The Favorite Poem Project

An afternoon of enlightenment and community at the Des Moines Art Center

This past Sunday afternoon in the lovely confines of the sleek, subterranean Des Moines Arts Center Auditorium, several community leaders took to the stage to share personally meaningful poems with a crowd in the mood to listen and be inspired.

The event was sponsored by Poetry Palooza and CultureALL, reviving the long-standing tradition of the “Favorite Poem Program” that was a celebrated highlight of the Des Moines National Poetry Festival co-founded by the incomparable Jim Autry. According to the event page, the Favorite Poem Program is “where poetry and personal stories come together to celebrate Des Moines’ rich diversity and highlight the vitality of our community expressed through the arts.”

“Join us,” it invited, “as 11 community leaders read their favorite poems and share why these works hold special meaning for them. Emceed by Mike Pace, the program revives a cherished tradition from the Des Moines Poetry Festival, emphasizing the power of poetry to bring people together. Featured readers include Trevy Augustin, Kelly Baum, Lenny Bell, Connie Boesen, Tej Dhawan, Richard Deming, Deidre DeJear, Seso Marentes, Zach Mecham, Michael Morain, and Dawn Oropeza.”

When I saw the robust list of community leaders and voices that would be participating, I made sure to carve out some time in my afternoon for the festivities. I am increasingly convinced that being open to inspiration is one of the greatest lessons along this recent journey of mine. Not only as a working artist, but as a human being seeking a happy life.

Across the board, several readers noted and encouraged everyone to find the light and work through struggles (which is also very much a current motif of mine). Des Moines’ Mayor Connie Boesen ended her reading of Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” citing the recent political climate and the importance of community to work together.

Deidre DeJear, the 2022 Democratic nominee for Iowa Governor and current President and CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood, masterfully read Maya Angelou’s stirring “Still I Rise,” setting the tone for the afternoon. (NOTE: in the link above you can watch the legendary Maya Angelou read it herself but also please do yourself the favor of reading it aloud. Slowly. Just bathe in her brilliance).

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

Others followed Deidre’s lead, connecting uniquely with the audience.

Seso Marentes shared a personal story before his reading of Angelou’s “Alone” that it had taken him a long time on his life’s journey to open up enough to allow others to be there for him. And now he has new beauty and hope in life because he’s allowing more space for others. He’s not going at everything alone the way he once did, and he’s happier because of this change.

Dr. Richard Deming, Medical Director of the MercyOne Cancer Center and founder of Above and Beyond Cancer, creates transformational life experiences for Iowans and others overcoming cancer. His work is exceptional and he’s rightfully beloved for it. He noted before his reading that he always guides his patients on their adventures to look for what “surprises, moves and inspires” them. Dr. Deming is a firm believer in the healing powers of poetry and is world-renowned for his compassionate work combatting cancer. His witness exemplified the positive power that words can wield in trying times.

Dawn Martinez Oropeza, Executive Director of Latinas/Latinos al Exito, spoke of her path to peace through Kriya Yoga and read from “Path of Wonder” by Yogacharya O’Brian. “To traverse a path in the dark night, we walk carefully, carry a lamp, or orient our way by the moon or starlight. When there is no such light to guide us, we grow quiet and profoundly aware. We listen deeply and find our way with the inner light of mindful awareness, deeply attuned to the now moment. One step at a time, the way forward is revealed.”

Tej Dhawan ended his reading of the epic “The Ballad of East and West” by Rudyard Kipling with an impromptu reminder to every one of the definition of the word “Namaste” as “the Divine in me sees/understands/honors the Divine in you.” Tej had been inspired by Dawn’s earlier words and found the timing proper to share this insight.

Dr. Kelly Baum, the John and Mary Pappajohn Director of the Des Moines Art Center, read “Why My Mother Made Me” by Sharon Olds. When I spoke with her after the readings, she commented that the afternoon “was galvanizing, and it provided just the sort of social and psychological inspiration I needed to launch into 2025. I loved the multitude of voices—physical, embodied voices—that spoke to so many types of experiences, ranging across the world and through time.”

The legendary Mike Pace and his pear-shaped tones smoothly emceed the event and closed it kindly with “Love After Love” by Derek Walcott. The afternoon was full of meaningful takeaways and a litany of perspective from an impressive group that had taken time out of their weekend to share their voices.

Tej’s reminder of the definition of “Namaste” serves a capstone of the day for me because it’s such powerful way to think when so much of the world’s macro moves are out of our control and why art and personal connection mean more to me every day. Corporations and political parties are designed to obsess over profits and power plays rather than human self-actualization, but we all have the power to find inspiration and seek the “Divine” in this world. This is where we find the light. This is where we find peace.

Through words and art, we often find hope because these mediums allow for inspiration. Lenny Bell talked about how writing poetry is such a great way for him to unlock truth, which had me shaking my head in affirmation, before his powerful reading of “The Jester” by Harlem Renaissance leader Langston Hughes.

Poetry allows unfettered exploration. Words can take you anywhere. To find a new voice or sharpen a recurring one. To heal. To help. Poetry is a chance to seek what is Divine so that you may better understand it and see it in your life.

I was inspired on my walk home, not only by the poetry and perspective but by the crispness of the air and the late afternoon sun that accompanied me. Then I happened upon a neighbor’s curmudgeonly yard sign. “A Poem About Winter: It’s Cold. We hate this crap. The End.” I chuckled, then marveled at the beauty of this day, the impeccable timing of punchy juxtaposition and walked a little more briskly so I could get home to start this article.

The next Poetry Palooza event is April 4 and 5 at the Viking Theatre on the Grand View University campus. I’m sure it will be full of inspirational angles for those seeking it. Additional details regarding speakers and activities at the event are at www.poetryamp.org. Please see below for pics of the program listing all the participants, their bios and chosen works from the January 25th Favorite Poem Project.

I’m a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative, a group of over 60 journalists and authors writing from and about the great state of Iowa. You can explore and find other writers here.