“The Wonder of This Moment” exhibition ended earlier this month but it was great to share some of James Humphrey’s paintings with a new audience in Sacramento.

Paintings on display

Sacramento’s Urban Hive Gallery (1931 H Street) will feature a selection of James Humphrey’s paintings November 7th-December 5th.

The Wonder of This Moment

On November 19th at 7pm, the Sacramento Poetry Center will present “The Wonder of This Moment” A celebration of James Humphrey at The California Stage. It will feature four poets, Eve West Bessier, Bob Stanley, Mary Zeppa, and Lawrence Dinkins. The award-winning Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet will also perform. All proceeds will benefit the Stanford Home for Children. You can purchase advance tickets at Brown Paper Tickets.

Two unpublished poems on the anniversary of James Humphrey’s death

SNOW SNOW

Snow snow

where did you go

Norma & Jim

want to frolic in you

and watch

skeleton tree branches

become soft friendly arms

of winter love

JH, 6- 25/26-06

(2nd poem in 6 yrs)

CLIMB THESE STONES

OR CHISEL YOUR OWN

3 hours a day for eleven years

in different slaughter houses,

I scrubbed, sprayed blood off walls,

floors and scooped bones into buckets,

so I could spend precious hours

in public libraries throughout

the Midwest reading poetry and fiction

searching for my niche.

What I learned was to begin writing

with an empty head,

then let my instincts be my guide.

Stanzas and paragraphs hit me in a flash,

no matter the clock time

and had to be put on paper immediately,

otherwise they’re gone

as quickly as they came.

I began my 8-year apprenticeship

at actor Joel Grey’s suggestion.

At the crack of the New Year’s bell

in 1956, I felt I was ready for the

center ring!

Bones, NYC, published my first poem

A Modern Replacement

of the nine I held back.

My first collection of poems,

Argument for Love, hit the

bookstores in 1969.

Only a few poets, fiction writers

and playwrights are distinct individuals;

the rest are bland and neutral

personalities with little to say

and generally dull.

(Even an average poet gets lucky

And writes a few interesting stanzas.)

Talent dries up. Endurance doesn’t.

The few who make it an occupation

become more specialized

because their words don’t have

the plasticity of music,

painting or sculpture.

Great poets and fiction writers’

truths

come from deep inside their

emotions

subconscious

id

often opening themselves

to un-faced abuses:

complete exhaustion

we must write through daily.

Drilling with jack-hammers

is exhausting, but not what

the poet fiction writer playwright

endures.

It is external;

the other internal.

Our age does not—perhaps no age

Ever did—pay enough tribute and respect

to those masters of imagination.

The poet cannot make a living,

the novelist fares best as a

peeping tom,

and the playwright as a Simple Simon.

But the mere commentator, who

does little but rearrange the obvious,

is considered something of a marvel.

JH

6-27-06

(3rd poem in 6 yrs)

Memorial Poetry Reading On Video

See and hear Norma Humphrey during her April 10, 2010, memorial poetry reading for her late husband James Humphrey at Attleboro (Massachusetts) Public Library. Returning to the city where the family lived for nearly 10 years during the 1970s and early ’80s, Norma read for nearly an hour while a small gathering enjoyed hearing selected poems spanning 40 years.

“Argument For Love”-Inspired Reading to be Held at Rhode Island College

On Monday, April 12, Norma Humphrey will feature her late husband’s poems during a celebration of poetry at Rhode Island College in Providence. The nationally-acclaimed poet was a student at RIC during the mid-1970s and regularly gave popular campus poetry readings (often accompanied by his friend, noted folk singer/songwriter/artist Jay Bolotin). “Argument For Love,” a notable reading held November 23, 1974, will be Mrs. Humphrey’s inspiration for the evening. The celebration begins at 6pm in the Unity Center on campus. The event will also feature readings by other poets. Free food and beverages will be available.

Hear the poet read “There Are Words” from the recording Argument For Love.

A Humphrey Birthday Celebration

On Saturday, February 20th, the Warner Library in Tarrytown, New York, will host a James Humphrey Celebration. Reading from her late husband’s work, Norma Humphrey will celebrate what would have been the writer’s 71st birthday. The free program begins at 2pm and refreshments will be available. For more information visit the library online.