The Poetry of Fountain Street Church

In Episode 19 of Listening At The Fire, host Virginia Anzengruber illuminates the history of the show's title, which is borrowed from a book of poetry that was published at Fountain Street Church in 1998. 

Virginia reads the preface, by editor Linda Rosenthal, and then invites you to listen to a selection of poems from this book, read by current Fountain Street Church members and staff -- many of whom are poets themselves. 

A massive thank you to our readers: Meredith Bradley, Jean Reed Bahle, Danny Heck, Rev. Dr. Fred Wooden, Nessa McCasey, and Neil Kaufman. The list of poems read in the episode is below:

"The Squirrels in Loring Park" by Sherryl Acey (read by Meredith Bradley)

"Attitude" by Barbara N. Amberg (read by Danny Heck)

"Donna" by Virginia Minor Rankin (read by Rev. Dr. Fred Wooden)

"Working with Words" by Beth Sanders (read by Nessa McCasey)

"To the Beach" by Ralph K. Rye (read by Jean Reed Bahle)

"Wet on Wet" by Virginia Braley (read by Neil Kaufman)

"Retro-Life" by Marion H. Smith (read by Meredith Bradley)

"The Dragonfly" by Sarah A. Borisch (read by Danny Heck)

"October 25th Thanksgiving in Grenada, West India" by Virginia Minor Rankin (read by Rev. Dr. Fred Wooden)

"Like Dorothy" by Gail Rutgers (read by Nessa McCasey)

"On the Fringes" by Beth Sanders (read by Jean Reed Bahle)

"Felis Domestica" by Patricia Clark (read by Neil Kaufman)

"Before You Can Let Go" by Meredith Bradley

"Still Births" by Ted Damstra (read by Danny Heck)

"For Dian (My Sister)" by Gail Rutgers (read by Nessa McCasey)

"Grace" by Beth Sanders (read by Jean Reed Bahle)

"Y'all" by Neil Kaufman

"Snow" by Lauren Farrar, Age 10 (read by Danny Heck)

"The Peace I Need" by Nessa McCasey

"Fear and Invisibility" by Neil Kaufman

"Does the Loving Do Us Any Good?" by Nessa McCasey

"Educating You Strength to Yourself" by Neil Kaufman

"Right to Own Your Life" by Nessa McCasey

"The Rear View" by Jean Reed Bahle

 

Connect with the many poetry groups available for participation at Fountain Street Church:

Spiritual Expressions: contact Nessa McCasey at [e-mail]

Join Nessa in a safe, healing writing group. This workshop does not require that you have writing skills or experience; rather, Nessa brings prompts to encourage discussion and personal expression (as a journal entry, memoir or an essay, even a list of words). There is no judgment or critique of writings. Each participant may choose to share or keep private their writings. She models positive responses which tend to inspire a love-fest of creative expression; she has worked with many people who have found the pleasure of their own wellbeing through creativity. As a certified poetry therapist, Nessa McCasey works with individuals, couples, and groups to facilitate their writing in a healing manner. Poetry therapy is part of the expressive arts in Healing (as are music therapy, arts therapy, etc.). She is a mentor with--and the past Director of--the International Academy for Poetry Therapy, an education/training organization for the field of poetry therapy/therapeutic writing. A graduate of the University of Michigan in English, she offers courses (including online) in poetic forms, poetry as healing, writing through life's transitions, creative coaching/problem-solving. Suggested donation of $15. https://fscspiritualexpressions.wordpress.com

Friday Morning Poetry Group: contact Louisa Nally at [e-mail]

Poet Neil Kaufman can be found at: https://thefolktransformer.bandcamp.com/