San Ramon Pays Tribute to Poetry

An oft-overlooked force that has touched every aspect of life in San Ramon including education, the economy and community pride and development received its long-overdue recognition—poetry.

The San Ramon City Council Tuesday night declared April 2010 as National Poetry Month and recognized Patricia Perry for promoting and encouraging the literary art as the city's first poet laureate.

"Poetry has been in my life for as long as I can remember," said Perry, who served two back-to-back terms from 2006 to 2009. "I was very fortunate to be part of the poet laureate program here in San Ramon and it made me a better person, a better writer."

Among Perry's contributions are more than 40 poems for civic events such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July and September 11. She hosted the city's Poetry Out Loud events and open mic programs and acted as an emissary to local groups.

Mayor Abram Wilson commended Perry as "a truly gifted lady" whose poetry reached patients and their families at a Hope Hospice event in a special way.

"Seeing those in the audience that had just lost loved ones embrace Pat's words was a moving experience, it was almost surreal to have her touch those lives and comfort those lives," he said.

During her tenure, Perry represented San Ramon locally, regionally and on the statewide level as part of the California poet laureates project. Her poems have been published in a 2008 anthology of poetry written by various poet laureates in the state.

"She's brought a lot of honor to our fair city," said San Ramon Program Manager Kathi Heimann. "Pat's willingness to create poetry is commendable and it has been such an honor to work with her."

While this is San Ramon's first National Poetry Month, April has been recognized as such by the Academy of American Poets since 1996.

National Poetry Month seeks to highlight the ongoing achievement of American poets and introduce the public to the pleasures and benefits of reading poetry, as well as its importance in education.

The recognition from City Council was an important step toward establishing a more prominent role for the literary art, said the city's Arts Advisory Committee Chairperson Mike McQuiston.

"It's an example of supporting citizens in the arts community, which could use new members," McQuiston said.

Will Doerlich, vice chairman of the committee, was pleased to see poetry gaining a position alongside other arts in the community.

"We have a lot of emphasis on visual and performing arts and this is really an effort to get literary arts not only to that level but drawing participation," he said.

San Ramon will continue to support the literary arts by appointing the poet laureate to write poetry and providing classes and events. Several events for youth and adults are planned at libraries throughout April in celebration.

"Going out with a bang," Perry said she enjoyed the challenge that being poet laureate presented to her and encouraged citizens to take a moment this month to write and engage with poetry.

"I learned things and ventured to places I never thought I could go," she said. 

More About San Ramon Poetry on Patch:

Watch San Ramon's new poet laureate, Elaine Betts, as she reads her poem in an exclusive San Ramon Patch video.

Read how schools are celebrating National Poetry Month this month.