Eleventh Hour at the 11th Hour

Although I absolutely hated the Poetry Festival's slogan "Practice Safe Poetry" (Give me the no-condom-shared-needles-not-looking-both-ways-before-crossing poetry, please!), I do appreciate the work of Eleventh Hour Productions in the poetry community; the Poetry Festival, the slams, sponsoring the Seattle Poet Populist competition, among other programs.

Here's the email that's been circulating about the organization closing up shop. If you have any well wishes, I'm sure the folks there would love to hear them. They will be missed.

Labor of Love

Hello All,

For ten years, Eleventh Hour Productions has been a labor of love. Love expressed as a fierce commitment by our working board of poets. Love as reciprocal growth between Eleventh Hour, poets, audience, volunteers, partner organizations, and supporters. Tough love, as James Baldwin defines it, "the tough and universal sense of quest and daring and growth."

We still feel the love but we are closing the books on Eleventh Hour. We are proud of what we've accomplished as an organization: the Seattle Poetry Festival; Emerging Voices; Reel to Real; and countless special projects and partnerships. But we need time for our own work and lives. Our partner, Seattle Poetry Slam, will continue independently. Look for their new Web site on October 1 at www.seattlep oetryslam.org.

We would be remiss if we did not thank every single donor, sponsor, performer, volunteer, staff member, board member, and community member that supported us along the way. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We've still got some time left as we finish up our outstanding obligations but we wanted to give you advance notice. Your support has meant so much to us. Thank you for ten wonderful years, from the current and past working boards of Eleventh Hour Productions.

Take care,

Eleventh Hour Productions