Peter Schmitt is a Floridian, and the following poem is from his book, “Renewing the Vows,” published by David Robert Books.

Poetry seems to be the perfect medium for brief anecdotal stories, but most of us have higher expectations of a poem, believing it should reach beneath the surface and draw up something from the deeper parts of experience.

This is just such a poem.

The Bench

It's all like a bad riddle, our widow friend
said at the time. If a tree falls in the woods
and kills your husband, what can you build from it?
That she was speaking quite literally
we did not know until the day months later
the bench arrived, filling that foyer space
in the house the neighbors pitched in to finish.

She'd done it, she said, for the sake of the boys,
and was never more sure of her purpose
than when they were off, playing in the woods
their father loved, somewhere out of earshot
and she would be struggling in with groceries.
For her, it was mostly a place to rest
such a weight, where other arms might have reached

to lift what they could. Or like the time we knocked
at her door, and finding it just ajar,
cautiously entered the sunstruck hallway,
and saw her sitting there staring into space,
before she heard our steps and caught herself,
turning smiling toward us, a book left
lying open on the bench beside her.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2007 by Peter Schmitt, "The Bench," from Renewing the Vows, (David Robert Books, 2007). Poem reprinted by permission of Peter Schmitt and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2018 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes the popular monthly Fiddlers’ Jam on Sunday, Nov. 4.

The talented musicians entertain from noon to 2 p.m. with their favorite folk songs.

The afternoon provides a happy time for all who attend.

The Ely Docents will, once again, be offering food and beverages during the day. Hot dogs and chili from the grill are the fare for a fall day. The pie ladies will return to their station at the antique cook wagon with fresh pies.

Executive Director Greg Dills will be on hand to demonstrate his Lake County antique 1926 Hercules/Economy saw cart. There is plenty of action when he gets the wood going through the saw.

A beautiful fall basket of goodies will once again be available at the raffle table. The funds from these raffles help with the ongoing projects at the Ely.

This month will be the last opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for the gorgeous handmade quilt. The drawing for the quilt will be held at the annual Thanksgiving dinner to be held on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Lakeport Senior Center.

Lake County’s Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) outside of Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera just north of Highway 29/Kit’s Corner.

Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Visit: www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org, and check out the Ely Stage Stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop.

For more information call 707-533-9990.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County residents and visitors are encouraged to experience “A New Story,” the third fire anniversary show, at the Middletown Art Center.

The exhibit commemorates the 2015 and subsequent Lake County wildfires of the past four years and closes this Sunday, Oct. 28.

Gallery hours are Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or by appointment.

Artwork in “A New Story” captures the arc of fire trauma and recovery, from emergency and after shock, to perseverance, rebuilding, living with fire, and ultimately moving forward. The work, in a variety of media by Lake County artists, is poignant, cathartic, and transformative.

Some of the works on view in the exhibit are also featured in the chapbook Resilience – a community reframes disaster through art.

The book is available for purchase at MAC and online and includes writings and prints by 21 local writers and 17 printmakers that participated in the Resilience project in 2017-18. It is a powerful memento of community wildfire recovery, and testament to healing power of art.

The Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29.

Be a part of the growing arts scene in South Lake County by becoming a MAC member, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC. Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Right now, while you are reading this article, the entire cast and crew of Oklahoma! are trying to balance work, child care, making dinner, family life and all the other every day tasks with rehearsal for this show.

The show opens this Friday, Oct. 26, and runs through Nov. 11 at the Soper-Reese Theatre at 275 South Main St. in Lakeport.

Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 and $17 in advance, $27 and 22 at the door, and can be purchased online at http://www.soperreesetheatre.com, at the box office or by calling 707-263-0577.

Our cast is quite varied. We have nurses, teachers, a pig farmer, a District Attorney, County workers, retired Air Force, health care administrators, education specialists, volunteers, and retirees, but there is a common theme among them in that no one is getting paid. They basically take on this second job, rearrange their lives to fit the rehearsal schedule, get less sleep, call in favors to get their kids dropped off or picked up and even listen to their families lament about how much time the show is taking up. And, quite often they buy their own costumes, wigs, and props.

Why would anyone do this you ask? Well, for some it’s the fun of seeing if you can figure out what makes the character tick and then bringing them to life. For others it’s the challenge to see if you can hit those notes, remember your timing, and get your movements right without falling on your face.

Sometimes, it’s for the rush that you get right before you go out on stage. That moment when you are nervous because you want to do the best job possible and then the adrenaline kicks in and you just come to life like nowhere else.

Others like the fact that it’s slightly different every night and you never know what can and will happen. Some like the applause or the energy from the crowd when you are connected in a single moment.

And, still others just like the community of it all. Getting together a few times a week with people who share a common interest.

Let’s face it, not a lot of folks in everyday life get all the dorky theatre references we throw out. It’s nice to feel like people get where you are coming from.

And, so that’s what we do. We drive to work practicing our songs. We run our lines in our heads while we stand in line at the grocery store, and we try to remember if it’s kick, turn, step or kick, step, turn while waiting for our child’s soccer practice to be over. And, quite often we get a little less sleep because we are at rehearsal until 9 p.m. Some of us maybe even have to drive a ways to get home afterward.

But, we don’t complain, because when we come to the theatre on the night of the performance and hear the audience chatting while they are waiting for the show to start, that feeling in the pit of our stomachs kicks in. And, the adrenaline fires up. And, for the next 2 1/2 hours we are someone else, somewhere else; and, something magical takes over. And, the sacrifice, and the lack of sleep fade away.

Please come see the Lake County Theatre Co. and Mendocino College Lake Center’s co-production of Oklahoma! See if you can tell what gets each performer out there and experience a little of the magic with us. We promise you won’t be disappointed. There’s a reason why Oklahoma ends with an exclamation point!

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center’s Restore project features printmaking - drypoint etching with artist Nicholas Hay this Saturday, Oct. 27, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Adults and children ages 11 and up of all levels of art making experience, from newbies to professionals, are invited to attend this inspiring class for just $5.

“We’ll use a drypoint technique to draw into a plastic plate with a metal etching pen,” explained Hay. “Participants will be able to make changes and refinements to their image and run their plate through the press several times during class. The process of printmaking is quite magical, and anyone who likes to draw can create compelling images.”

Drypoint etching on copper plates will also be introduced in this class. Participants can purchase copper plates to draw on and print in class in the coming months. MAC encourages folks to come to several classes, to hone skills, learn new ones, and develop a body of work. Participants may also work on monotypes during this class.

Please register in advance for all Restore classes at http://www.middletownartcenter.org/restore, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-809-8118. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Work from printmaking classes will contribute to MAC’s second chapbook of writings and images, as well as Restore exhibitions. The first chapbook, “Resilience – a community reframes disaster through art,” is available for purchase at MAC or on the MAC Web site. You can preview the book at www.middletownartcenter.org/resilience-chapbook-excerpt.

The Restore project provides low-cost classes most weekends through May 2019. Fall and early winter classes provide opportunity to learn or refine skills in a variety of materials and techniques, including clay, woodworking, metalworking, concrete, drypoint etching, block printing, and more.

Late winter and spring classes will focus on personal and collaborative projects, studio time, mentoring and guidance to create work.

Learn more about Restore class scheduling at www.middletownartcenter.org.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, Restore features natural woodworking with Marcus Maria Jung. The class begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m., and includes a break for lunch. A writing and performance lab with Casey Carney will be offered on Saturday, Nov. 10. Please preregister at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore.

The Restore project was made possible thanks to support from the California Arts Council, a state agency, with additional support from local organizations, businesses, and individuals. Visit www.ca.arts.gov to learn more about the California Arts Council’s important work in communities and schools throughout California.

Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29.

Be a part of the growing arts scene in South Lake County by becoming a MAC member, by coming to Restore printmaking this Saturday, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 1938 drama, “Angels With Dirty Faces,” starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien and Humphrey Bogart, screens at the Soper Reese Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 1 and 6 p.m.

Entry to the film is by donation.

A fine gangster movie classic with James Cagney at the top of his game as the bad guy who has redeeming qualities.

As ex-con Rocky Sullivan, Cagney’s movements are quick, his speech like machine gun fire. He is all attitude and style, and you can’t help being on his side.

Directed by Oscar-nominated Michael Curtiz.

The movie is sponsored by Kathy Jensen. Not rated. Run time is 1 hour and 37 minutes.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com .