Lincoln poetry group meets at B-Bar-B Ranch

More than 40 poetry lovers spent Sunday afternoon at the rural Lincoln home of Barbara Lackovic. The location was made even more appealing by a spring-like day and poems read by 14 members and friends of the Poet's Club of Lincoln.Lackovic, the 2005 Voices of Lincoln Free Verse first prize winner, was the featured reader.She began with two poems about herself and continued with several love poems in celebration of Valentine's Day. One poem was a fantasy in which she daydreamed aloud about frolicking with the famed lover, Casanova.The open mic portion of the afternoon followed, with Jack Fabian reading first."No one should have to follow Barbara," he quipped, before launching into his usual comic lines.Don Ledbetter read two poems. Pat Coonen, whose theme is usually love, explored other subjects, including one dedicated to a friend who was suffering from Alzheimer's.Ernie Titus, a former member of one of Sue Clark's Sierra College poetry classes, read a creation that summed up his life in 10 lines. His wife, Dorothy, read a poem about visiting the circus, and then mused poetically on how it would be different if her skin suddenly turned black. Arloa Walter read poems on the deep subjects of life and the mystery of inspiration.David Anderson brought the gathering back to the Valentine theme, reading poems about desire and love.John Noon continued the romantic theme with a poem that he had written for his stepdaughter on the eve of her wedding. Carol Nossardi, who often writes poetry in Italian and English, offered a poem of a dream where a fantasy women's group's members all spoke in different languages, met, and, magically, all understood each other perfectly. She also read a series of brief Haiku-like poems."I call them Carol-Haikus," she said. "I don't follow the rules. I do it my way." Jim Nolt of Folsom explored the theme of soul mates finding one another in "Duet."Rhian Briskele, the youngest member of the Poet's Club, drew a round of applause with her poems on friendship and seeing oneself in the mirror.Bonnie Dunlap explored love of a different type with a poem about Yosemite - a place she dearly loves. She followed it with "Red Boots," a saucy romp on the dance floor that she wrote for her daughter.Jeff Harris, Lackovic's nephew, who had never read in public before, also took a turn on the dance floor with his mythical "Salsa Queen." He followed it with an introspective piece titled "Time Heals All Wounds."Sue Clark read of flying high above Sonoma, and ended with a poem that she felt was appropriate for Valentine's Day, "Sounds of our Love."By request, Lackovic returned to the microphone to share her prize-winning poem, "My Lincoln/My Africa."Poet's Club events, which are sponsored by the Lincoln Library and Friends of the Library, are free and open to the public. Beginning and seasoned poets and poetry lovers are welcome to welcome. Contact Clark for more information about the Poet's Club or poetry classes that are held at Lincoln Arts, at (916) 434-9226.- Leona Reber is a freelance writer and can be reached at paganart@jps.net.