A gentle summer breeze transformed into an experience of “prayer and meditation” for Barrington-based poet Cynthia Elder, leading to a work which was recently awarded the first place award in the Notable Works 2023 Poetry Initiative.  “The poem, Wind, is one of a series of poems paying homage to natural elements we encounter everyday,” Elder said, describing the work as her effort at “addressing the Wind as if it were a fellow being."

Elder will be one of several poets reading their works in an upcoming celebration of local environmental poetry at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium on Sunday, June 11.  The free event is also slated to include live music, a guided nature walk, raffles, and various other activities.  Like Elder, each of the poets scheduled to read on Sunday appear in Voices of the Earth, Vol III.  The anthology was recently published by Notable Works with support from the Audubon Society and the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts. 

“The Voices of the Earth series has been focused on people helping people through the arts,” explains Noreen Inglesi, the Artist in Residence for the publishing house.  “Responding to the climate crisis has been an important theme for that.  This year, we set a theme of ‘awakening, adaptation, and growth.’ 

Notable Works received submissions from throughout the nation for the contest, which was adjudicated by a blind panel from Ocean State Poets.  Five local teen poets were selected for inclusion in the volume; they will meet with 2023 Youth Poetry Ambassador Natasha Connolly at the event on Sunday.  In addition to Elder, other winning poets included second place winner Julia Meylor Simpson and third place winner Kate O’Kula.  All of these writers sought to address the sometimes murky path forward which the planet currently faces.

“It seemed like the right tone for where the planet is right now: we’re in a moment both of hope and uncertainty.  Our cover artwork – a painting of the Point Judith Lighthouse by Mary Ann Rossoni - really captured that, I think.  We’re still in the mist, but there are people trying to light the way and guide us forward.”

Indeed, much of the text consists of a directory to local environmental agencies, charities, and resources for anyone inspired to get involved.  This format of combining original creative work with relevant information is one which Notable Works has used previously in initiatives meant to address homelessness.

“We first developed the idea for our ‘Love Warms the Homeless Heart’ project in 2018,” said Inglesi. “That was a huge success.  We had police departments, fire departments, and social services offices across the state asking for extra copies because they found the resource guide at the end so useful.”

For Notable Works director Bina Gehres, poets are in a unique position to shine light on the important environmental work being performed by others.

“Communication is so important for this cause, and the arts are an important tool for communicating,” she said.  “The book was dedicated to the scientists, engineers, activists, legislators, and others who are working to solve the problem directly.  We want poetry to be a way to expand that conversation, to convey new ideas, and to get people talking about this important subject.”

According to Audubon Society executive director Jeffery Hall, works like this anthology can raise awareness by “captur[ing] the essence of the natural world in words, evoking vivid images of the landscape and its flora and fauna.” 

Advance interest in Sunday’s event has led to two separate sessions being offered, one beginning at 11:00 AM and the other at 1:30 PM.  Both commence with a nature walk led by Audubon guides followed by a land dedication ceremony led by Wanda Hopkins, a Narragansett Tribal Elder Leader.  Each session will also feature live music, including pieces originally composed by Inglesi.

“One of the pieces we’ll be performing is my Sunset on the Cove, inspired by a painting from a late Warwick painter named Kent Cameron,” Inglesi explained.  “He was actually painting the Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington, a body of water that also inspired our winning poet.”

Registration is required for the free event; to register, or purchase a copy of Voices of the Earth, visit: https://notableworks.org/poetry-and-music-at-audubon/