Put on your rhyming caps – it’s time for limericks
We’re heading into the second week of the new year, and you know what that means. We need to start thinking about limericks. The ninth annual Spokesman-Review Limerick Contest, to be specific. As in the past few years, three limerick writers will win prizes (sometimes gift certificates, sometimes books) while all authors whose work is chosen for publication in the newspaper will be invited to read publicly on March 17 at Auntie’s Bookstore.
Notice that date? It just happens to be St. Patrick’s Day. Nice timing, eh?
This year’s theme is Northwest history. Take some sort of historical event, or figure and find a way to wrap your thoughts about the subject in standard limerick form, which is outlined in this passage from the online resource Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org):
“The rhyme scheme is usually aabba, with a rather rigid meter. The first, second, and fifth lines are three metrical feet; the third and fourth two metrical feet. The foot used is usually the amphibrach, a stressed syllable between two unstressed ones. However it can be considered an anapestic foot, two short syllables and then a long, the reverse of dactyl rhythm. However, many substitutions are common.”
The italics in that final sentence are mine. The contest judging always stresses substance over style.
Participants can enter as many times as they want, either by e-mail ( limerick@spokesman.com), fax (509-459-5098) or by post (Limericks 2006, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99201).
All work must be original and has to be delivered to the newspaper no later than noon March 6.
Learning the word
Spokane poet Tom I. Davis (“The Little Spokane”) is presenting a poetry writing workshop, “Bringing the Spirit into the Light, the Breath, the Vowel, the Word, the Poem,” beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Empyrian Coffee Shop, 154 S. Madison St.
The class will continue for the succeeding four Mondays. For more information, call 624-1281 or e-mail tomidavis@hotmail.com.
Talking about books
There are many local book groups, most of them private gatherings of friends. But many of the local bookstores have various themed, walk-in book groups.
One such group meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Valley Barnes & Noble, 15312 E. Indiana Ave. The group, which focuses on modern fiction, will hold its first meeting of 2006 on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. The book under discussion: “I Heard the Owl Call My Name,” by Margaret Cravan.
Each meeting features a half-hour social period, followed by an hour’s discussion. For more information, call 922-4104.
Just fiction
Auntie’s Bookstore will host the annual reading by the winner of the Pacific Northwest Inlander’s Short Fiction Contest – this time, Michael Elaine Alegria – on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at 402 W. Main Ave. For information, call 838-0206.
Playing around
The Ignite! Community Theater group will hold a reader’s theater presentation of Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore.
Book talk
“Poetry Reading Group (230-0950), 3 p.m. today, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington (838-0206).
“Straight From the Horse’s Mouth Open Mic, 2 p.m. today, Hope Market Cafe, 620 Wellington Place, Hope, Idaho (208-255-4410).
“Auntie’s Book Group (“The Dante Club,” by Matthew Pearl), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Valley Bahai Readers’ Group (“Prophet’s Daughter,” by Janet Khan), 7 p.m. Wednesday, Valley Hastings, 15310 E. Sprague Ave. (924-0667).
“Valley Readers Group (“The Christmas Scrapbook,” by Philip Gulley), 7 p.m. Thursday, Valley Hastings.
“Literary Freedom Book Group (“Sunday Philosophy Club,” by Alexander McCall-Smith), 1 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
The reader board
“Ann Louise Gittleman (“The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet”), 2 p.m. today, Q&A, Valley Barnes & Noble, 15312 E. Indiana Ave. (922-4104); 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Michael Cariola (“Children of Prophecy”), 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore.