Terra Oliveira is a poet, and she definitely knows it—and soon, she’ll celebrate the publication of her second poetry book, Itinerant Songs, at San Rafael’s Rebound Bookstore.
Oliveira wrote the poems collected in Itinerant Songs over the course of years. Each work stands alone as an artwork while also threading together a compelling narrative of the writer’s life and lived experiences during that time. Now, she’s about to share those slices of her life with the world. But first, she’ll share them with Marin.
“I started writing the poems in Itinerant Songs in 2018,” said Oliveira. “The last poetry book I put together and published was in 2017. And now with my new book, I really wanted to just start the process by slowly compiling my poems. Then, I looked more seriously at the collection when I knew I had enough poems that I would start putting together a book; that was in 2020. It’s really been a slow chip-away process.
“I didn’t want to rush the process of this book, and because of that, it has captured so many different periods of my life,” she continued. “There have been so many changes in the world and in my life, so the collection really followed me through different periods. I think I felt surprised looking at the end result and then thinking, this book couldn’t have been written if I hadn’t lived through the experiences I’d lived through. This book just unfolded itself as my life kept happening.”
Oliveira is already an accomplished poet whose work has appeared in notable publications such as The American Poetry Review, Bamboo Ridge, The Common, Puerto del Sol and many more. Her previous collection of illustrated poetry, An Old Blue Light, won accolades with its entry in the Where Are You Press Poetry Contest in 2016.
“I had come from a storytelling background already,” she explained. “I went to San Francisco State and was studying documentary film production there. Shortly after finishing that degree, I transitioned to bookmaking, published poetry, illustration and photography books. Came to put more of my focus on poetry in 2015 or so and had a poetry book published in Portland, and that experience led me to found my own publishing company called Recenter Press, published my own and others.”
“I do still consider myself a multidisciplinary writer and artist,” continued Oliveira. “My most formal practice comes through poetry. Each poem can stand on its own. But I really like bookmaking and that I can have all these different poems that I can weave together into a book of poems.”
Alongside receiving well-earned recognition for her own contributions to the field of modern poetry, Oliveira has also founded her own publication company. In June of 2017, she founded Recenter Press, which she hoped would give poets and wordsmiths an avenue to share their works and words with the world. According to the website, Recenter Press’ mission focuses primarily on providing a platform for underrepresented voices to find their audience and speak their truth, with emphasis on important social and societal issues, including “workers’ rights and experiences, LGBTQ and racial justice, recovery and mysticism and our interdependence with each other and the natural world.”
In Marin, a progressive and inclusive mission feels right at home. Especially in this era, people are more eager than ever to support social justice, community and those working to advance both. The North Bay’s love of the arts runs deep, and its affection for poetry is nearly as strong as its commitment to activism. Put those together and one has fertile ground for a truly engaged and forward-thinking poetic community.
It is the kind of place where poetry readings, workshops and open mics don’t just entertain but also provoke thought and spark change. Here, poets can explore complex ideas, challenge assumptions and bring people together through the power of language. Marin offers a welcome invitation to anyone interested, even those only slightly intrigued, to lend their ear or raise their voice and join the lively chorus of local denizens shaping the cultural conversation.
“I do think that poetry is for everybody, and I don’t want to write poetry only for poets,” said Oliveira. “I want to speak to people who haven’t read that much poetry or who don’t know they can even like poetry. I like to write with concrete, accessible terms while still having some craft to them, too. I do think it is important to try to reach people who don’t consider themselves part of the literary world. That’s why I try to write really grounded poetry. Poetry that speaks to very real, material experiences about housing, about work, about day-to-day trying to make ends meet.”
At her upcoming book launch, Oliveira will read alongside two other renowned poets, including Marin poet laureate Francesca Bell as well as former Marin poet laureate Rebecca Foust, both of whom are deeply rooted in and celebrated by the Marin community. The event promises not only an introduction to Oliveira’s newest work but also a rich gathering of voices that highlight the depth and talent of the local literary scene. Attendees can expect an evening of thoughtful, engaging poetry that reflects the vibrant spirit of Marin’s artistic community.
“I find community totally essential in poetry,” Oliveira concluded. “Oftentimes, writing can be a really personal, introspective process. With poetry and any art form, community is how our work gets shared and it’s a big part of why I started a poetry press, because I find it important to share others’ work and use whatever platforms we have to uplift other people’s work.”
So, for those interested in coming out to support and uplift the work of one of Marin’s up-and-coming poets, they know where to go: Oliveira’s book launch. Poetry is for everyone, so one need not be shy. This event will bring together a ton of the established powerhouses of local poetry, which makes it the perfect time and place to meet, listen and feel the power of poetry alongside fellow community members. After all, now more than ever is a time that calls for empathy, connection and the kind of honest expression only poetry can offer.
Terra Oliveira’s ‘Itinerant Songs’ book launch is free to attend and will take place at 6:30pm on Wednesday, July 16, at Rebound Bookstore, located at 1611 4th St. in San Rafael. To learn more about Oliveira and her work, visit her website at recenterpress.com.
