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VOL.30, NO.4
Making sense of the world
APRIL 2018
I N S I D E …
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER SHANE
By Barbara Ruben [Publisher’s note: Sometimes life sends us groping for answers. That’s generally true, for example, during our teenage years. But it’s also the case after the loss of a loved one or a personal setback. We may also search for words when we’re moved by intense feelings for natural beauty. For example, see our travel story on the tiny paradise nation of Andorra, on page 34. But even in day-to-day life, especially when the world seems to be making less and less sense to us, we can benefit from stopping and listening to what’s around us — and to what’s inside of us — to hear what we’re saying to ourselves. And it is at times like these, of course, that we turn to our local poet laureate for insights. Our local poet laureate? Yes, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia all have an official poet laureate — a talented writer tapped to draft meaningful poems for public occasions, and generally to promote listening to, reading and writing poetry throughout the community. So do Arlington and Alexandria, Va., and Takoma Park, Md. D.C.’s poet laureate, Dolores Kendrick, passed away last year and has not yet been replaced. Prince George’s County and the city of Baltimore have youth poet laureates, age 14 to 19, who invigorate students’ interest in poetry, including rap. In general, these poets see themselves as ambassadors for a sometimes overlooked art in a world of more prosaic texts and tweets. The Beacon spoke with several local laureates as the Beacon Celebration of the Arts competition launches this month, which is also National Poetry Month. See the box on page 44 for tips on writing and entering your poems in the competition. For poems by local poets laureate, see page 45.]
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SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 26
LEISURE & TRAVEL
Katherine E. Young, Arlington, Va.’s first poet laureate, works to weave poetry into civic and arts events. Virginia, Maryland and D.C. each have appointed a poet laureate, as have several Washington-area cities and counties. All work to promote the reading, hearing and writing of poetry throughout our schools and the community.
Wendi Kaplan, Alexandria, Va. For Wendi Kaplan, Alexandria’s poet laureate, “Poetry is metaphor, which is the language of our soul...It reminds us of our humanity and brings us hope.” Kaplan said her introduction to poetry began when she was a baby, with her mother reading her the works of A.A. Milne and
later Edgar Allen Poe. She has been writing since she was a child, her poems often focusing on metaphors evoked by nature. She is clinical social worker and certified poetry therapist who has worked in community services and has her own See POETS, page 44
How tiny Andorra enchants its visitors; plus, a Pennsylvania weight-loss spa with delectable cuisine, and how to avoid the page 34 worst airports TECHNOLOGY k Don’t go totally paperless
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FITNESS & HEALTH 8 k Why some have super memories k Can acupuncture replace opioids? SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors
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LAW & MONEY k Top tax tips k Avoid surprise medical bills
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ARTS & STYLE k Allison Janney’s Oscar win
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