Tim’s Zoom Open Mic, August 6

Tim Verhaegen is reveling in his new-found love of Zoom with this 2nd poetry open mic he’s organized, this time experimenting with a featured poet, Avery Stempel. Tim's format was an initial round, followed by the featured poet, followed by a 2nd round (which I missed, on my way to still another online event).

I was first up & since this day was the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan by the United States, ushering in the Atomic Age with the 1st ever war-time use of the atomic bomb, I read Tom Nattell’s chant-poem “Hiroshima.”

Mike Jurkovic read an equally dark screed set in the current time “Totem America.”

Jan Tramontano, beaming in from Florida stayed on theme with “Life on Planet Insanity” a political rant about being in Florida, about wealth, prejudice, ignorance & the need to be “staying away from the dumbbells.”

Bob Sharkey continued on the theme with a poem about the slowing down & the lies.

Howard Kogan read his poem “Diplomacy” about poets Issa, Du Fu, & Li Bai trying to get together for dinner & french fries, being diplomatic about it all.

Tim Verhaegen said that his twin brother Todd died last month but that he, Tim, hadn’t seen him for years, & read a poem about the dysfunction of their family, with a list of Todd’s issues & problems, I sensed his way of confronting the loss of his brother.

Cheryl Rice said that she is resisting writing plague poems then read what I think was titled “Feejee” (Fiji, or any phonetic version).

Jill Crammond has been brought out of the suburban hinterlands by the magic of Zoom & read what I dare say was a “religious poem” titled “Self Portrait as an Artifact.”

Carolee Bennett also Zoom-ed in from the ‘burbs with a commentary on the times that are so crazy “No-one Believes in Madness Anymore.”

Avery Stemple, the featured poet, once ran his own open mic in a bagel shop in Troy, & would also pop up at other open mics throughout the area. This night he read a varied selection, starting with his piece about smiles, in the guise of a motivational speaker, “From Me to You.” He talked about doing a poem a day during the pandemic & read a selection from the series, day #120 (July 25), #137 (August 1) about things that need to be done around the house, day #122, day #133 (on change & losing friends). Then to a piece from his Chakra series, “An Unfolding.” Then back to the pandemic series, eventually ending with an affirmation #132 stating that no one who writes is alone.

At this point, as I was about to leave for yet another online event, Nick Bisanz’s Facebook house concerts covering rock tunes from various eras, & Tim was discussing going into a second round of poems, bearded Don Levy popped up, but seemed to have difficulty navigating Zoom. I haven’t seem Don at an open mic since venues were shut down & hope he gets it figured out so he join us all in cyberspace soon.  & I'll be back too.