Writers share their rhyme and reason

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- Mifanway Kaiser said her fourth-grade teacher first

ignited her passion for poetry.

These days, the creative writing teacher at Costa Mesa High School plants

the power of poetry in her own students and others.

Kaiser is one of seven writers who on Tuesday will read poetry during the

fourth annual Poetry Festival at the Newport Beach Public Library.

The featured writers will not read their own works, but the poetry of

others who influenced or somehow affected their lives, said Jacquelyn

Beauregard Dillman, the founding chairwoman of the festival.

“Not every poet will inspire you. But certain poets speak to you. Some of

it’s absolutely beautiful. I can get goose bumps,” Dillman said.

Dillman hopes that same creative inspiration transfers to the audience.

Each writer begins with some sort of poetic inspiration and acknowledges

how that power creatively drives them in different ways.

Before Dillman sits down to write, she pulls out poetry to change her

mind-set. It frees her thinking, she said.

“When I read it before I write, it frees the juices. It lightens the

heart,” Dillman said.

Obviously, different poetic themes appeal to the writers’ personalities.

For JoAnn Mapson, it’s how poet John Haines describes the landscape of

Alaska. His poetry influenced the Costa Mesa resident to pack up and move

to Alaska.

Other writers, like Judith Handelsman-Smith, use poetry to gain different

perspectives. She’s motivated by poems about the cycle of life and death.

“I’m interested in what one goes through internally. The bottom line of

all poems is having compassion for oneself and all living things,”

Handelsman-Smith said.

Handelsman-Smith learned about poetry as a child. Family members

occasionally shared poetry at the dinner table. The family would then

talk about it, she said.

Now, as an adult, Handelsman-Smith started her own tradition. At

Christmastime, she throws a salon where guests share their favorite

poems.

“It encourages people to let go of their shyness about sharing from their

heart. It shows what’s important and meaningful to them,”

Handelsman-Smith said.

Jonathan Farmer, Mindy Nettifee and Victor D. Infante will also read at

the festival, moderated by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett.

The public is invited to the readings, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the

Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. in Corona del Mar. There

is no charge to attend.