This past Sunday afternoon at the Stevens Creek Barnes & Noble, I hosted the first reading of favorite poems to an overflow audience. With over 60 people in attendance, Barnes & Noble management had to bring out more chairs. It was a terrific audience who found themselves laughing, pondering, moved to tears, all the while listening attentively as a wide variety of favorite poems were read. The readers–poets and non-poets alike–each made personal remarks as to why they’d chosen that particular poem, and I felt privileged to hear such thoughtful reflections shared. It’s the same way I feel as I read and re-read the poetry submissions that I post, and I hope you too feel drawn in. Here’s a photo of Sunday’s participants. Their names and poems read are listed above in the “List of Readers” link in the header. My hat’s off to these 12 who helped create a memorable event.
I’m looking forward to announcing the next reading event, and hope to bring together another terrific bunch of readers. Maybe you?
Sally Ashton
Santa Clara County Poet Laureate
Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Blog 
A fantastic event that I’m still thinking about and drawing from. Many thanks to our poet laureate and all the terrific readers.
Kelly
I wish to express my most profound and heart-felt gratitude and appreciation to Marilyn Manzo for taking the initiative of submitting and reading my poem “Rags for Heaven'” as her favorite poem which was kindly considered by Sally Ashton, Santa Clara County poet laureate, as one of the poems featured during the First Poems Reading last Sunday, September 18, 2011. I am so proud for having given such a once -in- a- lifetime opportunity to be honored in such an historic poetic event. Million thanks to poet laureate Sally.
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