Attendance was light at the first ever Northeast Philly Poetry Forum, but the conversation was not.
Several writers read their own poetry in the basement of the Holmesburg Library, and there was a small group discussion about the writing process and the finer points of haiku and tanka, two forms of traditional Japanese poetry.
John J. Ruppert, who organized the event, said he wanted to create a safe place for people to share their work and listen to others.
“I’ve always looked for a place for people to come together, and Northeast (Philadelphia) never really had anything,” said Ruppert, a freelance writer who lives in Mayfair.
Forum at Holmesburg Library. Ruppert organized the event. JACK TOMCZUK / TIMES PHOTO
“The good thing reading either lyrics or poetry is it gives you a chance to express yourself and sometimes, by expressing yourself, you can release creativity you’ve blocked away,” he added. “Creativity allows you to be anybody you want to be.”
The first forum, which was held Wednesday, March 20, was a long time coming. It was originally scheduled for January but was postponed twice due to weather.
Emiliano Martin, president of the Pennsylvania Poetry Society, read a few selections of his own writing, including a short poem called “Free Will.”
“In the absence of free will, any success, just like failure, is in the handle of tenure held by the powers that be,” said Martin, who used to live in the Northeast but now lives in Bensalem.
Ruppert said he plans to hold the Northeast Philly Poetry Forum on a monthly basis. The next one is scheduled Wednesday, April 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the library, 7810 Frankford Ave. It is a free event. ••
Jack Tomczuk can be reached at [email protected]
