When former English teacher Carl Fristrom stopped teaching at Point Loma High School in San Diego after 25 years, his love of poetry and literature did not fade away like photos in an old yearbook.
Fristrom, 82, participates in the many community activities available to residents at Mount Miguel, a faith-based, not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, but his love for the written word and desire to discuss literature persisted.
When former English teacher Carl Fristrom stopped teaching at Point Loma High School in San Diego after 25 years, his love of poetry and literature did not fade away like photos in an old yearbook.
Fristrom, 82, participates in the many community activities available to residents at Mount Miguel, a faith-based, not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, but his love for the written word and desire to discuss literature persisted.
“There is an active program of various lectures and performances and trips here at Mt. Miguel,” Fristrom says. “The Village does take residents to the theater several times a month, but there is no chance to sit and talk about what we saw. So having been a long time teacher of literature, I thought we needed a literature component.”
He approached Margo Bule, Mt. Miguel Covenant Village activities coordinator – residential living, who immediately jumped on the idea.
“I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to have a resident who is a former English teacher hold a poetry discussion group,” Bule says. “He created the syllabus, researched the poems and came up with the discussion questions. The residents are loving it.”
Fristrom’s teaching background certainly came into play when he began researching the poems as well as how he wanted to create an enjoyable, learning environment with plenty of opportunity for discussion.
“I didn’t want to make it like a classroom assignment,” Fristrom says. “And I didn’t want it to be where I spoke and everyone else listened. So we put the chairs in a circle because it makes an enormous difference in the way you learn.”
The first poetry group in August focused on poetry of love and highlighted Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, Lord Byron’s “She Walks in Beauty” and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” among several other poets and their works. He wasn’t certain how many people would turn up, but was pleasantly surprised when 12 residents took their seats. Eighteen residents turned up the second month.
“I have taught at least 10,000 classes, but I still get nervous,” Fristrom says. “The average age is 89, and I found it a marvel, but I was apprehensive. I was worried they wouldn’t be responsive and I would end up lecturing. I’ve been very pleased with the feedback.”
Mt. Miguel resident Florence Richardson, 83, wasn’t certain what to expect when she signed up for the first meeting, she says.
“I would read poetry, but I wouldn’t delve into it,” Richardson says. “The instructor was very passionate about poetry so we didn’t just sit and listen, he wanted a discussion about what we read. I learned a new way of interpreting poetry that I really enjoy.”
Fristrom spends about 30 hours a month having “great fun” preparing for poetry hour, he says.
“So many things we do here are community activities and we get to meet new people,” Fristrom says. “The Poetry Hour is part of the community now.”
The community is located at 325 Kempton Street, Spring Valley, Calif. For more information, please contact Mount Miguel Covenant Village at www.mountmiguelcovenantvillage.org or call 877-226-7350.
