Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Mary Foster, founder of Poetry for Everyone, responds to poet laureate Bob Aldrich as he waxes poetic about an unfavorite subject.

Poet laureate reveals just what he thinks about cats

In the town that loves cats so much it calls itself Los Gatos, the poet laureate for 1996-97 is not a cat lover. In fact, Los Gatos Weekly-Times columnist Bob Aldrich doesn't like cats at all.

But, with what some might call poetic justice, when the winners of the Poetry for Everyone Contest were announced Aug. 18 at a Music in the Plaza concert, it was Aldrich who came out the winner.

Contest rules called for one poem on cats and two more on any subjects.

Aldrich read his poem, "The Truth About Cats." The poem's final lines, in deference to the town's many cat lovers were: "I realize I am enraging cat lovers everywhere. Good."

In the adult category, Christi Welter placed second with her poem "Cat Dreams." Third-place winner was Barbara Ledig. Rose Marie Sims was awarded honorable mention.

Certificates of appreciation went to Vern Hansen, Richard Wachs, Byron Bush, Richard Blisard and Carol Ann Blisard.

First-place winner among junior poets was Jessica Chaplin for a haiku. Jessica's sister Jennifer Chaplin was second.

Mary Foster, founder of Poetry for Everyone, a reading group for anyone who likes poetry that meets on the second Sunday each month at 2 p.m. at Forbes Mill Museum, made the announcements.

Judges for the competition were Roberta Blake, Lea Frey and San Jose Mercury News columnist Leigh Weimers.

Mayor Randy Attaway presented Aldrich with a proclamation from the town of Los Gatos. His name will be inscribed on a plaque at Forbes Mill. Aldrich was poet laureate in 1993-94.

Jan Robertson, owner of Los Gatos Copy Center, contributed the printing of winners certificates. The New Age music group Soulstice entertained for Music in the Plaza.