Berks Bards is excited to welcome Ryan Rettew! Join us at the GoggleWorks to hear her music and poetry. Following the performance, we'll allow ANYONE to step up to the mic and read anything that moves them. Learn more about Ryan before our event by reading more below:
Ryan
Rettew grew up in Berks County and is a 2004 graduate of Twin Valley
High School. After high
school, Ryan followed her love of reading and writing to study English at Clarion University where she graduated with a
bachelor's degree in 2008.
While studying at Clarion
University, Ryan received
recognition for her poetry. Her work was published in the school's literary
magazine, Tobeco. She also earned a
scholarship to attend the Chautauqua Writer's Festival. Ryan discovered her
unique poetic style when she began putting her words to music. Songwriting has
become Ryan's primary means of poetic expression. She has given performances at
several locations in and around Berks County, including Boyertown's Turning
Leaf Festival, The Other Farm Brewing Company (now known as The Other Farm
& Forge), and Chaplin's Music Cafe.
In
her early twenties, Ryan came up against drug addiction and depression. She has
continued to write throughout her journey in recovery from these challenges.
She began a career in teaching in 2012. She now lives in Lancaster County
with her husband, Jim and many pets. She is a stay-at-home mom to their
daughter, Robin, and has plans to return to teaching soon.
Below is a sample of Ryan Rettew's work:
Lyrics to “Map of Faces”
There's
a lake where I forget.
You
can come forget there, too.
The
map I drew
looks
like faces of the people that you knew.
It's
the only way
to
reach that lake.
Loneliness
is a killer.
Ears
and eyes are traitors to the soul.
Forgetfulness
is better.
It's
just a natural part of getting old.
O
prophets spoke
of
you.
I
swear
I
knew you once.
Your
name
escapes
me now but since
we're
here
let's
go somewhere.
There's
a lake where I forget.
You
can come forget there, too.
The
face I drew
looks
like maps of all the places that you knew.
It's
the only way
to
reach that lake.
Loneliness
is a killer.
Ears
and eyes are traitors from the start.
Forgetfulness
is better.
It's
just a certain stillness of the heart.
O
prophets spoke
of
you.
I
swear
I
knew you once.
When: August 2nd, 2018 at 6pm
Where: The GoggleWorks
201 Washington Street Reading PA 19601
