Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic, April 4

Carol Graser, the host of this monthly open mic, started us off with the sad news that Eric Krantz, one of the regular open mic participants, whom I last heard here back in September, had died in March. You can find reports about his readings here at my Blog by entering his name in the search box. In his honor Carol read Joy Harjo’s “Eagle Poem.”

The first of the open mic poets tonight was Marilyn McCabe who read her poem “Pro Patria” that was inspired by a poem by Octavio Paz. Joe Bruchac recited a poem about remembering in a language of the native peoples. Nicola Maree Allain read a piece from her narrative about her childhood in Tahiti, then, from a new series, an introspective poem “Clarity.”

I was thrilled & surprised to see Harry Willis here tonight; back in — I won’t mention the year — Harry & I were in Basic Training for the US Army together, then reconnected on the streets of Albany when we both worked for the State of New York. Harry has published a novel & tonight read 2 philosophical poems, “The Struggle” “The Game” (on golf). Mary Sanders Shartle read from a collective chapbook the poem titled “The Sump Pump & Other Signs of Spring” with a dragon from a Wagner opera. Dawn Marar read from her recently published collection from Finishing Line Press, Efflorescence, a poem about a souvenir she picked up on one of her visits to the Middle East, “Sea Creature.”

Last month’s reading at Caffè Lena had been cancelled due to Upstate New York Winter weather & tonight’s first of two featured poets, Jessica Cuello, had been scheduled to read. So she was here tonight. She began with some poems from a series about Jeanne d’Arc, including a poem in the persona of Jeanne d’Arc “Jeanne d’Arc Thinks of Her Virginity,” then one of Jeanne d’Arc’s mother, & her (imagined) mid-wife. Then on to her latest book of poems, Hunt (The Word Works [Nancy White, the North Country poet often here, is the President & a Co-Editor], 2017) (winner of the 2016 Washington Prize), a series of poems based on Moby Dick. Each poem is based on a chapter of this whale of a book, itself a study of an obsessive compulsion that can be, perhaps, life-long, a derivative obsession to which a number of poets have succumbed.

Anthony Bernini is a long time habitué of the Albany poetry scene & a poet whom I have published in my series with A.P.D. (All Poets Die, A Perpetual Drunk, etc.), thus I confess to him being one of my favorite poets (& a friend). He began with Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” thinking of the anniversary of the murder of Dr. King, then on to a memoir poem of growing up in the Lower East Side of NYC “Smith Housing Project 1962.” He said that the next cluster of poems was about violence, including “Remember the Alamo,” “Ground View of a Dying Soldier” (a photo at the John Ringling Museum in Florida), “Heart of the Matter,” “Small Craft Lost off Cape Cod,” & “The Sirens.” Switching gears, he read “A Voice in the Night,” “The Intrusion” (watching his bird feeder), “Fretting for Gaia” (for the worries for the Earth), & ended with what he called “a half-assed sestina” “The Frightened Dog.” As always a well-put-together reading by one of the area’s best poets.

After a break (during which many of the audience, those, shall we say, of the academic bent, left), Carol Graser returned us to the open mic with her recent poem, from a news article, “Man Caught Walking in Frozen Mohawk in Protective Custody.” Jeff Stubits read a story, told in rich, graphic details, about a roommate’s alleged telepathic powers, & the food in the refrigerator, “Feeding the Guru.” Dan, who said he teaches English, did a rap piece riffing off To Kill a Mockingbird. Alyssa Benaro, who has become a regular here, impressed me again with a poem responding to the Parkland, FL shooting “Dear Grad,” then an equally bold “We Were People” — the future is bright with young poets like this.

Chrystal Horn, who said she has no TV, read a piece titled “On Television” then “Clear Plastic Castles” about packaged foot. August Rosenberg also read about food, a celebratory poem “The Meaning of Life,” then another piece “All the Way Up.” Suzanne Rancourt began with a gentle piece on an oak leaf “At First Glance,” then a more cutting one about a “half-man, half-shark” on a plane “Achilles Comes to Shore.” Susan Kress’ poem about waving, “In Deep Now,” was inspired by a Stevie Smith poem. Jackie Craven read a new, domestic poem “The Secret Lives of Socks,” then a funny piece with political references “Woozy in the Pool at Mara-Lago.” I read an old political rant, “Richard Nixon Must Die,” because it mentioned Dr. King (& one can substitute any President one feels inclined to). Rodney Parrott was also stridently political in an extended Tweet to Mr. President, while the poet has his toast & marmalade in the morning. Will Keiver read a rhyming poem, “Kitchen Debaucher.” G. Douglas Davis (otherwise known as D. Alexander Holiday) read the 1st part of a poem in rhyme “Mother to Son,” then from his recent book Kith & Kin: A Klannish Klownish Tragik Komedy the poem “Who Cares.”

Jim Eve runs the Calling All Poets series down in New Paltz & was in the area so stopped in tonight; he called himself “a poetic straight man” & read his anthem “We Poets.” W.D. Clarke, who has a new book out, Still More Tales, read a poem not in the book “Gary Evans” about a serial killer with Saratoga connections.

Peyton Roche, the first of 2 with that last name, read about lemons & the lessons of life “The Ceremony Begins.” She was followed by Gloria Manthos who did an invocation to her poems, then read fragments of new stuff with the recurring line “end the war machine” — I’m working on it, Gloria.

Avery Roche, yes, the brother of Peyton (who had referenced him in the introduction to her poem) read a piece with angry images from a prompt, then “Untitled Document” about trying to write a poem & read at Caffè Lena. Mark G., a volunteer here, was the last reader with a poem written in response to a teacher’s challenge years ago, “What Do a Bird Do?”


Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic is on the 1st Wednesday of each month at the historic Caffè Lena on Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY, a featured poet & an open mic for the rest of us.