Barbara Lawlor, Gold Hill.  When a newcomer to Gold Hill asked former resident Edie Eilender if she knew any poets in the small mountain town, she became inspired.  She wrote poetry and she knew people who wrote poetry and all of them, being typical mountain, atypical city folks, were kind of misfits and the poetry club was born.

It was 2000. There was no meltdown. The words flowed.

The first Miscellaneous Mountain Misfits meeting took place in the Gold Hill Store on March 2, 2000. By July, there had been five meetings and Eilender said, “I didn’t know it would go this long. It’s all about sharing a community building thing.”

Resident Virginia Schultz read about the birth of her daughter who was six then and who is now out in the world on her own.

Steven Arney, Virginia’s husband, read a poem about the needless death of Ponderosa Pine, saying they “held tree memories of the last Wall Street Heyday.” Ironically, he also read a poem about cutting down a pine beetle infested ponderosa and hugging it before the teeth of the saw took a bite.

Eilender recounted a trip down the Grand Canyon. Everyone agreed they wanted to continue the poetry journey.

Two weeks ago, the MMM met again at the Gold Hill Store. Not much has changed in the past 15 years in Gold Hill. Many of the poets are the same, 15 years older, and many are newcomers. The Misfits have met in 18 different locations in the town, with people taking turns hosting the gathering.

Although Eilender now lives in Boulder, she made a trip back up the hill to be part of the 15-year celebration held in the place it was born. Schultz introduced her as the person “who lit the fire.”

“Thank you to everyone for making the Misfits last for so long,” said Eilender. “We have lasted much longer than most writers’ groups.”

Poet John Latham built a cabin in Gold Hill, certain he was going to stay, “But one thing was missing. When my marriage fell apart, I became immersed in poetry and I thought if I lived here, I would lose my poetry. Then wonderful Edie created this avenue, a time to get together. I was surprised at how people who don’t like poetry tried it and terrific things emerged under Edie’s reign.”

Latham figures that 10,000 original poems have been written in Gold Hill homes, extemporaneous poems written on site. He says he has cried at magnificent poetry written by beginners.

“Edie saw what was important in Gold Hill and her leadership kept us afloat and long may it be so.”

Latham read from his collection of poetry, as did long-time Gold Hill resident Mary Ryan who described wild rides down Lickskillet, and what a houseful the group has become.

Leaf Running-rabbit, from Ward, who recently won the Liz Caile Peace Writing contest in Nederland, read his poem about each of us being the personification of peace, and dedicated it to the Misfits.

Steven Arney read some of his fallen leaf poem series: a poem fell off the curb; off the wagon; off its rocker; etc. There was no end to how and where and what a poem could fall of and onto. It was clever and hilarious and painted mind pictures of a mischievous, adorable little poem type guy always getting into trouble.

The night flew by quickly and soon it was time to head out the door, into the darkness of a small town with no street lights, wood smoke in the air and words dancing with the stars, 15-year-old words that will continue to twinkle as long as the Misfits are afoot.