On Saturday, Sept. 8, the Lincoln Arts Festival held its 21st annual poetry workshop, led by Dr. Barrie Shepherd at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Boothbay Harbor. The theme for the day was the role of the poet and Shepherd opened the discussion with a question.

Asking the six workshop participants how they would describe the role of the poet, Shepherd offered a number of descriptions from famous poets, and presented his own definition: the spokesperson for the spirit.

The workshop was an interesting mix of the religious, the academic and the international. Shepherd is a native of Great Britain and attendee Kira Bryant is a native of Australia. Several participants were familiar with Shepherd’s associates in academia and one of the attendees, Juliana Anderson, is a former president of the Massachusetts Episcopal Clergy Association.

Participants gave varied reasons for attending the workshop. Bryant is in the area for three months teaching at the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb. She wanted to learn more about poetry for her seventh and eighth grade students.

Jean Webster was a founding member of the workshop 21 years ago. She and a group of friends who write poetry came to Maine years ago and wanted to learn more about poetry.

Anderson, an Episcopal priest, hosts a Rhode Island television program and a poet.

Sociology professor Andrew Twaddle, a resident of East Boothbay, said he “wanted to get to the other side of his brain” after retiring and so took up poetry. His poems have been published.

Pat McHold, also of East Boothbay, has been writing poetry and memoirs since she was a young girl. A medical technologist, she has also published a poem.

Sarah Wolcott Twaddle expressed her interest in poetry and explained that she and Shepherd have friends in common in academia.

Discussion was filled with references to favorite poets and poems. Anderson commented on “origami poetry.” In it, small folded papers with poems written on them are left so that the finder is encouraged to reflect on the poem.

At the end of the day, the participants felt the time was well spent and the location was a favorite. Some said they had homework to do. Others had ideas for new poems and all felt the workshops should continue every year.