Poetry& Posies

Join us as we celebrate Mother's Day with poetry performances from these local poets:

• Marilyn Baszczynski is a retired French teacher, originally from Ontario, Canada, who lives and writes in rural Iowa. She has two chapbooks: Gyuri. A poem of wartime Hungary (2015), and daughter, while i’m still here (forthcoming 2024); her poems appear in numerous journals and anthologies including Abaton, Aurorean, Backchannels, Conestoga Zen, Gyroscope, Half-Way Down the Stairs, Healing Muse, Last Stanza, Midwest Poetry, Scapegoat, Shot Glass Journal, Star82 Review, Slippery Elm, and others. Marilyn is past-president of Iowa Poetry Association and editor-in-chief of their annual anthology, Lyrical Iowa, since 2017.
• Kelsey Bigelow is a poet and speaker based in Des Moines. She spends her time working as a mental health poet sharing this therapeutic tool with audiences of all ages across the world. She is the author of "Far From Broken" (2024), "The Coffee Cherry" (2023), "Depression Holders and Secret Keepers" (2021), and "Sprig of Lilac" (2018). Her work is published with Central Avenue Publishing, Pile Press, Lyrical Iowa, Backchannels Journal, Spirit Lake Review, and elsewhere. Kelsey is a 2024 Pushcart Prize nominee, a 2023 Button Poetry Video Contest Finalist, and a 2023 Central Avenue Poetry Prize shortlist finalist. She's the founder and leader of the Des Moines Poetry Workshop, the chair for the Iowa Poetry Association Poetry Slam, the co-tournament director for the BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam, and more. Get to know Kelsey at kelkaybpoetry.com
• Dr. Judith Conlin began her career teaching in the English department of Iowa State University after graduating with Bachelor, M.A., and Doctorate of Arts degrees from the University. She transitioned to working as the executive director of numerous non-profits, retiring as Executive Director of the Iowa International Center. She maintained her passion for and involvement in arts in many ways, one of which was serving on the Board of Directors of the Des Moines National Poetry for its full 15-year run.
• Jacqueline Devine began writing poetry as a child. She was first published in the American Poetry Society’s Annual Anthology of High School Poetry. She became a teacher of Language Arts and Humanities, and is the contributing author of numerous language arts textbooks. As Creative Director and Director of Corporate Communications for Iowa’s largest ad agency, she led her creative team and premier clients to regional and national recognition. One of the founding members of Poetry Palooza, she authors a poem a day. Currently, two books of her poetry are in the pipeline for 2024 publication: Life Lines (Chosen Connections) and Reflections (Venice Views & Verse).
• Dawn Terpstra is a poet, writer, and beekeeper in Iowa. Her work has been published in 2River, Grist, Midwest Quarterly, Verse Daily, Quartet, Ekphrastic Review, Cities of the Plains: An Anthology of Iowa Artists and Poets and SWWIM. She is the author of a chapbook, Songs from the Summer Kitchen. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She is an MFA student at Pacific Lutheran University’s Rainier Writing Workshop. She is the Poetry Editor of River Heron Review. Dawn is currently the president of the Iowa Poetry Association.
• A-Miya is a 5th grader from the Moulton Elementary Poetry Club taught by Leah Waughtal-Magiera (Director of SAY: Poetry)
• Trainette is a 5th grader from the Moulton Elementary Poetry Club taught by Leah Waughtal-Magiera (Director of SAY: Poetry)
• Julieanna is a 4th grader from the Moulton Elementary Poetry Club taught by Leah Waughtal-Magiera (Director of SAY: Poetry)
• Helene is a 4th grader from the Moulton Elementary Poetry Club taught by Leah Waughtal-Magiera (Director of SAY: Poetry)