Expressing Love’s Light in Poetry

Part I of “Angels and Devils” in May featured Orange County poets Lee Mallory and Marianne Gillispie seated at a candle-lit table at the Alta Coffee House & Roasting Co. in Newport Beach.

Accompanied by live guitar music, Mallory took the light side of love, Gillispie the dark, as they conducted their poetic dialogue.

But in Part II of “Angels and Devils” tonight at Alta, both poets--this time Mallory opposite Donna Gebron--will be joyous and upbeat, their poetry building to a passionate peak.

Or as Mallory says: “Part I was light, dark, light, dark, light, dark. This one goes light, light, flashing light, brilliant light, strobe, laser, crescendo. I mean, it will end on a point of incredible romantic tension.”

“Angels and Devils, Part II” is one of a handful of poetic “dialogues in pairs” Mallory has performed over the past decade.

“What happens in the dialogue in pairs is you have what I’d call a sort of cry and response, one speaking to the other, or a sort of plea with Eros answering back.”

Mallory, an instructor of English and creative writing at Santa Ana College, said the poetic dialogues grew out of his belief that “male-female communication is worse than ever. Why? Television, materialism and stress are taking their toll on couples. But, more than ever, poetry can bring romantic and sensual sincerity back to fruition; it can push communication to provocative and, of course, seductive levels.

“That is, the poet can telegraph to the beloved his or her deepest longings and most profound feelings,” he said.

Poet Ricki Mandeville, co-producer of the event with Mallory, has written and will read a “prologue” for Mallory and Gebron’s poetic seduction. Original guitar music will be provided by Neil Miranda. An open reading will follow the free event.

“Angels and Devils, Part II” will be held at 8 tonight at the Alta Coffee House & Roasting Co., 506 31st St., Newport Beach. Free.

Coming Up:

* Consuela Metzger, project conservator of the Huntington Library in San Marino, will present a slide show that explains how a 494-year-old book was restored. The program is at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Chapman University library, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange. The book is “Agustinus de Civitate Dei” (“St. Augustine of the City of God”), which was printed in 1505 and is part of a collection of rare books donated to the university by the Chapman family.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview literary agent Amy Rennert at 6 tonight on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine.

* An open microphone reading will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Maria Escandon will read and sign “Esperanza’s Box of Saints” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Janet Eastman will sign “Simple Indulgence” at a reception at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the McCharles House, a 19th century tea house, 335 S. C St., Tustin.

* Julie Mammano will sign “Rhinos Who Skateboard” at 6 p.m. Thursday at Latitude 33 Bookshop, 311 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach.

* A used-book sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road.

* Janet Evanovich will sign “High Five” at 10:30 a.m., and Lee Child will sign “Tripwire” at 1 p.m., Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Laurie Selwitz will discuss and sign “Men Are From Locker Rooms, Women Are From Luxury Boxes” at 3 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books and Music, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Debo Kotun will discuss and sign “Abiku” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

* Pam Copeland will sign “I Liked You at Ten. . . . I’ll Like You Again” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Taylor and Friends Studio, 24582 Del Prado Ave., Dana Point.

* Nick Mangieri will discuss and sign “Broken Badge: The Silencing of a Federal Agent” at 7 p.m. Saturdayat Borders Books and Music, 429 Associated Road, Brea.

* Earlene Fowler will sign “Mariner’s Compass” at noon Sunday at Bookman Too, 19111 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach.

* Riley St. James will read and sign “Deception in the Rainshadows” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books and Music, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Don Winslow will sign “California Fire and Life” at 1 p.m. Sunday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Luis Gonzalez will sign “Spirits of the Revolution” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Southern California Living, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail to dennis.mclellan@latimes.com.