Brass Tacks Open Mic, September 18

Back to The Low Beat for this low key open mic run by the folks at AlbanyPoets, with the host, el presidente Thom Francis — who announced that this was only the 2nd time in 28 years that he has worn shorts at a poetry reading (me, never).  Thom also announced the first publication of Offline - Poetry on Paper (Issue 1, September 2018) that contains print versions of poems by 10 poets who have been featured on the Albany Poets website, "to allow lovers of poetry ... to unplug from time to time."  Check out the website for more information.

I was the first on the sign-up list & read my new poem “Reading Dead Poets Listening to Live Jazz” incorporating lines from gone poets Paul Pines & Harry Staley, then one for the season “Yom Kippur 2004.” L-Majesty showed up & read a couple poems, “How to Become a Famous Poet” & from his book Bitter Boy Love Poems (a 10-year review of all his old relations, he said) “On Why I Bleed So Good for Them.”

Julie Lomoe (once referred to as “a national treasure” by someone at an open mic) read “Hope Springs Eternal” which she said was the title of her novel, about heading to Colorado for a Romance writers conference, then the poem/personal essay “Age & Altitude.” Christa DeMarco keeps coming back here, & read a piece dedicated to her therapist about learning to learn & not criticize herself “Tools, Skills & Life Lessons,” then a piece in which she sees herself in a new country as a refugee of hate.

Randee Renzi had a baby-sitter tonight & was able to get to an open mic; she began with a work-in-progress (aren’t they all?) “Reach Out to Me,” then from memory “Beautiful Brown Baby Boy” about the love & fears of being a (white) mom of a black boy. This was only Sarah Fountain’s 2nd reading, as she first came here just to listen; she read “Armored Up” & it’s opposite without armor “Raw.” I also saw Alyssa Michele the last time I was here, she started with the very brief “Soul Sis,” then a couple pieces to lovers “1:00 AM” responding to a text, & “Hey Stranger.”

Then Randee, because she has a baby-sitter tonight, returned with a piece titled “Peace” (or perhaps “Piece”).

This relatively new open mic has begun to attract regular readers here at The Low Beat, 335 Central Ave., Albany, NY, held on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month, 7:30PM — check out the AlbanyPoets website for more information.