THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019 // 3
SCRATCHPAD
Rain Magazine’s 50th issue shows why we live here
annual literary magazine, is
full of work as varied, beau-
tiful and transcendent as our
coast’s climate.
Reading this year’s mag-
azine is seeing local land-
marks dramatized and
heightened by carefully
crafted prose, poetry, fi ction,
nonfi ction and photographs.
Frequent characters include
the Astoria-Megler Bridge,
Cape Disappointment, Sad-
dle Mountain, Youngs Bay
and Cannon Beach as well as
animals and Northwest cen-
tric species like Alder trees.
By JONATHAN WILLIAMS
COAST WEEKEND EDITOR
R
ain. It’s one of the
most consistent fea-
tures on the North
Oregon and Southwest
Washington coasts. Capa-
ble of infl uencing the mood
of any particular day with
sprinkles, showers or down
pours, it’s what unites us as
residents of this often wet
area.
This year’s issue of Rain
Magazine, Clatsop Commu-
nity College’s student-led
coast
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
weekend
arts & entertainment
ON THE COVER
Cast members in
the 35th season
of “Shanghaied in
Astoria.” The show
opens July 11
and runs through
Sept. 14.
PHOTO COURTESY
MICHAEL DESMOND
See story on Page 8
4
8
16
THE ARTS
Tenor Guitar Gathering
Workshops, concerts at event’s 10th year
FEATURE
‘Shanghaied in Astoria’ turns 35
Same songs and a dedicated season
COASTAL LIFE
Music in the Gardens
Lush scenery, beautiful music
FURTHER ENJOYMENT
MUSIC CALENDAR .....................5
CROSSWORD ...............................6
SEE + DO ............................. 10, 11
CW MARKETPLACE................. 15
Find it all online!
CoastWeekend.com
features full calendar listings,
keyword search and easy
sharing on social media.
Poems of place that focus
on rain and nature like James
Dott’s “Returning Rain” pay
close attention to its subject.
William Chamerlain’s
poem “A Few Lines for Don
Wirkkula” shows the cycli-
cal nature of our region in
the poem’s fi nal lines: “That
we cleared creeks, let them
breath – / that seedlings we
planted are trees over our
heads now.”
The beauty of the beach
is on full display in Steven
Mayer’s poem “Along The
Beach.” Mayer writes: “No
COAST WEEKEND EDITOR
JONATHAN WILLIAMS
CALENDAR COORDINATOR
BREE ELLIOTT
thoughts / of politics, reli-
gion, sports, family / only
fresh ocean air / I sit on
the rocks / enjoy nature’s
symphony: surf, wind,
sun, clouds hint of deep
mysteries.”
Other work, like Eliza-
beth Winter’s poem, “Soothe
The Suffering Earth,” bears
witness to climate change
and its impact on the envi-
ronment and animals:
“Birds, bears, bees, wind in
the trees; nature’s orches-
tra sings in harmonious sym-
phony / Blissfully unaware
they are refugees from
the urbanizing destructive
scheme.”
Poetry is meant to be read
aloud, and all of the poems
included deserve slow, care-
ful reads that reveal their
insights.
There are powerful medi-
tations on objects like a lamp
and typewriter in the maga-
zine, too.
The issue also features
work that surprises, twists
and reveals wise truths.
Nonfi ction and fi ction
work like Andrew Barker’s
“The Preacher’s Kids,” Luc
Fenix’s “It is Post-Apoca-
lyptic Armageddon Time In
America Again,” C. Alex
Gramson’s “Let Loose
The Drugs of War,” Amy
Waseschle’s “The Bear And
The Shotgun” and Luke
Manning’s “The Beast of
Cranbourne Alley” are all
particularly memorable.
The stunning works of art
and photography that feature
natural settings compliment
the written work also on the
page.
Celebrating 50 some
years in print this year, the
issue features interviews
with past advisors and edi-
tors. Over the years, famed
Northwest literary giants like
Brian Doyle, Kathleen Dean
Moore and Robert Michael
Pyle have contributed work
to the magazine alongside
local writers.
Whether read by a fi re
or on the beach, this year’s
issue is full of humanity
that illustrates why we live
here, our yearnings and joys
and seasons of nature and
life. This is a magazine that
rewards re-reading. CW
CONTRIBUTORS
PATTY HARDIN
RYAN HUME
KATHERINE LACAZE
BARBARA LLOYD McMICHAEL
SYDNEY STEVENS
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© 2019 COAST WEEKEND
New items for publication
consideration must be
submitted by 10 a.m.
Tuesday, one week and two
days before publication.
TO SUBMIT AN ITEM
Phone: 503.325.3211 Ext. 217
or 800.781.3211
Fax: 503.325.6573
E-mail: editor@coastweekend.com
Address: P.O.Box 210 •
949 Exchange St. Astoria,
OR 97103
Coast Weekend is published every
Thursday by the EO Media Group,
all rights reserved. No part of this
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without consent of the publisher.
Coast Weekend appears weekly
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