Juanita J. Martin
2011 California Honor Scroll Award

Juanita J. Martin, 50, 1st Poet Laureate of Fairfield, is the youngest award-winner in this year’s contest. She is an award-winning poet, freelance writer and performance artist whose poetry has appeared in Blue Collar Review, Soma Literary Review and Rattlesnake Review. She’s an active member of Ina Coolbrith Circle, Redwood Writers branch of California Writers Club, and Marin Poetry Center. She is a former Sonoma County Library Slam Champion. Juanita is working on a book of poetry called The Lighthouse Beckons. Her sun sign is Gemini.

VAN GOGH'S SUMMER

Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) created more than 900 paintings, but sold only one during his lifetime. He was a prolific painter of self-portraits and sunflowers. For details about Van Gogh, visit the Van Gogh Gallery, posted 15 January 2011 by Templeton Reid, LLC, at http://www.vangoghgallery.com/ .

Sunflowers, drunken with wind
Are suspended along a fence,
Near a rustic bungalow
Mists of water from a pond
Too faint for their thirst
Hues of blue, burning sky
Fill an open window
Luminous rays escape
Embracing innocence
Golden petals fall
Consumed by hot earth
Immortalized before me
Like those on my wall
Quickened by the palette of Van Gogh