Poetry Connection: Santa Barbara Searches for Its Next Poet Laureate

 Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate

Melinda Palacio and Kristen Sneddon in the Milpas Parade

The city of Santa Barbara is searching for the next Poet Laureate. Although my term ends in March, you have not heard the last from me. I will continue to promote poetry, plan events, and write poems. One event I am looking forward to is another edition of Poetry in the Parks at the Presidio’s Alcehama Theater. This year, we had poets and two musical acts. Next year, we will add dancers to the presentation celebrating Poetry in the Parks. The Presidio is Santa Barbara’s only state park. The festivities will once again take place in April during National Poetry Month. 

Dancers lining up for the Milpas parade

People often ask me about the role of the Poet Laureate. For me, the role is about promoting poetry and producing events to reach as many local residents as possible. When my neighbor, city council member, Kristen Sneddon, asked me to ride in the Milpas Holiday Parade, I responded with a yelp and a yes. Who can say no to riding in a vintage convertible while waving to the community? It may have been the first time a poet laureate has ridden in the Milpas parade, but I am sure it will not be the last. In addition to giving readings and workshops, I have made it my mission to think outside the box in order to have a stronger community impact as the city’s poetry ambassador. Applications for the next Santa Barbara Poet Laureate will be accepted until February 14

a favorite event from 2024
poetry and  music for Raíces Students at SBCC

Events from my December schedule included: the Milpas Christmas Parade, the Montecito Light Up a

Life Hospice event, supporting poets David Starkey and Catherine Abbey Hodges at their Chaucer’s book signing, attending the Goleta Valley Poetry Series at the Goleta Valley Library, participating in the local author event at the Santa Barbara Public Library, and reading a poem at the tree dedication for Poet Laureate Emerita Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, whom we lost to cancer last November. Find Sojourner’s King Palm Tree behind the County Courthouse on Santa Barbara Street; look for the fifth tree down from Anapamu. 

I am always surprised by how Santa Barbara is both a small and large town. It’s small in that I have met more people in public places who now recognize me as the Poet Laureate. I am also pleasantly surprised when I meet a new poet. There just might be a new candidate for Poet Laureate whom I have not met. Now is your chance. A few weeks ago, at the central library’s local author day, I met C.M. Rivers. This week’s poetry connection features three poems by C.M. Rivers. 

Snapshot, 1975

C.M. Rivers

 

It’s easy to get carried away looking at what’s on the surface,

though I agree with you when you say it’s all in the details.

 

Truth is, all this one shows is a funky old farmhouse kitchen 

with a linoleum floor, the burnt sienna of an August afternoon 

 

filtering in through the window above an aluminum sink, 

a baby boy in blue overalls on the flight deck of a high chair,

 

the ecstasy of a pan of brownies upon him, a single candle 

at its center, plump feet dangling like two spools of thread, 

 

stubby fingers doing a Jackson Pollock on the canvas 

of his sunny face in a chocolate medium, while somewhere 

 

Jimmy Carter is speaking out against racial segregation

and Steve Martin does a show with an arrow through his head.   

 

But this was when you were still new and whole, before 

time and circumstance both graced and unraveled you,

 

before you held this year’s photograph in your crooked hand 

and saw your face illuminated by the prairie-fire on the cake. 

 C.M. Rivers grew up reading to the sound of rain on the roof in Oregon's Willamette Valley.  His work has appeared in literary magazines and journals around the U.S.  He is the author of two books of poetry: How To Carry Soup (2019 Homebound Publications Poetry Prize) and Along the Way ~ Poems for the Wayward (2024 Nautilus Silver Medal for Poetry).  His poetry has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize.

*an earlier version of this column appears in the Santa Barbara Independent