Not Just an Apartment -- a Life
August 2009
Newly Minted Kittay Poets Published
In a celebration of the five-week poetry workshop at Kittay House, as highlighted in the June e-Bulletin, a publication party was attended by tenants, friends and family on June 17. The presentation of inspiring readings of poems and prose offered a beautiful window into the souls and spirits of the workshop members.
Remarks workshop participant Mort Nelkin, "I thought it was a wonderful experience…(it was) great to see people learn how to express themselves through poetry. It helps bring out their inner feelings and increases their use of words."
For participant Flora Cherot, "What really was interesting to me was to see the large variety of subjects people talked about: themselves, families, childhood, life, war, grandchildren and nature, among others."
The National Endowment for the Arts funded the workshop through its Creativity and Aging Initiative. Steven Sher, renowned poet and author affiliated with Poets House, a 50,000-volume poetry library and literary center, led the weekly writing workshops. The resulting poems were published in an anthology titled, The Paper Soul.
"It makes me feel important," explains Nathan Kornhaber. “I am very happy to have my writing published to leave with my family."
Zelda Fassler, one of the 13 participants, shares, “I have been writing for forty years…but this was my first time writing in prose. I was extremely encouraged by Steve. I completed a poem (that I began) when I was 13, which was extremely emotional for me. I stopped and with time pulled it out and was able to finish it with the same premature emotion from my childhood years. The poem is called Growing Up."
In a celebration of the five-week poetry workshop at Kittay House, as highlighted in the June e-Bulletin, a publication party was attended by tenants, friends and family on June 17. The presentation of inspiring readings of poems and prose offered a beautiful window into the souls and spirits of the workshop members.
Remarks workshop participant Mort Nelkin, "I thought it was a wonderful experience…(it was) great to see people learn how to express themselves through poetry. It helps bring out their inner feelings and increases their use of words."
For participant Flora Cherot, "What really was interesting to me was to see the large variety of subjects people talked about: themselves, families, childhood, life, war, grandchildren and nature, among others."
The National Endowment for the Arts funded the workshop through its Creativity and Aging Initiative. Steven Sher, renowned poet and author affiliated with Poets House, a 50,000-volume poetry library and literary center, led the weekly writing workshops. The resulting poems were published in an anthology titled, The Paper Soul.
"It makes me feel important," explains Nathan Kornhaber. “I am very happy to have my writing published to leave with my family."
Zelda Fassler, one of the 13 participants, shares, “I have been writing for forty years…but this was my first time writing in prose. I was extremely encouraged by Steve. I completed a poem (that I began) when I was 13, which was extremely emotional for me. I stopped and with time pulled it out and was able to finish it with the same premature emotion from my childhood years. The poem is called Growing Up."
Kittay House, Independent Senior Living in New York City
To find out more about Kittay House contact us at (718) 410-1420 or email Kittay House
Visit our website, kittayhouse.org
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