Rick Benjamin, Brown University professor, started reading poetry to a group of EPOCH Assisted Living on the East Side residents 19 months ago. He wanted the elders to write their own poems, but he knew this would be a tough sell at first. Meeting with the seniors two Mondays a month, Rick encouraged the participants to start to try their hand at poetry. At first, the residents were hesitant. Over time, they blossomed under his tutelage. On June 1, 23 poets from EPOCH Assisted Living on the East Side published a book of poems – 100 pages in all – called “Life, Loss, Love.”

As the title suggests, the poems of “Life, Loss, Love” cover the peaks and valleys of rich, long lives, including highlights and fond memories, losses of friends and abilities through aging, and the special relationships the poets have formed over the years. The beautiful cover art was created by one of the poets, Ursula Rickenberg, an EPOCH resident.

“I have been abundantly rewarded by this gig, facilitating the thinking and writing of my elders,” Benjamin reflected.

“Life, Loss, Love” is available at EPOCH Assisted Living the East Side, One Butler Ave. Proceeds from the sale of Life, Loss, Love” are being directed to a Literary Scholarship by EPOCH residents for aspiring high school writers.

The EPOCH poets of East Side will host a reading of select poems Thursday, June 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. This event is open to guests, but an R.S.V.P. is requested at 401-275-0682.