Three poets celebrate friendship, memories, truth and history at the next WordFest on Tuesday, February 13, 6:00 pm, at the Cassava Coffeehouse, 1333 Broadway in Longview.

Fellow poets, former colleagues and close friends Carolyn Norred and Deborah Brink Woehrmann will present different approaches to the idea of history.

Carolyn will read excerpts from an exchange of letters between herself and her adolescent grandson, Oliver. This epistolary conversation developed in response to his telling her that he enjoyed school but didn’t like history. Through their correspondence, they have been exploring his question, “What can I do with history?”

Carolyn is retired from Lower Columbia College’s Language and Literature Department.

Through her poetry, Deborah will be exploring the question of truth and the stories we tell ourselves in the making of “history”.

Deborah was also an instructor at LCC in the Department of Language and Literature for ten years while co-hosting the Northwest Voices Series. She now lives in Portland, where she writes, works as a massage therapist, and leads the occasional writing workshop. You can read her musings and articles (along with guest-writers) at Live(s) Inspiring Today! at www.l-i-t.org

 

Joining Carolyn and Deborah will be Longview poet and memoirist Mary Lyons. She will read from her developing anthology entitled Body Parts. Her Valentine’s Day selection, “An Affair of The Heart,” sheds light on the funny and bizarre experiences of modern technology intersecting with our hearts. Her second selection, “Clowning around,” takes on new meaning as a Halloween adventure unfolds.

 

There will be an open mic period following the presentations.

 

The monthly gathering of readers and writers meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Cassava. The events are free and open to the public.

 

Cassava offers a dinner menu for those who wish to enjoy a meal with the readings, as well as local wines and brews.