Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2008

It was 92 degrees in Los Angeles last weekend, but Pereira read anyway! A slight breeze and a lovely crowd sitting in the shade on the UCLA campus made everything seem quite cool.

The time is now locked in place. I will be reading at 2:45 p.m. on the Poetry Stage Sunday afternoon, April 27. On stage, prior to me, Carol Muske-Dukes; Chris Abani follows my reading. Check out the entire program here! Hope to see some of you out there!

Next stop: City of Angels. I have been asked to be a participant in the fabulous Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, taking place this year at the end of April on the UCLA Campus. Many marvelous writers over a sunny weekend, presenting their thoughts and ideas, as well as, hopefully, selling their books! More info in the near future. If you are in the area, check it out.

It was a beautiful afternoon at California State University, Stanislaus yesterday. The reading in the library lounge was terrific...many students and faculty on hand; all seeming to care very much about poetry. Thanks again to Dr. Anthony Perrello and all who helped bring me to town. Now, Susan and I are looking forward to readings in the Los Angeles area sometime very soon. Stay tuned!

There's a new poetry anthology out, containing every possible way known to Man of speaking about the great Sinatra! It's edited by Gilbert Gigliotti, Professor and Chair in the Department of English at Central Connecticut State University. My poem "Swagger with Microphone, 1963" is included in the grouping. Here's more on this very entertaining and enlightening book:

Sinatra...but buddy, I'm a kind of poem

The evening had been long anticipated. The Fresno Art Museum crowd of nearly 200, with many having been turned away at the door, seemed ready to hear poetry from several of Philip Levine's former students, friends, and colleagues. This was a celebration of Phil's 80th birthday. Each of us read a poem of Phil's, followed by one of our own. My wife, the lovely SusanRG, took this unposed shot of the group--missing the man of the hour, alas--just after the reading had ended.

top row: Blas Manuel de Luna, Jon Veinberg, Dixie Salazar, Lawson Inada, Dewayne Rail, unknown photographer, Sam Pereira, David St. John, Glover Davis
front row: C. G. Hanzlicek, Sandra Hoben, B. H. Boston, Peter Everwine, Connie Hales, Suzanne Lummis, Jean Janzen

Poem just out in the new Salt River Review. Animals matter! This one is for Sonny *

I am honored to be among the 16 presenters at Philip Levine's 80th Birthday bash (West Coast version), taking place in the Bonner Auditorium of the Fresno Art Museum on February 7th at 7:30 p.m. Here's the web site:

Fresno Poets' Association

The first reading in what will, hopefully, be many in and around the country to promote A Cafe in Boca, is set for February 27th in the library at California State University, Stanislaus. I'm delighted to be able to share my work with students, faculty, and other interested people from the area on that afternoon. For more information, here is the web site:

Valley Voices

Well, it's finally out there! A Cafe in Boca has shipped and should be available from Tebot Bach. Small Press Distribution will also have the books at their web site. Readings, as they are arranged, will be announced.

Update: A Cafe in Boca now appears on the list of forthcoming books from Tebot Bach. Check it out, along with several other titles coming soon!

Blue Arc West An Anthology of California Poets (Tebot Bach, 2006) contains some very interesting, dare I say, memorable and provocative poems from a list of poets that includes the likes of Christopher Buckley, Wanda Coleman, Robert Peters, Lynne Thompson, Charles Harper Webb, Gail Wronsky and about 130 or so others, including a Pereira poem, as well.

For those of you who continue to ask, A Cafe in Boca is still scheduled to be published by Tebot Bach, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future. Thank you for your continuing interest and stay tuned!

"The Tuna in Cabo" was the featured poem on the 42opus web site (12-11-06).

As of the beginning of 2007, Brian Leary has revamped this entire site into a much sleeker, new look. As such, this poem, along with other work by me, will continue to be available in the "Poetry" link at the top of the home page of this remarkable online journal.

Lots of great writing by new, as well as "not so new" folks. For instance, Herman Melville and Emily Dickinson made guest appearances in 42opus not long ago! Check it out and be well entertained.

The amazing journal, Blackbird, has just included a new piece by yours truly in its Fall 2006 (Volume 5, No. 2) issue, a terrific grouping of writers, including the late Sylvia Plath. Check all of it out by going to:

http://www.blackbird.vcu.edu/v5n2/poetry.htm

The above is the poetry page only, but once there be sure to click on all the other great stuff as well.

photo credit: C. Roelofs

Skating in Monterey

for Jim & Cyndi Roelofs

One might say, driving
By an old skating rink, Ghosts
On wheels. In our inner ears,
We dredge up a past, reserved
For only a few: in a dark corner
Of the empty building, we glance
At the dusty skate concession;
Tuesday’s morning catch wafts
Through a number of broken windows.
I want to say: Yes! Just Yes!
In the 50s, people liked skating.
It was a good thing to do.
They’d suck in the Pacific wind,
On Tuesdays, similar to this. Crosby
Might be singing in a back room,
As boys and girls touched shoulders,
Then lips; spinning in circles
For hours. This is a lavish ride.
The car purrs its way out of town.
We watch the two of you
Roll down your windows at just
The right time, in hopes
Of breathing in trees. They are skaters,
We say; even in the heat
We come back to, they are skaters.

Copyright © 2006 by Sam Pereira