JanBeek

Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray at the Elling House Arts and Humanities Center in Virginia City tonight, Saturday, April 27th at 7:00 PM. I will not be able to attend, but I will be with him in spirit. He is a gifted man. I love his poetry.

La Tray, the Montana Poet Laureate since 2023, is a Métis storyteller and a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He’s the author of ‘One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large’ and‘Becoming Little Shell’. Why don’t you Google those books… or find ’em on Amazon. You’ll love ’em just as I do!

Chris sees poetry like the spiritual life of an Anishinaabe person: if you live an Anishinaabe life, focusing on the seven guiding principles of the Seven Grandfather teachings – Humility, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, Respect, and Love – then every step you take becomes a prayer.

If you approach poetry in a similar way, seeing that everything that happens can be seen as a poem, and that every moment in life is an experience worth paying close attention to, then every step you take becomes a poem. Whether you write it down or share it with others, poetry becomes another way to tell and share stories. La Tray’s programs remind people that their stories matter, that they’re the only ones who can tell them right, and that poetry, no matter how you define it, is a beautiful way to do so.

Chris La Tray encourages us to focus on
Humility,
Courage,
Honesty,
Wisdom,
Truth,
Respect,
and Love.

Let’s do!

Humility sits in humble silence
While courage asks us to stand
And honesty demands
We approach life with wisdom

Truth is hard to find
In a world that lacks respect
The only way to discover it
Is with love, I suspect.

Reach out in love
Tell others how you feel
We know the world needs
More love. Make it real!

It was true in 1966 when Dionne sang this song…
And it’s even more true today.
Sing along with Dionne…
… and then go out and spread some love.

We all need it!

Hugs,
JanBeek