“Ritual Writing Poetry Workshop for Seniors” Reading

A reading by participants in the four week Ritual Writing workshop, lead by Steven Sher at Greenwich House Senior Center.

At the age of five, Lillian Allen left McColl, South Carolina, with her father, her mother and her six siblings to seek a better life. They settled in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, bringing with them their love of family and church. Lillian loves to talk about her family and her participation in her church’s activities. She joined the poetry class to find a way to express her feelings through poetry.

Patrice Harvey-Livingston: A native New Yorker educated in New York City’s public schools when three “R’s” reigned. Obtained a B.A. in Economics from New York University. Has a knack for the written word through poetry and prose. Recently learned to draw and paint. Published works include: New York Public Library, Mid-Manhattan Creative Writing, Poets House Writing Workshop for Seniors, and Community Agency for Senior Citizens, Staten Island, N.Y. A 2014 certificate winner in the 16th annual festival for Poetry of Loss, “A Journey of Generations.” In 2015 read selected poem “Rocks” at Chrysalis 17th Annual festival, and still going strong.

Edith Merle was born in upper Manhattan’s “El Barrio,” an area populated by the city’s new immigrants, reflecting the melting pot that was America. Her parents had migrated from Puerto Rico seeking a better life. Edith took advantage of this by obtaining a B.A. from CCNY and a M.A. in Education from Adelphi University. Early on, she won awards for her writing; as an editor of her high school newspaper, she wrote a weekly column. Today she writes about her childhood, her college days and everyday life. She has been published in UFT’s magazine Reflections.

Amy Seidman strolled the same Newark streets, breathed the same air, drank from the same water supply, and drew sustenance from the same Jewish delis as did Phillip Roth, arguably America’s greatest living author. Her first published writing was her high school year book’s dedication to Miss Wycoff—homeroom teacher, senior class advisor, and grammarian without peer.

Born in East Harlem, Marie Soffer graduated from Julia Richman High School. She owned and operated retail shops on 42nd Street for twenty years, afterwards going on to become a manager of medical claim analysts. Currently retired, she is widowed, with one son.

Olga Wong lives in New York City. She is from Hadera, Israel. She likes quilts. She works with clay and paint for her descendants.