Skagit River Poetry Festival's return offers delights

Early morning fog and mist lent a magical twist Thursday to streams of students hauling books from the old to the new La Conner Swinomish Library. The rumble of wheels along Morris Street from carts packed with books began three days of magic – the spell of the written word. Though not part of the Skagit River Poetry Festival itself, it seemed a fitting start.

The festival, canceled twice due to COVID-19, brought in dozens of poets from as far away as Argentina and Scotland, hundreds of students from eight local school districts and dozens of volunteers needed to coordinate the kickoff dinner and soiree, set up venues in various restaurants and churches and keep the students moving, writing and reading.

Thursday night's soiree, a sit-down smorgasbord hosted by Simple Sound Catering – think rabbit Waldorf profiterole, bacon wrapped new carrots (delish), tortillas and petite desserts – heralded the coming rush of words, phrases, implications, heartbreaking tales, humor and pathos that was to follow for the next three days.

Chairs were then set up in Maple Hall for music and the first readings. The evening, "Welcome to Indian Country: A Reading to celebrate our First Nation Roots," featured Washington state Poet Laureate Rena Priest, Sasha LaPointe and Ray Young Bear. Music was offered by La Conner's own beloved Kevin Paul and daughter Katherine, a graduate of La Conner High School.

Day sessions Friday were reserved for students. Robert Carlos Ascalon emceed Friday's lunch poetry slam before dozens. Begun in Chicago in 1984, a poetry slam is a competitive art form before a live participating audience – kind of like a football game with cheerleaders.

In addition to poetry workshops in buildings around town, poets gave students in Maple Hall a "sampling" of their poems enticing laughter and tears from the packed hall.

Topics for reading and instruction included "How Poetry Helps Us Live Our Lives," "You Can't Go Home," "Ancestral Legacy," "Writing Humor," and many more. These poets, many of whom are former or current poet laureates, have been published in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Yale Review and the Southern Review – if you're into name dropping. Impressive.

This reporter spotted a young girl, long black hair to her waist, possibly ancestrally from Central America, who looked to be nine or ten, but was probably thirteen or fourteen, alone, slowly pull out a worn and folded twenty-dollar bill to purchase one of the poetry books. The cashier apologized, as she could only take a credit card, which the girl did not have. Her face fell and she sadly turned away. Another poetry lover stepped up to the counter and said, "I got this."

Friday evening and Saturday were for all of us. From the Channel Lodge to Maple Hall to the Civic Garden Club, clumps of poetry lovers clogged downtown La Conner along with the shopping tourists.

Central to pulling last weekend off is Molly McNulty, executive director since 2007. She joined the nonprofit's board in 2003. Directing and coordinating several festivals, thousands of students, world-renowned poets, caterers, tables, brochures, procuring funding – endless things to do – she has always gotten the job done, always with a smile. No question from any student or mishap was too much for her. Thank you, Molly.

Next week: Meet some of the poets.