*Foot Notes

The organization Valley Contemporary Poets is going strong 18 years after its founding. The group has published three anthologies, “Beyond the Valley of the Contemporary Poets,” in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The books have included works by Eloise Healy Klein, Suzanne Lummis, Brendan Constantine, Robert Wynne and many others. VCP has also published books by individual writers and sponsors readings at the Raven Playhouse, (818) 509-9519, in North Hollywood the third Sunday each month. The April 18 reading will showcase poets David St. John and Cecilia Woloch.

* Poets Amelie Frank and Richard Modiano host the Poetry in Exile readings at Exile Books and Music, (818) 986-6409, in Sherman Oaks every other Wednesday. Each reading has two featured poets and an open mike. All readers get a “weird” prize, such as an ugly refrigerator magnet, a Marv Alpert commemorative toupee and panty set, a Rod McKuen poetry book or a “Psycho” shower curtain. Frank is the author of four poetry books, and her work has appeared in numerous publications. Modiano is a poet and translator.

* Valley poetry has even made its way onto the Internet. Sherman Oaks resident and poet Rick Lupert maintains the www.poetrysuperhighway.com Web site that showcases a new set of poets each week and also accepts submissions online. Lupert, a director of VCP, has written four books of poetry and has hosted the weekly Tuesday-night poetry readings for eight years at the Cobalt Cafe in Canoga Park, (818) 348-3789.

* Poets Anonymous has posted a second batch of poetry on 60 billboards throughout L.A., including 12 in the 818 area code territory. Valley residents can read words by poets Charles Bukowski, Octavio Paz, Nikki Giovanni, William Stafford, Miriam Waddington and others without being asked to buy something.

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When you think of poetry, do you see a struggling writer contemplating the meaning of life in some garret in Paris, New York, San Francisco, the Valley . . . the Valley?? What’s wrong with this picture? Actually, the poetry scene in the San Fernando Valley is quite robust.*