Sunday Four Poetry, May 27

In the midst of the weekend of parades, Mall sales, & backyard cookouts poets showed up to read their work & listen to others & then … but I'll leave that for the end. So Mike Burke served as MC then Edie Abrams took over introducing the poets for the open mic before the featured poet, Thom Francis.

First up was "Bird" (Alan Casline) with a poem for James Williams with a string of epigraphs, it seemed, "The Beauty Way," then "Push a Blossom into the Green Fuse" from a workshop on Dylan Thomas (of course). Obeeduid (Mark O'Brien) has a book coming out soon from FootHills Publishing & read a series of poems from it, some with titles in the language of the Mahican people, some dream like & interior. Joe Krausman read 3 poems related to music, but all really about who/what we are & the choices we make.

The titles of Larry Rapant's poems (e.g., "It's Official Now," "Memorial Day Poem," etc.) give no clue to his obsessive ponderings of his penis, violence & other self-indulgence outrageousness. Bob Sharkey reminded us it was Rachel Carson's birthday & read "Overhead Cables Humming" with references to her work & vision, then "Life Size" with references to veterans & Richard Avedon's photos. Howard Kogan "Betrothed" was about his love affair with Spring, & "Meditation" was about his "monkey mind" at a workshop with poet Patricia Smith. I read an old poem for Memorial Day, "Peace Marchers at the Viet Nam Memorial" then the more recent "Washington Park Flowers" which had been published recently as a Letter to the Editor in the Albany Times-Union.

Jim Williams read a series of poems that ran from classical references ("Achilles Revenges a Friend"), to being a curmudgeon at a poetry workshop (sounds familiar), to the masterful poem that that began "Poetry Won't Make you Happy…" that morphed from a list of family comments into a imagined conversation with Carl Jung. Mike Burke didn't bring any of his own poems, read instead one of British poet Ted Hughes.

That was a bit of an incongrueous introduction to the afternoon's featured poet, el presidente of AlbanyPoets, Thom Francis. I have been following Thom's trajectory since he first read at Cafe Web in the late 1990s & I have been more & more impressed by his poetry as his career advances. He began with a familiar, older piece, "She's an Angel..."then on to a new piece, "Easter Visit," that was a portrait of a patient with memory loss. He said he was reading new work, retiring the old hits. But "Gone" is a good older piece, & I've heard the moving, ironic "Hero" before, citing his mother (in the audience) as one of his heros. A definitely new piece was his "love poem" to his insulin pump, "Machine." Another exercise in irony is the sad poem "Shower", while "Write Right" (did I get it right?) is a commentary on the writer's task. The last 2 poems also dealt with writers in different ways, "Paper Messiah" as a portrait of a poet wannabe, & "A New Day," the lead in to his well-known "Trucker" poem, about facing the empty page, the writer's daily task. A most impressive, well constructed reading, getting kudos from not a few other poets in the audience.

"...and then?" we went to Smitty's Tavern for libations, & pizza & burgers, etc., & more conversation about poetry & poets, & the state of the World.

One more in this season's series in June, but look for it to start up again in September, 4th Sunday at 3PM at the Old Songs Community Center in Voorheesville, NY.

Pine Hollow Arboretum Reading, May 25

This venue in Slingerlands, NY has been added to the list of area places where poetry happens on an ongoing basis. This night's reading was by Helen Ruggieri, with an open mic for local poets. Our host was Rootdrinker Institute director, Alan Casline.

I was first up (the #1 slot was still open when I got there just before the reading started) with the whimsical "Support the Bottom" & the sexy hot pants poem. Marion Menna shared her poems "Loons" & "New York Shorts." Paul Amidon's "North Country Tenant" was in a cemetary, & "Junk Car" was a childhood memory & he ended with another memory, "Moving Up Day." Obeeduid (Mark O'Brien) also had a couple of memory poems, "Catch Penny" & then 2 on death, one was titled "Kenny" (on the death of a young friend). Mimi Moriarty anticipated the Memorial Day holiday with vets telling war stories in the "Home Front Cafe" then one about a young recruit's graduation party, "Good Bye Party."

The featured poet Helen Ruggieri teaches workshops on Japanese verse forms so it wasn't surprising that her reading was sprinkled with haiku, like croutons in pea soup, but she began with "Memorial Day" done from memory. Other poems on Asian themes were one on "the anonymous poet of the Tang Dynasty", & one on Buddhism in Japan, "The Pavilion of Gold." Other poems were "Apologies to Schiller" & "Reading with the Senses." New poems were one on making a wreath from weeds, "Deer Run," & "A Bedtime Story." She ended with her favorite haiku about mosquitos harmonizing.  Her latest book is Butterflies Under a Japanese Moon from Kitsune Books.

Continuing the open mic Sharon Stenson's first piece was about a student shot by accident, "Essay #3: Cause & Effect, for Vito," while her second poem "Feathers" was lighter. Judith Kerman read a bouquet of nature poems, "Jack," "Pulling Maples," "In the Kingdom" (herons), & "Global Positioning." Alan Casline read descriptive pieces from a recent trip to London, including "Others Gone to the Prime Meridian" (who wants to see an imaginary line anyways?). Edie Abrams remembered her mother & her grandmother growing potatoes in "Resurrection," & the poem "Nature's Blessings" came from walking her dog. Barbara Quint read a prose memoir about being at a circus fire, "The Day the Clown Cried."

Watch for notices about other readings at this peaceful, airy venue. This one sponsored by Rootdrinker Institute & the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.

Poets Speak Loud!!, May 21

&, man, did we ever have to this night, out in the dining area of McGeary's rather than in our clubhouse backroom. We also shared the stage with the wonderful Ramblin' Jug-Stompers, but that was a good thing. They are a blue-grass, old-time, blues, good-time band & they like the poets, too. All this came about because we were not there on our usual last Monday, moved up a week due to the Memorial Day holiday. As usual, Mary Panza took control & kept things flowing (& only 1 poem each tonight).

Sylvia Barnard was up first with a revised version of the poem she had read at Don's open mic 2 weeks ago, "Israel 2012." In honor of the up-coming holiday (& I needed a loud poem) I read/declaimed "If Peace Broke Out Tomorrow." Emily's poem was a memory of the Puerto Rican cooking her mother made for her back in the Bronx.

The featured poet, Carlos Garcia, started with a couple pieces in Slam-cadence, "Dream Poetry" & "For Unheard Voices." At this point he was pressured into taking off his shirt (hmm, such heckling never worked with Mary), then into a fast-paced hip-hop piece. Then the poem "Rhythm" recalled the drums of his mixed heritage, & he ended with a love poem, "Waiting."

After a Jug-Stompers interlude, we continued on with the open mic, with Tess Lecuyer reading her sonnet, "If I Could Love Life Like I Hate Verizon." Cheryl A. Rice read the title poem from her new chapbook My Minnesota Boyhood (Post Traumatic Press, Woodstock, NY). Tammy, who had been here last month, but didn't read, braved the mic with a plaintive rhyme, "Departure." Mojavi followed with another of his customary love & sex poems.

The first thing Julie Lomoe said when she came to the mic, or rather shouted, was "Shut the Fuck Up!" Not only was there a loud group of drunken golfers at the end of the bar laughing at their own jokes, but even one of the tables of poets was a bit too chatty during other's readings. Her poem, too, was a rant about a women's writing group, the poem titled "I'm Too Abrasive." As someone suggested, maybe she needed some of Dain Brammage's meds. Avery's poem was the classic good advice, "Taking It One Step at a Time." Rainmaker (who has produced a CD of his his poems, Metaphor) did "Uncle Sam is my Grandfather," a wide-ranging political rant. Poetic Visionz ended on a positive note (as he characteristically does), with a poem on the amazing power of words & the dangers of stereo-typing.

Most month's this open mic, with a featured poet, happens on the last Monday of the month at McGeary's Irish Pub on Clinton Sq. in Albany, NY, sponsored by AlbanyPoets.com -- check out their calendar for details.

Delmar Writers 2012 Reading, May 20

This was the 5th annual reading of this ongoing group, with 14 readers today (only 2 were men), held at the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar, NY. There were poems, of course, but also prose, nearly all memoir, with 1 lone novelist. One interesting bit of programming was the pairing of a poet with each prose reader. The poet read a poem, dubbed an "echo poem," that related in some way to the theme/topic of the prose piece.

Among the poets who had their own slot were Marion Menna, reading from her chapbook Deep Ecology (Benevolent Bird Press), Sharon Stenson & Faith Green reading selections of their poems, Kathy McCabe with "Humorous Rhymes," & Alan Casline with a single poems from his Perious Frank series. Also, at the end of the reading the poets who had been paired up with a prose writer got a chance to read another poem on their own.

The pairings included Barbara Traynor (with the lone fiction piece) & Mimi Moriarty on pregnancy; Marlene Rosenfield & Linda Sonia Miller about fathers; Priscilla Linville & Paul Amidon on gambling; Marlene Newman & Linda Sonia Miller recalled growing up in New York City; Barbara Quint & Paul Amidon on wandering hobos; & Susan Morse & Mimi Moriarty on Elvis.

The reading was marred by the fact that there seemed to be no designated MC or host, each reader was apparently supposed to announce the next reader, but few did. Eventually Mimi served as ersatz host announcing the next reader from the audience. Although there was a printed program of the reading & bios of each reader, I think one someone announces the reader's name it is a way of paying respect to them & of letting the audience know who the person is.

But there were excellent refreshments & the program moved along, even with a break in the middle. The Delmar Writers meet on the first Friday of the month at 1:00PM in the Board Room of the Bethlehem Public Library. If you are interested in joining the group contact Marion Menn, maripoetm@aol.com, or 439-3991.

Third Thursday Poetry Night, May 17

A lovely evening, so nice that thousands of people were running through the streets of Albany in their underwear -- actually, the annual Corporate Run. Our featured poet, Elizabeth Thomas, came all the way over from Connecticut, with another CT poet, Faith Vicinanza. Tonight's muse was a West Coast poet who left us in 2004, Carol Tarlen, whose poems about work, workers & working were collected posthumously in Every Day is An Act of Resistance, published recently by Mongrel Empire Press in Norman, OK. I read her poem "Today," about having a day off with pay (something to consider the next time the corporations start bashing the unions).

Starting off the open mic was a new voice at the Social Justice Center, Joe Mangini, with advice in rhyme "If you're going to win this race…" Amy Nelson Hahn works with photos & ekphrastic poetry &, also a new voice here, got choked up reading "Fox Bones."

Faith Vicinanza is a Connecticut poet & publisher of poetry who accompanied our featured poet here to Albany; she read a tender, loving poem, "Confession," for her husband who died 4 years ago. Avery showed up with no paper & was excited to recite by heart "OM, a Kundalini Experience." Joe Krausman read a poem titled "A True Story," which he says so many of his poems are. Tess Lecuyer's poem, "What Riches May I Bring to Your Table," was started in April & she "just slapped a ending onto it".

Our featured poet, Elizabeth Thomas started with "Poetry Is…" a collaborative poem by 4th graders in Hartford. A good way to start for this advocate of youth in the arts. She continued with her favorite poem, "Revelation", about a young student. "On Words & English Teachers" was about her addiction to words, the teachers who encouraged her, passing it on to her students, then "5th Grade Poetry Workshop." Her poem "Speak" was inspired by a woman in a poetry workshop whose son had been sent to Iraq, twice, but can't find a job. The sad, ironic "Hero" was read -- & sung -- in memory of Dave Van Ronk, & soldiers returning damaged. Another favorite, "Mother's Work," was a tribute to the birthing woman of the world, then she ended with another collaborative poem, this from a writing workshop at a Senior Center, "Home is the Place…" A stellar performance, one the audience loved & responded to throughout.

After the short break, we continued with the open mic & I read a new piece, "Lilacs, Again." Jim Eve, one of the hosts of the "Calling All Poets" series at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, was in town & read about being at a lousy poetry reading (not here). Bob Sharkey read, again, his poem "Cycles" that he had read at Don's open mic, the poem now revised from its earlier "wretched version" (his words). Elizag has been working on a new poem, "To the Company Making Shooting Targets that Look Like Trayvon Martin" (for real, unfortunately) & tried out the beginning. Moses Kash III got a ride from across the river & began with a ramble about his life in NYC, then struggled with a section from a book about the Obama family. The final poet for the night, D. Colin, appropriately enough read "On Being a Teacher, Part I: The Things I Can't Say," the next generation takes it on. Here's to all those dedicated, imaginative (& under-paid) people who are teaching our children & grandchildren, making the future.

Join us at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY on the third Thursday of each month for a featured poet & many fine local poets who read in the open mic -- $3.00 donation helps pay the featured poet, helps the SJC & promotes other readings in the area.

Local Poets from Finishing Line Press, May 16

This reading, hosted by Mimi Moriarty at the Pine Hollow Arboretum in Slingerlands, featured 5 poets published this year by Finishing Line Press.

I am most familiar with Jan Tramontano's Paternal Nocturne which she has been reading around at various venues, including Albany WordFest. This evening she read 2 poems from each of the 3 sections of the chapbook, poems based on letters home written by her grandfather in the 1930s & 1940s. She ended with "the most personal" poem in the book, her own tender letter to him, "Letter 2011."

Mimi Moriarty & her brother Frank Desiderio's chapbook Sibling Reverie pulls together some of their "companion" poems they have been writing & performing for a number of years. They read 4 sets, some like "A Matter of Substance on my TV" (Frank) & "Mummers Parade, January 1, 2010" because they were both there; others pairings, notably "Afternoon Recreation" (Frank) & "Jesus at Bat" (Mimi) came about because they discovered that each had written about Jesus & baseball (which would almost get me to go to church again).

Jan Tramontano, Linda Sonia Miller, Mimi Moriarty, Frank Desiderio & Cecele Kraus

I was least familiar with the work of Linda Sonia Miller, whose chapbook from Finishing Line Press is titled Something Worth Diving For, which she said was an oblique reference to Adrienne Rich's work. She began with a few recent poems not in the chapbook, "The She-bear's Lament" & one about living in Paris in her youth, another about Thanksgiving. The poems she read from the book included the marvelous childhood memoir in the Bronx, "Poetry," & one about watching herons.

I've also recently heard Cecele Allen Kraus read from her captivating chapbook, Tuscaloosa Bypass, memoir poems of growing up in Alabama. She read the beginning ("Every Sunday Morning") & concluding ("Mississippi Encounter") poems, & others. I was particularly moved by the poem "Mirror" about a dead brother, & the companion piece "Three Sisters."

After the reading, the group fielded questions about being a poet & their experiences with the process of being published by Finishing Line Press. All in all a pleasant evening of poetry in the front room of the Pine Hollow Arboretum, a light & airy setting for small readings.

Nitty Gritty Slam #18, May 15

Dustin Walker reading

Thom Francis, el presidente, was a busy man tonight, hosting the open mic, keeping score & slamming. The open mic offered a great variety of poems & poets, starting with Leslie Michelle doing a poem by someone else, then Dustin "Nervous Cal" Walker with a tale about the death of his grandfather done as a series of snapshots ("The Camera"), Tasha with an untitled love poem, Carolee with a new poem based as a picture in her aprtment "Hades Confides in Persephone," & Daniel Nester with a litany of the agony of puberty based on his journals when he was 12 years old.

At this point Dain Brammage took over as the Slam Bastard, I mean Master. But no sacrificial lamb tonight with the small crowd (they even had trouble getting judges). I had signed up for the Slam because at the time few had & by now there were 5 of us. I was first with perhaps the world's shortest slam poem, coming in at 21 seconds, "Fat" (I love it a lady's butt/but wish it wasn't on my gut), & scoring 23.9, enough to make me 5th & thus the only one eliminated in the first round. The rest of the field, Shannon Shoemaker, Elizag, Jess ListenToMyWords & Thom Francis advanced to the 2nd round.

Thom Francis, Elizag, Dain Brammage & Shannon Shoemaker

When that dust settled Elizag was #1 & there was a tie for 2nd place, so rather than battling it out, Thom & Shannon shared the second place honor (normally, the 1st & 2nd place Slammers would battle it out, with 3rd resting on her/his laurels, but this way everyone was honored without undo strife).

Twice a month at Valentines on New Scotland Ave., just down the street from Washington Park, in Albany, NY, the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, $5.00, a Slam & an open mic (you can only do 1 or the other). & beer.