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this one has no name
A friend of mine told me that meaningful culture
is passed along in small settings. Narrative and
poetry reflect this. Intimate acts require a
speaker and an active Listener/reader. Telling
and hearing stories and poems are
what make us human. They help give shape to
our experience. In giving voice to ideas and
emotions through images and language, writers
hope to better understand the world and
themselves. Writers offer a way of seeing
and feeling that is both uniquely contemporary
but also speaks to the timeless soul of the
human condition.
The no name writers group has a rich, decades-
long history in the literary life of Washington,
Connecticut. Contributing poet Davyne
Verstandig explained, “Over 30 years ago I was
invited to the home of Susan Tidyman (her
husband was the author of The French
Connection). Each year she gave a party to
celebrate Edna St. Vincent Millay’s birthday.
Susan invited a number of women to the party
and a man — Robley Whitson. She sent Edna’s
sister Nora a bouquet of flowers and called her
on the phone. Then we all ate and drank and
read some of our poems. Nan Malone, one of
the early members was also at that celebration.
A few days later Robley mentioned that it was
too bad we’d have to wait another year to get
together and read what we wrote. We decided
to start meeting at the Hickory Stick Bookshop
with a few friends, and so it began.”
Comprised of an eclectic mix of poets, novelists,
short story writers, performers, essayists, and
visual artists, the configuration of the group has
shifted gradually over time, with meetings held
in a variety of settings. In spite of this seemingly
amorphous identity, the writers are a firmly
established presence in Connecticut’s northwest
hills where they frequently stage readings,
perform in coffee houses, or partner in artistic
collaborations.
The group decided not to label itself beyond the
No-Name Writers Group. They preferred the
breadth of their writing to create the group’s
identity. Despite its inconspicuous name, the
group’s mission remains driven by its
vitality of ideas.
The members of the No Name Writers Group
have come together in different ways and for
different reasons. Like many of the contributors
to this volume, Merima Trako, who describes
herself on her website as a mom, engineer, ex-
refugee, writer, has found a home in the group.
“I am here, meeting with people, like me, who
have stories to share. They want to be heard,”
Merima said. “Our collective writing is an echo of
the souls that need companionship, an
affirmation, that we matter, that somehow our
writing talents are not alone and hidden under
our ‘real lives’. All of us are stuck in this duality,
this existence that transforms what our ‘normal
selves’ are, to something that our deepest truths
want to reveal. In this group of writers I feel that I
found soul mates for the part of me that never
quits writing. We create our own identity through
companionship, laughter and appreciation for
each other’s work.”
Nan Adams, a No Name Writer who has since
passed away, wrote in the introduction to the
group’s 2010 anthology, Songs of the Marrow
Bone, “The group has convened in a town hall,
committee room, in the lobby of a real estate
office, and in various people’s houses.” They’ve
also met at The Pantry, a local restaurant.
Currently they meet at the Hickory Stick Book
Shop in Washington Depot, where owners Fran
and Michael Keilty graciously offer the store after
hours.
The culmination of the last year’s writing and
meetings is reflected in the prose and poetry
they’ve selected for This One Has No Name. It is
my hope this book will introduce readers to the
rich and varied voices grounded in community.
Through the power of their work, I hope you will
be able to identify with them and with some part
of yourself you might not have known existed.
This introduction has been a collaborative effort,
reflecting the way we respect and honor one
another’s ideas.
Tom Lagasse 2016
Poetry and fiction by the members of the Washington, CT-based writers' group
CONTRIBUTORS
Introduction
