Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

I love poems that celebrate families, and here’s a fine one by Joyce Sutphen of Minnesota, a poet who has written dozens of poems I’d like to publish in this column if there only were weeks enough for all of them.

The Aunts

I like it when they get together

and talk in voices that sound

like apple trees and grape vines,

and some of them wear hats

and go to Arizona in the winter,

and they all like to play cards.

They will always be the ones

who say “It is time to go now,”

even as we linger at the door,

or stand by the waiting cars, they

remember someone—an uncle we

never knew—and sigh, all

of them together, like wind

in the oak trees behind the farm

where they grew up—a place

I remember—especially

the hen house and the soft

clucking that filled the sunlit yard.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2010 by Joyce Sutphen from her most recent book of poetry, First Words, Red Dragonfly Press, 2010. Poem reprinted by permission of Joyce Sutphen and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2011 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Local entertainer Andre Williams will perform with his talented Andre Williams Trio at Silk's in Clearlake on Thursday, March 3.

The performance will start at 5:30 p.m. and continue to as late as 8:30 p.m. at Williams' Silk's Bar & Grill.

Williams will put his incredible voice to work on old favorites.

Silk's Bar & Grill is located at 14825 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

Call 707-995-7455 to reserve a table, as seating is limited.

Bill Noteman & The Rockets will headline a night of music and fun at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport, Calif., on Friday, March 18, 2011. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre presents the third show in its new Third Friday Live series, on Mar. 18 at 7 p.m., with headliners Bill Noteman & The Rockets.

The jump blues group has burned up the stages of Northern California for more than 20 years. Don’t miss their unique high energy blend of Chicago blues and rock and roll, and Bill’s outrageous harmonica.

Opening for Bill Noteman & the Rockets is “Tastes Like Chicken,” a cool new project, featuring many of the musicians from the Rockets.

They play a rockin' jazzy, funky bluesy mix of fun music. With all of this toe tappin’ rhythm going on, the dance floor is bound to be full all night.

The Soper-Reese Theatre “Third Friday Live” series presents the best in local entertainment with more shows coming up on April 15 and May 20.

Look for updates on upcoming headliners and opening acts at www.soperreesetheatre.com. Major media sponsor for the series is Bicoastal Media, KNTI 99.5 FM Radio. Supporting sponsor is Lake Event Design.

All seats for “Third Friday Live” are $10.

Get your tickets online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com or at the Theatre Box Office, 275 Main St., Lakeport.

The box office is open on Thursdays noon to 5 p.m., and on the day of the show, for two hours before show time.

Tickets also are on sale at Catfish Books in the Safeway Center, Lakeport; at the Lower Lake Coffee Company on Main Street or by phone at 707-263-0577.

The Soper-Reese Community Theatre is a restored, historic, performing arts venue established in 1949 and seating 300 patrons.

Run by an all-volunteer organization, the theater operates under the guidance of the non-profit Lake County Arts Council.

The Soper-Reese brings dance, music, plays and poetry to all members of the Lake County community and to visiting tourists.

The Dora Street Brass Quintet includes, from left to right, Jay Johnson, Al White, Dale Spencer, Darrin Michaels and Larry Price. Photo courtesy of Darrin Michaels.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Students at several local schools were recently entertained by the local music group The Dora Street Brass Quintet.

Performing for students in kindergarten through high school in both Lake and Mendocino counties, the DSBQ offers a fun, musical and educational performance that has kids and adults alike clapping their hands and tapping their toes.

“One of the things that we strive for while playing for young people is to bring not only entertaining music that they can relate to but to also teach them musical concepts in a way that they can understand,” said horn player Darrin Michaels. “Using music and comedy as well as our musical talent and knowledge to educate and entertain is a passion of ours.”

The quintet members all got their start playing while in school and with many budget cuts happening in school districts they want to get the word out to students that opportunities for music exist in the community.

Members Jay Johnson and Darrin Michaels have started The Opus Music School with this in mind to offer group music lessons for students of all ages.

The feedback from the students and teachers at the schools was tremendously positive.

“One sixth grade teacher appreciated your demonstration that sum of the parts was not equal to the whole. He said that hearing each of the instruments separately didn’t sound like much, but when they played together it was amazingly impressive.”

“A first grade teacher reported that her class spent a significant amount of time after your program in discussion regarding the mind-movies that the music evoked and how the music made them feel.”

“Thank you for taking such care to address your young audiences so effectively! I am confident that the experience raised their horizons beyond our own understanding!”

“Thank you so much for that fun concert yesterday! It was the talk of the school all day, teachers and children alike.”

“You've sparked an interest in brass instruments.”

“Thank you for making personal connections with the students by individually introducing your instruments to them and immediately featuring a kid-friendly selection for that horn!”

The Dora Street Brass Quintet is comprised of Al White and Jay Johnson on trumpet, Darrin Michaels on horn, Larry Price on trombone and Dale Spencer on tuba.

The group was established many years ago but the current members have been together since 2005 and have performed concerts throughout Northern California including the Deep Valley Chamber Music Series and a very moving concert with the Mendocino College Band, playing a tribute to Native American culture with the song “Shadowcatcher.”

The DSBQ has released several CDs.

For more information about the quintet or to schedule them for a performance please call Larry Price at 707-462-1155 or Darrin Michaels at the Opus Music School, 707-463-1614.