Poetry Place
Imagine yourself in a circle
surrounded by art--on walls,
the door, the side of a desk--
your back to a full wall of books
--word art, the art of the word--
everyone in your circle
there because poetry compels them
to this place--the Poetry Place--
where poetry is archived,
collection after collection
(bought, donated, found,
commissioned for sale).
In the circle you read, each one
follows the other, a fountain
of poetry flowing into the center,
voices raised, words falling
into our ears, into the circle
of delighted faces, the faces
of the fountain, star faces,
faces of names from a marquee
on the wall--names not in lights
but in black on white, black
on cream, names on loose paper,
on bound pages, names spoken
across the circle, names
floating in the air.
Charlene Babb Knadle
| Mission Statement
TNSPS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization located on eastern
Long Island, but whose programs extend to New York City. We are committed to enriching
lives through the spirit and power of poetry. We provide innovative literary programs
and open forums to instill well being, encourage creativity and increase awareness of
literature and the arts, some of those being poetry readings, annual scholarly
lecture series, TNSPS Arts Forum TV Show, an annual anthology, adult, school and
prison poetry workshops.
Details of our accomplishments can be found in our
resume.
This has resulted in a plethora of accumulated literary material that includes video
and audio-taped readings and interviews, newspaper articles, artwork as well as scores
of books and journals. Several poets who have read for us, such as Vince Clemente
and Allen Planz, are highly regarded in the national literary community and have
produced volumes of acclaimed work. In the spirit of the Walt Whitman Birthplace
in Huntington, our goal is to preserve, highlight and make the fruits of the lifelong
passions of these, as well as and other Long Island poets, centrally available to the
public. That is why The North Sea Poetry Scene has established The Long Island Poetry
Archival Arts Center.
Allen Planz is considered by author and poet Robert Bly to be the nation’s
finest seafaring poet. Peter Matthiessen says of Mr. Planz’ poems, "…They
invigorate the grit and feel of the South Fork waters we call home and bring to life
the shapes and silhouettes of the wild things flying beneath the sparkling surface as
well as over it." Vince Clemente, an award-winning author, biographer and poet,
believes, as Archibald MacLeish insisted, that a young writer "learns from
older writers much the way a boy learns from an apple orchard, by stealing whatever
he has a taste for and can carry home." We hope you will help us help others
carry home the rich legacy of Long Island poets. |