For those interested in what ?Northeast Texas? was or could be, the Whatley Foyer of the campus of Northeast Texas Community College was again the place to be as local poets and commentators took the challenge to define the region. The seventh annual Northeast Texas Poetry Reading, which was held September 5, featured six winning poets, two local professionals born in other nations, and faculty commentators.
The poets interspersed nostalgia with vignettes of nature which were often re-associated with grander realities.† Kelli Knepp, the student winner, recalled as a young girl becoming stuck in the mire while fishing for catfish?her grandfather succumbing to ?blissful laughter,? and she to ?shameless sobbing.?† In a series of brilliant images, Miranda Mendoza compared the onset of a Texas storm to the coming of a monarch, and the frenzied undersides of leaves to silver fish.† Tyler Reynolds compared the loss of summer with the escape of a firefly.
Nigel Christopher, an owner of PDI Products in Mount Pleasant, and a native of Birmingham, England, noted that people simply have more land in Northeast Texas than in Europe.† And in much of that land, there are churches, as opposed to a single town church.† Maryna Otero, a native of Ukraine, and a teacher at Mount Pleasant High School, has found Northeast Texas greener, friendlier, and more creative than much of the world.† She noted that one of the secrets of Texas is how well it embraces newcomers and new ideas.
Professor Jim Swann of Northeast Texas Community College, announced the winners, and defined what his fellow judges were looking for?impact, emotional intensity, imagery, and content pertinent to Northeast Texas.† Dr. Andrew Yox, NTCC Honors Director, introduced the event and the speakers.
Channel 19, KYTX of Longview, covered the event with a feature on the evening news entitled ?Creative Word Celebrated at Northeast Texas Poetry Contest in Mount Pleasant.?
