By ROBIN SHEPARD
Times Correspondent
Joyce Dale keeps her iPad close at hand in the event she is visited by the muse. It’s a habit she developed as a young girl, when a pad of paper and a pen provided her with a blank slate to write poems.
Inspiration, she says, can arrive at any time and in any place.
“I’m always prepared to write,” said Dale, Merced’s first poet laureate. “Sometimes I’ll wake up in the morning and I’ll start writing.”
The Merced City Council recognized Dale as the city’s first inaugural poet laureate during its meeting on Monday night. In addition, the Lit Crawl poetry event in downtown on Friday — presented by LitQuake San Francisco — is being held in honor of Dale. Also, an official inaugural celebration is planned for May 31 at the Multicultural Artis Center.
Born in Merced, Dale moved repeatedly during her youth as a military brat. The only child in the family, she confesses she grew up lonely and unable to establish long-term relationships.
“I started writing poems as a child,” she said. “We moved all the time. I never had any friends. The only constant thing in my life was writing.”
Her poems explore spiritual and family themes, and in titles such as In Jesus’ Name, Walk This Way, and Mothers Daughters Sisters Friends, Dale establishes an intimate and personal voice with an optimistic vision.
“My poetry is my ministry. I write about God’s love and peace. My poetry is all about good things, lifting people up.”
After a career as a computer operations manager living in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Las Vegas, Dale moved back to Merced in 2002. While managing the computer systems in a Carlsbad factory she routinely sent poems to the workers.
“I would open up each day with a poem to the factory workers,” she said. “Usually, I write poems for the occasion. I’m someone who writes about events and occasions.”
As Merced’s poet laureate, Dale said she will write commemorative poems, and even read one written for the occasion “Thank You Merced,” during the council’s presentation to her:
“I love Merced,
I was born here.
My journey took me very far away.
I always knew
at least I always felt
that I’d be returning someday.
God let me know
when it was time
to come home.
He gave me a job to do.
So I followed him
and I was obedient.
I shared love poetically
with all of you.”
Lit Crawl, May 9, Downtown Merced
Merced Poet Laureate Joyce Dale will join other poets, including state Poet Laureate Lee Herrick and Modesto Poet Laureate Angela Drew, for a three-hour celebration of poetry on May 9.
Lit Crawl Merced, organized in recognition of Dale, will be held in three locations in downtown Merced from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Each venue will feature different poets over the entire three hours of the festival.
Following is the Lit Crawl Merced schedule of featured poets and venues:
• 5-5:50 p.m. – Coffee Bandits, 309 W. Main St.
Poets: Tanisha McClain, Orlando Taylor, Patricia Ann Zamora, Sherre Vernon, and Necola Adams.
• 6-6:45 p.m. – Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St.
Poets: Elizabeth McMunn, Juan Luzuriaga, Marcy Poe Martinez, Shani Campbell, Vielka Solano, and Tanisha McClain.
• 6:45-8 p.m. – El Capitan Hotel, 609 W. Main St.
Poets: California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Modesto Poet Laureate Angela Drew, Mai-Linh Hong, Michael Warr, Christina Lux, and Robin Shepard.