Steven in Town

     Steven Schroeder came to town bearing the gift of poetry. His daughter, Regina, brought a gift, too, of lessons in paper-making. I would not miss a minute of any of it.
     Schroeder named the event "from page to poem, with music," presented by the Wichita Falls Literature and Art Review. Antuan Simmons, Sheri Sutton, James Hoggard, and Kenny Hada also contributed to the event. The Dutchess provided food and wine for the audience.

The two-day event began with Regina's paper-making workshop.

Sift the cotton in the frame, gently, firmly, until it looks glassy.

Lay the paper on felt to dry overnight.

Regina Schroeder, from the Boston Paper Collective, shows the different kinds of paper she makes.

     I arrived quite late, having enjoyed a pleasant lunch visit with Claudia, John, and Jesse. Jesse treated us to chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Normally, I do not eat sweet foods or desserts of any kind, but out of politeness I discovered a world of taste I had missed by denying myself before . . . the chocolate chip cookie. My first bite made a discovery which I know I will remember for a long time. I ate the whole cookie, then, and decided to treat MyMrMallory with one later in the week.

    I could hardly wait to draw and paint a chocolate chip cookie, relishing the memory of its taste -- AND the memory of a pleasant, relaxing lunch with some fine people. 

     My relaxed feelings slipped off my back as I hopped on my bike to rush to the Forum, having missed two hours of Regina's paper-making workshop. No worries, she indicated, "Come up to my studio in Boston any time." I admired her calm demeanor.

     After plunging my hands in the water to swirl the cotton fibres, I scooped them up in her frame. I felt the cotton, the water, the heavy wooden frame, and the copper that held it together, and felt convinced that I would indeed travel to her studio in Boston to experience more in depth the endeavor of making paper. 

    In the evening, Antuan Simmons read his work first. I have noted his work to uplift the spirit of the reader. Simmons contributes to our world with a new website BlackmobileTV for smartphones, and Black History Films in the online version. 

Simmons read at the event from page to poem, with music.

Sheri Sutton and James Hoggard read their work as Kenny Hada accompanied them with guitar music.

    The next day, Schroeder held a poetry workshop, also at the Dutchess. Students sipped coffee and tea. Since we celebrated Ellen's birthday the day before, and I had left my share of the cake there, she sliced it in several pieces to share with the students. That was the second time in two days that I learned that denying myself sweet foods had kept my taste buds from reveling in life.