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Show ' OO'-' - i .... , . ' . 1 . , - , - . .... K - - , I - . s x - S 1 i X ' N x J I x - " 1 I V ' , -- I y - BONNIE BEHUNIN, Utah Poet of the Year, arid her husband Newel show the traveling plaque given to Bonnie for be- ing Poet of the Year for this year. She is now a Poet Laurette. Utimfo Poeft ? Ye it "I'm proud as punch to be it," said Bonnie Behunin, recipient of the Utah Poet of the Year. "It made me feel good that other people liked my pieces because poetry is a very personal art." Mrs. Behunin was named Utah Poet of the Year Saturday, April 23 at the April Awards Festival held at the University of Utah. "I thought in lines of poetry when I was little," said Mrs. Behunin. However, she didn'Lwrite poems until un-til high school. At'BYU she studied creative writing with Clinton Larson and took advanced advanc-ed classes while there. She said she also goes tc as many workshops on writing as she can attend. Doris Burton was president of the Uintah Chapter of the Utah Poetry Society when Mrs. Behunin moved to town in 1974 and was instrumental in getting her interested in attending their meetings. Mrs. Behunin said Melva Tullis, a local poet, also influenced her quite a bit. She encouraged her to write and keep coming to the meetings. Bonnie was in the presidency of the society as well as president for four years. Carol Feltch and Carol Terry were also officers and helped her get her book togethers. "Belonging to the Utah Poetry Society I have entered their contests every year," said Mrs. Behunin. "Their main contest is their Laureate Book Contest. They have five out-of-state judges who judge the books and pick the one that is published every year. Bonnie is the 19th one to have been chosen for this honor. After the winner's win-ner's book is published they become a Poet Laureate. She has also had a story of hers published in the Ensign church magazine and one at BYU entitled "Twenty-Two Young Morman Writers". According to Mrs. Behunin, she likes to write about the family and things that are important to her. This past year she has been very ill and said she finds writing helps her to take her mind off all of the aches and pains and operations. "I have written some of my best work lately while I've been on the dialysis machine," said Mrs. Behunin. "It's almost like you have to suffer some before you can write some of the real good things." Bonnie will illustrate her own book. The book will come out in October. There will be a concert of her poetry at the University of Utah on October 15 which is National Poetry Week. She said the book desn't have a title as yet. She will meet with the judges and will decide on what the title of her book will be. Mrs. Behunin said, "I write anytime the iaspiration strikes whether it in the middle of the night or during the day ." A little over a year ago, Mrs. Behunin had to quit teaching at the Vernal Junior High because of illness.-She illness.-She taught for almost eight years. "I miss teaching but my writing has taken the place of that." Vernal was the first teaching job she had. She grew up in Idaho and attended attend-ed and graduated from college in the spring of 1974. She moved to Vernal from Midvale. On May 7 a poetry recital will be held at the Uintah County Library beginning at 2 p.m. It is free to the public and everyone is invited to attend. At the recital, members of the club will read Mrs. Behunin's poems. She was elected Uintah Basin Poet of the Year for this year even before the festival was held. "I had hoped for a long time of winning win-ning the book contest," said Mrs. Behunin. This was her second time of entering the contest. "I enjoy writing strict forms of poetry, said Mrs. Behunin. Strict ' poetry is rhythm and certain meters. "They're more old fashioned than free verse.'' Mrs. Behunin said usually it takes her about an hour to four hours to write a poem. "I really believe in revision revi-sion and going over it until its just right." "I really enjoy the club we have here," said Mrs. Behunin. "I urge anyone interested in writing or reading poetry to join." Mildred Mansfield is the president at this time with Carol Feltch as vice president and Amy Pope as secretary. Mrs. Behunin has also written words for songs. She said this is another thing she enjoys doing. Together with Tish McFadden, they were able to write some songs. She wrote the words and Tish wrote the music, Mrs. Behunin also sings with her husband. Newel, who has the Newel's Harmony Four Band. "I enjoy the senior citizen dances and singing with my husband and getting to see all of the people." Bonnie also does painting and art work as a hobby. Up until now, the winners of the state contest have been from the Wasatch Front. This is the first time it hasn't been. "I'm glad I live in Vernal. I like it and the people. I'm happy if I have brought any good thoughts this way by being from Vernal. I like to represent the town well if I can," Bonnie said. Mrs. Behunin also said, "I enjoy church work what I can do while I'm not ill." She is a member of the Vernal Ver-nal Fourth Ward. "I'll never stop writing. It's something I enjoy and will continue to do," concluded Mrs. Behunin. |