New Performance Poetry Troupe

Photo by Trish Hopkinson

Telluwriters 

& the Passing of the Gourd

San Miguel County has a new poetry/storytelling ensemble making the rounds.

It's a shifting cast of players depending on who's available. Three of us performed to a full house for a live show at the Lithic Bookstore in Fruita Feb. 17th -- Daiva Chesonis, Elle Metrick and moi. And four of us made it to the Bluecorn Candle Factory & Cafe in Montrose -- our first three players plus Joanna Spindler. 

We chose the name Telluwriters even though none of us actually live in the town limits. Telluride, however, is the economic & artistic heart of the region. We all work and play there and perform there as well. Daiva, Craig, Elle and I live in Norwood -- or most accurately outside Norwood on Wrights Mesa. 

Photo by Trish Hopkinson

Peter hails from Trout Lake, Rosemerry  from Placerville, Joanna from Hastings Mesa & The Electric Angel from Lawson Hill.

Depending on who comes, we like to do round robin readings so as to shine the spotlight on a medley of voices. 

We often end with what David Feela of Cortez calls "a shark attack" -- a rapid-fire series of short poems read back-to-back as a kind of finale. 

The Passing of the Gourd is a "playground" (aka workshop) that we do after our performances. 

Photo by Jennifer Hancock

If we can, we like to we form a circle and pass the gourd around the gathering. We  encourage folks to read a poem of their own (or someone they like), tell a story, sing a song, make a quick comment -- or just nod silently and pass the gourd on to the next person. 

Gourd Circles have been a feature of Talking Gourds poetry events for going on 20 years here on the Western Slope. They sprang from the work of the late eco-philosopher Dolores LaChapelle and her Silverton-based Way of the Mountain Center.

This is a different way of sharing poetry than the standard walk up to the stage “open mic” kind of thing. Gourd Circles involve deep listening as well as performing, as there’s no cross talk (although twinkling or "jazz hands" are welcome). The person with the gourd has the floor.

Tellwriters have upcoming gigs in Cortez, Naturita, Durango and Grand Junction.

Currently the Talking Gourds Poetry Program is administered by the Telluride Institute and can be found on their website: tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds

Here is the poem that Daiva wrote and read in Lithuanian, while Elle and I took turns doing the English at our first Telluwriters show in Fruita back in February:

Poetiniai Ryšiai

Poetic Relations 

Gavau pranešimą apie federalinius mokesčius 

I got my federal tax notice 

Taigi aš perskaičiau Tony Hoglando

So I read some Tony Hoagland

Aš verkiau pamačiusi trapų upės jauniklį 

I cried at the sight of a frail river fawn 

Taigi perskaičiau Marija Oliver

So I read some Mary Oliver

Netekau draugės, kuri buvo nuostabi mama 

I lost a friend who was a fabulous mom 

Taigi aš perskaičiau Ada Limon

So I read some Ada Limon

Numatiau karštą sekso naktį 

I predicted a hot night of sex 

Taigi aš perskaičiau Pablo Nerudo

So I read some Pablo Neruda

Mačiau neteisybę ant gimtosios žemės dėmės 

I witnessed injustice on a smear of native land 

Taigi perskaičiau šiek tiek Joy Harjo 

So I read some Joy Harjo

Man reikėjo pertraukos nuo pilnametystės kančių 

I needed a break from the harangue of adulting 

Taigi perskaičiau šiek tiek Šel Silversteino

So I read some Shel Silverstein

Išgėriau per daug ir gailėjaus dėl vėlyvos nakties žinutės 

I drank too much and regretted a late-night text 

Taigi perskaičiau šiek tiek Bukauskio (ir žinoma, Jack Muellerio)

So I read some Bukowski (and of course, Jack Mueller)

Akmenys kaba iš medžio ir procese, 

vėl tapam žmogumi. 

Stones hang from the tree and in the process, 

a fine balance.