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

Peter Everwine is a California poet whose work I have admired for almost as long as I have been writing. Here he beautifully captures a quiet moment of reflection.

Rain

Toward evening, as the light failed

and the pear tree at my window darkened,

I put down my book and stood at the open door,

the first raindrops gusting in the eaves,

a smell of wet clay in the wind.

Sixty years ago, lying beside my father,

half asleep, on a bed of pine boughs as rain

drummed against our tent, I heard

for the first time a loon’s sudden wail

drifting across that remote lake—

a loneliness like no other,

though what I heard as inconsolable

may have been only the sound of something

untamed and nameless

singing itself to the wilderness around it

and to us until we slept. And thinking of my father

and of good companions gone

into oblivion, I heard the steady sound of rain

and the soft lapping of water, and did not know

whether it was grief or joy or something other

that surged against my heart

and held me listening there so long and late.

Ted Kooser was US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. He is a professor in the English Department of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He lives on an acreage near the village of Garland, Nebraska, with his wife Kathleen Rutledge, the editor of the Lincoln Journal Star.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org),

publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of

Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2009 by Donal Heffernan, whose most recent book of poetry is

“Duets of Motion,” Lone Oak Press, 2001. Poem reprinted by permission of Donal Heffernan.

Introduction copyright ©2010 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.

American Life in Poetry ©2006 The Poetry Foundation

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This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.

Young dancers from the Ballet Solecito perform at the Soper-Reese Community Theater on Friday, July 16, 2010. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – On Friday, July 16, the Soper-Reese Fundraising Committee hosted a reception for their donors at the theater.

Guests were treated to champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the theater lobby.

Theatre Manager John Ross spoke to the guests about the state of the renovation project.

The committee is still raising the needed funds to finish the project. Priority has been given to the completion of the “green room” (dressing area for performers including handicap accessible restrooms). This phase needs approximately $70,000 to complete and would be a major step in accommodating performers. Donors also got a look at the newly planted courtyard, thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Lakeport Kiwanis.

Following the theater project update, Ballet Solecito presented several traditional dances on the stage. The group is comprised of the Ledesma, Ortega and Duarte families. Ten dancers participated ranging from ages 18 to the youngest, who is 4 and a half years old.

Ballet Solecito has danced all over Lake County mostly for Cinco de Mayo events. The dancers perform at Christmas events for the Catholic Church. They have also danced for Kelseyville schools and in Ukiah.

Costumes are based on traditional Mexican dance costumes. The boys' white charro suits are authentic outfits from Mexico. Girls skirts were made by Isabel Cruz. The girls love the make up.

For further information about the Soper-Reese Community Theatre including, fundraising, bookings and upcoming events visit the Web site (http:www.soperreesetheatre.com). You can also contact the theater at 707-263-0577.

The newly planted courtyard at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – If you haven't made up your mind to enter your artwork for the “Living in Lake County” juried art show to be exhibited in the Main Street Gallery for this September, do it now with the encouragement from the words of the show's judge, Tom Zephyrs.

“Reach into your expressive and creative self and stay true to the things that you love about living in Lake County,” said Zephyrs.

He said he's looking forward to viewing and selecting for the show.

“There are a number of things that I will be noticing as I go through the judging process,” he said. “Of course, your work should pertain to Lake County living but also I will be looking for a creative and well presented work of art.”

The concept/content of the piece and the quality of the craft and the composition will be considered, as those are the elements that make for an engaging work of art, he explained.

“Whether you win an award or not, the great success will be that when you look at your piece in the show you'll be happy to say that you are pleased to be an artist living in beautiful Lake County,” Zephyrs said.

Pick up entry forms from the Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport, and paint what you know as true about Lake County living.

Your effort could be rewarded by receiving either the judges award or the people's choice award, both of which will be presented at the Main Street Gallery's Friday Night Fling on Sept. 3.