Regie O'Hare Gibson lights a fire in minds of Seacoast poets ~ Appreciation of Literature

Regie O'Hare Gibson lights a fire in minds of Seacoast poets

By Charles McMahon cmcmahon@seacoastonline.com February 26, 2012 2:00 AM PORTSMOUTH — Renowned poet Regie O'Hare Gibson lit a fire in the creative minds of about two dozen Seacoast residents at a special writing workshop at the Seacoast African American Cultural Center on Saturday.

O'Hare Gibson, a former National Poetry Slam champion, facilitated the afternoon workshop, "The Unlettered Muse: Poetry and the Creative Mind."

O'Hare Gibson led attendees through a series of writing exercises and discussions.

The workshop was just one half of a larger event called "Burning with the Word: A Celebration of Contemporary Black Poetry," which is just a slice of Portsmouth Poet Laureate John-Michael Albert's year-long poetry project.

Since becoming the local poet laureate last April, Albert said he has tried each month to draw in different cross-sections of the community and incorporate them into the world of poetry.

"The mission of the Portsmouth Poet Laureate program is to create community through poetry," Albert said.

Saturday's event was held to recognize Black History Month, he said. Earlier events included a "No Second Takes" at the University of New Hampshire, "100,000 Poets for Change" and "Make 'Em Laugh" at the Portsmouth Public Library.

Albert said having O'Hare Gibson lead the afternoon workshop was a special thing. "He's a superstar," he said.

O'Hare Gibson told participants that poetry can be considered as a "tool of excavation."

Early in the two-hour workshop, O'Hare Gibson led the crowd through a brainstorming activity where he would pose a question and they would have less than a minute to write down their answer. Questions included: Why aren't helicopters trained to suck honey from the sunlight? What does old ash say to young smoke? At the edge of space what will we find?

The event was made possible through a collaboration of the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program and Seacoast African American Cultural Center. It was co-organized by Albert and Ayanna Gallant.