A gathering of poets and friends took place for the first official reading from the anthology Summer Home Review on Wednesday November 13, 2002 at the Harbor Art Gallery. The meeting lasted just an hour and a half, and featured readings and book signings, as well as a substantial helping of laughter.

The gallery was perfect for such an event. The podium was angled in a corner, and behind it a wall filled with art joined a wall of windows, providing a background atmosphere suited for poets. Smiles abounded among the audience members. I was a bit nervous at first that a room full of poets would not welcome a newcomer to their click. I was wrong; poets, like most artists, enjoy their work immensely and were excited to see a new face with whom to share it.

Summer Home Review is the first book of poetry written by members of the William Joiner Center. All writers who submitted pieces for the book have completed the student writers’ workshop. The center celebrated its twentieth anniversary this year. It is located on the tenth floor of the Healey Library.

Jacqueline Loring, who has been a member of the Joiner Center for twelve years, hosted the event. She is also responsible for organizing and editing the book. A real appreciation came from her regarding the poet’s work and why she was motivated to make the book: “As the years passed in my attendance at the Joiner Center, one thing became very, very obvious; that there are a lot of very talented people who wrote at the Joiner Center. When we would have students’ readings it was just amazing. So I always wondered what happened to their work…It suddenly occurred to me why hadn’t I done anything about it?”

A warm sense of friendship and community was felt in the room. No ringing cell phones or whispers were heard in the crowd; the only disturbance was stopping in order to set up more chairs for those strolling in late.

Loring thanked all those who were present and introduced the book. “This anthology is more than a gathering of poems and poets,” she said. “It is a convergence of paths, a literary labyrinth, and an honoring of the written word.”

She began by reading a poem by Gary Rafferty, who was unable to attend. His poem, Empty House, begins the anthology. The poem is okay and basically describes what the title implies; it is not a great mystery of the stereotypical dark poet. I was relieved this poem was chosen to kick off the readings.

Sloughing Out of Belfast, 1991, read and written by Edward Abrahamson, was next. He frequently used his hands to enhance his reading, zigzagging them around like he was swatting away flies, making it obvious this poem meant a great deal to him. It was a good poem, touching on the history of Ireland.

My favorite was Unsure by Pauline Hebert, who was a nurse in Vietnam. Her reading was simple and her poem was honest, bringing her experience and history together in a short, lyric style.

Overall, the readings were well done, with no fumbling or nervous outbursts. Eleven different poets read. One man, Preston Hood, read four of his poems and had a CD on sale featuring all his works–quite an accomplishment for an amateur poet. The readers gave a general explanation and a quick introduction. Some casually, others confidently, but all happily, stood to read. In the excitement, however, some forgot to mention what page their work was on, making it difficult to read along. The poems had a range of themes, including war, peace, power, death, and even eating a pear. They were read in alphabetical order.

The writers have various backgrounds firemen, teachers, soldiers, lawyers, singers, playwrights, and union members. They share only their experience at the workshop and their love of poetry. They are everyday people whose pastime has led to publication.

Dorinda Foley Wegener, who drove from New Hampshire to give her reading, said, “[This has been] a wonderful group of people and a wonderful learning experience. Through this I have met a very strong group of writers, each with their own individual voices…I am very happy to be here.”

The layout of the book is impressive. Before each section there is a line from a poem in that section, summing up its theme. Pictures are placed before each poem of the writer with a friend or faculty from the Joiner Center. The anthology is on sale at any local bookstore, or online, for $17.50. Unexpectedly, I was given a book for free at the reading; flipping through it, I can see why these part-time poets have been published.