Philadelphia Writers Welcome Aliki Barnstone and Richard Wertime

Poet and Apiary Magazine Editor Tamara Oakman, 2nd from the left, introduces 

guests of honor  Aliki Barnstone and Richard Wertime



Poet and Translator Aliki Barnstone reads from one of her poetry

collections. Dr. Richard Wertime is 2nd from the left.



Playwright Mona R. Washington and Poets Octavia McBride-Ahebee
and Mel Blake

Poet Mel Blake calls us The Family; our group of local writers who periodically come together to celebrate the writing life and to extend to visiting writers to the Philadelphia area our singular Philly welcome.  This past Tuesday poets and literary journal editors Tamara Oakman, of Apiary Magazine and Courtney Bambrick, of Philadelphia Stories, hosted in my home The Family and guests of honor Aliki Barnstone and Richard A. Wertime. 

Aliki Barnstone-poet, translator, critic, and editor-is also a professor at the University of Missouri.  Here’s a link to learn more about her work:  http://english.missouri.edu/graduate-and-doctoral-faculty/118-barnstone.html    Richard A. Wertime is a professor and Director of Graduate Studies in English and the Humanities at Arcadia University. Here’s a link to learn more about Dr. Wertime : http://www.arcadia.edu/faculty/richard-wertime/

 A huge shout-out to poets Monique Gordon, Dr. Anne Kaier, Paul Siegell , Peter Baroth , Leslie Burnette , Kathy Volk Miller,  collagist Theodore Harris, playwright Mona R. Washington, theatre artist Anthony Kamani,  Adonaya Boyd and a host of other folks who made this evening of  poetry and yummy food so delightful.

Also, a riotous bravo to Family member and Apiary editor Lillian Dunn, who was recently awarded a Leeway Foundation Grant to fund her project Common Ground.  Click here to learn more: http://www.leeway.org/grantee-info.html?action=granteeDetail&GranteeID=877

*Photos- Monique Gordon