Poets’ Night Out 2025

Posted byJennifer PatinoPosted inpoetryTags:, , , , , , , , , , ,

Hey everyone! I hope you’re enjoying Spring so far. It’s currently snowing where I live, but I’m not complaining. My Winter Soul is pretty happy about it. It’s a little over a week late but I’m finally sharing my poem “Petoskey” which I was honored to read at the Poets’ Night Out event here in Traverse City on April 6. The poem took home one of the “Friends of TADL” prizes and was also included in the PNO Chapbook. I had a great time at the event. Enjoy!

The 2025 PNO Chapbook


Petoskey

I find roots in between
hexagonal, fossilized patterns,
past imprints gathered
as reminders for me

Where green meets blue
in the freshwater tears
my homeland has preserved
carefully in the bay’s pocket

I find myself returned
to a shady spot among the rocks
where I see into history,
the spirit of Chief Pet-O-Sega

walking the shoreline
in another time,
locating my lost pulse
in delicate waves upon warm sand

A legacy is placed
in the palm of my hand,
a promise of dawn
that I prayed for

The sun here remembers
me from when I was young,
and I make a lakeside vow
to never forget her again

Me & my husband, Jackson, at the event

Thanks so much for reading! I’ll have more to share soon. Things haven’t been great with me health-wise, unfortunately, but I’m doing my best. All my energy has been going toward poetry lately & I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. I’ll update soon.

Published by Jennifer Patino

Poet in Michigan.

30 thoughts on “Poets’ Night Out 2025”

  1. Awww, cute couple. 💕

    Sorry to hear than you’ve been suffering still. I was hoping you’d start to improve.

    Congrats on yet another published piece and the opportunity to share with new readers.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I’m running to the docs again unfortunately. I have an appointment in a couple hours. Time to see if anything can be done or if I’ll hear, “sorry, we can’t help right now” again. I’ve been putting it off for awhile honestly because I kinda know better. But updated scans and seeing that it’s probably not immediately life threatening will be good for peace of mind, I suppose. Also, a specialist will know who I am when I really do need one. No matter how many forms I sign I can’t get Vegas to send my old records here either so I’m at the “fine, let’s just start over” phase because who cares about how big my organs were before. I want to know how big they are now.

      Thank you! It was a good time & thankfully I was feeling pretty well that day.

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  4. Fingers crossed for your appointments and any kind of relief soon. It’s a fantastic poem, full of so much love and respect and gratitude. And a great shot of you two! 💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Really, I’m just honest to be reading poetry from you again. Truly, that’s it for me, especially because of these lines:

    “I find myself returned
    to a shady spot among the rocks
    where I see into history,
    the spirit of Chief Pet-O-Sega

    walking the shoreline
    in another time,
    locating my lost pulse
    in delicate waves upon warm sand

    A legacy is placed
    in the palm of my hand,”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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