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Malibu surfside news | October 18, 2018 | 25
Malibu community honors local poets, art
Poetry stones
at Legacy Park
expected to become
a tradition
Kateri Wozny
Freelance Reporter
Two stones inscribed
with inspirational, locally
crafted poetry were celebrated
by the Malibu community
in an Oct. 7 ceremony
at Legacy Park.
The stones pay tribute to
the City of Malibu’s Poet
Laureate Program.
The first stone honored
Malibu resident Ricardo
Means Ybarra’s two-year
tenure as the City’s first
poet laureate. Ybarra read
his poem entitled “America,”
which was created for
Malibu’s Concert on the
Bluffs event in 2017.
“The song for the concert,
‘Rhapsody in Blue,’
was a homage to America
and immigrants,” Ybarra
said. “I wanted to write a
poem about our love for
America and contributions
made by all Americans.”
Visitors walking the footpath
of the park can view
the wording for “America”
engraved on a black granite
stone.
“It is an honor [to have
this stone], especially coming
from our community,”
Ybarra said. “[As the poet
laureate] I get to work
with students and community
poets, artists and musicians.
I’m blessed to work
with them.”
Since taking his position
in March 2107, Ybarra has
worked to spread a love of
poetry to Malibu students,
Artist Ako Eyong poses by his work titled “GMO.”
with children’s works
reaching the community
via pizza boxes and more.
Ybarra also plays hosts to
Caffeinated Verse Poetry
Open Mic events at the
Malibu Library.
The second stone at Legacy
Park honors emerging
student poet Mandy Mulligan
with an excerpt from
her poem “Thank You,”
which is engraved on a
Verde slab of marble in
Legacy Park’s Children’s
Garden.
“Poetry is like a river
that has no beginning
or end.
It flows through people.
Deep inside it hides,” Mulligan
read aloud.
“It means a lot to me
[to have my poetry displayed]
because I am only
12 years old and already
something this big in my
life is happening,” Mulligan
said.
Mulligan was one of
Ybarra’s students while
attending Juan Cabrillo
Elementary School. She
participated in the Poet
Laureate Workshops in the
Schools, a program sponsored
by the City of Malibu
and the Malibu Cultural
Arts Commission.
“My class worked with
Mr. Ricardo and we all
wrote our own poems,”
Mulligan said. “I learned
how to make my words
flow better in my writing.”
Longtime resident and
poet Ann Buxie also read a
poem, called “Medicine,”
during the celebration.
Buxie had originally
proposed creating the Poet
Laureate Program through
MCAC, and the City Council
approved the recommendation
in November
2016.
“Ricardo and Mandy’s
poetry are like medicine
to my soul and I am so
glad [the poems] are on the
stones,” Buxie said.
Art also was on display
by local artists Ivo Spirov
(“Surfboard”) and Ako
Eyong (“GMO,” “Severed
Connection” and “Portrait
of Cloudy Goodboy”) while
Shannon Navarro-Mitchell
and Michael Mitchell, of
local band Karma Dealers,
performed their songs
“Coming Home,” “10,000
Angels” and “Malibu Dark
Sky.”
“It’s never just about poems,
it’s about the artists,”
Mandy Mulligan (left) and her grandmother Sandy Locke admire her poetry stone at
Legacy Park during the Oct. 7 ceremony. Photos by Suzy Demeter/22nd Century Media
Shannon Navarro-Mitchell and Michael Mitchell of the Karma Dealers perform their
original songs for the crowd in Malibu.
Ybarra said. “They are the
most energetic and generous
people.”
According to the City of
Malibu, the Poet Laureate
Committee worked on the
stone project for more than
a year and secured donations
from agencies and
individuals to pay for the
stones. The City plans to
continue the poetry stone
tradition at Legacy Park by
installing new stones every
two years when a poet laureate’s
term is completed.
“The settings of the
stones in the park really
shows the virtual ground
started by the Malibu City
Council,” said Catherine
Malcolm-Brickman, chairwoman
of MCAC. “Our
very first Poet Laureate,
Ricardo, has set a very
high bar. I couldn’t be more
proud of this day.”