Marissa Forbes – Brook Bhagat

I am proud to share that my poem, “Wanderstar,” is forthcoming in the 40 West Arts District anthology Progress, not Perfection. “Wanderstar” honors Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson, who died of cancer last summer. The anthology includes a special subsection of poetry dedicated to Gibson, each one written after a different poem of theirs. “Wanderstar” is written after Andrea Gibson’s Orbit.

I learned about the unique poetry writing prompt and opportunity in a workshop facilitated by 40 West Arts District Poet Laureate Marissa Forbes at the Castle Rock Writers’ Conference in August. Truly, it is a small Nearby Universe after all!

I will be reading “Wanderstar” at the anthology launch party from 3-6 pm on Saturday, December 13, at Mint & Serif, 1388 Carr St. in Lakewood, CO. Progress, not Perfection can be purchased using the online order form, and all preorders receive 10% off. Please join us for this unique opportunity to celebrate Andrea Gibson and this amazing collection!

The inspiration and community at the Castle Rock Writers’ Conference on Saturday was delicious! I went with M.R. Hyde, Maddie Van Batum, and Lisa Macedo from my amazing writers’ group, the Nearby Universe. Poetry track presenters included brice maiurro (ecopoetics) and Poet Laureate Marissa Forbes (historical poetry), who were both fantastic. The icing on the cake was a book swap: Only Flying and Pen and Pulse for Marissa’s exquisite, eye-opening collections, Surviving Peter Pan and Brief and Bleeding Margins. Score! I also walked out with two new poems in my pocket, and my fingers crossed for getting a cool indie bookstore to carry Only Flying. Fiction/creative nonfiction workshops were courtesy of the Gemini Writers’ Studio, and there was a panel on publishing for everyone. Thank you, PPSC, for sponsoring our attendance — we learned so much and had so much fun. Photos courtesy of Castle Rock Writers.