of fear and hate.
Love one another. The shape
of a man and woman making love peace, so their
parents won’t fight
over their
love.
Aofia Kiliona
7th grade,
Enola D. Maxwell
Middle School
The Kiss, ca.
1886, Auguste
Rodin. Gift of
Alma de
Bretteville
Spreckels.
■
10
11
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Auguste Rodin,
ca. 1900, Camille
Claudel. Gift of
Alma de
Bretteville
Spreckels.
The
dark gloomy
face appearing from
a shadow. The melody in
his eyes brings darkness to
his soul. The bottom of his face
unrolling in the night. His back curled up in
a ball. He sees the world different from the way
we do. He does not feel the emotions that we do.
He is trapped all alone.
Yana Shekhter
5th grade, Jefferson Elementary
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
12
Equestrian
Statue of
Charles III, ca.
1762, Attributed
to Tommaso
Solari. Mildred
Anna Williams
Collection.
You are riding brave and mighty
Head raised, shoulders high
Brave, powerful, moving forward
Cloak flowing
Horse as strong, tail flying
Holding your scepter
Riding forward
Toby Hollis
5th grade, Havens Elementary
13
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Head of Pierre
de Wiessant,
from The
Burghers of
Calais, 1885-1886,
Auguste Rodin.
Gift of Adolph B.
ea
Dr
tod
ay
Face
tortured by the
future, lips trembling
with fear. Eyes filled with
tears, hands closed, trying to
hold it back. Forehead worried
and face dirtied.
din
g
.
Spreckels, Jr.
tomo
ing
rrow and forgiv
Pablo Vasquez
11th grade, Leadership High School
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
14
Violin, ca. 1740, Italy, Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri (del Gesù). Bequest of Jascha Heifetz.
As someone plays me
a wonderful sound
comes from my heart
A sweet sound, a soft sound
I provide all those sounds
For happy people, sad people
who are in need of a cheerful tune
I am a violin, a violin
Amy Williams
4th grade, Presidio Hill
15
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The
chilling
wind
encircles
him,
frozen
by the
warm
image
of his
beloved
violin.
She
poses
like a
goddess.
Her lovely
face surrounded
by mahogany tendrils,
but shaded. The gas lamp
shines on the curves of
her hips and accentuates
the slope of her
waist. Her maple
complexion
shines, glows and
loves him. He wants
to touch her, feel her,
caress her with his hands,
his lips, his voice, for she
is his soul, his reason
for being. The wind wraps
back around him and steals
him away for she is the
siren he can never
possess.
Lorena Leite
11th grade, Leadership High School
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
16
The Spanish Ceiling,
15th century, Spain.
Gift of Mrs. Richard
Ely Danielson and
Mrs. Chauncey
McCormick.
The florescent golden color glimmers
in the light. The golden color fills the room.
The golden middle seeps through
the room like magic and looks right into your eyes.
THE GOLDEN CEILING
Scott Ford
4th grade, Marin School
THE SPANISH CEILING
The glistening moving color
of gold
-en rod
appears
brilliant
autumn
leaves
come
to life
peaceful,
graceful
wings in the sun glitter
Eric Tran
5th grade, Havens Elementary
17
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The room gleaming
with dim light.
But even that is enough
to see in your heart.
in the
balls set up
The great
Louis XV Period
Room, 1735-1740,
France. Roscoe
and Margaret
Oakes Collection.
secret and heart burning room.
You can see the smeared figures
moving to the peaceful sounds
of joy. The deer, the boar,
and light.
of music
and the colors
The peace, the war all
combined in a single little
room. The chandelier is giving
streams of light like a river.
Dividing into peaceful streams, and everything.
The sights, the music and the souls trapped in one
beautiful mysterious room.
Jane Shtalenkova
4th grade, St. Thomas More
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
18
Eve, ca. 1881,
Auguste
Rodin. Gift of
Alma de
Bretteville
Spreckels.
19
■
POETS IN THE GALLERIES
EVE
My arms held tightly together
Never to part, never to open
In fragile balance
I stand angelically, but trembling.
Shatter...
I am scared
For what, I don’t know
Who knows the mystery
of my sorrow, pain, grief...
fright
For who I don’t know.
Shatter...
By my hand, I push the darkness aside,
trying my best to pull the light within
My eyes drowned in tears of sadness
filled with confusion and fright.
Shatter...
My worries have taken over me
My thoughts have begun to confuse me
One wrong move and I shall fall
I fall...
I shatter...
Ashley Amruil
8th grade, St. Thomas More
STANDING HERE
I am
standing
here, naked
nothing to
shield
me,
nothing to
hide me, nothing
to protect me.
I am standing
here naked
feeling
alone
and useless.
There is nothing to do
to see. Why
are you there
just looking
at me?
What
do you
want
to say?
I know
you
want
to
criticize
and
judge.
But
look
at you just
standing there
looking at me
standing here.
Karloina Pestryal
11th grade, Leadership High School
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
20
Inspired by
Dalmatic, 1565, Spain. Gift of
Inspired by
Mrs. Herbert Fleishhacker.
Necklace and Pendant,
19th century, Tyrol,
Austria. Gift of Miss
Sarah M. Spooner.
THE NECKLACE
Glistening
like
stars
off
water
jewel
its
story
red
pale
waiting
leap
the
reflected
the
each
telling
own
like
and
tears
to
off
its owner’s
neck
Alexander Ting
6th grade, Crystal Springs Upland
I WISH TO WEAR YOU
You are a sparkling red robe.
I want to put you on. The face
on you looks like
he is thinking, writing. I wonder if he is
lonely missing friends
or family. Sparkling gold
trim. Your shape is like a
cross. I wish to wear you.
Coulter Kunzel
4th grade, Town School for Boys
RED ROBE
Thick rich folds of ruby red velvet
surround the borders of golden
tapestry. Shimmering
flowers blossom in
the bright sun light.
Blue-gold dragons
angrily clutch into
twisting vines.
Lauren Higley
4th grade, Marin School
21
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Reaching up to the sky
Muscles bulging
Fingers groping
Searching for something
Not knowing what it is
A shiny mass of black so strong
Great and powerful hand
Clark Steward
The Mighty
Hand, by 1906,
Auguste Rodin.
Gift of Alma de
Bretteville
Spreckels.
5th grade, H. J. Kaiser Elementary
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
22
Victor Hugo,
ca. 1917,
Auguste Rodin.
Anonymous gift.
A man in the mountain
Like a colored pearl
So mysterious
So powerful
Yet weak and sad
Old man do not cry
In the mountain
You live so high
Gone
Stephen Wallace
5th grade,
Ohlone Elementary
VI
CTOR
HUGO
A gentle face
looks down upon me.
So gentle, so innocent, I
can feel his eyes connecting
with mine. He guides me, he shows
me the way. How can he stand in such a rocky
rough place with a heart so smooth and so pure.
I look at his sorrow and sad eyes and wonder was he here,
where I’m standing. When I wonder I think he will always be
my wise one.
Julia Anaya
5th grade, Clarendon Elementary
23
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Pair of Ewers,
ca. 1700,
China/France.
Gift of Archer
M. Huntington.
The sea bound creatures
appall me with their putrid
blue skin.
The violet and
gold disgusts me.
The brilliant swirls and
spirals of porcelain.
Where’s the line
between brilliance
and disgust?
This is a question
they can’t answer.
Only the artist and the viewer
can say.
They just sit there like a statue of their own brilliant disgust.
Miles Tune
7th grade, Bolinas-Stinson Elementary
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
CHANDELIER
Icy
cold frozen
tears suspended
in time...Glistening,
shimmering jewels
dancing in the warm
glow of the
night
Adam Boggeri
4th grade,
St. Isabella Elementary
Chandelier, ca.
1750, France.
Roscoe and
Margaret Oakes
Collection.
■
24
25
■
POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Little
rainbows
captive in a
glass prison like
baby birds anxious to
sing. Glistening like pearly
water before a lone pebble is cast.
Diamond teardrops silently running
down the face of every human being.
A world with star rivers, ice and
rainbows. Sugar candy to the
mind of a hungry child.
Sunrise, sunset. Proud
stately. Time is
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen
Natalie Johnson
5th grade, Old Mill Elementary
It
shines
like the sun.
Big shiny crystal
shine everywhere. Crystals are shaped like big pretty flowers. Teardrops shaped
like rain drops. Crystal bowls
shaped to hold a candle. Candles are in bowl so shiny it
is too bright to look at.
Oh how I wish I was
as pretty as that
crystal.
Christine Duenas
5th grade, St. John’s Elementary
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
26
SILVER
See me glimmer
Polished
Silver
rolling
my three
intricate arms.
By night
I cradle
holding
tight
four candles
burning
bright.
By day I stand proud and tall
patterns
of
leaves and
glamorous
roses
adorn
my body, for
I am a candelabra.
Sarah Emory
5th Grade, Old Mill Elementary
Pair of Candelabra,
1811, Paul Storr.
Museum purchase,
Roscoe and
Margaret Oakes
Income Fund.
27
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Snuff Box, 1755-1756, Jean George. Gift of Archer M. Huntington.
Bra s s g o ld
ing
t
a
o
l
f
e
Swe e w ave s
s id
s
t
n
e
i
i
d
m
o
l
e
en
n e f o r e st g re e
I ima g i
n p il lo ws h i dd
I am
fa g
e
e
t
Sw h one l l in s w irl s
y
m
D ancin g c al ree,
, o p en, f
MY B OX
Morgan Thompson
5th grade, Park Elementary
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
28
PRICKET
p
lat m
f or
heavy
Lifting
s
to
make the
shape
into a pyramid
Pricket,
struggling
are
Yet they
early 16th
century,
Italy. Gift of
Samuel H.
to lift each other.
Sadly they have to
s
uff
t he r
suffering
o c ati n
tay
s
g
e
Michael Botello
4th grade, Marin School
Kress
Foundation.
29
THE TOWER
Hannah Jones
8th grade,
St. Brendan Elementary
Towering
Turning
Strength
and beauty
Muscles
lifting
And the black legs of strength and beauty
5th grade,
Old Mill Elementary
Look closely
To see my many parts
Each figure
has a story
Each crack has meaning
of its own
One under the other
We hold each other up
Men struggle
to keep their comrades safe
But the structure
holds itself
Ebony shining through the light
fears to go away
wants darkness and
Eric Andrews
POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Hearts are beating
The
Tower
of mankind
Reaching for
what has not
been discovered
Uncovering something everyday Reaching
above all darkness and
searching for the light that
will please the soul that
■
Lynn Bagley
7th grade,
Bolinas Stinson
Elementary
DECORATIVE ARTS OF EUROPE
■
30
FROM THE HEART
Sculpt me with power
Sculpt me as one
Sculpt me with passion
Sculpt me without colors, just mind
Sculpt me as myself, no other
Sculpt me with diversion
Sculpt me, myself from the heart
Jonathan Kopf
6th grade, Sonora Elementary
The Orator, 1933 or
1934, Pablo
Picasso. Museum
purchase, Roscoe
and Margaret
Oakes Income Fund
and Trust Fund.
31
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
European
Paintings
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
■
32
Her gleeful smile
enchants my thoughts
Her tawny hair
flows gently to her waist
She is beautiful
I want to meet her
Her rosy cheeks
bring out her lips
She looks like she’s dancing
This beautiful girl
Madison Killen
5th grade, El Granada
Elementary
Who is she I wonder
How beautiful she is
with curly brown hair
down her lovely skin
I love her dress very much
It’s made with lovely red silk
She looks so happy with ruby red cheeks
I feel like I am in there with her
Who is she I wonder
Hyacinthe Gabrielle
Roland, later Marchioness
Wellesley, 1791, Elizabeth
Louise Vigée Le Brun.
Mildred Anna Williams
Collection and Bequest
Winifred Dow
5th grade, Foster City Elementary
funds of Henry S. Williams.
33
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
His formal wear
cigar in hand
He has no worries
relaxed yet tough
His brown hair flows freely
His lips needing nothing more
than to be kissed
Max Snelling
8th grade, St. Thomas More
Paul Mounet (?), ca. 1875,
Louis-Maurice Boutet de
Monvel. Museum purchase,
Art Trust Fund and Mr. and
Mrs. Vernon J. McKale Fund.
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
■
34
Still Life with Violin,
Sheet Music, and a
Rose, 1870, François
Bonvin. Museum
purchase, Grover A.
Magnin Bequest Fund.
35
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The mahogany violin rests quietly
in hopes it will be used again
Aging fire rose drops its petals
Strings still warm and vibrant
Sadness sweeps over it all in the end
I reach out so that I may bring it back to life
Inspired by
Snow Effect, Damvillers,
ca. 1882, Jules Bastien-Lepage.
Museum purchase, Grover A.
Magnin Bequest Fund.
Scott Wardell
8th grade, St. Stephen’s Elementary
DARK DOOM
THE LONELY, SILENT VIOLIN
I am a silent violin
I am a lonely violin
I have music to play
except no one would hear me
I’m a silent violin
There’s a rose beside to make me feel better
but it makes me feel worse because
I’m a lonely silent violin
Brett Fornells
Paint me with the dark
on my hills
Paint me with the weeds
blowing in the wind
Paint me with the angry wind
in my sky
Paint me with the darkness
in my clouds
Paint me with the fire
in my horizon
Paint me with the anger
that I show
5th grade, Meadows Elementary
Kelly Hallisy
5th grade,
St. Stephen’s Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
The dog
he is
determined
determined
to get
the partridge.
The partridge is
determined
determined
to fly
away
determined
to live.
Kistian Mondahl
5th grade, El Granada Elementary
■
36
Pointer and
Partridge in a
Landscape, ca.
1740, Jean-Baptiste
Oudry. Gift of
Phebe Cowles.
37
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
A View on
Hampstead Heath
with Harrow in the
Distance, n.d., John
Constable. Bequest of
Whitney Warren, Jr.
A NEW WORLD
Look out on to the shining of the rocks,
the trees, the birds, life so free, so real.
Look at this world that is known to you and to me
a child’s dreamland.
Look now at the boulders, high and low.
Look through the eyes of me.
Alex Pezzola
5th grade, St. Stephen’s Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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38
Masada (or Sebbeh)
on the Dead Sea, 1858,
Strong winds blowing
The hot red sun on my back
I sit in silence on a cliff
Wanting to leave, not knowing how
I can see the cool blue water
In the distance
Rachael Klein
8th grade, St. Stephen’s Elementary
Edward Lear. Museum
purchase, Grover A.
Magnin Bequest Fund.
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The Coast of
Aegina, 1867,
Frederic, Lord
Leighton.
Museum
purchase, Grover
A. Magnin
Bequest Fund.
Calm the sea, the endless sea.
As I watch over the cool blue water.
I wait. Fog bounds in. I try to see but I can’t.
I feel the grass under my scraped feet.
I feel the cool breeze. I hear the waves crash.
I see nothing.
I taste the salty air.
I free myself of the fog.
I start to walk then stop.
The fog takes hold of me.
I’m frozen from the
icy finger tips.
Mott Schweitzer
5th grade, Park Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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40
Woman Playing
the Viola de
Gamba, 1663,
Gabriel Metsu.
Roscoe and
Margaret Oakes
Collection.
VIOLA DE GAMBA
Sitting here with only my viola
waiting and waiting for nothing
looking up at the sky and thinking
thinking about music and dancing
thinking about me and death
thinking about life
Emily Barmore
5th grade, Rooftop Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Inspired by
The Wave, 1860, Gustave Courbet.
Lent by Mrs. Prentiss Cobb Hale.
Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1779-1782,
I see cool misty waves
I feel the cold wind
running against my face
I see the red and white
vanilla sky through my eyes
The sun is covered with lots of clouds
The waves begin to get angry
as the wind blows hard and harder
Joseph-Siffred Duplessis. Mildred Anna
Williams Collection.
Shacaree Sears
4th grade, Leonard R. Flynn Elementary
Serious
The interrupted man is unwelcoming
He looks away from me
And sits in his soft, fluffy chair
Then smiles at me
A small sweet smile.
Reuben Bosch
4th grade, Napa Adventist Junior Academy
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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42
The Thunderstorm,
1641, Jon van Goyen.
Museum purchase.
Birds flying away to safety
Far away from the crashing waves
The sky darkening as the storm rolls along
Sail boats fighting to pull into shore
The wind is howling a long, long howl.
Josie Marks-McQuade
4th grade, Windrush Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Still Life with
In the awkwardness of silence
Animals lay still
A dog looks at the dead animals
A gruesome and awful sight
Peacock, Rabbit
and Spaniel, ca.
1660-1669, Melchior
d’Hontecoeter.
Museum purchase,
Jaysen Parmar
5th grade, Foster City Elementary
William H. Noble
Bequest Fund.
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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44
Cabin on a Hill,
n.d., Jacob van
Ruisdael. Jacob
Stern Permanent
Loan Collection.
The wind slices through the open windows
Sending a chill throughout the dark lonely cabin
Dark clouds signal a storm is coming
I feel sad. I taste the crispness of the wind
The purple blue skies swirl in a blur of color
I hear leaves crunching under my feet
I wish I could go home.
Nate Gilchrist
4th grade, Town School for Boys
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The Assuaging
of the Waters,
1840, John
Martin. Museum
purchase,
Whitney Warren,
Jr. Fund.
DEEP BLUES
Swishing water against the hard rock
Crashing, exploding with great force
Big waves like the sunset
The light reflection off the water
makes it look like another world
Dylan Crist
4th grade, Ocean Shore School
Calm sunset over white foaming waves
Smooth pink, bright sun reflecting over
blue, foaming waves crashing against
hard, rough rocks with dove perching
Shiloh Albrechts
4th grade, Sonora Elementary
Waves crashing upon the rocks
A dove looks for things to do
A crow hunts for food
Calm skies
Whispering pink clouds
Shawn Camarao
5th grade, Jefferson Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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46
River View of Nijmegen
with the Valkhof, 1648,
Salomon van Ruysdael.
Gift of the Samuel H.
Kress Foundation.
Let the light shine on me
Let the clouds capture sunlight to make me radiant
Let the light make the water shimmer with joy
Let a light rain come to make my hills green
Let me be beautiful again.
Alex Higueras
8th grade, St. Brendan Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The Singel,
Amsterdam,
1697, Gerrit
Berckheyde.
Mildred Anna
Williams
Collection.
The beautiful sight makes me want to never leave
I can not take me eyes off the beauty
I can not blink
I can not move
I can see a full street of houses,
a harbor, a church
All are beautiful
If I take my eye off the sight
I’ll be sad forever and ever
Alex Lee
4th grade, Stuart Hall for Boys
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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48
I feel jolly.
Hot pink roses drop onto
the floor.
A golden sunflower shines
in the darkroom.
A butterfly seems to find a
way into the room.
It starts sipping nectar.
I see myself touching the
soft silky petals.
Joanna Bustamante
4th grade, Guadalupe
Elementary
Flowers in a
The silver shiny vase blinds me with its beauty.
The smell of the pink roses is delightful.
The orange butterflies are calling for me.
The blue ribbon is silky smooth as it touches my hand.
The purple flowers are gentle with grace.
Karianne Lew
5th grade, Cabrillo Elementary
Silver Vase, n.d.,
Willem van Aelst.
Gift of Dr. and
Mrs. Hermann
Schuelein.
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
La Comtesse de Morel-Vindé
You must feel the love of a
daughter
The pull on your heart when
she walks in a room
A feel of hopelessness when
she is sad
Admiration and awe of her
You must feel the hate of a
daughter
The pain in your soul
The heat in your cheeks
Then you can truly paint our
relationship
and Her Daughter, 1799,
Baron François-Pascal-Simon
Gérard. Museum purchase,
Mildred Anna Williams
Collection and William H. Noble
Bequest Fund.
Kaija Cummings
7th grade, Kittredge School
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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50
Forest of Fontainebleau,
1867, Virgile Narcisse Diaz
de la Peña. Gift of David
and Jeanne Carlson.
sun peeping through the trees
dark green all over
wind whistling through the trees
I wish I could help a thousand
trees grow higher, higher.
Casey Sully
4th grade, Windrush Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
The sun glimmers through the trees
The wind blows softly as I
slowly walk through the forest
As I step forward I hear the colorful leaves
crunching under my feet
The leaves blow off the trees
I stop walking. It is silent.
Kaia Morrow
4th grade, Marin School
To paint the dark forest
you need trees that never end
and leaves of apple-red
and ever darkening orange.
The branches must be gnarled
and the sunlight must be barely seen.
It’s always sad and gloomy.
Max Jacobs
5th grade, Rooftop Elementary
All around me are colors
All different in a way
It is so quiet
I think I will stay forever
I like to hear the pitter patter
of the deer’s hooves
and the feeling
of a dewy morning
Alex Rogers
4th grade, Clarendon Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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52
At the Fountain,
n.d., Adolph
Schreyer. Jacob
Stern Family
Loan Collection.
Sad
Great midnight black
What a smooth brown
I feel the sadness of the horses
I can see sadness
Nice marine sky
I wish I could help them
I need joy for them
No animal wants to go to war
Stamping into war
Sebastain O. Lewis
4th grade, William deAvila Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Shelter on Montmartre,
ca. 1886, Vincent van
Gogh. Bequest of
Frederick J. Hellman.
THE SILENT COTTAGE
Brightness shines through the air
Watermelon trees sway through the wind
The silver breeze cottage is silent and still
The wind howls to me as if it were a wolf
The sky sings to me
The Shelter on Montmarte is silent and still
Amy Lee
5th grade, Meadows Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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54
Snow Scene at
Eragny, ca. 1884,
Camille Pissarro.
Gift of Renée M.
Bransten.
Glittering snow, sparkling plains
The cool flowing air doesn’t hear me
Sad trees, dancing wind
Sky full of feathers
A blanket has covered everything
Dario Sotskova
5th grade, Foster City Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Water Lillies, ca.
1914-1917, Claude
Monet. Mildred Anna
Williams Collection.
Happy
The blue ripples gently
There is utter calm
except for the scratch of my pen
I want to toss pebbles across the pool
The lilies invite me in
I accept, I accept.
Meghna Dholakia
5th grade, Ohlone Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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56
Flowers before a Window, 1789, Jan-Frans van Dael. Mildred Anna Williams Collection.
57
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Paint me the table of shine
from the window
Paint me silk petals of
life and beauty
Paint me the beauty of
the outside of an open window
Paint me where you see me
looking my best
Paint me the light breeze
blowing gently on my colors
Paint me the bright colors
that match the sunset
on a garden which rained
from a rainbow
Breeze peeking through a window
Rainbow of flowers bending, stretching,
standing tall, exploding
Sweet fragrance in the air
Ladybug resting, thinking...
At the end, a treasure of four eggs
nestled in a nest
Carlo Parra
4th grade, Vallemar School
Rita Tam
5th grade, R. L. Stevenson Elementary
I see the nature and life of everything around me.
I hear the calm whisper of the river beside me.
I have the urge to touch the soft velvet petals
of the bright flowers.
I can taste the cool wind coming from
the high mountains.
I love the flowers before my window.
Yvonne Lirette
5th grade, St. Isabella Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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58
Forest Interior, ca.
1898-1899, Paul
Cézanne. Mildred Anna
Williams Collection.
59
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
To paint this picture you must feel the breeze
blowing against the trees
To paint this picture you must see the misty blue
living in the sky
To paint this picture you must see the tree branches
bend against the wind
To paint this picture you must look how the grass
in the ground moves like waves.
Kevin Fan
5th grade, R. L. Stevenson Elementary
Rocky terrain
Tall strong graceful trees spring out of
hard packed dark orange earth
Smooth colorful rocks invite me to rest
I lie in the dark sunlight and feel protected
I reach out and touch the tree
The bark is smooth and warm
I hear birds singing in the distance
But where I am it is quiet
Josselyn Butler
8th grade, Marin Home Educational Cooperative
I am the tree you see and paint.
The forest of minty pine.
The howling wind that flows
into a deep sleep.
The swaying branches of shade.
The jagged rocks of fear.
I am the forest of beauty.
Emma Cornwell
5th grade, Rooftop Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
Grand Canal,
Venice, 1908,
Claude Monet. Gift
of Osgood Hooker.
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61
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
HOW TO DRAW A TEMPLE
First you glide through the calm rainbow
of the still waters and before you is
a palace of wonders. As you go by
the purple gleams at you. The cool
colored flag pole guides you to
a sanctuary of romance. The sky is
happy and bright emerald and sapphire
and it’s like heaven so your spirit is free
as you glide through the water of the rainbow.
Cole Kromer
5th grade, Jefferson Elementary
I appreciate your vagueness
Your flowing shy blue green glow
Your sad sky blue
Your humble violet
Your soft playful pink
I paddle slowly through your
ever changing reflective waters
And frolic quickly through your
ever winding halls
I slowly scale your cream, smooth dome
and accept your ever growing brilliance
Gabriel Grossman
5th grade, Old Mill Elementary
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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62
A cold sheet of steel
a deep sleep
fiery coldness
a piercing sting
darkness
cold fog
a plain state of fear
a never ending evil
everlasting fear
trapped in a deep slumber
of nightmares
a cold deep ocean of steel
Andrew Miller
4th grade, Ohlone Elementary
From One Night
I see a mangled knight in shining armor
Sharp spikes and twisted metal
appear to have no shape
The sky, off white
has no beginning and no end
Traces of red show some form of life.
Miguel Herrera
5th grade, St. John’s Elementary
to Another, 1947,
Yves Tanguy.
Mildred Anna
Williams Collection.
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Still life with Skull,
Leeks and Pitcher,
1945, Pablo Picasso.
Museum purchase,
Whitney Warren Jr.
Fund, in memory of
Mrs. Adolph B.
Spreckels, Grover A
Magnin Bequest
Fund, Roscoe and
Margaret Oakes
Income Fund, and
Bequest of Mr. and
I hear its voice ringing in my ears
I feel inside the picture
in a world of inky black darkness
I hear it wail. My heart pounds
It screams, I yell
Sorrow pounds through my veins
It speaks to me with brilliance, with beauty
I smell the fresh scent of blood
slowly oozing from it
It feels pained and filled with woe
I feel death run through its heart
All hope gone
I hear its voice
Keith Berquist
4th grade, Stuart Hall for Boys
Mrs. Frederick J.
Hellman by
exchange.
Mayhem
Swirling rainbows
Reality is chiming her words
As I touch the cold skull
death frowns upon me
Dark magic
Julianne Grauel
6th grade, Crystal Springs Upland
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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64
Paris Opera, 1924, Oskar Kokoschka. Bequest of Mrs. Ruth Haas Lilienthal.
Rushed
Blurred
like looking at the world
with teary eyes
Deep grays
and purple tints of the sky
Call for a storm
Katie Brigham
5th grade, Park Elementary
Conjunction boiling through out the streets
The sound of horns beeping repeatedly
The voice of a great opera star
howling in the cold nights breeze
Buildings shooting up out of the ground
just like the rising of the sun upon the horizon
The gleaming glow of the midnight glaring down
on the sidewalk and the endless chirping
of crickets through out the night
Andrew Steier
5th grade, Brandeis-Hillel Day
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Who is this woman?
Who dares to place her foot in
my sacred waters
She is lustful in her sensuous beauty
She ponders her illustrious figure
Poised upon the scent of my body
She is part of the ocean
She is part of the sea
The blue depths of my scenery
lulls her closer into my grasp
She is thinking about what
is beneath my dark blue cover
Jonathan Myers
11th grade, Museum Ambassador Program
Dorothy
Spreckels
Munn, 1942,
Salvador Dali.
Gift of Mrs.
Charles A.
Munn.
What does the cloud covered angel stare at?
Does she not know a world of fantasy lies behind?
Can the sky’s magnificent color shine a light
towards the magic that is beyond what she stares at?
Has the shine of the water you lay in
guided you to a new place?
Does the ocean blue’s calmness relax you?
What does the cloud covered angel stare at?
Could it be love or the lover she sought?
Jamal Fahim
8th grade, Kittredge School
EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
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On the Beach, 1908,
Joaquin Sorolla y
Bastida. Gift of Archer
M. Huntington.
The water laps against the shore
Laughter comes from everywhere
Children’s feet sink in the wet sand
I feel the ocean’s heart beat against my leg
Katarina Berger
5th grade, Havens Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Art of Africa,
Oceania,
and the
Americas
ART OF AFRICA, OCEANIA, AND THE AMERICAS
Stela, A.D. 761,
Maya. Museum
purchase,
Phyllis Wattis
Purchase Fund.
ancient figures dance
Serpents glide through tunnels
In patterns, bones rattle
violently
Gods give off stares and gray skies turn black.
Garrett Roseman
5th grade, Park Elementary
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
You know me as the serpent
I know myself as life
I am Quetzalcoatl
THE SERPENT
I represent
That everything
Has always been
And will always be
I am Quetzalcoatl
I represent no beginnings
And I represent no ends
I am Quetzalcoatl
I come in one form
But I take on many shapes
I am Quetzalcoatl
Eben Dower
11th grade, Leadership High School
As she’s
Walking through her crowd of people
Fearless
Dancing
with no
Embarrassment
Showing all who she is. Feeling like a
Goddess
With a
deadly serpent around her neck
With fiery eyes
She looks
like stone
yet so powerful.
Mark Yeghiazarian
5th grade, Foster City Elementary
ART OF AFRICA, OCEANIA, AND THE AMERICAS
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70
ESU ELEGBA
I am the force and spirit that
Causes you to cry, love, hate, yearn
Smile, beg and create
I am thunder
I am rain
I am earth
I am fire
I am nothing without the needs of
Men, yet I rule your mind and
Your heart
Figure in Honor
of Esu Elegba,
You are power
You are grace
You are the love I need
Yet you are the hate that inspires
You create, you destroy
For you are ruled by me and I
Am ruled by you. You created me
But I created you.
18th or 19th
century, Nigeria.
Museum
purchase,
Salinger Fund.
Carlton Blackman
11th grade, Leadership High School
71
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Masterworks
of New Guinea Art:
Selections from the
Marcia and John
Friede Collection
MASTERWORKS OF NEW GUINEA ART
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72
Female figure looking down
on all individuals.
The woman figure,
the welcoming figure.
Blessing all who pass her.
Imani Bibbs
5th grade,
Jefferson Elementary
I THANK YOU
Gable Mask from a
Your big wise eyes staring down at me
as though telling me I’m welcome into your hut.
I say thank you for welcoming me in.
You watch me as I enter the door to your enchanted palace.
I thank you again for letting me in.
Brenna Hagerty
4th grade, Sonora Elementary
Ceremonial House,
20th century.
Museum purchase,
Phyllis Wattis
Purchase Fund.
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Shell of ocean
Sea within
Red with anger
Teeth of pearl
Sea tortoise is on your face
Crazy with cassowary feathers
Dance for death
The universe comes for you
Mettlin Hunter
4th grade, Ocean Shore School
Mortuary Mask
with Composite
PORTAL TO THE SPIRITS
Materials, 19th
century. Gift of
Marcia and
John Friede.
I carry your life upon my shoulders
I bare the might of death upon my back
My power is unmatched
For I am the portal to the spirit world
Jordan Benjamin
5th grade, Alamo Elementary
MASTERWORKS OF NEW GUINEA ART
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74
Inspired by
Large Funerary Mask, 19th century.
Gift of Marcia and John Friede.
Why are you gaunt and your features
distorted
Your blank eyes can’t see but your face
tells a story
Why is your tangled and matted hair
not brushed
You radiate power with unbelievable
force
Why are your teeth plastered in a toothy grin
when you give off the feeling
you’re sad
You once represented greatness but
Now you are a spectacle to
all eyes
Why, why?
Lexi Kopf
6th grade, Sonora Elementary
I float alone
looking through the glass that keeps me captive
I float alone
looking through the cloud of people
Who are you?
Kit Mannion
5th grade, Rooftop Elementary
75
Portrait Head,
19th century. Gift
of Marcia and
John Friede.
■
POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Your ancient lips tell me stories
Your closed eyes shut out all secrets
Yet when you open them
ancient secrets and battles
and stories unknown
come swirling out like tidal waves
Have you been many places
and seen many things?
What is life and death?
You seem to know no evil
I see only good and sadness
in your ancient face
Sophia Perry
4th grade, Ohlone Elementary
MASTERWORKS OF NEW GUINEA ART
Why do you stare?
Where am I, my rough wooden
body feels lost and lonely
First and alone in an endless world
of loss and sorrow
I stand alone
closing my frightened eyes
I stand alone
Chloe Miller
4th grade, Clarendon Elementary
Hook Figure
(yipwon),
19th century.
Museum
purchase,
Phyllis Wattis
Purchase
Fund.
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Inspired by
Large Ancestor Pole (bisj), 19th-20th century.
Museum purchase, Phyllis Wattis Purchase Fund.
All three of you stacked
one on top of the other
So tall it looks as if you could tip over
The carvings swirling up your body
Your faces looking stern and still
So balanced it almost seems you can do anything
Your ancestors whispering slowly down to you
With your perfect feet and bent legs
it seems you’re alive
Laura Walley
4th grade, Vallemar School
Inspired by
Shield with Swirling Faces, 19th century.
Lent by Marcia and John Friede.
I am your protector, your guide
I am mighty and powerful
Yet, I need your help to lift me
My fire eyes see right through men’s might
The dazzling colors bring them to a haze in battle
I am strong but still tearful when people get killed
Emily Vuong
5th grade, Alamo Elementary
MASTERWORKS OF NEW GUINEA ART
Inspired by
Drum with Large
Face, 19th century.
Lent by Marcia and
John Friede.
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78
How does the reptile skin make that
thundering noise?
How can anyone make such a beautiful
black body and carve the amazing designs into you?
Your gorgeous solid black body and your beautiful
thundering noise makes me want to be you.
Ooh, thundering black drum.
Michael Inonye
Let me play my song
4th grade, Clarendon Elementary
Come, come, play me, bang me
Call the spirits of your land
Come, come, tap me, rub me
Play my beautiful, loud music
Come, come, hit me, move me
Let me do the job I was brought here to do
Come, come play me, bang me,
Bang, bang oh how does it feel?
tap me, rub me, hit me,
I feel the spirit of each man come
Move me, let me play my song
and bang on me, call for others.
Alana Ayasse
5th grade, H. J. Kaiser Elementary
Bang, bang oh how does it feel?
Shapes swirling describing a story
making pictures.
Bang, bang oh how does it feel?
Deep dark orange and brown snake skin
slithering all over.
Bang, bang oh how does it feel?
Patterns moving slowly asking for
other spirits to come.
Alyssa Miller
5th grade, Brandeis-Hillel Day
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POETS IN THE GALLERIES
Inspired by
Flute Stopper with Figure,
19th century. Gift of Marcia
and John Friede.
A man that is very old and has a very long beard.
The man has the sound of softness and never to be heard.
His knees are very sharp and can never be harmed.
He once had hope but never again.
Hoang Chau Truong
5th grade, Cabrillo Elementary
Inspired by
Large Slit Gong,
19th-20th century.
Gift of Marcia
and John Friede.
YOUR SOUND
Will you be there to make a call
Will your hollow body be able to save me
Sound your sound though call my name
Will you still stand mighty and deep
Or will your sound be lost forever.
Avery Harrison
5th grade, Havens Elementary
ABOUT THE POET
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80
ABOUT THE POET: DEVORAH MAJOR
is currently Poet
Laureate of San Francisco. In addition to
being a poet she is a performer, lecturer, fiction and creative non-fiction writer, and editor. A trained actress and former dancer, she
approaches poetry as both a written and performing art. In May 2002 Curbstone Press
released her second novel (which includes
poetry), Brown Glass Windows, and in the
fall of 2002 Creative Arts Books, Inc.,
released her second solo book of poetry, with
more than tongue. She is the recipient of a
2002 California Arts Council Spoken Word
Literary Arts Fellowship. This summer
Daughters of Yam (a poetry performance
group with Opal Palmer Adisa) released a
jazz poetry CD, The Tongue is a Drum,
under Irresistible/Revolutionary Records and
opened a multi-media website, www.daughtersofyam.com. In early 2003 City Lights will
release another book of ms. major’s poetry,
where river meets ocean. In September of
1995 her first novel, An Open Weave, awarded the First Novelist Award by the Black
Caucus of the American Library Association,
was released by Seal Press. In March of
1996, Curbstone Press released her first solo
book of poetry, street smarts, awarded the
PEN Oakland 1996 Josephine Miles Award
DEVORAH MAJOR
for Excellence in Literature. Ms. major’s
poems, short stories, and essays have been
published in a number of periodicals and
anthologies. She has also written two “Start
to Finish” history books for young people:
Rosa Parks: Freedom Fighter and Frederick
Douglas: A Hero for All Times (1999).
devorah major performs solo, with jazz
musicians, and as a part of Daughters of Yam
with Opal Palmer Adisa. Last year her performances included an International Poetry
Festival in Naples, Italy. She was part of the
YMCA’s Writer’s Voice series and a featured
performer at University of California, Santa
Barbara. In 1999 she was featured in San
Diego’s Border Voices Poetry Festival and
part of the performance festival Afro Solo VI.
She has also shared her work on radio and
television stations in Northern and Southern
California, Southern Connecticut, and
Atlanta, Georgia. In 2002 she performed in
New York City at the New School, in the
Dodge Poetry Festival, at the University of
Connecticut, and in a host of bookstores in
Northern California, Atlanta, Phoenix, New
York, and Southern Connecticut.
Ms. major teaches and performs as
poet-in-residence in a number of museum,
community, and school settings.