Saturday, April 19, 7:00 pm.
Bantha Tea Bar
5002 Penn Avenue 15224
“Free Admission. Books by the poets will be available for purchase.
For further information contact 412-626-3942 or 412-481-POEM
Mary Steinbacher Tisera
Says she was a member PPE for 5 years between 1976 and 1981. “What glorious, creative souls I knew. Mordecai Basho Zulanquita for one, who later became himself as Dieter Weslowski. Nancy Gavrilis, what a fine poet then and always.
I was side tracked for quarter century caring for autistic grandson and overseeing care for his mother in nursing home, post brain bleed, quadriplegia. Poetry yanked me back into the light almost three years ago and I can’t do anything but honor pent up creative need to speak.
Gave up trusteeship, major care of these two beloveds.
And finally, I might add, it was Michael who taught me the meaning of the words = resonance and don’t force a happy ending on your poems and, of course, ‘fickle’ no more needs to be said there.”
Dieter Weslowski
writes: A Note for the Biography of a Poet
in all likelihood,
it was his dyslexia
that led him to poetry,
letters mixed up,
forming words that
made a sound close to
other words. Suddenly,
he was the past
participle of bite.
Dieter adds that he was a founding member of Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange!
Michael Wurster
was born in Moline, llinois, and has lived in Iowa, Virginia, and Pa. In 1974, with 4 others, he founded Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange. Taught at Pgh. Center for the Arts School for seventeen years. In 1996, he was the inaugural recipient of the Harry Schwalb Excellence in the Arts award by Pittsburgh Magazine for his contributions to poetry and the community.
His books are: The Cruelty of the Desert, Cottage Wordsmiths, 1989
The Snake Charmer’s Daughter, Elemenope, 2000
The British Detective, Main Street Rag, 2009
Co-editor, Along These Rivers, Quadrant, 2008, 250th anniversary of Pittsburgh and The Brentwood Anthology, Nine Toes Press, 2014
Even Then, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2019.
He was named “Literary Person of the Year,2024” by Pgh City Paper.
Michael adds with a smile, that a hot ham and American cheese sandwich was named for him at Pgh Steak Company.”
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