Video and Poem from the Redmond Lights - The Erratic Dedication

In case you missed it last night, here's a little video of me reading the poems I wrote for the dedication of the Erratic as part of the Redmond Lights celebration. It was surprisingly crowded, especially since it was about 16 degrees outside, and everyone was very warm-hearted.
http://youtu.be/hSOJH72hIB0
And here is the text of the three poems. There's a QR code at the site of the sculpture where you can find out more information about The Erratic piece and how it was created by John Fleming for the city of Redmond.

The Erratic Suite

By Jeannine Hall Gailey

After the Redmond installation by John Fleming

Part I.

Build a glacier out of fragments of our past,

fragments of steel, fishplates, spikes

from a railroad forgotten, dismantled.

A brittle mountain cracked in the center,

reveals a heart of glass and light.

Between the metal sheets,

allow space for flowering,

allow for luminescence.

 

Part II.

The geode is code for something secret

in the heart of a mountain.

Here, crack the code, touch the fragile center.

Move your fingers over the surface, like water,

and it moves with you, reflects your own body’s motion,

the motion of water and rock wearing the earth’s history.

Does this inner face also reflect your future,

its bright sunless glow?

Part III

Crack the mountain -

listen to the rush of trains.

Between flowers, light.

Poetry Tonight at Redmond Lights!

Happy holidays everyone! Tonight is Redmond's "Redmond Lights" celebration, and as part of it, I'll be reading poems as a Poet Laureate Emeritus for the dedication of the art piece called "The Erratic!" The dedication and reading start at 6:30, and I believe it's outdoors, so bundle up!
Here's the entire schedule for today and tonight's Redmond Lights events:
http://www.redmondlights.com/events/

Reception for new Redmond Poet Laureate, Michael Dylan Welch

Welcome Redmond's new third Poet Laureate, Michael Dylan Welch, at a reception on October 30 at the Redmond Library. Read more about it here:

http://www.redmond.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=6983

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish! The End of my Tenure as Poet Laureate and my Last Redmond Reading

Yes, I thought it was appropriate, coming at the end of my tenure as Poet Laureate, to leave you with a quote from "The Hitchhiker Guide to the Galaxy," since the theme of my work here was "geeks for poety, poetry for geeks." I had a great time and have been honored to work with the Redmond community. (PS: You can read an essay account of my first year as Poet Laureate in the new Poet's Market 2014, which just came out.) I think the highlights of the last year and a half include working with local artists at VALA, working with teens and the chance to talk poetry with our mayor!

I'll still be Poet Laureate through the end of September, and I'll be reading as part of the Jack Straw Reading for RASP at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse on September 27 at 7 PM (along with fellow Jack Straw writers Chelsea Werner-Jatzke and Daemond Arrindell) so come out and see us! It seems like a nice way to end my time as Poet Laureate of Redmond. And don't worry - I'll still be around...performing at VALA as part of ArtsCrush with Kelly Davio and artist Michaela Eaves on October 9 from 6-9 PM (Poetry and Visual Art just seem to go together, don't they?) and speaking at Geek Girl Con (Oct 19-20, downtown Seattle) on some of my work in Redmond.

The announcement of the next Poet Laureate of Redmond is coming soon. Watch this space!

Teen Workshop with Karen Finneyfrock at Old Schoolhouse September 7 at 2 PM

This is the workshop that was rescheduled from the August date. It is now on for Saturday, September 7th at 2 PM at the Old Schoolhouse.

The poetry workshop designed for teens is hosted by Redmond Poet Laureate, Jeannine Hall Gailey, and will be facilitated by the Hugo House’s Karen Finneyfrock. Finneyfrock is author of the YA novel The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door.
Using prose from Daniel Handler, Why We Broke Up, and poetry from Shanny Jean Maney, I Love Science, for inspiration, we will write list poems, poem tweets and poems about the universe or other geek-y subjects. There will be time for both writing and sharing. No experience in poetry writing necessary. 
Partners include the Richard Hugo House and WA State Arts Commission.

www.redmond.gov/poetlaureate  (425)556-2316

Where in the World is your Redmond Poet Laureate, August Edition

If you want to catch me in action reading in August, here's where I'll be:

August 5: Reading in Auburn, Washington at the Station Bistro at 7 PM with fellow Redmond poet Dawn-Marie Oliver. Read all about it here: http://www.auburn-reporter.com/community/217414661.html

August 15: Reading with Kelly Davio at Ladies Night at The Grape Choice wine bar in Kirkland, Washington, 7 PM.

August 26: Annie's Blooms in Portland, Oregon with Kelly Davio, 7 PM: http://www.annieblooms.com/event/kelly-davio-jeannine-hall-gailey-poetry-reading

Stay tuned for information on when we're rescheduling our teen workshop with Karen Finneyfrock, hopefully for the first week in September!

Redmond Reporter Write Up

A very nice article in this week's Redmond Reporter talks about my participation in "Like One" anthology for the One Fund, a charity dedicated to the Boston Bombing Victims:
"Redmond's poet laureate helps offer hope for victims of Boston bombings"
http://www.redmond-reporter.com/news/217822101.html

Pick yourself up a copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Like-One-Poems-For-Boston/dp/0989686906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375456329&sr=8-1&keywords=Like+One%3A+Poems+For+Boston
It's for a good cause!