2nd Sunday @ 2: Poetry + Prose, October 11

This series, that I co-host with Nancy Klepsch, restarted after a Summer break for the season last month, but I had another event to attend to & missed it. I was happy to be back with my partner & the interesting writers who show up to read.

First up was Bob Sharkey with comments & a poem about the anthology Best American Poetry 2015, his comments titled “The Cream Rises” while his annual cento composed of lines he liked was titled “Little Survivals.” Bob also announced a poetry contest that he is coordinating & would be open to all.

He was followed by Peggy LeGee who read an account of work-place harassment eventually leading to her being fired, a sad, tragic tale. Sandra Rouse’s first poem, “Sanctity,” was filled with vivid images of critters in the snow, while “Bridge to Richard” was about a cousin with whom she has lost contact. I read a poem from August, “Girls & Boys at the Altamont Fair” (for my granddaughter), then “Birthday 2014” from my new chapbook Gloucester Notes (FootHills Publishing).

Howard Kogan read a wonderful, humorous take on “Heaven,” then a related piece, in its 21st draft, “Over.” Karen Fabiane read a surreal poem on clumsiness & vigilantes “Atmosphere” then a new poem “Listening to Satie.” Sally Rhoades read chapter 2 of her work-in-progress memoir “Writing My Mother.”

Nancy Klepsch read a draft of her poem “The Basis of Advertising,” then a curse poem/rant “The Equal Opportunity Insult Poem.” Sylvia Barnard took the bus over from Albany & got here in time to read 2 poems from her trip to Ireland, “The Book of Kells” & “The Giants’ Causeway.”

So, in spite of the streets of Troy being blocked off for the Chowder Fest, the streets filled with people, we gathered for poetry & prose as we do each 2nd Sunday at 2PM at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in the midst of it on River St., Troy, NY. Each month until June.