About Richard Gold
Richard Gold founded and runs the Pongo Teen Writing Project, a writing therapy nonprofit that serves homeless, incarcerated, and hospitalized youth. In his past, he developed a writing therapy program at an adolescent psychiatric clinic and earned an MA in poetry with a collection of poems about the youth and emotions at the clinic. Richard also has experience as a teacher, editor at a special education publisher, and managing editor at a large technical publisher. "The Odd Puppet Odyssey," a collection of Richard's own poetry, with illustrations by Celeste Ericsson, was published by Black Heron Press in 2003.
Nominated by Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project
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Pongo teaches poetry to distressed Seattle teens to help them understand their feelings, bolster self-worth, and take better control of their lives. Pongo's trained volunteers go into juvenile detention, shelters, hospitals, etc., to teach creative writing to teens who have difficulty expressing themselves. From 1996-2006, Pongo worked with over 3600 teens. In addition, Pongo produced eleven books of teen poetry, and distributed 10,000 books for free. At Bumbershoot and festivals, Pongo has helped thousands of people in the community appreciate the voices and life stories of youth. Pongo poetry allows distressed teens to write about feelings with candor and pride.
SAND
by Richard Gold
Fills the hollows of the zipper
on your suitcase
Dusts a black sweater
Drifts at your door
Is buried in the towel
you use to dry your hands
People who don't know they're
unhappy together
People who have found one another
People who shield one another
and themselves
People who love as friends
Mixes with the salt
that clouds your window
The simplicity of love