Life of a Poet ~ Helen Dehner

Kids, sometimes we cross each other's paths frequently, moving among similar sites, so I am sure many of you have enjoyed the writing of Helen Dehner at Poetry Matters. I am so looking  forward to our visit today! Just wait till you see the spectacular scenery Helen enjoys. Makes me wish this visit was in real time! Look out the airplane window at those peaks! It's like flying over the Himalayas (which I do often, the same way we're doing now!)

Poets United: Helen, you live in one of my favourite states – Oregon, though I am a coast girl and you live in Bend, in the mountains. Tell us a bit about your town and what you love about your life there. 

Helen: Bend is the most amazing place I have ever lived!  (I’ve lived in seven states – IL, MO, MD, MN, GA, FL, and OR.)  After spending most of my life in large cities .. Bend is like a drink of cool spring water, a deep breath of clean air – it’s refreshing.  No traffic to speak of, tremendously friendly people, good health care, great restaurants, countless outdoor activities, a thriving music scene, theatre, four seasons (none of them extreme), sunshine and blue skies most days, really unique round-about art, twelve breweries (we’ve been called “Beer Crazy Bend”.)   

   

I have four children, three sons (52, 51, 50) and one daughter (46), two grand children (16 and 20.)  My daughter and grand children live in Bend .. which is why I moved myself, my mother and my middle son cross country almost eight years ago.  A Westward Ho the Wagons sort of thing.

The collage includes photos of me, my three sons Louis (52) Carl (51) Chris (50) 

my daughter Elizabeth (45) granddaughter Jennifer (20) my grandson Charlie (almost 17) 

a photo of my daughter, and partner Steve (7+years). 

P.U.: We Grandmas do tend to live close to the grandkids. What a beautiful family you have!  Bend sounds wonderful! The gorgeous metal sculpture of horses on your banner – is that the entrance to your home? Do you know the artist?

Helen: The breathtaking metal sculpture on my banner was created by Greg Congleton.  It sits on the bank of the Deschutes River not far from my home.  Greg lives in the area and has other sculptures in place around Bend.  His work is amazing.

Around town-

Bend is full of traffic roundabouts .. most of them containing 

larger-than-life original sculpture. 

P.U.: Bend looks totally cool! I love all the sculptures. Where did you grow up, Helen? Who would you say was the biggest influence on you when you were a kid?

Helen: I was raised in a small town in Illinois right across the river from St. Louis, MO.  I am the oldest of three daughters.  My father passed away when we were young .. 16, 14 and 11.  My mother was only 35 – I can’t imagine how difficult raising us must have been.  We were blessed to have extended family surrounding us, our  maternal grandparents most of all.  I would have to say my music teacher (flute) was a huge influence in my life, as were a handful of educators along the way.

  

P.U.: When did you write your first poem? Do you remember what it was about?

Helen: I remember writing poems for relatives’ birthdays and sadly a few eulogies over the years.  I was my mother’s primary caregiver during the last five years of her life – she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease – and writing became therapy for me, a place to put my emotions, the frustration, the pain.     

P.U.: Have you written a poem you feel reflects or describes who you are? Or do you have a favorite you might like to share with us?

The road up to Mt. Bachelor-

about 20 minutes from our home

Helen: For starters, I don’t have ‘a style.’  I’m pretty eclectic when it comes to form, rhyme/no rhyme ... I enjoy creating the unexpected.  I believe everything I write reflects who I am.  No matter the challenge, topic, inspiration.   I write poetry when I feel happy, sad, frustrated and thankful.  When I cared for my mother, poetry reflected every up, every down.  I have attached several poems I wrote during the last few years of my mother’s life.     

THE JOURNEY TO DINNER

I watch them as their day comes to a close
the continuous shuffling of bodies and souls

some of them walking unaided

some of them walking assisted

some of them being pushed in chairs ..

the familiar journey to a room

most of them can't recall from day to day

I wonder ~ will he or she be there the next time I visit
 I've grown so fond of them all 

PIED PIPER

I feel like a Pied Piper among fragile humans

Needing cues from their pasts to bring

Smiles to their faces

Light to their eyes

Music is the key 

I can help bring back memories of long ago 

When they were happy and carefree

When joy and freedom reigned

And images of their futures

Could not be fathomed 

NIGHT TRAIN

Listen to the faraway

sound of the train

solitary companion

 in the middle of the night

focus on the wailing whistle

rhythmic beat and layered harmony

blotting out all the pain

(I wrote this for a “compose song lyrics in poetry form” challenge – I sing it to Bill Doggett’s Honky Tonk from way back in 1956!!! )

HONKY TONK BLUES
    

Gonna sit myself down

Churn out some of that

Old time honky tonk music

I'm feelin' be-boppin' crazy

Rip roarin' ready

Finger snappin' groovy

Flowin' with the rhythm

Write that song while I

Move to the beat

Snap my gum

Tap my feet

Boogie-woogie, ragtime

It's in my core

I'm a honky tonk woman

           And a whole lot more            

P.U.: Even without the music, that honky tonk gets my feet tapping! I love all of them, Helen, especially your tender poems about the elderly, about to make their final journey. What do you love about poetry?

Helen: For me, writing poetry defines who I am .. where I’ve been .. where I dream of going.  I never know what might bubble to the surface!   I love the way reading poetry makes me feel.  I love being challenged, being transported to another realm.   (I may have a slight addiction to poetry?)

A nice view of The Three Sisters - North, South, Middle. 

We also have tremendous views of Broken Top, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Washington.  

We sit on the eastern side of the Cascades, dry and sunny High Desert country.

P.U.: Poetry is a good addiction! You have written about your love for music, saying it inspires you. Do you play an instrument? 

Helen: I come from a musical family.  My father could play ANY instrument you placed in his hands ~ by ear.   My sisters and I sang trios for family and around our small town .. as I progressed through school I sang in several music groups and played my flute.  I still have my flute, and yes I do play – though not as well as I used to!  I participated in flute solo contests for five years (ages 10-15) winning all sorts of medals. 

P.U.: It  sounds wonderful growing up with music in the family! Your industry before retirement was tourism and you mention a love of travel. Where have you traveled in the world? Which trip was the most golden in memory and why?

Where I write - my office in the loft

Me acting silly

in my office in the loft

Helen: I was blessed to work in travel management during years ‘freebies’ were passed out to industry folks.  As a result I have traveled the world –  missing out on the Middle East, Italy and Spain.  I still dream of touring Italy .. maybe one day.  I spent three weeks traveling (solo) in New Zealand and Australia – my   favourite destinations.  

Unbelievably the camera I used during that three week trip in 1985 malfunctioned and I returned with just a few.  Thank goodness for memories.

I found ONE photo from Australia, me in a bikini at The Great Barrier Reef ~~ which I won't share.  However, another interesting tidbit of trivia .... in 1994 my travel agency and Northwest Airlines sponsored an outdoor concert on Summer Solstice in Anchorage, Alaska.  50s entertainers, we flew in tons of them.  The concert lasted nine hours!  The sun never set. 

Here's a photo of me with Fabian.........

........and another with Lou Christie...........  

I also got up on stage and performed all of American Pie with Don McClean!!!  

P.U.: Get out! This is just one more example of someone saying "oh I'm so boring, no one wants to hear about me" and then blowing my doors off with their stories! I so love my job! 

Helen: In 1998 I was an invited guest to Bill Clinton's White House for the screening of a film the Mossier Foundation funded.  "Out Of The Past" which traced the emergence of gays and lesbians in American history.  Unfortunately President Clinton was fundraising that night.  I will never forget the feeling of walking through that security, going through the background checks. 

I saved my little cocktail napkin!

P.U.: Cool, kiddo! You have mentioned a love of theatre. Have you ever been involved in local theatre, or do you enjoy it from the audience?

Helen: I love theatre, behind the scenes and as a patron.  There are several fine community theatres in Bend, I work backstage crew for many productions.  I have a secret desire to (just once in my life) have a small part in a play – however I would have to audition –  the thought terrifies me.  

Where I relax with books, music and television

P.U.: I see you are also interested in film. From the viewpoint of watching them? (I adore good movies!), or have you been involved in a film project?

Helen: I have not been involved in film production .. I love watching movies, plain and simple.  From indies to epics.  No horror films, please.

P.U.: Are you also an artist?

Helen: I would never call myself an artist .. I’ve dabbled and that’s about it.

Top deck

(I also do quite of bit of pondering out here) 

P.U.: You mention volunteering, on your blog. What  causes are dear to your heart?

Helen: Our middle son was born with developmental disabilities.  As a result I have been involved in Special Olympics and lent assistance to many special needs organizations over the years.  During the last five years of my mother’s life I began volunteering in her memory care facility.  Proud to say I was named “Caregiver of the Year, 2006” by the Central Oregon Alzheimer’s Association.  

I have led countless songfests, played my flute, baked pies, called Bingo, applied makeup, held residents' hands through the last hours of their lives.  I still volunteer in memory care from time to time.  Since 1997 I have served as one of five trustees on the board of the Mossier Foundation ~  the foundation is focused on supporting the LGBT community.

View from the deck

 

P.U.: You do good work, Helen. Way to be! What do you love about blogging?

Helen: I love the friendships and enlightenment blogging brings to my life.  I love the challenge of being creative, which for me is the best brain exercise possible.  I love the thought of leaving all of this for my children, grand children, generations to come.   

 

P.U.: Well said. Is there anything you’d like to say to Poets United?

Helen: I am so impressed with the talented writers who are responsible for Poets United – who keep it flourishing.  I’m honoured to have been asked by Sherry to share a bit about me, about my poetry.  Thank you. 

P.U.: Thank you, Helen, for allowing us this visit with you. It has truly been a pleasure.

Well, kids, another wonderful poet, another heartwarming life story. Every Monday I am reminded anew what a wonderful world this blogosphere is, filled with the loveliest of people. Let's spin the globe and put our finger down at random to see who we visit next. Who knows? It might be you!