Denise Satterfield Wilson first began writing to express a “roller coaster of emotions” following the murder of her son’s best friend, Darius Dobbins, in 1986, when the friends were only 17. More than 30 years later, the Murfreesboro resident is still writing. She has shared her poems and short stories at numerous schools and colleges, churches, prisons, coffee houses, the Tennessee Women’s Theater Project and the Southern Festival of Books.

Published in journals such as Contempora and Calliope Magazine, Denise is the author of one chapbook, Sassy Thoughts, Sweet Memories and Poetic Vibes. She’ll be bringing those poetic vibes to Poetry in the Boro at its June event. Also catch a new young adult book club and a poetry workshop this month.

June 9: Poetry in the Boro

Sunday evening, June 9, poets, writers and actors will convene at Murfreesboro Little Theatre, 702 Ewing Blvd., to hear Denise and enjoy “In Other Voices,” which features actors reading poetry that attendees submit. Poems may be attendee’s own work, or poetry published by others. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7. For more details, see Poetry in the Boro on Facebook.

June 13: New YA Book Club

The Murfreesboro Barnes & Noble store has summer selections for a young adult book club posted online. June’s selection, Again, But Better by Christine Riccio, is a coming-of-age story with thought-provoking themes related to anxiety, independence, and entitlement.

The discussion will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 13. Learn more or register to participate online. And if you want to get a headstart on July’s reading, that selection is We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal.

June 22: Staging the Page Workshop

Murfreesboro Poet Laureate Kory Wells and actress, director and AcTEENg founder Jamie Stevens are hosting a workshop at Murfreesboro Little Theatre.

“Staging the Page: Cultivating Your Poetic Voice” will help participants make the most of a poem on both the page and in spoken delivery. A two-hour session from noon to 2 p.m. will offer critique and tips on both written and spoken delivery in a small group setting. Following a short break, participants who wish to rehearse their pieces for additional feedback may do so. The session will conclude by 4 p.m. A minimum $25 donation to benefit Poetry in the Boro and AcTEENg is requested. Find more details on Facebook.

Pre-registration by emailing poetryintheboro@gmail.com is requested.

___

Where I’m From
— excerpt of a poem by Denise Wilson

I’m from those Murfreesboro cotton fields my Grandpa slaved in at the ripe old age of 5, his tiny fingers dripping drops of crimson that trickled back to Egyptian shores, his caramel face speckled with freckles from endless hours in the scorching hot sun.

I’m from a wealth of stories my Grandma told me, passed down from her mother’s mother, of ancestors long dead and gone, whose dreams of a fantasy called freedom gave them the strength to carry on. Denied an education because of the color of their skin, they died an owned piece of property . . . went to their unmarked graves as slaves.

I’m from a childhood filled with pick-up sticks, cat eye marbles, jacks & hopscotch, rubber balls, Bolo Pads, Betsy Wetsey dolls, BB bats, Western Fliers, moon pies and mud pies, jaw breakers & Sputnik Bubblegum that turned my lips & mouth turquoise blue.