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Burl E.

Battersby

Welcome to Be! Eugene Be! Creative 

Life long artist & author of poetry collections, including Wild Rose: & Other Poems Sung by the Window.

For my entire life I have known that I was an artist and a writer; I could never deny the truth to myself or to others, but I lived a dual life.  It took many years for my passion & my skill to be brought together -  for me to decide that I had to follow my dream no matter what & no matter where it would lead me. 

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The breakthrough in my life started with sobriety. Although I had been involved in the literary arts scene since first moving here, it was during the pandemic when I began thinking of ways that I could help nurture the already vibrant community of writers in Tacoma.

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Thus began the journey which eventually led to the Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets.

Burl Battersby at Lakewold Gardens reading his poetry

Photo by Jackie Casella

Upcoming Events

Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets hosts community events supporting literary arts. See the calendar or click the button to see more.

A stylized image of a Chinese lamp taken in Tacoma's International District
  • Voices of Tacoma Official Launch at 2024 Tacoma Studio Tour - Mottet Library
    Sat, Oct 12
    Mottet Library
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Mottet Library, 3523 E G St, Tacoma, WA 98404, USA
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Mottet Library, 3523 E G St, Tacoma, WA 98404, USA
    As part of Tacoma Arts Month Studio Tours, this free and all-ages events will create “Poet’s Studios” at Mottet, South Tacoma, and Fern Hill Libraries. Come participate and hear the Poets read their work.
    Share
  • Voices of Tacoma Official Launch at 2024 Tacoma Studio Tour - South Tacoma Library
    Sat, Oct 12
    South Tacoma Library
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    South Tacoma Library, 3411 S 56th St, Tacoma, WA 98409, USA
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    South Tacoma Library, 3411 S 56th St, Tacoma, WA 98409, USA
    As part of Tacoma Arts Month Studio Tours, this free and all-ages events will create “Poet’s Studios” at Mottet, South Tacoma, and Fern Hill Libraries. Come participate and hear the Poets read their work.
    Share
  • Voices of Tacoma Official Launch at 2024 Tacoma Studio Tour - Fern Hill Library
    Sat, Oct 12
    Fern Hill Library
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Fern Hill Library, 765 S 84th St, Tacoma, WA 98444, USA
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Fern Hill Library, 765 S 84th St, Tacoma, WA 98444, USA
    As part of Tacoma Arts Month Studio Tours, this free and all-ages events will create “Poet’s Studios” at Mottet, South Tacoma, and Fern Hill Libraries. Come participate and hear the Poets read their work.
    Share
  • Voices of Tacoma Launch @ King's Books
    Thu, Oct 17
    King's Books
    Oct 17, 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
    King's Books, 218 St Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA
    Oct 17, 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
    King's Books, 218 St Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA
    Join the Poets from Voices of Tacoma as we celebrate the launch of the anthology of poetry of, about, and inspired by Tacoma at King's Books.
    Share
  • Open House with the Poets
    Wed, Oct 23
    Swasey Library
    Oct 23, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Swasey Library, 7001 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406, USA
    Oct 23, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Swasey Library, 7001 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406, USA
    Ever want to participate in a conversation with local poets? Now is your chance! Come visit with the poets of #VoicesofTacoma who have published an anthology of their most recent works.
    Share
  • Open House with the Poets
    Wed, Nov 20
    Swasey Library
    Nov 20, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Swasey Library, 7001 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406, USA
    Nov 20, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Swasey Library, 7001 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406, USA
    Ever want to participate in a conversation with local poets? Now is your chance! Come visit with the poets of #VoicesofTacoma who have published an anthology of their most recent works.
    Share
  • Multiple Dates
    Arts at the Armory
    Sat, Dec 07
    Tacoma Armory
    Dec 07, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Tacoma Armory, 1001 Yakima Pk Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98405, USA
    Dec 07, 2024, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Tacoma Armory, 1001 Yakima Pk Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98405, USA
    Join #VoicesOfTacoma for an opportunity to meet the poets and buy a copy of the anthology!
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Christina Vega, Poet | Publisher

“Wild Rose is truly a lovely ode - beautifully done. I really like how B. Eugene B. let himself create multiple iterations of the poem, focusing on different aspects of his mother's life and memory.”  
Mt. Rainier, photo taken from Sounder Train, between Sumner and Puyallup

Land acknowledgment

ʔuk’ʷədiitəb ʔuhigʷətəb čəɫ txʷəl tiiɫ ʔa čəɫ ʔal tə swatxʷixʷtxʷəd ʔə tiiɫ puyaləpabš dxʷəsɫaɫlils gʷəl ʔutxʷəlšucidəbs həlgʷəʔ.
 

We gratefully acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Puyallup People where they make their home and speak the Lushootseed language.

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