Notes from the Poet Laureate Desk: Final Day of the Winter Poetry Challenge Program

The Silver City Public Library and I organized the Winter Poetry Challenge for December and January.
What better months to sit inside with a warm cup of coffee and a good book of poetry, and while we
haven’t had as much snow—hopefully, people were still able to enjoy poetry.
Today, January 31 st from 3 to 4:30 PM at Silver City Public Library is the closing event of the Winter
Poetry Challenge. It is a potluck (of finger foods) and a poetluck (of group poetry). I will lead the group
into group poetry exercises. It should be fun, playful, and community-building. Also, you still have time
to turn in that Poetry Mini-Bingo card!
Now that it is the final day, it gives me a moment to look back on this challenge, and what better form
than a list.

1. We created a poetry mini-bingo card. The squares had challenges that focused on reading,
   writing, and being inspired by our locale (like going to the Gila). We also had support from local
   agencies for gifts, such as the Southwest Word Fiesta, Tranquilbuzz Coffee House, and more.
   Thank you all for supporting this community program.
2. The library created a wonderful display of poetry, showing local and regional poets. Did you
   know that NM has official state poems? I didn’t either until I looked at the display. Here is the
   current one. https://www.sos.nm.gov/about-new-mexico/state-poem/
3. More poetry books have been checked out these two months due to the Winter Poetry Challenge
   and the library’s display.
4. For each week of these two months, I posted two videos/audio recordings of Spoken Word and
   other poetry on the Silver City and Grant County Poet Laureate Facebook page. If you missed
   them, they are still up there. Take a listen.
   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561360295015
5. On December 6 th , we had our opening event, a poetry reading by the poets Abigail Kipp,
   Francesca Regina, Allison Waterman, and me. It was such a good vibe; all the poets and poems
   were different, but yet it blended together so well. Luckily, we have pictures from it—witness-
   accounts!
6. And 6—join us for this last day and celebration. I have coffee cake in the oven for it—it (and the
   event) promises to be delicious!