The Chester River Association celebrated the life of Pat Nielsen last Friday night by awarding its first annual award for poetry in her honor. Nielsen, a beloved community leader and Emmy Award-winning writer, director and producer, was also a passionate lover of poetry. CRA Trustee Marcy Dunn Ramsey announced the awards (judged by Washington College’s Literary House director Mark Nowak) at the Book Plate Bookstore in Chestertown. The winner of the annual poetry award was John Andrew McCown for December. Joanne Scott received the second place award for Distant Thunder, and an honorable mention was given to Mary Wood for Elegy. John Andrew’s father Andy McCown accepted the award on his son’s behalf since the poet is attending the University of Vermont and was unable to be at the event.
Before the poets began reading, the legendary Lester Barrett played tribute to Nielsen with a breathtaking version of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. The SpyCam was there to capture it.
Editor’s note. Please be patient when viewing on YouTube since the video may require time to begin streaming. The Spy would like to thank Tyler Campbell for the cameo appearance of his right elbow in this production.
Larry Schroth says
Lester makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up – what a treasure!