By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Somers Point’s writer in residence has been hard at work since taking on the role in 2021.
Erin Castaldi, 43, of Mays Landing has represented Somers Point at various events like Art in the Park and the upcoming Poetry in the Park, which will take place on August 7 in Kennedy Park. She has also connected with Jordan Road school students and taught them the beauty and wonder of poetry. “I am the cheerleader of Somers Point, and I love engaging in creativity and encouraging people to do art,” said Castaldi.
Prior to her appointment as the poet laureate, Castaldi worked with her husband for their family ATM business. She loves spending time in nature, always bringing a notebook with her to write any words that come to mind.
“I’ve been writing since I was seven, and my uncle, my biggest fan, gave me some poetry books,” said Castaldi. “He was a surfer and involved in protests in the 60s and 70s, so he was a big inspirer of the arts. I would try to emulate the books and as I grew older, I would write my teenage angst.”
Castaldi specializes in haikus, the Japanese form of poetry of 13 syllables. The poet says that haikus are challenging because of the limited space, and the need to create an “aha moment” out of a few choice words. Here’s an example of one of Castaldi’s haikus:
- Quicksilver
- A gathering tide
- Finds midnight
On May 30, 2022, Castaldi won a national contest and had a book published, titled “Boundary Disruption.” The poetry follows Castaldi and her husband, working through difficult times in their marriage during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We came out on the other side strengthened,” said Castaldi. “But marriage is a choice you make every day, choosing to be happy and intentional.”
In addition, Erin Castaldi has been awarded two honorable mentions in two international competitions. In the Kaji Aso Studio Haiku Competition 2021, Erin read her poem via Zoom, which is available on YouTube. She also was awarded Honorable Mention in the International Haiku Competition 2021 sponsored by Croatia’s Tourist Board.
Throughout 2021, Castaldi has had multiple poems published in approximately a dozen journals, columns, magazines and anthologies. She was the featured poet in June at the Beach Bards Zoom presentation and was included in The First Wave, an anthology published in 2021 by The Beach Bards, based in Sea Isle City. The poet’s haikus were included in Somers Point Unique Experiences Club’s video of the Here Comes the Sun event held in April 2021.
As for the future, Castaldi hopes to publish more books and potentially apply to become the poet laureate of New Jersey. “I wanna move forward in my craft and keep inspiring kids,” said Castaldi. “It all comes down to discipline, being mindful, and engaging people in conversation.”
