High schoolers meet weekly to share poetry, stories, thoughts

PALMER -- Jessa Joehnk's eyes grow dewy as she reads a poem titled "Mat-Su Valley," to her small poetry group at Fireside Books in Palmer, though her voice remains clear and unwavering.

"Why do you always cry when you read?" one of her listeners asks.

"I'm not sure," she replies. "It just comes."

Though emotional displays such as Joehnk's are not commonplace at readings, members of the group, called Scribes Anonymous, do believe that their meetings often function as outlets for the pressures of daily life. "It's a good place to blow off some steam, to be heard, to just get something out there," said Megan Blake, a regular at Scribes meetings.

Scribes Anonymous contains roughly a dozen members total, and more drift in and out from time to time. Every Thursday they gather at Fireside Books to share self-authored poetry, short stories, anecdotes and artwork. The original location was the nearby Vagabond Blues Coffeehouse, but noise and lack of privacy caused the group to move to Fireside, by the good graces of co-owner Dave Cheezem.

The name of the group was a subject of contention for some time. Among the monikers offered for consideration were "Bubbles for Buckfish," and "People of Earthly Measure." But "Scribes Anonymous" won out in the end. Group members state, in true poetic fashion, that the name of the group has no deeper meaning; it just seemed like a good way for them to refer to themselves.

At a typical meeting, the Scribes share their homespun poetry, songs and anecdotes, following each reading or recitation with a discussion of the technique, imagery and effect of the piece. The insights spring from these discussion sessions bear influence of the delight the Scribes take in contradicting their audience's expectations. "I love using poetry to twist my readers' minds," Joehnk said. "I like to perplex."

Scribes members agree that perhaps the greatest benefit afforded by the group is the opportunity to meet and converse with people who share their own literary interests.

"Sometimes it's hard in the writing community," Joehnk, a senior at Wasilla High School, said. "It's a lonely place usually, and I've found a few people who are trying to figure it all out as well."

Sara Swimeley, another member, agreed. "I've become more social and confident in myself because I feel like there are people I can express myself to here."

This confidence has allowed the group to develop friendships as individuals as well as cohesion as a group. Scribes meetings often involve sharing not only homespun tales, but the minutiae of day-to-day high school life. In between readings, members chat about shared friends, teachers and troubles. "It's not just a writing group, it's a support group," said Moeller, summing up the Scribes' concern for each other.

In developing this bond among its members, Scribes Anonymous has succeeded in overcoming one of the primary obstacles facing high-school literary groups: namely, how to overcome members' nervousness and convince them to open up.

"I'm never afraid of what people think of me, I'm just not sure if my presentation will be right," Swimeley said. Kohl Kitchin agreed. "We pressure each other into doing this," he joked.

Nevertheless, Krista Johnson, another member, said, "New people still make me a little nervous."

The Scribes produce an entire range of prose and poems, from self-described "angsty" psychological riffs to light-hearted tales on the order of "Catching the Wild Guppy." The latter is the work of Kitchin, whose humorous compositions even out the often somber moods set by the other members' poetry. "I destroy any chance that these meetings have at seriousness," he said.

Poetry composed by Scribes members bears the marks of their favorite poets, writers such as William Carlos Williams, Robert Frost, e.e. cummings, Edgar Allen Poe, Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson. Tribute is also given to the tradition of poetry slams via the group's practice of snapping their fingers in unison to show approval for a poem.

"The Scribes are truly a unique group of self motivated and highly creative individuals," said Anne Nolting, a local author. Joehnk names Nolting as both a formative influence on the group and a continuing inspiration. Scribes Anonymous arose through the expansion of a writing group centered in Palmer High School and administered by Paul Morley, an Extended Learning Program specialist at the school. At the end of its first year, this writing group expanded to include students from all schools in the Valley.

"We started mulling it over and decided it needed to be more frequent. It just sort of blossomed into a once a week type thing," Joehnk said. "It was originally going to be just a one-shot deal, but we agreed that it had to happen more often."

Today the Scribes are going strong. Nolting, however, is concerned that the group might be an artifact of a happier era of educational opportunity in the state.

"The Scribes, unfortunately, may be the last of their kind," she said. Due to budget cuts and underfunded schools in the Valley, Nolting believes that "there are many, many talented students who will never have the opportunity to be discovered and encouraged."