Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic, July 27

I finally got to this new series held at the Old Songs Community Arts Center, 37 S. Main St., Voorheesville, NY. It is an open mic with a featured poet & is held on the 4th Sunday of each month.

I arrived this day while Paul Amidon was reading a cat poem. He was followed by Tim Verhaegen who read an historical family drama, "My Son, My son, 1861," then his revised screed on drunks, "I Want Revenge."

I haven't seen Larry Rapant in a while. He is running a philosophy discussion group out of the Voorheesville Public Library, & read a couple poems on the theme of philosophy, including a series of re-worked cliche axioms.

Edie Abrams was the the pleasant host & read her poem "I Am the Center of the Ripples in the Pond" (aren't we all!). Then Mark O'Brien a poem about place, "Towny." I read my old poem to Lance Henson, "I Meet an Old Friend on the Subway," then "August, 1945."

The featured poet, Art Willis, started off reciting William Blake, then read a series of autobiographical poems, going as far back as 1968, "To Allen Ginsberg at Vassar." Most of his poems were tender portraits of relatives: uncles, aunts, his father, his daughter. An interesting poet & reader who rarely brings his work out.

An interesting new series that should be checked out, 4th Sunday at 3PM.