In a quiet neighborhood of Corvallis, nestled in an abundant garden, resides a poet whose words carry the wisdom of a lifetime. Louise Cary Barden, 80, is set to publish her newest poetry chapbook “What Hummingbirds Do” on Aug. 23.
In her new book, Barden explores themes of nature, family and the passage of time. Her poems draw on childhood memories, a deep connection to the natural world and reflections on life’s challenges.
Barden’s love for the written word began when her mother would read her poems before she could even talk.
“The story is, whether it’s true or not, my mother said she took me back to the college where she went and took me to visit her favorite English teacher when I was two and a half,” Barden said.
“It started to rain, and looking out the window I recited Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Rain’ poem … I knew that little forlorn child’s verse by the time I was two and a half,” Barden said.
As Barden’s voice grew and developed, so too did her relationship with language and poetry. She pursued English studies at university, eventually earning a Master of Arts, and embarked on careers as an English instructor, copywriter and magazine writer.
“Poetry seemed like the language that I could use to write about what was in my heart,” (3:36) Barden said. “(It) seemed like the way to express the things that really meant a lot to me … I made a living writing prose and teaching about writing prose.”
Poetry was always a way for Barden to share her true self.
Barden draws inspiration from the various places she’s lived. One of her poems titled “Under a Changing Sky,” first published in “Humana Obscura” is a sonnet about the sun breaking through Oregon winter clouds.
Despite continuously writing personal poems, Barden didn’t share her work publicly until later in life, fearing criticism and self-doubt. It wasn’t until she was almost 40 years old that she began attending poetry readings and workshops, which ignited her passion for sharing her work.
She brought one of her poems to a free community workshop led by a local professor, who chose her poem as the first to discuss. This encouraged her to join a weekly poetry critique group.
Participation in poetry readings and workshops has played a crucial role in Barden’s development as a writer. Affectionately, she refers to her weekly poetry group as “Weight Watchers for poets.”
Barden’s contributions to the literary world have not gone unnoticed. She is a 2023 New Women’s Voices semi-finalist and has received several accolades, including the Lois Cranston Prize from Calyx Journal, Oregon Poetry Association award and the Harperprints chapbook competition, among others.
For young writers and poets, Barden advises embracing experimentation and continual learning. She encourages students to read widely, take advantage of their education, and enroll in creative writing classes if they can.
As she prepares to release her book, Barden is looking forward to her upcoming readings. She’ll be sharing poems from the new collection, as well as her previous work, at Interzone in Corvallis on Jan. 3.
“What Hummingbirds Do” will be available for purchase online through Finishing Line Press. For more information, visit her website at https://lbarden.com.
