Poetry Connection: Connecting with SBWC Attendees and Open Mic Poets

  Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

The Santa Barbara Writers Conference returned after a one year hiatus. Last year, there was a mini-conference that was valiantly upheld by SBWC director Grace Rachow and a handful of workshop leaders who opened their homes to attendees. Many who attended were grateful for the impromptu camaraderie, but also expressed how much they enjoyed the cohesiveness of the conference being in one location. Grace has done an incredible job at keeping the fifty-two year old institution going. The Mar Monte Hotel has become the ideal venue with its larger rooms for panels and speakers and the final banquet, smaller hotel rooms for crafting workshops, and a pool for the cocktail party. This year there were so many smiling faces you would think every hopeful author had received a six-figure book deal. In my twenty-plus years attending the conference, I’ve seen many a drama at the conference for writers. Founder Barnaby Conrad used to tell the story about the an attendee who had packed her bags after only one day at the conference and was terribly upset because she hadn’t found an agent to publish her book. Last week, one of the poets accompanied an attendee who ended up in the Emergency Room with a head wound due to a fall; see her poem splat.

I had a very busy week beginning with Sunday’s registration, where I helped check people in to the conference. As noon approached, I changed into my flamenco costume as the festivities for solstice were not over. Saturday, was the city’s big solstice parade and I marched with the Blue Wave, the city officials, along side councilwoman Kristen Sneddon. Sunday, my solstice fun continued with a flamenco dance performance at Alameda park with Rosal Ortega Flamenco. After the performance, there was no time to linger and thank friends who showed up to see me dance. I had to rush back to the conference in order to be on the Poets Laureate panel, the first panel of the conference. It was nice to see the same friends who were at the park show up to the writers conference panel. Another change this year is that all the panels were free to the public.

Monday, I co-taught my publicity seminar with author Lida Sideris. Tuesday was agents day, where writers signed up to pitch their books to an agent. I spent the entire morning and afternoon helping with agent appointments. In the evening, I read poetry with Paul Willis. I was a little nervous because TC Boyle was in the audience, waiting to hear the evening keynote, Jess Walter. Wednesday and Thursday I facilitated the poetry open mic. The two days of hearing from poets was fun. Poet Laureate Emerita Perie Longo says the open mic is her favorite part of the conference and she did not disappoint. She also had several teaching and judging duties as the conference is made possible by its many volunteers and faculty. I’ve included two diverse voices from last week’s poetry open mic. Friday was the last day of the conference. I was a guest in Perie Longo’s poetry workshop and my last panel was the 4pm Author Platform panel with Lisa Angle, Rachel Sarah Thurston, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Rick Shaw and moderator Nancy Klann-Moren. I wish everyone who attended the conference or thought about attending, a happy and productive writing season, until next year writers conference friends.

This week’s poetry connection poems come from two poets who live in Santa Barbara and attended the SBWC open mic longtime attendee Toni Bixby and newcomer, Uche Iheanacho.

Let me Count the Ways

For Ned

by Toni Bixby

The first time you came to my house,

you alphabetized the spices,

the next time you rearranged the silverware,

the third time, the rest of the cupboards.

Then the dog beds started disappearing.

So far, the dogs are still here.

I love you more than

fried cheese curds

at the Minnesota State Fair,

crunchy, crispy bites of hot fried Cheddar.

I would rescue you

if Santa Barbara had a 7.0 earthquake,

our house exploded,

an oak tree fell on you,

I had to dig you out.

We are best friends and lovers.

My friends adore you.

If we broke-up, my family would keep you.

Until death do us part, and

our ashes become one with the sea—

or we’re buried in the back yard,

and the dogs dig us up.

Toni Bixby is a Santa Barbara writer, poet and retired lawyer.  She has been published in The Santa Barbara Independent, Community of Voices Anthologies, Sage Trail Poetry Magazine, Luna Review and Writing Through The Apocalypse.  Her poetry often reflects her current circumstances and her work as an attorney for Child Welfare Services.

splat 

Uchechi Iheanacho 

Hot, syrupy blood melted down the old woman’s face seeping under her fingernails and 

coating sugar spun hair 

Her vanilla skin turned strawberry pink 

In her haste she’d tripped on rocky road and like a three-tall scoop on a 

sweltering summer’s day 

went splat 

Her cone cracked with a dull thunk 

milky fat flesh spilling across sun-baked pavement It took five stitches to piece her back together. If only I didn’t ask her to get ice cream.

Ogbanje

Uchechi Iheanacho

Situated between rhyme and reason,

She was a nightmare of a child.

She knows this,

because her mother told her so.

Ogbanje.

Ogbanje.

on the days she felt most abandoned by god

the child would close her eyes

and send her thoughts to

the medicine man in Igboland

like the axe that cut down the ngwu tree

isi adighi ya mma

the young voice would whip across the canopy

she is mentally unwell

and upon impact the words would burst forth

at the medicine man’s feet

“Dibia, biko, ewela iwe. Nyere m aka.”

Medicine man, please don’t be mad with me. Help me.

Situated between rhyme and reason,

She was a nightmare of a child.

She knows this,

because her mother told her so.

Ogbanje.

Ogbanje.

Uchechi Iheanacho is a Nigerian-American poet and artist based in Santa Barbara, California. A daughter of two Nigerian immigrants, her poetry often explores themes of culture and identity. When she isn’t crafting, Uchechi can probably be found dancing in her living room or making new friends around town. This is her first publication. Her poem splat was written after attending her first Santa Barbara Writers Conference in 2026. 

 

*an earlier version of this column was published in the Independent

Poetry Connection: National Poetry Month in Santa Barbara and Santa Paula

  

Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

Poetry at Vita Arts in Ventura

April is packed with poetry. On any given day there might be more than one poetry event to celebrate National Poetry Month. Ventura County got the ball rolling early with their poetry festival at the end of March. Last weekend, I managed to attend the monthly reading at the Vita Arts Center. Two poets laureate were featured: Ventura Poet Laureate Mary McFadden and Millenial Poet Laureate David Olivera. It was a perfect balmy day for listening to poetry outdoors. Next month’s features at the Vita Art Center include Carol Davis and Caron Perkal; make sure to find the not-so-secret back entrance from the parking lot, May 3 at 3pm.

Yesterday, I joined local author Stephanie Barbé Hammer, along with Rich Ferguson and Kathleen Florence from Los Angeles. If you picked up a copy of last week’s Santa Barbara Independent, you might have seen the announcement for our reading at Chaucer’s Books Thursday, April 9 at 6pm. Coordinating the schedules of four poets and a bookstore is no easy feat. Thanks to Stephanie and Chaucer’s Michael Takeuchi for wrangling us poets and making this event possible. There’s also an interview in the Santa Barbara Indpependent, where I answer Tiana Molony’s questions about poetry month and my first full-length poetry book, How Fire Is a Story, Waiting. I am looking forward to hearing our guest poets, as well as Stephanie, who reads her own work very well. Her words will inspire your own poems and stories. Chaucer’s now has a dedicated space with chairs for events, a welcome improvement to their book events.

A new venue for me is the Blanchard Library in Santa Paula. The librarian contacted me and asked if I would offer a presentation on my poetry for their Latino Poetry Program. On Saturday, April 11 at 11 am, I will share some of my poetry and original songs on guitar and ukulele. A monthly open mic follows from noon to 2pm. 

 

What’s become one of my favorite poetry month events, Poetry in Parks, returns this year. Last month, State Archeologist and poet Scott Green received the Director’s Award from California State Parks for creating Poetry in Parks. Santa Barbara’s state park is the Presidio. By assisting with curating the event, I have been able to bring together other groups that I am involved in. Last year, we had Rosal Ortega Flamenco. I met Rosal Ortega at a birthday party on the beach and was convinced to take her adult flamenco dance class. It’s a lot of fun. This year, the Ladies Social Strumming Club will play a few songs. Our other musical act is The Gruntled, aka Mark Zolezzi. We will also have two youth poets, Takunda Chickowero and last year’s Poetry Out Loud winner, Alicia Bautista Blanco, who will perform a Pablo Neruda poem in Spanish. Additional poets include Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Lori Anaya and Santa Barbara’s Poet Laureate George Yatchisin, Poet Laureate Emerita, Emma Trelles, and West Hollywood Poet Laureate Jen Cheng. Poetry in Parks, a free community event, takes place on Friday, April 17, 5:30-7:30pm at the Presidio Chapel, 123 E. Canon Perdido Street. 

 

Poetry in Parks, Friday, April 17 at 5:30 at the Presidio Chapel

 

 

The Ladies Social Strumming Club

 

Take advantage of all the poetry month offerings.

National Poetry Month Events:

Saturday, April 11

Authentic Latina Voices. Poetry, Song, and Storytelling. How to bring your most authentic sef to the stage and page with Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emerita, Melinda Palacio. Saturday, April 11 from 11 to Noon at the Blanchard Community Library in Santa Paula. There will also be an open mic from noon to 2pm.

Sunday, April 12

The Poetry Zone. Monthly poetry reading and open mic, hosted by Bjorn Birnir at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 1:30 pm.

Monday, April 13

Tim Seibles Reads. Celebrated poet, Tim Seibles, reads at the Unity Chapel, 227 E. Arrellaga Street, 5 to 7 pm, host Laure-Anne Bosselaar, will also read. $5 donation.

Tuesday, April 14

Lowstate Writing Salon. Writing Community at the Blue Owl, 7pm.

Wednesday, April 15

12^th Annual “Spirits in the Air: Potent Potable Poetry,” The Good Lion. Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin curates this reading. Hear local poets read poems about their favorite drinks, 4:30-6:30, no host bar, The Good Lion, 1212 State Street. Featured Poets: Clayton E. Clark, Mason Granger, Justin Graham Hoops, Rebecca Horrigan, Amy Michelson, Diana Raab, Linda Saccoccio, Jason Scrymgeour, David Starkey, and host George Yatchisin.

Thursday, April 16

The Montecito Poetry Club. The group discusses the work of poet Danusha Lameris Thursday morning, 10-11:30 am, Montecito Library, 1469 E Valley Rd, Montecito.

Friday, April 17

Poetry in Parks at the Presidio Chapel. A poetry month presentation in Santa Barbara’s only State Park, the Presidio. An evening of poetry and music, featuring the Gruntled, the Ladies Social Strumming Club, poets include Lori Anaya, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Takunda Chickowero, Alicia Bautista Blanco, Jen Cheng, George Yatchisin, Emma Trelles and hosts: Melinda Palacio and Scott Green of California State Parks. Free community event Friday, April 17 from 5:30 -7:30pm, the Presidio Chapel, 123 E. Canon Perdido Street.

Saturday, April 18

Solvang’s Celebration of National Poetry Month. The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art presents poets Dorothy Jardin, Carey McKinnon, Jeff McKinnon, Teresa Mc Neil MacLean, and Cynthia Carbone Ward, at the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang, 4pm.

Sunday, April 19

Poetry Club. A welcoming space to share the art of poetry. Read your own poems or your favorite poems, discuss and explore the poems in a positive environment at the Goleta Community Center, 5679 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117. Free monthly event, sponsored by the Goleta Valley Library.

Sunday, April 19

Let’s Chat About Poetry. Host Laure-Anne Bosselaar asks that you bring in a favorite poem to that you love (not written by ) bo be read for poetry month. The domecil Studio, 1223 State Street, Santa Barbara, 4-5 pm, free.

Friday, April 24

Open Mic & Art Gallery/Noche de micrófono abierto y galeria de arte. All are welcome at the library’s open mic. Secure your spot by April 10, Central Library, 40 E Anapamu, 6-7:30 pm.

Wednesday, April 29

An Evening with Martin Espada. An evening with Award-winning poet Martín Espada, UCSB Campbell Hall, 7:30 pm.

 

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

A Week of Civic Engagement in Santa Barbara

 

 Melinda Palacio  

Kristen Sneddon 

 

When my neighbor, Kristen Sneddon, invited me to read poetry at her Mayoral Campaign Kick-off, I did not hesitate to say Yes. I remember when she was canvassing the neighborhood during her campaign for City Council in 2017. At the time, I didn’t know that she lived next door to my dog’s favorite persimmon tree. Since then, I’ve been impressed by her compassion and leadership. As a geophysicist and city council member, Kristen is a profound listener who cares about our city and the global environment. When she realized she needed a bigger venue for all who had rsvp’d for her kick-off party, she was happy Laura Capps offered her beautiful home.

Two weeks ago, one of my biggest concerns was the continued bombardment of ICE raids on our town and country. Today, thoughts of war occupy my waking hours, as well as ICE and how this is impacting our community and country. As a friend and representative of our city, Kristen has expressed how much she appreciates my poems on immigration and ICE. I brought four poems, but read three. ICE Detention Tornillo, Texas was a poem I wrote in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Friday Morning Before Work in Carpinteria is from last year and Canopy over Milpas and Alphonse is a poem written this year in response to the Fair Trade Exhibit and Patricia Clarke’s photograph of La Super Rica. Even in this ekphrastic poem, I had ICE on my mind. You can read the poem in last month’s column. As I waited to read my poems and took in the diverse crowd in support of Sneddon for Mayor of Santa Barbara, I was impressed by the strong feeling of community. Another highlight of the event was hearing Kristen’s family band entertain the crowd before the speakers. Although they are not usually a band, her daughter, Elsie Sneddon on drums, and son, Harry Sneddon on bass, joined their friend Lucien Dempsey on keys, and formed a very impressive and impromptu house band.

Hannah-Beth Jackson offered the closing remarks and reminded everyone of Santa Barbara’s strong history of electing female mayors. It’s always an honor for me to contribute poetry at important community events. Last Sunday, I read some poems honoring my mother and grandmother at Carpinteria’s International Women’s Day Festival, held at the Carpinteria Children’s Project. Geri Ann Carty who was recognized as Carpinterian of the Year in 2022 was one of the festival’s organizers. The day included a variety of women-owned and women-centered organizations, as well as performances by local singers and dancers, a fun start to Women’s History Month. 

 

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

Poetry Connection: Connecting with Teens and Typewriters

 

Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

 

I had the pleasure of offering a writing workshop to teenaged poets who are part of Simon Kieffer’s Teen Arts Mentorship sponsored by the Arts Fund. All county students aged 13-18 are eligible for the teen mentorship. A wide variety of arts professionals are on hand to show youth the ropes of living an art-filled life. With typewriter mentorship in mind, I shared some writing exercises to help get the creative inspiration flowing. A popular questions remains, ‘how do I get started?’. I often find that it is easier to complete a poem, chapter or writing assignment when I come to the computer with words or ideas that are first written on paper. In this case, students were working on typewriters.

There’s an added challenge when composing on a typewriter. Most of the students had never used a typewriter. Unlike a computer, a typewriter requires physical force and effort just to type one letter, let alone a few words or entire poem. Simon showed the teens how to load the paper into the typewriter and how to return the carriage and use the backspace button. He suggested typing with two index fingers, think of Snoopy, the beagle author. We had a good laugh wondering how a beagle uses a typewriter; Charles Schulz somehow made it happen.

I recall a very different method for typing. This is where I date myself. When I was in Junior High School, I took a typing class and learned touch typing. I can still hear the teacher singing out the letters. You would hear, ‘J, J, J, J,’ over the clatter of 30 students pounding on typewriters, drowning out the teacher’s soprano voice that was somehow off key. The repetitive pressing of each key several times over helped our fingers memorize where the letters were on the typewriter’s keyboard. Speed and accuracy gave a student the better grade. Speed is no longer as important as it used to be, especially when composing poems.

Simon does a great job explaining the ins and outs of typewriters to the teens. I was impressed by how quickly they learned how to compose on the typewriters. While I spent a whole semester in Junior High learning how to touch type, the students were able to quickly get the hang of typing within minutes. Of course, knowing how to use devices, such as a computer and cell phone, with built in keyboards helped their swift learning. Even more impressive were the poems they came up with during our session together. How I wish I could share the wonderful poems they wrote in my workshop, but I respect their privacy. Although a few offered to send me their poems, I have yet to receive them. Maybe, next time. I am happy that they wrote on both paper and on typewriters. I look forward to seeing their future work. I could tell that they will all be wonderful poets. 

 

This post is also published in the Santa Barbara Independent. 

Poetry Connection: Connecting with Fellow Communicators

 Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

AWC 2025 Honorees Teresa Kuskey, Melinda Palacio, Adriana Arriaga, Frances Moore, and JoAnne Wasserman

On May 21, the culmination of much hard work from the Association for Women in Communication resulted in a lively awards luncheon. I’m not saying this because I was one of the honorees, but I was impressed by how much work went into the program. It was a marathon. Preparing for the moment involved more than simply showing up to receive an award. The program was in May and the organizers get to work on next year’s event as early as the previous summer, they choose a theme and decide on the honorees.

It was in September when Judith Smith-Meyer asked for my email on Instagram. She said she’d like to reach out about AWC-SB Women of Achievement program 2025. Judith is someone that I met through AWC and we had a few friends in common. I had let my membership to AWC lapse because I wasn’t able to make any of the events. When Judith contacted me though social media, I suspected she wanted me to write a poem for the event or for the honorees. I was humbled and had to reread her subsequent email several times to realize she wanted to honor me.

This is one of the reasons why I am still on social media. You never know who is watching the positive things you do for the community or who is taking note of how you document yourself online. This year’s theme for the Women of Achievement Awards is communication through the arts. 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparations for receiving the award included things you would expect, such as providing a head shot and a curriculum vitae, but also some unusual requests, such as baby pictures, along with professional photos. There was also a day spent at Judith’s home making the videos that introduced our work. These videos ran on social media and also on the big screen at the awards luncheon.

Last, there was the preparation of a poem and a song. I performed a poem from my first poetry collection, How Fire Is a Story, Waiting. I also played the companion song I wrote so people would know that when I am not writing poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, I am writing songs.

In addition to being honored by such an important organization that celebrates women in communication, I was impressed with the amount of time volunteered by co-chairs of the awards Judith Smith-Meyer and Brooke Holland who have dedicated the past two years, honoring 11 women in education (2024) and the arts (2025).

Next year, Judith and Brooke will pass the chair position to another AWC board member. “I’m proud to have been able to honor the 9 incredible communications (educators and artists-community builders) fetured in the 16^th and 17^th Women of Achievement,” said Judith Smith-Meyer.

Sometimes when your worlds collide, it’s a pleasant surprise. This year’s Women of Achievement honorees included artist Adriana Arriaga, Teresa Kuskey, Frances Moore, and JoAnne Wasserman, Music Director and Conductor of the Santa Barbara Choral Society since 1993.

Adriana’s artwork was displayed throughout the Cabrillo Pavilion and stickers of three of her works were offered as parting gifts for attendees to the luncheon. Adriana’s work is inspired by the Chicano Movement of the 1960’s. I love her piece titled, MUJER CON FUERZA (Woman with Power). Her work is currently featured in the Arte del Pueblo 2025 exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara in Paseo Nuevo. The exhibition runs through July 27, 2025.

Frances Moore brought a troupe to perform Ring Shout, a tradition of African enslaved people of call and response, a spiritual style of worship, known as Call and Response, that is also a precursor to the Blues. Frances is also a founding member of the Santa Barbara Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee.

 

Teresa Kuskey started La Boheme Dance in 2014, the group that spreads joy through dance and their feathered costumes. La Boheme has been honored with multiple Independent “Best of Santa Barbara” awards. Teresa has also earned a Santa Barbara Local Hero honor from the Indpendent for her early commitment to creating performance opportunites for the community regardless of age, experience, ability to pay, or any other barrier to participate. I heard the bathroom’s mirror was a sight to see as dancers adjusted headdresses and makeup throughout the luncheon.

JoAnne Wasserman has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Santa Barbara Choral Society since 1993. A career feat that translates to over 32 seasons with The Choral Society and numerous collaborations with operak and ballet companies, as well as global connections. When the plan to include a performance by the Choral Society fell through, Judith scrambled and turned to longtime friend, Meg Miller, a member of the Ladies’ Social Strumming Club. I happen to be a member of the group so it was fun to jump in and join them for the musical welcome to the awards luncheon. The other surprise was in my gift bag.

In addition to the commendations from city, county, and state officials, there was a plaque from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara, thanking me for my support of the Essay and Poetry Awards over the past decade. Frances Moore, also received a plaque for her work with the MLK SB. Executive Director, E. Onja Brown also sat at my table, along with Meg Miller, Stephanie B. Hammer, Ward Rafferty, Kristen Sneddon, and Mary Rose and Eddie Ortega. What an honor! The last time a Poet Laureate received an AWC- Woman of Achievement Award was in 2012 with Perie Longo, City of Santa Barbara’s second Poet Laureate.

This award is meaningful to me because it reminds me that I am uplifted by my female ancestors. I know my mother and grandmothers are beaming from their celestial perch. Much gratitude to the Association for Women in Communications, Santa Barbara.

This week’s Poetry Connection Poem celebrates Pride Month with a poem by West Hollywood Poet Laureate, Jen Cheng. This Sapphic poem appears in her collection, Braided Spaces.

postmodern sapphos

Jen Cheng

eager lush magnolia flowers blossom

seek admirers loving the lazy sunday

ready bagels, cream cheese, and mango lassi

newspapers open

hear the cozy morning doves coo and flutter

open windows joining the neighbors’ passion

bring on lilts and harmonies sing with pride for

memories later

fluid inspiration that slides from side to

side unfettered gender-free roles that further

child’s play with privileged toys to harness

liberty’s pleasure

Jen Cheng is the Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, author of a poetry collection Braided Spaces, a California Arts Council Fellow, and a Tin House Workshop alumna. She is a multidisciplinary artist who blends East-West influences as Feng Shui Poetry.  Jen is the creator and facilitator of Palabras Literary Salon, a BIPOC-centered series. She is the creator of an interactive sculpture, Poetry Scrabble, to engage audiences with word tiles for a collaborative poem. Her writing is found or forthcoming in Passengers Journal, The Cafe Review, FlowerSong Press, Colossus Press, and other media. With stories for tween audiences, mystery detective fans, and queer love, Jen is a cross-pollinator and community curator. Connect with her on social media @JenCvoice or at www.JenCvoice.com

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