It's
history! The fourth Annual Roque Bluffs Poetry Festival on Saturday August 1, 2009 sponsored by the Salt Coast Sages was a
splendid event. A group of thirteen took part in the workshop offered by distinguished poet Paddy Bushe** of Waterville, Kerry
Co, Ireland. Plied with pots of coffee, cups of tea, a few green grapes and slices from the bundt style cakes provided by
Roberta Crane, we absorbed insights on developing an effective poem.
Paddy read and led
discussion of five handouts - examples of using place, a phrase, relationships, implied social statements, beauty in the ordinary,
details that bring a poem to life for the reader.
In the second hour of the workshop, all pens
were busy as thirteen drafts based on one of the handouts, were in the making either at the indoor tables, or outside on the
door step or at the picnic table.
Well into the afternoon, one by one, each writer read
his/her draft to the group with feedback from the listeners and perceptive comments from our workshop leader that will lead
each writer to a stronger piece of work.
After supper a group gathered back at the Community Center for an open
mic poetry reading. Host Jerry George welcomed Paddy and Fiona Bushe as our guests of honor , gave homage to the late Kelly
Lombardi as the founder of the Roque Bluffs Poetry Festival and the Salt Coast Sages. It was Kelly's dream that Paddy
Bushe be part of this festival and it was a delight to hear him share, in English and in Irish, many of his poems.
To round out the evening, the following poets also shared their work: Ray Beal, Sharon Bray, Donald Crane, Marcie
Dean, Kathi Proulx, Joyce Pye, Ellen Richards, Phil Rose, Grace Sheridan, Ella Zona, Kirstin Zona.
** Mr. Bushe, a native of Dublin who now lives in Waterville in County Kerry, writes in both English and Irish. He
has published eight collections of poetry plus three books of translations. He has twice won grants from Ireland's Arts
Council, and his poems have won at least four awards: the Strokestown International Prize, the Listowel Writers' Week
Poetry Prize, the Michael Harnett Award, and the Oireachtas Prize. He has been elected to membership in Aosdána, a
prestigious Irish honorary organization.
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Pictures
from the 2009 Festival
