TAMMY ROBACKER: STRONG WOMAN, STRONG SERIES >>>

Connie Walle may well be the most petite poet I’ve ever met. But man, she’s strong.

Currently she’s president of the Puget Sound Poetry Connection, and locally she’s nicknamed as Tacoma’s very own “poetry diva.” For nearly two decades, Walle has worked with other PSPC members to bring together people of all ages and ethnicity to experience, celebrate and share their love of the literary in Tacoma.

Through their Distinguished Writer Series and Open Mic, sponsored in part by the Tacoma Art Commission, King’s Books and private donations, PSPC invites acclaimed writers to read their work locally and hosts an open mic at King’s the second Friday of each month at 7 p.m. And it’s free! There is an open mic for poets and other writers to follow the featured reader.

Poet, James Bertolini
This Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m at King’s Books the monthly DWS event features poet, James Bertolini, of Bellingham. Bertolini is an award-winning poet who has been publishing poetry for the past 40 years.  He teaches at Western Washington University.  Open mic to follow. This free event is sponsored by the Tacoma Arts Commission and the Puget Sound Poetry Connection.

So gather up your sonnets and sestinas and head on down to Kings Books this Friday!

Before I close, here’s a poem to peruse â€" submitted by local poet Connie Walle:

Scrambled Broccoli                                  
By Connie Walle

seven thirty tuesday
  becomes
    eleven pounds three days
my granddaughter annabelle
  becomes
    belladonna
not sure
if that was
a freudian slip
my street grandview
  becomes
   golf bay walk
fear of dementia
or is this just
a poem about sex

I'll bring you more poetry ditties Friday.

Poem-A-Tacoma is sponsored by Embellish Multispace Salon in downtown Tacoma.

TAMMY ROBACKER is a poet and writer living, breathing, typing and spitting words in Tacoma. She owns a freelance writing and marketing communications company called Pearle Publications. Her poetry has appeared in Plazm, Women's Work, The Wild Goose Poetry Review, and the Allegheny Review. A recent recipient of the 2009/10 TAIP grant, she will be publishing her first book of poetry, The Vicissitudes, through the generous support of this funding made possible by the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Arts Commission.