Willa Schneberg

Poetry’s precise, musical, metaphor-infused language can get to that place beyond the illusion of the objective, to “true” words.

Willa Schneberg was interviewed by Bruce Parker for the Oregon Poetry Association about her time in Kathmandu and why she writes poetry. To read the full interview click here

Her essay entitled: “Where Guests Are Gods: A Poet’s Sojourn in Kathmandu” was just published in the Summer/Fall, Vol. 30 no. 3 issue of Calyx: A Journal of Art & Literature by Women: To Learn more click here

Talk - “Translating Poetry: The Art of Preserving Essence,” Nepal Academy

She spoke to students, writers and critics about poetry translation at the Nepal Academy, an institute for the promotion of the languages, literature and culture.

At the (NAFA) Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, she talked about the interface between poetry and sculpture.

Here is an article Willa wrote for the NW Dharma News, entitled “American Buddhist Poetry comes from Portland to Kathmandu’s Dharmakirti Vihar Monastery”

Slide Show Presentation - "Between Two Arts: Poetry & Ceramic Sculpture," Nepal Academy of Fine Arts

Dialogue and Writing Opportunity: “Writing the Political Poem,” Institute of Advanced Communication, Education & Research

She discussed political poetry with graduate students in English and philosophy at the (IACER) Institute of Advanced Communication, Education & Research.

She spoke to a group of Newari writers, sponsored by their organization Nepalbhasa Parishad, which sponsors the promotion of works in the Newari language, Nepal Bhasa.

She read to members of Gunjan, a Nepalese women’s writers’ organization that has been in existence for more than 20 years.

She spoke about American Buddhist Poetry at the Dharmakirti Vihar Monastery.

Poetry Reading and Interaction Program with Members of Nepalbhasa Parishad

Following Reading and Interaction Program with Gunjan Members

The lyrics of Molly Mayo's song "Archipelago" were inspired by
"Tiny Monuments."

When human beings were still locked away
for sadness clinging to them like a marine layer,
hearing voices telling them how awful they are,
going fetal when cars backfire or corks pop,
they were housed at the Oregon State Insane Asylum,
and when they ceased to be, they were cremated.

If no one claimed a brother, a daughter, or a father,
the ashes were left in numbered copper canisters,
on pine shelves in an underground vault.
Not infrequently the water table rose
giving the forgotten homes uniquely their own,
coated with efflorescence and mineral dazzle,
where an alchemy of copper and water bloomed
and burst into color.

These tiny monuments to the scorned and unknown,
wear patinas of pink, burnt sienna, ocher, aqua,
and if you look closely you will find
moon craters, archipelagos, frozen waterfalls,
dunes with lone tracks, and Big Dippers
embedded in their pores. 

Events

THE INTERFACE BETWEEN TWO ARTS: POETRY AND CERAMICS

PRESENTATION & SLIDE SHOW
Willa will juxtapose projecting slides of her ceramics and reading her poems with similar themes. Her desire is to reveal the synergy between the visual dimension in the mind’s eye, and the poem in the physicality and curve of the clay.

Oregon Poetry Association Conference 2017
Saturday, October 14, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
(block 4) University Place Hotel
310 SW Lincoln Street, Portland