Bard of Sherman Avenue takes bow

The copier in his office building sat by a window with a view, and Tom Wobker found inspiration watching the brainless birds on the other side of the glass.

The pigeon’s works
are bold and bright,
his palette
limited to white.

(“Picasso of the Skies,” April 28, 2006)

For 14 years Wobker’s crisp verse, under the pen name The Bard of Sherman Avenue, has seasoned Huckleberries, The Spokesman-Review’s top blog. More than 600 of his poems have appeared online and in blog creator Dave Oliveria’s weekly print column since 2002. But only Oliveria and a few of Wobker’s relatives and friends knew the Bard’s identity. On Saturday afternoon, Wobker revealed himself at Blogfest, Oliveria’s annual celebration of the North Idaho blogosphere, at Fort Ground Grill in Coeur d’Alene. “I have really been on him to do this, because I want him to take the bow he deserves,” Oliveria said. “I don’t think he knows how good he is. I really don’t”/Scott Maben, SR. More here.