Saratoga Senior Center Open Mic, November 8

Once again a busy day, a double-header of poetry readings, starting off in Saratoga Springs. Our host, Rachel Baum, started us off with a poem by Jack Gilbert titled “Rain.” 

Then on to poet Marilyn McCabe, today’s featured reader, with a walk through some of her books & newer poems, with, as she said, poems with questions in them, starting off with “Perseveration” from her 2012 book Perpetual Motion (The Word Works), a poem she said is a favorite of hers to read (with good reason). From her curious & fascinating chapbook, Being Many Seeds (Grayson Books, 2020), she read a sample poem: the short poems are each presented twice, first as a conventional poem, then chopped up & the words spread out on the remainder of the page, & each containing a footnote about the ideas & life of the Jesuit theologian & paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. She also read a couple poems from Glass Factory (The Word Works, 2016), “Self-sight” & “Incarnate,” meditations on death. And then there were some new & “newish” poems sprinkled about, such as the word play on the terminology of the theater, “Poor Player,” & the concluding poem “Bed” putting her readings to …

Rachel Baum quoted poet David Graham to the effect that “you can never have too many dog poems,” to read her post-election piece “In an Election Year to My Canine Self.”

Pat Curtis read a humorous piece on aging titled “It’s Not That.” The afore-mentioned David Graham didn’t read a dog poem but rather 2 about family & love, “Smoke at the Lake” (a place as sacred ground to 6 generations of family), the poem about love titled “Thirst.”

Rhonda Rosenheck read a political poem from 4 years ago, “Pop Goes the Weasel,” then one titled “Garden Tour” from her wordle exercises. 

Angela Snyder read a poem written on assignment about her youth in Liverpool, England, “Childhood Memory,” then a “bop poem” about “A Thanksgiving Dinner.” I read a poem for the Veterans Day (aka, Armistice Day) holiday on Monday about an encounter with a ghost at the NYS Viet Nam Memorial at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, “John Lees.” 

Jay Rogoff read a cluster of “ridiculous little poems” in a form called a clerihew invented by British novelist Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875 - 1956) in the early 20th Century. The form is 2 uneven couplets, rhymed AABB, the first line is the name of well-know person. Here is an example from Jay:

Donald Trump

Took an enormous dump

On America, the nation that he sold

for a toilet made of gold. 

A good way to end with a bit of politics & humor.

This open mic is held on the 2nd Friday of each month at the Saratoga Senior Center, 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY at 1:00 PM — a featured reader & an open mic, the host is poet Rachel Baum. 

Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game - Marathon Reading, November 7

For the 2nd year in a row the NYS Writers Institute organized a marathon reading of a novel by the esteemed Albany treasure, author William Kennedy. Last year it was a reading of Ironweed (1983), for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984; this year it was Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game (1978). Both events were held at the Albany Distilling Co. Bar and Bottle Shop, 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY, home of Ironweed Bourbon.

To join the reading one needed to sign-up prior to the event & then, of course, show up to read. Although I couldn’t be there all day I managed to carve out a couple hours in the mid-afternoon around my scheduled slot to immerse myself in Kennedy’s masterful storytelling (the event was scheduled from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm).

Among the community readers I heard -- & photographed -- were Robb Smith, Sally Rhoades, Michi Vonnegut, Joan Goodman, Craig McAvoy, Mike Reger, Bill Ritchie, Monica Trabold, William Kennedy himself, Wanda Fisher, & Wilma Alvarado-Little (in a stunning green dress). Just as I was about to read, Paul Grondahl, the Opalka Endowed Director of the Writers Institute, asked if I would mind if Bill Kennedy read the first page or so of my section because Jim Franco, the Times Union photographer, wanted to get photos of Bill reading — like I should say no? It was great fun to follow the author himself reading from his book.

I have posted photos of each of the readers named above & they are posted in an album on my flickr site here. & while you are at the site, stay & browse around awhile — you might even see photos of someone you might know. And while you are at it check out the Writers Institute website.

 

Third Thursday Poetry Night, October 17

This night’s featured reader was long-time Albany poet Francesca Sidoti, but before she read we got into the list of open mic poets. And our Muse for the night was the spirit of Tom Nattell (1952 - 2005), October being his birth month, & I read from his 1992 chapbook The Columbus Fantasies, #23.

Sylvia Barnard was up first on the sign-up sheet, she read from & about a gift “Moleskin Diary for My Daughter.” 

Tim Lake has not been here at the Social Justice Center for quite some time, & he read about Leif Erickson (whose day is celebrated on October 9) in his poem “Vineland,” who got to what we now call North America well before Christopher Columbus set out from Spain.

Don Maurer was here for the first time, but he has a poem in this year’s Poetic License exhibit, his poem tonight was titled “Scars” in 3 parts inspired, by the Erie Canal & the accumulated trash in our homes. Sally Rhoades writes often about growing up in the North Country, & read a piece of prose, “Summertime,” recently published in an anthology put out by the Public Library in Malone, NY. Harry was here for the first time, but said he has read at other open mics in the area, he read “Vicissitude,” like an angry letter in loose rhyme. 

The first photo I have of Francesca Sidoti (see the photo above) is from a reading at the Half Moon Cafe on lower Madison Ave., dated January 28, 1990. Now she has published a crisp edition of her poems, Civil Twilight and Other Transitions (Schodack Spring Press, 2023) from which she read a generous selection, as well as others. She said that her theme tonight was “friends, family & current events,” mentioned the purple lights on many of the buildings in Albany for Domestic Violence Month, & began with a poem titled “Night Combat” on that theme. “Festivals” was a foray into Dante’s terza rima on the theme of Autumn rituals, then a prose memoir, “Grandmother Had a Box of Thread.” Her poem “Tuesday” was about hanging out with friends in the Summer; “Haunted Labor” was for honoring workers & people working in the trades; & “Gloucester” was a memory & celebration of vacations in that city by the sea. “Politext” was a letter/meditation on friends who may not be; the title poem, “Civil Twilight,” addressed the prison-industrial complex (where she works). Then on to a recent poem, not in the book, titled “Artillery.” She ended with “Champ,” requested by her partner Jonathan Riven, about the Lake Champlain monster, a poem she read at April’s Word Fest.

Following the break we returned to the open mic list & I read a poem for the World Series (but one not in my chapbook Baseball Poems) “Baseball October.” Edie Abrams followed with a little tale with a punch-line titled “The Daughter.” David Gonsalves also had a tale to tell, this set in a Biblical apple orchard, “Eve of Distraction.” Tom Corrado is up to number 784(!) with his “Screen Dumps,” the random ramble of his associations.

Since Jonathan Riven has a close personal relationship with tonight’s featured poet, she was able to strong-arm him into signing up to read; he read one of his favorite poems, “The Cremation of Sam Magee” by Robert Service. The night’s final open mic poet will be the featured poet next month, John Allen, so he gave us a short preview, a poem published in Spectral Realms, “Poisoned Moon,” a dense, associative weave of words & images. 

We gather here at the Social Justice Center each third Thursday of the month for an open mic & a reading by a local or regional poet; start time is 7:30PM, your $5.00 (suggested) donation supports poetry events in Albany & the work of the Social Justice Center.

Poetic License Reading & Open Mic, October 14

This reading/open mic was held in the Community Room of the Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany, NY in conjunction with the exhibit of visual art & the poems that inspired it, Poetic License, a joint project of the Upstate Artists Guild & the Hudson Valley Writers Guild. I served as MC/host & had served as coordinator for the poetry part of the project.

Rachel Baum runs a monthly open mic at the Saratoga Springs Senior Center. She read her poem about her father (a musician) that is in the exhibit “White Dinner Jackets, Black Bow Ties” which inspired a photograph by Timothy Reidy; she also read a companion piece “My Father’s Ghost is Mustard Stained.”

Jackie Craven’s poem, “As the last egg in the carton, I should tell you about the others,” which is in the exhibit & inspired a mixed media piece by Lucia Mabel Smith, is from her fascinating collection of poems, Whish (Press 53, 2024); she also read a poem titled “Missing from the Box” (about crayons) from her earlier collection, Secret Formulas & Techniques of the Masters (Brick Road Poetry Press, 2018).

Don Maurer has had a poem in a previous Poetic License; tonight he read this year’s entry, “Ancient Wisdom” (about a bristle cone pine) that inspired 2 artists to submit work, a piece in silk & dyes by Tina Johnston & a mixed media & pencil by Toni Hewitt; then he read a humorous piece “Long Johns on the Line” written on a bet to use the “skivvies” in a poem.

Alexander Perez’s poem in the exhibit is entitled “A beyond empire amidst empire” inspired an acrylic painting on canvas by Sven Willets; he also read 2 other poems, the love poem “Awake to the Night…” & the end of season “Kiss Me Summer Some Goodbye.”

Brian Liston has had his poems included in each of the previous Poetic License exhibits, this year his poem “Paddle” inspired Ginger LaFreniere to paint a watercolor on the same theme; he also read 2 other poems, “Lash” (a critic) & “Rebound” (about turning down the light.

Two other poems who did not have have work in the show turned up to read in the open mic. Joan Goodman, who has read at other open mics in town, read 2 pieces relating to the war in Palestine, “We Are Not Knowers” & “Casualties.” The last poet, Shawda, was a stranger to me & said she hadn’t read at an open mic previously; she read 2 poems about relationships, “My Prayer” (asking for “a man of God”) & an untitled piece about a former boyfriend, wondering what is in his mind. 

We hope to continue this project again next year, but until then you can images of the visual art at https://www.poeticlicensealbany.com/ & stay tuned to the Call for Entries on the website of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.

2nd Sunday @ 2: Poetry + Prose, October 13

Finally back together with my co-host, Nancy Klepsch, as we each had taken 2nd Sundays off for a variety of reasons, back among the mushrooms.

First up on the sign-up sheet was Rachel Baum who read 2 poems from her chapbook How to Rob a Convenience Store (Cowboy Jamboree Press, 2014), “Mall massacre, any town,” & “in loving grace, this day.” (Note: each of the poems in this collection are linked by a word, a line, or a phrase in the last line of the poem with the first line of the following poem). David Gonsalves read 2 very short poems, “All’s That’s Left,” & “Ghost Story” -- he's never been know to go over a time limit, he has a special place reserved in Poetry Heaven.

Co-host Nancy Klepsch shared 2 poems she had written for an application for a residency, “General Averill” about the land & air in the country, & one titled appropriately enough “Deep in the Kinderhook Preserve.” Avery Stempel, the Mushroom Man, read from his manuscript in progress “Here to There” the piece titled “The Corner of 5th & Washington,” & one about a stalled car, “Just a Push.”

I was surprised to hear that this was the first time Elizag (the Poet of Cohoes) was here for the open mic & then pleased to hear her performance about a flock of geese, “Looking Up.” My 2 poems were seasonal pieces, “A Ghost” about the gone poet Wendy Battin, & one titled “Yom Kippur.”

Another writer who was here for the first time (but unknown to me) went by the letter Z (was also the last one to read today) & stunned us with a graphic piece of richly imaginative writing that they described as “a prose poem” about an autopsy titled “Of Fish & Woman.”

You too can join us to share your writing on the 2nd Sunday @ 2 at Collar City Mushrooms, 333 2nd Ave., Troy, NY — 2 poems or a short piece of prose no longer than 5 minutes.

Senior Center Open Mic, October 11

This open mic, held at the Saratoga Springs Senior Center, has become a regular event for me. Always an excellent local or regional poet as the feature & a stimulating array of poem mic poets.

On this day, our host, poet Rachel Baum, started us off by reading a poem for a dead pet by the equally dead poet Jim Harrison, “Missy 1966 - 1971.” Then on to today’s featured poet.

Judith Prest is a poet, photographer, mixed media artist who has about half a dozen books to her credit, & continues as a co-host of the monthly Poetry Circle at the Schenectady Public Library. She read selections from 5 of her books as well as a bouquet of recent poems. The books were the self-published poetry/photo book Elemental Connections; Late Day Light (Spirit Wind Books, 2011); After (Finishing Line Press, 2019); Geography of Loss (Finishing Line Press, 2021); & Grafted Tree: Family Poems (Kelsay Books, 2023). The new poems included a couple from a poetry workshop with June Gould, the strident piece of history “Under the Sign of the Rusty Coat Hanger,” & “When an Old Woman Dies;” as well as a piece written at a retreat at Pyramid Lake this July “Lake Magic.” A retrospective reading bringing us right up to date with this active local poet.

Then on to the open mic, with our host, Rachel Baum, taking us back to the Jim Harrison poem that she opened with, her own piece for a gone pet, “The Last Adirondack Fire Tower.” Lin Murphy followed with a bold, risky list of things to do “Dance Me to the End of Time.” David Graham read “My Father Put Out” about his father’s dementia.

Marilyn McCabe read a poem from her 1st chapbook, the poem titled “The Leaf Girl’s Song.” I read a couple of seasonal poems, the Halloween bar poem “Zombie Gourd,” & “Baseball October.” Pat Curtis read an effusive celebratory poem “Wildflowers.”

Leslie Neustadt read a poem from her recent book The Sustenance of Stars (Kelsay Books, 2024), “Self as Teeming Mass,” & a recent poem “Elegy” mixing memory, Hebrew, & the concept of eretz Israel. David Gonsalves also had a poem on a Hebrew language theme, “Homeless Mishpacha” about a wedding photo & what happened to each of the family members in the photo. Janice continued the cultural theme with “Buba Wurlitzer 1953” inspired by the jukebox in her father’s bar that she sang with, on the changes in music over time up to the 1980s. That kind of linked themes of these last 3 poets could not have been planned except in the mind of a Jungian poetry Muse schooled in the principles of Synchronicity.

The open mic at the Saratoga Senior Center takes place on the 2nd Friday of each month, 1:00PM, with a featured poet & an up to 2 poems per open mic reader. The Saratoga Senior Center is located at 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY. 

2nd Tuesday All Genre Open Mic Out Of Bennington, October 8

With our Zoom host, Charlie Rossiter — this open mic is run in 2 rounds, 1 piece each round.

I was first up, & in both of the rounds I read “seasonal pieces,” in the 1st round a mashup of Halloween & Election day, “This is Not Trick or Treat;” in the 2nd round a baseball-themed poem, “Dusty Baker.” 

Bridget Elder read a cluster of Haiku, with a crow, rain; then in the 2nd round after hearing Bill Thwing read she read a poem that mentions Li Po.

Mark O’Brien read from from his project based on old newspaper articles, “Ancillary Brevities,” snippets of pieces about death & dying; in round 2 a funny piece from a strange article he has tried to about.

Ginny Folger’s poem “Eternal City” about Rome, of course, about watching the clouds & a woman doing laundry; then in the next round a descriptive piece about being on a train to New York City — both pieces have been published. 

Our host, Charlies Rossiter read a descriptive piece from the past, “The Worst Bar Ever” (in Wisconsin); his 2nd round piece was about the greed of the haves & that of the gun industry, titled “Amateur.” 

Julie Lomoe read yet again from her new self-published chapbook in both rounds, a couple poems she has been reading out at local open mics, in the 1st round, “Donald the Bantam Rooster Speaks His Mind,” in the 2nd round, a poem about voting back in 2016 & being interviewed by a reporter from The New York Times. 

Sharon Smith read a poem written yesterday “134 Miles” about how a family visit engenders memories of the past; then in round 2 a poem about her uncle, “Hobos, Mystics & Poets.”

I think Kate McNairy joined this Zoom for the first time tonight & she read her characteristically very short poems, each poem read twice, in the 1st round the memoir “Neil Armstrong, July 21, 1969,” & a piece about aging “Sweet & Sour.”  

Bill Thwing read “At Golden Ridge” about doing renga with Li Bai, Bill’s response & his 2 Haiku; in his 2nd round he performed a song written by him & his wife, “I Went Out to Alberta,” then running back to Montana, & elsewhere.  

Tom Nicotera had shown up early but in his 1st round as he tried to read his poem his phone rang, then his screen froze & he lost his Internet connection; he returned to the Zoom at the end to read his 2 pieces, back to back; in the 1st round, with his harmonica, he performed  “Blues for America,” set at a Motel 6 & a Taco Bell; then a new poem, a nostalgic description of the Mohawk Trail along  Route 2 in Massachusetts. 

& then that was it for this month. If you want to join this Zoom open mic held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, email Charlie at charlierossiter@gmail.com & ask for the link, then join us.