By Margery Dorfmeister, Buena Vista, CO
It was a wonder-filled once upon a time
When they came down out of the theater
braced up by a languid Chinook
breezing through the glass-roofed arcade
unaware of the man in the dark blue jacket
standing in the marquee-lit concourse
until someone said It’s him. It’s Kent.
A flock of Chaffee County writers
seven women and one lone man
swarmed in and encircled the playwright
as though soaking up by proximity
the success of this three-act rendition
of his award-winning novel Plainsong.
Through sighs, accolades and snapshots
he stood with them visiting
as with neighbors over a back fence
fame setting him slightly apart
still within psychological reach
autographing each program
as emotional affidavit of their presence
at his world premier.
After all here was a writer
from their own community
making good with straightforward prose
about ordinary people
in a familiar landscape.
Why then couldn’t they
