Welcome to the 2016
FisherPoets Gathering
I
In ancient times, during
competitions at the Olympic
games, winning poets were
awarded laurel crowns. Ever
since, from poetic jousts in the
time of Cervantes to today’s
slams, performing poets have
vied for such victories over their
rivals.
The annual FisherPoets
Gathering has none of that. We
come together, not in a spirit of
competition, but of camaraderie
— a celebration of hard work
and nature and the common
bonds forged among those who
make their living on the water.
These poets are a diverse
group of men and wom-
en. Some have a lifetime of sea-
sons under their belt. For others,
You will hear poems and stories and songs, all
with a salty, hard-working theme. The pieces are
a fortunate bit of by-catch inspired by our work
on the water, which gives them a ring of truth.
commercial ¿shing is a recently
acquired passion. Still others
have left the work behind, but
found that it won’t quite leave
them. Oh, and there is one land-
lubber cowboy, which is a long
story. Suf¿ce it to say, as he’s
remarked, the heart of a cowboy
and the heart of a ¿sherman are
not that far apart. He can work
in my skiff any day.
Do not let the word “poetry”
Don’t forget your
entry button!
Where:
The FisherPoets Gathering Gearshack,
1254 Commercial St.
Buttons are also available in advance at:
• Old Town Framing, 1287 Commercial St.,
• The Fox and the Fawn, 1008 Commercial St.,
• KMUN’s Tillicum House, 1445 Commercial St.,
• The Wet Dog Café, 144 11th St.,
• Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce,
111 Marine Drive,
• And during the Gathering at all venues.
When:
FPG Gearshack open 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb 26 and
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb 27. Closed Sunday.
Why:
Event button guarantees entry all weekend at
all venues.
Price:
$15 per button
Students under age 18 get in free.
Previous page poster art by Jay Speakman
Photos by Joshua Bessex
14 | February 25, 2016 | coastweekend.com
deter you. The Gathering is
more highliner than highbrow.
You will hear poems and sto-
ries and songs, all with a salty,
hard-working theme. The piec-
es are a fortunate bit of by-catch
inspired by our work on the wa-
ter, which gives them a ring of
truth.
0y friend and fellow ¿sher-
poet Tele Aadsen once gave me
the best writing advice I’ve ever
heard: “Find words among the
¿sh.” There are so many stories
out there, Àoating by on every
opener. You will hear the ones
we are fortunate enough to catch.
Oh, I ¿bbed a little at the be-
ginning. It’s okay. That’s what
¿shermen do. We do have a
poetry competition, Saturday
night at the Astoria Event Cen-
ter, open to all participants and
audience members. The goal is
to come up with a short poem
based on a line announced Fri-
day night. Everyone has a go at
the mic. Audience applause de-
termines the winner. But there
are no laurel crowns and, really,
there are no losers.
So enjoy the fun with us in
Astoria. You can’t ¿nd a better
return on 15 dollars and two
days of your time. Heck, jump
up on stage yourself — but fair
warning: There may be no turn-
ing back.
I was a very reluctant ¿rst-
time participant several years
ago, but I’m an eager one now,
looking forward to my ¿fth
FisherPoets Gathering. It’s an
addicting kind of terror. I’m
glad you’re here.
Meezie Hermansen
Kasilof, AK
Fred Bailey, of
Gabriola Island,
British Columbia,
reads his poetry
inside the Voodoo
Room at last year’s
festival. Catch him
this year during
the 5 p.m. hour
Friday at KALA
and at 5 p.m.
sharp Saturday at
the Astoria Event
Center.
Columbia River
Astoria, Oregon
Marine Drive
9
4
8 7
10
Bond St.
1
Commercial
St.
2 e
5
11
HWY
30
Duane St.
6
Exchange St
.
8th
ST.
9th 10th 11th
ST. ST. ST.
12th 13th 14th
ST. ST. ST.
17th
ST.
15th
ST.
18th
ST.
Jerome St.
Lexington St.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
4
9
10
11
16th
ST.
3
ASTORIA EVENT CENTER 255 9TH St.
CANNERY WORKERS’ MUSEUM at Pier 39
CLATSOP COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1651 Lexington Ave,
COLUMBIAN THEATER 1102 Marine Dr.
COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM 1792 Marine Dr.
FORT GEORGE BREWERY and PUBLIC HOUSE 426 14th St.
IMOGEN GALLERY 240 11th St.
KALA 1017 Marine Dr.
VOODOO ROOM 1114 Marine Dr.
WET DOG CAFE 144 11th St.
WINEKRAFT 80 10th St.
FPG GEAR SHACK 1254 Commercial St.