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2021 Bucks Poet Laureate Nicole Steinberg reads her work

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Nicole Steinberg read her poetry for the first time as 2021 Poet Laureate of Bucks County, Nov. 14 in Tyler Hall on the Newtown Campus of Bucks County Community College. The program was also broadcast via Zoom.
Steinberg was joined by outgoing laureate Jane Edna Mohler, and three runners-up, Judith Lagana, Lynda Gene Rymond, and Tara Tamburello.
Judges this year were, Ernest Hilbert and Maggie Smith. Hilbert commenced the readings with his collections “Caligulan” and “Last One Out.”
Currently living in Newtown, Steinberg originally hails from Queens, New York. She attended Brandeis University for her B.A. in creative writing and The New School, for her M.F.A. She is chief marketing and communications officer for Moore College of Art & Design.
The laureate has gained writing experience in magazine publishing with TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly and Bomb. While working at The Pew Center and Mural Arts in Philadelphia, she met her wife and moved to Newtown.
Steinberg is the author of two books of poetry: “Glass Actress” (Furniture Press Books, 2017) and “Getting Lucky” (Spooky Girlfriend Press, 2013). Her published chapbooks are “Fat Dreams” (Barrelhouse, 2018), “Clever Little Gang,” and two titles from Dancing Girl Press.
Runner-up Judith Lagana was praised by Judge Smith for her ability “to take risks and the use of white space.” “How To Be a Tomato,” “Along Fleecy Dale Road” and “Conversation With Myself” are a few examples of her work.
Lynda Gene Rymond charmed Smith with her poetry that “toggles between levels of diction and reminds us that there is a human being behind them.”

“This is not stuffy poetry,” said Smith.
Tara Tamburello’s poems were “wholly original in their voice and phrasing.”
“This poet has a real knack for imagery,” Smith said.
Outgoing Poet Laureate Mohler read next. Much of her work centered on her son in Asia at the time of writing. Two other poems shared were a pantoum called “Dead Man’s Dessert” about shoofly pie and another relating to a racoon who deems heaven is only entered with persistence.
The 45th Bucks County Poet Laureate was introduced by Ethel Rackin, now in her second year as director of the Poet Laureate Program. Rackin co-directed with Christopher Bursk for three years. Bursk who died in June 2021 was a major player in this contest for many years.
Steinberg read from several of her books. “Fat Dreams,” in which she tells of her mother’s constant weight battle and her father as enabler and “How Can You Think About Passover at a Time Like This?” are remarkable poems. As the saying goes, to hear the others, “You’ll have to buy the books.”
Steinberg entertained her audience with expertise, humor and brevity leaving her subjects laughing.


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