Janet Wentworth sent this greeting to friends as a Happy New Years message.......

Apples

Apples appear every year

nothing to fear

the universe on time

round and good

the apple is the universe

WORD WEAVING

WORD WEAVING

By David Lewis

I have an opportunity to observe a group of people, about a dozen,  joined together in a relationship I can only describe as tribal. Though not related by blood in any way, they are related by intellectual bonds and avidly share a  creative interest. They relate to one another almost as though  conversing with their own consciousness.

During the Tribe’s regular meetings the members tell stories while they weave at a virtual loom. The warp for the loom is composed of parallel threads like the lines on a writing tablet. On the loom is a “series tapestry” that is never finished but is added-to at each meeting. Each story-teller adds weft to  the tapestry as they relate their story, while the listeners cry, laugh, or ponder as each story is spoken. When a story is completed, the listening members might ask questions or request a reprise - or they might quietly regain their composure from an unusually sad story so they might be able to weave their own story with a steady voice.

As with any group of artists, the techniques, the compositions and the final appearance have a distinct personal signature that reflects the  personality, training, scope of knowledge, sensitivity and imagination of each weaver.

One poet’s work is so polished, precise and succinct that the threads left in his weft are taut, totally lacking in lint and multicolored and iridescent to such an extreme they seem to glow. Never considered finished, any addition to his tapestry is subject to further polish and revision

Several story teller’s weavings indicate that they are writing chapters of a much larger work. Their successive panels of weft all have distinctive sections that identify their continuity.

Sad stories betray their presence by the bleak colors included in the weave. A surprise ending is indicated by very bright colors of red to green at the ends; red indicating an unpleasant surprise.

The weave of a teller of supernatural tales is completely transparent until the ending reveals the story’s conclusion.  The color it assumes at the finish is appropriate to the story’s outcome. The surface of the tapestry has a three- dimensional

character.

One reader, trained in the newspaper trade, condenses any poem or prose piece into a single thread of weft. This is an indication of those days when newspapers were the only purveyors of news and every line of print was distilled.

When a family story is woven, the realism and sincerity infect the listeners with the feeling that the family is also theirs and its history is preserved in the tapestry.

The weave of a fine orator  has a graduated texture that is as revealing of the story’s beat and cadence as a score of music.   With familiarity it is possible to recognize the individual speakers from their weave.  To the very practiced eye it is possible to distinguish fiction from reality.

As  one of the newest acolytes, my own weaving is characterized as being knotty (with a K) and loopy.

The Tribe is publicly known as the Friday Writer’s Group (of Sonoma, California.)

Dave Lewis   December 21, 2012      TOPIC: WRITER’S CHOICE  WORDS:  540

Halloween Celebration

Costumed Sonoma writers read original poetry, short stories and essays at Readers' Books on October 25.  Each piece had spooky, mysterious or autumn subjects entertaining a crowd who enjoyed Halloween treats....and no tricks. What a fun time!

John Field - Jamestown Lady, How It Will End

Michael James - Dementia

Janet Wentworth - Communication Beyond

Michael Miley - Elf-Invested Space

Robyn Makaruk - The Appointment

Joan Shepherd - Trick or Treat

Jean Wong - Zouchan, Letter from Heaven

Lucille Hamilton - Weird and other poems

Dave Lewis - Final Curtain

Meta Strauss - Pippie Meriweather, a Halloween Story

 Emcee, Joan Shepherd

 Left to Right: Robyn Makaruk & Dave Lewis / Janet Wentworth, Joan Shepherd, John Field & Robyn Makaruk, Meta Strauss, Michael Miley, Robyn Makaruk & Lucille Hamilton

October 25, SONOMA WRITERS READ

Come Join Us To hear Original 
GHOULISH TALES
 BY SONOMA'S FRIDAY WRITERS GROUP

OCTOBER 25, 2012, THURSDAY

6:00

Readers' Books

130 East Napa Street

Sonoma, California

707-939-1779

Enjoy an evening of original work read by the authors
No Admission Fee - Refreshments & Libations Served

Readers' Book Store

Sonoma's gathering place for book lovers of all ages

Costumes optional, Ghosts welcomed

IN THE SHADOW

In the Shadow

Normally, one’s vision is less acute in the shade

But in the shadow of the great poets here

My inner eyes perceive

What was never visible to me by reading lights

Dave Lewis 6/1/2012

A "quick write" at Friday Writers reflecting on the group's writing

Sonoma Writers Read Original Work, October 25

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

with

Sonoma's Friday Writers

OCTOBER 25, 2012, THURSDAY

6:00

Enjoy an evening of original work read by the authors

Refreshments served

Readers Book Store

Sonoma's gathering place for book lovers of all ages

130 East Napa Street

Sonoma, California

707-939-1779

Sonoma's Local Writers Read Original Work

Sonoma enjoyed hearing original poetry and short stories read by the authors.

Friday Writers, at Reader's Books.

Jean Wong - Zeus

Michael James: I am Dementia, Laces

John Field - Jamestown Lady, Fitting the Broken Parts Together

Lucille Hamilton - A Reminder for Myself, Sonogram, The Ballgame, Wonders

Steve Bakalyar - Winged Evensong, Saliva Statements

Joan Shepherd - A Favorite Book

Michael Miley - Homunculus

NOT PICTURED

Janet Wentworth - Poetry

Wanda Huot-Morgan - A Morning Walk

Dave Lewis - Mugsy & The Parrot

Robyn Makaruk - The Haunted Birdhouse

Meta Strauss - Ed's Trip

WRITERS AT READERS

JOIN SONOMA'S FRIDAY WRITERS

for presentations of our recent work

Thursday, May 31,  6:30 PM

Readers Book Store

Sonoma's gathering place for book lovers of all ages

130 East Napa Street

Sonoma, California

707-939-1779

Refreshments Served

Enjoy and evening of prose, essay, poetry and memoir written and read by Sonoma authors....

READER'S BOOK STORE , EVENING OF READING

SONOMA'S FRIDAY WRITERS READ ORIGINAL WORKS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

MICHAEL MILEY, HOST

"All Power to the Imagination"

JANET WENTWORTH

"Contract for a Lifetime"

STEVE BAKALYAR

"The Day the Circus Folded"

WANDA HUOT-MORGAN

"Jubilation"

"coming Back from the Gate"

"Goat/Roof/Moon"

DAVE LEWIS

"The Professor"

ROBYN MAKARUK

"When the Cowboy Fell"

"Mr. Jones, Car, Apple"

JOHN FIELD

"Blueprints for the Deconstruction of Poetry"

"An Unnatural Thirst"

HELEN ROWNTREE

"Burial in El Salvador"

TALIBAH CHIKU

"Are We There Yet?"

JOAN SHEPHERD

"All Tied Up"

LUCILLE HAMILTON

"Rumors"

"Crumbs"

"Seasons"

"Mysteries"

JEAN WONG

"Diversions"

"On the Other Hand"

META STRAUSS

"Farnsworth's Truck Stop"

DONNA CAMPBELL

"Era of Choice"

The evening of essays, short stories, memoir and poetry selections read by each author was enjoyed by a packed Reader's Book Store." The crowd shared Sonoma wine and cheese, visited with the authors and heard their latest creations. Host, Michael Miley began the evening speaking about Sonoma's Friday Writers and their fifteen year history.

Helen Rowntree told about a childhood experience in "Burial in El Salvador". John Field read his coming-of-age poem, "An Unnatural First". Steve Bakalyar's piece, "The Day the Circus Folded" was an entertaining political statement in poetry. The audience was delighted with the variety of talent displayed. Emotions went from wild laughter to tears. Sonoma Friday Writers will continue writing weekly and will present their work again later in 2012.

FRIDAY WRITERS AT READERS BOOKS PLANNED

Plans and rehearsals for Sonoma Friday Writer's upcoming presentation are underway. The group has met for fifteen years with the goal of sharing and improving writing skills. A topic is selected each week and after completing a piece on the subject, or on another of the member's choosing, each reads their selections getting feedback from the other writers.

Please join Friday Writers

Thursday, January 19, 2012

at 6:30

at Reader's Books

130 East Napa Street

Sonoma, California

Readings of Original Works

Fiction, Memoir, Essays, Poetry

No Charge - Refreshments Served