“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty / Today is such a day.”
— Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi
As April comes, wafting the fresh new breath of spring over our island and surrounding seas, this quote from Rumi seems perfect, fitting as it was when composed centuries ago. At a national poetry convention held in Denver last summer, I was moved by hearing while seeing “…the sail just needs to open” as a poet presenter moved her hands into what I saw as a crab-claw sail as she delivered the word image. This image is easy to picture and translate to deeper meaning for life. Even landlubbers can associate with a sailboat tossed by waves and without direction, as in the doldrums — that is, until the sail opens and catches that draft that powers movement to give life to the journey toward safe harbor.
April is always starred on my calendar as National Poetry Month. Admittedly, I became a self-appointed “cheerleader” and promoter since I first learned the recognition of poems and poets existed — especially because poet writers (even more than teachers) “get no respect” from the general public in modern American life.
This was not so when Edna St. Vincent Millay was touring and wowing audiences across the nation with her poetry in the 1920s; when in the 1950s, the Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg’s name became a catchword. Poets definitely commanded respect and a following in Victorian England and yesteryear Germany and other parts of Europe; in South America, where the Chilean diplomat/poet Pablo Neruda inspired appreciative national audiences; likewise, in the days of early Hawaii when poet chanters were revered for “the word;” and today in Ireland, where even your cabby or bartender can launch versification that can be spellbinding, given the lilting accent of Eire.
Coleman Barks wrote in the introduction to his translation of Rumi’s “The Shams:” “Rumi is one of the great souls, and one of the great spiritual teachers. He shows us our glory. He wants us to be more alive, to wake up. He wants us to see our beauty, in the mirror and in each other.” Not everyone can be a Rumi. However, we all can meet the challenge of being more alive, of waking up when we gain understanding of the meaning of our individual and relatively short lives. Poems can do this for us: writing and reading them, and hearing them presented.
A chance to do this is coming up this coming weekend at the 4th Annual Kauai April International Poetry Celebration Day to be held at the Storybook Theatre of Hawaii in Hanapepe. Steve “Stream” Backinoff, who engages in reading, writing and hearing poems presented, is organizing the celebration and “playshop” to stimulate creative processes for youth and adults Friday through Sunday, April 5 to 7.
Performance poems by poets and friends with an open mic are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. According to Backinoff, “Most of the performance pieces are on the amphitheatre stage in the Peace Garden overseen by the statue of Senator Spark Matsunaga. If you do not know how perfect that is, you could come and enjoy the Friday night art and music night and eat great food and then stop by to find out.”
Friday’s 8 p.m. starting time will follow a 7:30 p.m. parade from the Hanapepe Art Night. Keiki events are scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon: Dorrie Winkler will be reading from her “Pukey Poetry Series,” and Roberto will be entertaining with puppetry. Children’s submissions of poetry are invited and will be read. Offered from Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. is a “Playshop: Writing from Soul Collage,” in which participants may craft a card representing an aspect of the self and write from that aspect, and other classes. Saturday’s performances and open mic start at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, the celebration will culminate in “Poetry Rites and Dances of Universal Poetry,” from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The not-for-profit event is free. Donations are welcomed. For info or to share submission or facilitate a playshop, call or text “Stream” at 346-2587, or e-mail sbackinoff24@gmail.com.
“Modern poetry covers a broad spectrum of modes,” Backinoff wrote in a recent e-mail. “I am excited about the people who have jumped in to perform for us this year. Marisela Bracho is a Mexican contemporary artist who found home on Maui and is flying over to share her unique interpretations of Rumi as well as her own work which combines digital collage, photography and verse,” he said.
”Returning again are professor Brian Cronwall, who had a career teaching language skills at KCC, and Dawn Kawahara, published author who combines her violin and hula with her poetry performance. When I perform, I will be backed up by Alan and Elana, who blend jazz, folk, Brazilian and world influences in their music,” he said.
”I was recently impressed by Elana’s new poems. This duo of guitar and voice will be available for collaboration with other poets. One exciting collaborative possibility is with Brittany Steinbeck, who will share her love-creating color, dance, poetry and beyond with eroticism,” Backinoff said
”Candle says he will be there. (His) presentations are magic for me, silence mixed with words and facial expression. We have Janet Caraffa, a mime, presenting. (The) Rev. Alvin Rogers, who recently gave a powerful talk at Martin Luther King Day event in Lihue, has stuff that he wants to share.
“We do have a diverse group of people representing our island community. This year’s prompt is, ‘When I was born…’ Try it and send it to me.”
That seems to say it all, Dear Readers. Come on down. See you in and around the Peace Garden.
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Dawn Fraser Kawahara, resident author and poet, has focused her supportive interests within the Kauai community since the early 1980s. She and her husband, a retired biology teacher, live in Wailua Homesteads. Kawahara’s books are available through Amazon and other outlets. Info: tropicbirdpress@gmail.com
