PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

Books of poems form the Peoria Poetry Club’s collection, courtesy of Bradley University's Cullom-Davis Library

Sometimes, nature captures some one’s fancy. In Echoes, Funk writes: Voices echo o’er the prairie: poets’ thoughts take wing and fly, trusting prairie winds will scatter legacies that will not die. Politics and promise vanquished can stir the pen. Tanner writes in John, Bobby, & John-John : Jack, the realist, Bobby, a romantic John-John, anticipated heir to office but for a rifle, a pistol, a plane goin’ down Kennedy men, bright & beautiful gone. Inevitably, passion lights a literary flame. Here’s Larry Campbell with his Love in October :

A fickle seduction would have sacred consequences. Her love at that feast could not be measured or known by he would later discover that offerings of love lost would far outlast an October’s moment of abundance. Sometimes, the author tries to cap ture a vivid dream. Again, Campbell: A 3 Musketeers chocolate bar she offered me was a way to break the spell of not speaking. Fifty years of silence gave way to grace with one wrapped candy bar. The approach with a little hesitation, was then freed and with a warm inviting smile was well received by all of me. She was twenty-five and I was almost seventy.

Dreams, are they not strange? A 3 Musketeers chocolate bar will never be quite the same ever again. But she will always be twenty-five and smiling, and I will never be almost seventy ever again. For many, poetry can be cathartic, even therapeutic. Meanwhile, the group hosts speak ers, among them over the years former Illinois Poet Laureate and Bradley Uni versity professor Kevin Stein. The group used to have poetry writing contests in the local schools. Those efforts have dwindled, though PPC member Jude Dubin continues to work each year with a Morton elementary school to put together a book of student-written poems. For the past 80 plus years, Peoria Poetry Club has rhymed its way through both the best and most challenging of times, and plans to continue sharing poems with whomever wants to listen. New members and visitors are always welcome. To learn more about PPC, contact Martha Campbell at mbcampbell2242@gmail.com.

Flirtations in September did bear fruit in October. The harvest would come later and then lay forth the serving on the table of just one meal.

Pam Tomka is the retired director of the Washington District Library. She recently was elected to the Library Board there

JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 109