The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

One of the things I look forward to after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays is The Wahkiakum County Eagle’s poetry edition the first week of January.

When I moved here in 2018, I remember seeing a request for local readers to submit a poem for the

Poetry Corner. Rick set aside a page each January to spotlight Wahkiakum poets. Well, that’s when I knew I was living in a truly special place. I sat down and set to work writing a poem. When I saw it in print a couple of weeks later, alongside poems by actual bona fide writers, a couple of buttons may have popped off my shirt. We bought an extra copy that week so I could send it to my parents in Tacoma. My Dad went so far as to set it to music on his guitar (Rick would have approved).

If I’m going to be honest, it wasn’t a very good poem. But that’s not the point. The point is The Eagle printed what readers sent in, regardless of writing experience.

In the Januarys following that first year, I came to value the poems written by the many talented people who live in our county. Poetry is a simple, quiet thing that can build connections, understanding and friendship. The world needs more poetry, not less. I hope The Eagle will continue to make space in its pages once a year for the Poetry Corner and spread a little joy after the holidays.

Dayle Olson

Cathlamet

p.s. – The first poetry open mic of 2024 is Thursday, Jan. 25 at River Mile 38, sign-up 5:30 p.m. (360)703-8948