Poet laureates aplenty
Quincy Troupe, California’s first-ever poet laureate.
“Poetry is a wonderful and beautiful art,” California’s poet laureate Quincy Troupe said in a recent interview. “It celebrates the creation of language. Great poetic art rises from the community, and people come face to face with themselves. With the great poets, a community learns about itself.” Get ready for an education because Troupe is coming to Sacramento this weekend. Friday night, Troupe will read his poetry live in a special performance with Sacramento’s poet laureate, the incomparable Jose Montoya. American River College creative-writing instructor Traci Gourdine rounds out the bill. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20, and the reading will be at the Sacramento Poetry Center in the Ballet Building at 1631 K St.
After experiencing the poetic prowess of this trio, you probably will be inspired to write your own verse. Fortunately, Troupe will conduct a writing workshop from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday morning. The next great poet to teach us about ourselves could be you! Admission to the workshop is $30. The workshop will be at the Hart Senior Center, at 28th and J streets. Call 446-7638 for more information.
