Inimitable Socorro

My last blog post, “A Ten-Poem Day,” included a scrambled-up version of the above portrait. i’d originally planned to switch images if and when Socorro gave me the go-ahead to post. now, though, I’m inclined to give Socorro a post of her own.

About eight years ago I saw an Internet ad for a social website that said “Under 50 Need Not Apply.” I was 52, and a site for over-50 folks sounded good. That site was the late, lamented eons.com. It was my first experience with social media. I didn’t do Facebook till much later.

One of the first things I found was a poetry group called Callling All Poets, which Socorro had created. I joined it and loved it, participating enthusiastically.

Her username on Eons was Pajarito. We called her PJ. She was, and is, encouraging, uplifting, and motherly. Not for her was the deconstructive critique, nor putdowns of any kind. Anyone wanting input on their writing need only ask; it would come by private message if potentially embarrassing.

Of course, a few times people joined who didn’t subscribe to the ethic of encouragement and uplift. I  remember two in particular. One was scathingly sarcastic; the other one was a legend in his own mind who wanted us all to benefit from his superior approach to poetry, and no other approach would do. Socorro dealt with them both with honest directness, first with a warning and then with the classic heave-ho. She has always stayed a nurturing course.

And when Eons foundered, Socorro took us to Facebook. Now we are Poets All Call, 70 members strong.

I’ve written hundreds of poems expressly for Socorro’s group. It is a nice nesty poet’s haven. And she is a wonderful leader and friend. I’ll always be grateful to her.