Long Island writers bare souls at reading

The love of a dog. Balancing work and home life. Getting older.

Amateur Long Island writers read their stories and poems about these and other aspects of life Sunday in a bright room on New York City's Governors Island.

The gathering, an annual reading hosted by the Long Island Writers' Guild, provided a space without criticism where writers of all types could bare their souls and secrets.

"It's a forum for seemingly ordinary people to read extraordinary work," said Kim Pagan, 44, of Throgs Neck in the Bronx, who has attended the event for the past three years.

Pagan, a film producer, read several poems including one about the effects of work aspirations on family relationships.

Poetry and prose filled the three-hour event, which began at 1:30 p.m. in a brick building with large windows overlooking the island.

Dennis Kotch, president-elect of the guild, said the group's first reading at Governors Island was in 2007. Organizers wanted to share art in a different venue and allow the guild's 1,400 members to enjoy the beauty of Governors Island, he said.

The event is co-sponsored by the National Park Service.

"It's cathartic," said Kotch, 68, of Merrick, an accountant for The Trust for Governors Island, which runs the island. "People tell their stories and some of those stories are really hard. They have to get them out of their systems."

The Long Island Writers' Guild hosts five readings each year; the other four are on Long Island.

Kotch, who read several of his own works, said in the past, members have read pieces about various topics including abuse, crime and immigration. Sunday also featured a mix of topics.

Richard Cameron, 47, of Bellmore, read a short story about his love for his dog. Richard McKibbin, 32, of Manorville, wrote about a woman's beauty.

Ilyse Goldman, 41, a park ranger who helped run the event, read a poem about turning 40.

"We're so used to being on the computer and watching television, but these folks are still writing stories and stories can be fun and creative," she said. "People can write poetry and it doesn't have to rhyme. It can just be creative. You can have a voice."

Poetry excerpts

Poem: The bottom side of green

Kim Pagan, 44, of Throgs Neck, film producer

Excerpt:

I raised them, my children.

I watched them run on fields of green.

I worked to get them ahead but instead I lost them in my pursuit of corporate dreams.

They tried to be with me but I said I'm busy.

To keep my job, I'm training the intern. Yeah, he's green.

Poem: Dickey Chapelle -- Photojournalist

Dennis Kotch, 68, of Merrick, accountant

Excerpt:

Why was she in Vietnam?

And why not? She had been in Angola, in Cuba, in Hungary, in Korea; And she was at Iwo Jima.

She went to war before most of the paratroopers she jumped with, and the Marines she patrolled

With had left their mother's womb.

Why did the CIA squash over 800 of her pictures?

Poem: Untitled

Richard McKibbin, 32, of Manorville, barber

Excerpt:

Off in the distance, she lays in the breeze, glowing in hues of lavender and sadness.

Seemingly in a slow motion, I dash frantically toward the vision of beauty,

Dancing on the cliff near the waters edge.