Downriver Poets & Playwrights

JAN COYNE-HENKEL -- POET

MEMBER OF POETY & PLAYWRIGHTS

I, Jan Coyne-Henkel, am a member of Downriver Poets & Playwrights and Poetry Society of Michigan.

Married to fellow poet Don Henkel, Don and I met at one of the Open Mic readings at Wyandotte City Hall.
I am mom to three wonderful sons. I have the three greatest daughter-in-laws and seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughter and two great-grandsons.


I have been Editor and publisher of The New Light Newsletter, a bi-monthly newspaper, for 20 years. I had a column in the Wyandotte newspaper, The Wyandotte Echo. My column was called, AROUND TOWN and dealt with past and present interesting subjects about our city.

A POET?

Who is a poet? Someone who writes poetry? What is poetry? Who decides? Is my "poetry" good? Who decides that?

Well, way back in high school I began to love writing. At that time it was short stories. I started a science fiction tale that never was finished. (still have the rough draft, pretty yellowed by now) Wrote a short piece for English class about a boy who was lonely and met with a tragic end. My English teacher wrote "too maudlin" on my paper and, the insecure person I was at the time, I gave up writing, totally, for years. Looking back, if that teacher had written ANYTHING positive on that paper, my life might have taken a different turn as far as writing was concerned.

Now that I am involved with P&P, I am enjoying writing again. Have done a small chapbook, written hundreds of poems, write letters to the Editor and have always had them printed (so far ).

 A POEM: ERASER DUST

Eraser dust upon the floor
Tells of words that are no more

Given life upon the page
Wiped away before they age

Silence remains...still...unbroken
By words that will never be spoken.

(c) Jan Coyne-Henkel

ALL THAT TO SAY THIS...

Creativity, sometimes, is easily crushed.

My husband, Don Henkel, and I now go into schools to encourage children to try anything they would like to do in life. We present how to publish your own book, as Don has written two children's books, "A Legend of Santa and His Brother Fred," and "Painted Treasures or The Original 288 Tree Gnomes."  Latest book is "Times in Rhyme With Reason." We self-published and want to share our experience with students.

Any school interested in having us may call us at:  734 281-7024 

 Writing is fun, fulfilling, therapudic, entertaining, sometimes hard work, but always a joy!

If YOU are so inclined...WRITE ON!

JAN COYNE PUBLISHED IN LIGHTHOUSE DIGEST DECEMBER 2002!

While visiting in Cheboygan, MI some time ago, I had the privilege of meeting Louis Bauchan, a former lighthouse keeper. Mr. Bauchan has passed away now, but has been featured in the Lighthouse Digest, a publication that relates information and articles about lighthouses that are in danger of being let fall to ruin or be torn down. It also tells of lighthouses that have been and are being restored.

I sent Mr. Bauchman a copy of my poem, "The Old Light" and he liked it and asked if I would mind if he had it published in the magazine. Of course, I was honored, as I had never seen any poetry printed in the issues I had seen since I subscribed.

I gave my permission December 2002 I was delighted to find the poem published. The Decembe issue is a beautiful on with a painting of a lighthouse in a snow scene with Santa Claus walking toward it and Rudolf pulling on the rope on a bell on the house.

My thanks to Mr. Bauchman

UPDATE: Mr. Bauchman has passed away a few years ago. He was an interesting and very nice person and will be fondly remembered.

Email us
 jannewlight@att.net