Samthology Launch at Cascadia Poetry Fest

Thanks to Ian Boyden’s cover design and Cate Gable’s marvelous introduction and Lyn Coffin’s expert proof-reading and to many contributors writing homages in French, Spanish and English, the Samthology will be launched at the Cascadia Poetry Festival, happening May 9-12, 2019, at the Croatian Cultural Center, 801 5th, in Anacortes, Washington, the last town in which Sam Hamill lived.

The schedule is here: https://cascadiapoetryfestival.org/cpf-anacortes-2019/

And Gold Passes admit bearers to all events save the Steve Kuusisto master workshop. Gold Passes are only $25, as is keeping with our desire to make these events extremely accessible. https://cpfanacortes.brownpapertickets.com/

The town of Anacortes has welcomed our efforts and we are grateful to everyone who has stepped up to contribute. Contributors to the anthology have even stepped up to help bring it into the world with cash contributions.

That today marks the one year anniversary of Sam’s passing is important, as it is a good occasion to release grief we’re still holding. (April 14, 2018, 6:04pm). Of course all this year’s Cascadia work has been an homage to Sam, who was one of my poetry teachers/mentors/guides. I guess his inscription to me for Habitation, which I believe is the last one he ever did for me, says it all:

So here we are, a year without Sam. We’ll lift a cup, though it won’t be much saké for me anymore given my new life challenges. And we’ll lift one again May 9, 2019, at the opening night of the Cascadia Poetry Festival, a night on which Sam would have turned 76. I find some solace that the last poem in Habitation: Collected Poems is “Of Cascadia.” Though he did not say it to me, I think he felt the bioregional focus of my work since 2012 to be a deep response to the direction of the U.S.S. Empire and his putting Of Cascadia as the last poem was a gesture to that work. I hope you’ll join us in May, in Anacortes, to give Sam a proper sendoff. My huge thanks to all the sponsors, donors and participating poets. So many have pitched in to make this happen, its humbling.

The Samthology will be $14.95, and available at the fest and then online via the usual book-buying websites. Huge thanks to Kim Miller, Middlepoint Press, Martín Espada, Steve Kuusisto and Ian Boyden for their contributions to the book’s publication.