Loose Leaf Notes

-The following is an article written by Judith Stevens, co-founder of the Floyd Little River Poetry Festival (June 12 – 14), with an addition that addresses the coronavirus. The story is featured in the Floyd Virginia Magazine on news stands around Floyd now. 

For the fifth consecutive year, Daniel Sowers, owner of “On the Water Outfitters” and the Sowers Family, will play host on June 12-14 at their family farm on Thunderstruck Road to a group of poets, musicians and poetry lovers from around the state and beyond.

During the weekend, many poets opt to accept the challenge to kayak down the Little River, across the road from the Festival location, while composing a new poem to be read aloud at a natural rock amphitheater to an appreciative audience seated in chairs on the riverbank.  These new poems are then posted on the Poetry Bulletin Board in the meadow tent throughout the weekend.

For the fifth year in a row, Little River Poetry Festival founders, Jack Callan and his wife, Judith Stevens, both poets from Norfolk, Virginia, are bringing a vibrant group of creative writers from the Hampton Roads/Tidewater area to cross-pollinate with the superb “home grown” mountain poets of the Blue Ridge.  Jack and Judith host a quarterly “Poetry at the Chrysler Museum” reading and Open Mic, in Norfolk, as well as a bi-monthly “Fairmount Five” poetry reading and a monthly “Fourth Friday Poetry Salon” at their home in Norfolk.  They also conduct poetry readings, workshops and poetry “happenings” in libraries, schools and colleges throughout Hampton Roads. Life members of the Poetry Society of Virginia, Jack is a former Vice-President of Virginia’s Southeastern Region.

The idea for the Little River Poetry Festival was conceived in Floyd, when Judith and Jack kayaked down the Little River and noticed a rock formation with an over-cropping “roof” that resembled an outdoor amphitheater.  Intrigued, they tried reading poems they had written on the float and were gratified to hear their voices amplified by the mountain.  In that moment, they envisioned a poetry festival on the banks of the river and in the field beyond.  When they approached their friend, Daniel Sowers, he encouraged them to give it a try.  He and his family invited them to begin that next summer (2016).  The rest, as they say, is history.

Finding excellent poets in Floyd and the surrounding area has been part of a continuing adventure. This year’s mountain poets include Colleen Redman, (Floyd); Chelsea Adams, (Riner); Erin McCarty, (Marshall); Jim Best, (Meadows of Dan); Beth Huddleston, (Winchester), and Floyd’s “Three Katherines:” Katherine Chantal, Katherine Sowers and Catherine Pauley.

They will be joined by Richmond poet Joanna Lee, Portsmouth poet Edith Blake, Yorktown poet Brian Magill, Virginia Beach poets Evangelina Poggi and Michael Link, Ohio poet/songwriter Kristi Paddock, student poets Coral Kendall (Radford) and Cas Horne (York, Pennsylvania) and others.

Each of the three days will feature Open Mics, poetry readings, workshops and poetry excursions – the kayak outing, a hike to a nearby mountain where the hikers can just enjoy the scenery or choose to write a poem about their experience on the trail.  Having explored Buffalo Mountain in former years, this year’s hike heads to Rocky Knob.

During the Festival, home-cooked healthy meals are provided on-site by donation and primitive camping is available for those who wish to camp in the meadow. (While some festival-goers choose to camp on-site, most select the Floyd Hotel, Oak Haven Lodge, or any of a number of excellent Bed and Breakfasts offered in Floyd and the surrounding area.)

Music at the Festival will be provided by Cleveland recording artist, Kristi Paddock, (keyboards and psaltery); local musician, Jim Best, (hang drum); Brian Magill, (clarinet, gamelan, and diggery-doo). There are usually new musicians who join us each year.  Some poems will be read to musical accompaniment.  We anticipate Riner guitarist Bill Adams, accompanying his wife as she reads her poetry.

Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their musical instruments as well as notebooks, poetry to share in some of the weekend’s five Open Mics, lawn chairs, rain gear (just in case!), flashlights, sunscreen, warm clothes for nighttime layering and summer attire for sunny days.

“Yoga for Health” is offered by certified yoga instructors each morning and during breaks throughout the day.  The Festival begins at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12 and ends at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 14.  Cost is $45 for the entire weekend, or $15 per day. (Drop-ins welcome.)  Add $35 for your kayak trip down the Little River.

If you write poetry, would like to learn how to write poetry, or simply enjoy reading poetry or listening to poems and storytelling, this gathering is for you.  All ages and abilities welcome.

This year, we plan to space the seating in our Festival tent for social distancing.  We have a hand-washing station set up at the Porta-Potties, and we’ll be wearin’ masks and hope other attendees will, too.  Some people may choose not to wear masks and they will also be welcome.  We’re here to celebrate our resilience at a challenging time in our lives.  We’re here to love one another.

For information or to register, call Judith Stevens and Jack Callan at 757-622-8721, or write us at 2931 Somme Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23509. Go to http://www.littleriverpoetryfest.com and Facebook     See you in June 12 – 14! – Judith Stevens – Read about last year’s poetry festival HERE.