Poetic License Sonoma Poetry Reading
Special Guest Poet: Terry Ehret
Tuesday January 27, 2026 at 7:00pm (PST)
PLS Poets Topic: “Doubt”
The PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Kusum Jain, Susanne Arrhenius, Joseph Cutler and Joan Osterman.
Poetic License Sonoma reads again. This is the first of quarterly Zoom readings in 2026. Our readings take place on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July and October, 2026.
No registration fee; readings are free. See below for a link.
From 7-8pm (PST); 9-10PM (CST); 10-11pm (EST)
TERRY EHRET, one of the founders of Sixteen Rivers Press, earned a degree in
psychology from Stanford University and an MA in Creative Writing from San
Francisco State. She has published four collections of poetry, most recently Night Sky Journey from Kelly’s Cove Press. Her literary awards include the National Poetry Series, California Book Award, Pablo Neruda Poetry Prize, a Translation Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Northern California Book Award for California Poetry in Translation, and eight Pushcart Prize nominations. With translation partners John Johnson and Nancy J. Morales, she has published three volumes of the poetry of Mexican author Ulalume González de León. From 2004 to 2006, she served as the poet laureate of Sonoma County, where she lives and teaches writing.
The PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Kusum Jain, Susanne Arrhenius, Joseph Cutler, and Joan Osterman.
The theme this month is Doubt.
Save the following highlighted link from Steve Trenam to attend the reading on Zoom. You will be allowed into the reading at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, or 10:00pm depending on which time zone you are in.
Topic: My Meeting
Time: Jan 27, 2026 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/85623008113
Meeting ID: 856 2300 8113
Past Readings
Poetic License Sonoma Poetry Reading
Special Guest Poet: Amrita Skye Blaine
Tuesday October 28, 2025 at 7:00pm (PDT)
PLS Poets Topic: “Awakening”
The PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Kusum Jain, Susanne Arrhenius, and Joan Osterman.
For those of you who were unable to attend Poetic License Sonoma’s October 28, 2025 Zoom reading with Amrita Skye Blaine, here is a link to a recording of it.
Poetic License Sonoma reads again. This is the final of quarterly Zoom readings in 2025. Our readings take place on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July and October, 2025.
No registration fee; readings are free.
From 7-8pm (PDT); 9-10PM (CDT); 10-11pm (EDT)
Our guest headliner poet is Amrita Skye Blaine. Amrita develops themes of aging, disability, and awakening. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University in 2003, and a PocketMFA in poetry in 2024. Amrita has published a memoir, a three-novel trilogy, and has been published in nineteen anthologies including twelve poetry anthologies. The poet has been writing poetry steadily since she turned seventy, and for the last three years has been writing a poem every day.
Amrita Skye Blaine’s poems have been published by Soul-Lit, Braided Way Magazine, The Merton Seasonal, The Penwood Review, Delta Poetry Review, the New English Review, Chiron Review, Amethyst Review, Blue Heron Review, and One Art.
Her first collection of poetry, “strange grace—the ending season,” poems on impermanence, aging, and death, is available on Amazon. Her second collection, “every riven thing,” is available from Finishing Line Press, Amazon, or can be ordered through independent bookstores.
This month PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Kusum Jain, Susanne Arrhenius, and Joan Osterman.
The theme this month is Awakening
Poetic License Sonoma Poetry Reading
Tuesday July 22, 2025 at 7:00pm (PDT)
PLS Poets Topic: “Flight”
Special Guest Poet: Naomi Ruth Lowinsky
Click here for a recording of this past event
The next PLS Poetry Reading on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, will feature Special Guest poet, Naomi Ruth Lowinsky, reading from her 6th book of poetry, “Her Face in the Fire,” published by Bluelight Press. She will also include some recent political poems.
Poetic License Sonoma poets will begin the evening’s event at:
7-8pm (PDT); 9-10PM (CDT); 10-11pm (EDT) (See Zoom Link Below)
Naomi Ruth Lowinsky spends morning reverie time working with her dreams, and consulting dream figures, who often leap into her poems. She believes in the power of the unconscious, the magical pull of images, the music of words, the presence of the ancestors and the interpenetration of inner and outer worlds.
She has led a poetry workshop, “Deep River,” for the San Francisco Jung Institute, for close to 20 years. Naomi is the poetry editor for Psychological Perspectives and blogs about poetry and life at www.sisterfrombelow.com.
PLS poets reading July 22nd include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, and Joan Osterman. Our theme this month is “Flight.”
Poetic License Sonoma Poetry Reading
Tuesday April 22, 2025 at 7:oopm (PDT)
Click here to view a recording of this past event.
PoeticLicenseSonoma has a brand new venue. This is the second of our quarterly Zoom readings in 2025. Our readings will take place on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July and October, 2025.
There is no longer a registration fee; readings are free. See below for a link to our new venue.
From 7-8pm (PDT); 9-10PM (CDT); 10-11pm (EDT) on Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Our guest headliner poet is Sherrie Lovler. She is a poet and painter living in Rohnert Park, California. Since 2019, her poems have been published annually in the Redwood Writers Poetry Anthologies. Her poems have also been published in the California Writers Club collection The Smalls (2024), Reverberations III (2024), The Freedom of New Beginnings, and numerous times on Larry Robinson’s Poetry Lover’s List. She has published two books of her paintings and poems. On Softer Ground: Paintings, Poems and Calligraphy, written, illustrated and designed by Sherrie, won “Most Outstanding Book Design of the Year” (2016) from Independent Publishers IPPY Awards. Her passion is creating abstract ink and watercolor paintings inspired by her own poetry. See more at ArtandPoetry.com.
The PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Joseph Cutler, and Joan Osterman.
The theme this month is Solitude.
Save the following highlighted link from Steve Trenam to attend the reading on Zoom. You will be allowed into the reading at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, or 10:00pm depending on which time zone you are in.
strenam@santarosa.edu is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/87008947878
Meeting ID: 870 0894 7878
Time: April 22, 2025, 7-8pm (PDT); 8-9pm (MDT) 9-10PM (CDT); 10-11pm (EDT)
Poetic License Sonoma Poetry Reading
Tuesday January 28, 2025 at 7PM (PST)
For anyone who was unable to view Poetic License Sonoma’s Tuesday evening’s virtual poetry reading, with special guest Abby Bogomolny, here is a link to a recording of that event. Abby Bogomolny is an exceptionally talented poet, so don’t miss this opportunity to experience her performance: Zoom Link
Poetic License Sonoma Topic: “Family”
Special Guest: Abby Bogomolny
Abby Bogomolny loves poetry for its ability to make the invisible real. She is the editor of the anthology New to North America: Writing by US Immigrants, and author of three poetry collections and a brand-new chapbook, The Lighted Pull of Dreams.
In the 90s she was active in the women-in-print movement. She founded the press Burning Bush Books and juried its annual poetry prize for a decade. After teaching literature, poetry and creative writing at Santa Rosa Junior College and City College of SF for many years, she spends her time writing and stirring the cultural soup in Sonoma County.
Poetic License Sonoma – Topic: “Water”
Special Guest: William Greenwood
Poetic License Sonoma Poetry Reading
Tuesday, April 23, 2024; 7-8pm (PDT); 9-10PM (CDT), 10-11pm (EDT) via ZOOM
Poetic License Sonoma – Topic: “Ekphrastic Poetry”
with special guest poet Robin Gabbert
Presenting poets: Steve Trenam, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Susanne Arrhenius, Kusum Jain, Joseph Cutler, Joan Osterman, Jaime Zukowski
Acting MC: Jaime Zukowski; Guest Student poet from SRJC: Sharon Donovan
Poetic License Sonoma
Poetic License Sonoma, a group of poets, read each quarter at Sebastopol Center for the Arts Fourth Tuesday Zoom Poetry Series. Though often a solitary pursuit, the writing of poetry, like all artistic forms of communication, is nurtured through the collaboration and support of others. They encourage and celebrate this form of artistry in our region, and beyond, through poetry readings, like this one; the publication of their work; and a steady stream of new writing.
Robin Gabbert
Robin Gabbert grew up between small towns in Ohio and Florida. After obtaining a degree in English from the University of South Florida, Sarasota, she attended law school at her father’s behest. Despite obtaining the designation of “Super Lawyer” in her field, for years she yearned to escape the world of legal writing and return to her creative writing roots, particularly poetry. Since being able to do so, her poems have been published in several Redwood Writers Poetry Anthologies and the California Writers Club Literary Reviews. Her first book of poetry, Diary of a Mad Poet, was published in October 2020. Her new book of Art Poetry, or Ekphrastic Poetry, The Clandestine Life of Paintings in Poems, was published in late 2022.
Registration is required to receive the zoom link which will be emailed to you prior to event.
Registration: Please note, a nominal donation of $10.00 to sebarts.org is required for a zoom link to the event. You can contribute more, and every donation is tax deductible.
Register here to obtain a zoom link for this event.
Please note that registration is closed at 3pm the day of the event;
Also note If you do not receive notification that you are registered, something went astray. Please try again.
Info: 707-829-4797 / info@sebarts.org
lunas@sebarts.org
282 High St.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
At the Invitation of Poetic License Sonoma
Dana Gioia, the former Poet Laureate of California, will be appearing at the Santa Rosa Junior College Frank Chong Studio Theatre inside the Burbank Auditorium from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on Thursday, March 28th. This is a free event.
An internationally recognized poet and critic, Gioia is the author of six collections of verse, including Interrogations at Noon (2001), which won the American Book Award, and 99 Poems: New & Selected (2016), which won the Poets’ Prize for the best new poetry volume oAn internationally recognized poet and critic, Gioia is the author of six collections of verse, including Interrogations at Noon (2001), which won the American Book Award, and 99 Poems: New & Selected (2016), which won the Poets’ Prize for the best new poetry volume of the year. His most recent collection is Meet Me at the Lighthouse (2023).
Gioia’s critical collections include Can Poetry Matter? (1992), which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award, and Studying with Miss Bishop: Memoirs from a Young Writer’s Life (2022). He has also written four opera libretti and edited twenty literary anthologies.
He was born in Los Angeles in a working-class family of Italian and Mexican heritage. He was the first person in his family to attend college. He earned a BA and MBA from Stanford and an MA from Harvard. For fifteen years he worked in business in New York becoming a vice- president of Kraft-General Foods. He wrote at nights and on weekends. In 1992 he quit to become a full-time writer.
He served as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 to 2009 where he created major national programs such as The Big Read and Poetry Out Loud.
He has been awarded eleven honorary doctorates and many honors, including the Laetare Medal from Notre Dame, the Presidential Civilian Medal, the Poet’s Prize, the Walt Whitman Champion of Literary Award, and the Aiken-Taylor Award in Modern American Poetry. He served as the Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture at the University of Southern California before retiring in 2020 to return to full-time writing.
He divides his time between Los Angeles and Sonoma County, California. He is married with three sons, one of whom died in infancy.
Fourth Tuesday Series – Jan. 23, 2024
PLS Poetry Reading – “Fresh Start”
…with special guest poet Jennifer Jean
January 23, 2024; 7-8pm (PDT); 9-10PM (CDT), 10-11pm (EDT) via ZOOM
To receive the Zoom link from sebarts.org, please register on this page. Scroll down and click on the Donation Level and Register box. A minimum donation of $10 to Sebastopol Center for the Arts is requested to receive a Zoom meeting link. Registration closes at 3:00 p.m. PDT on the day of the reading.
Poetic License Sonoma
Poetic License Sonoma, a group of poets, read each quarter at Sebastopol Center for the Arts Fourth Tuesday Zoom Poetry Series. Though often a solitary pursuit, the writing of poetry, like all artistic forms of communication, is nurtured through the collaboration and support of others. They encourage and celebrate this form of artistry in our region, and beyond, through poetry readings, like this one; the publication of their work; and a steady stream of new writing.
Presenting PLS poets: Steve Trenam, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Susanne Arrhenius, Kusum Jain, Joseph Cutler, Joan Osterman, Jeffrey Bartfeld, Jaime Zukowski
Guest poet from Santa Rosa Junior College: JoAnn Bell
Marin Society of Artists – Dec. 1, 2023
December 1, 6 PM: Moonlight and Reflections reading at Marin Society of Artists, 1515 3rd Street, San Rafael, CA, sponsored by Blue Light Press. All poets in the anthology will be presenting.
Vintage House, Sonoma – Nov. 1, 2023
November 1, 5:30 PM: Sonoma Valley Sonnet book presentation at Vintage House. Poems and images of Sonoma Valley by Jeffrey Bartfeld, Susanne Arrhenius and Jaime Zukowski.
Fourth Tuesday Series – Oct. 24, 2023
Sponsored by:
Join us on Zoom for an evening of poetry, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 7:00 – 8:00pm PDT, with the poets of Poetic License Sonoma and special guest Connie Post.
This evening’s theme will be “Shadows.”
To receive the Zoom link, please register on this page. Scroll down and click on the Donation Level and Register box. A minimum donation of $10 to Sebastopol Center for the Arts is requested to receive a Zoom meeting link. Registration closes at 3:00 p.m. PDT on the day of the reading.
Join us on the fourth Tuesday in January, April, July and October for more Poetic License Sonoma poetry readings.
Readers’ Books – Oct. 19, 2023
Readers’ Books at 130 E. Napa St. in Sonoma will host a reading and Q & A for the release of Moonlight and Reflections on Oct 19, 2023 from 6-7 PM. Joseph Cutler, Kusum Irene Jain, and Jaime Zukowski will read selections from the anthology. Other poets included in the anthology will be available for questions and book signing.
KSVY TV Show – Oct. 17, 2023
October 17, 8:20 AM: KSVY TV Re: Moonlight and Reflections with Pat Carlin on his show The Morning Show Tuesday
Joseph Cutler, Jeffrey Bartfeld and Judith Vaughn
KSVY Radio Show – Oct. 10, 2023
October 10, 8 PM: KSVY Radio, Re: Moonlight and Reflections with James Osborne on his show Sonic Discovery
Joseph Cutler, Jeffrey Bartfeld and Judith Vaughn
Watch readings from other months here
Click below to hear several of Judith Vaughn’s poems read on James Osborne’s show Sonic Discoveries – Jazz and Poetry on KSVY.org
Poetic License Sonoma 