June 24, 2021

Writers Mic, June 9


Our stand-in (& stand-up) host was once again the poet/humorist/satirist Daniel Sennis, on Zoom. If you don’t know his work check out O Conman! My Conman! - Sick Rhymes for Sick Times (Shires Press, 2020).


David Graham was first on the list & read 2 poems titled “Summons,” the 1st by Robert Francis, a poet important to David, on friendship, then his own a parallel poem, from his book The Honey of Earth (Terrapin Books, 2019).


Alan Catlin said he was reading the most recent 2 poems that got accepted for publication, “The Only Memento” a simple pack of matches bringing back memories of a wedding, then “Unable to Sleep in the Heat,” intensely descriptive, as the best poetry often (usually?) is. 


Sarah Chaviano said her short story “Bonnie & Clyde” was based on a song, & in this episode the couple go to a pawn shop to get a new pair of nylons. 


I read 3 pieces, one on death, “Stardust is Us,” then “Backyard Sutra,” & one based on the names of local streets “In the Neighborhood.” 


Scott Morehouse read another of his humorous, outrageous stories, this titled “Disco Fever” filled with “juicy” gossip about neighbors Bonnie & Jack, sex & cocaine & Studio 54. 


Daniel Sennis read a couple pieces from O Conman! My Conman! a relationship piece, “Fortune’s Jewel,” in rhymes, then more rhymes “There is No Sleep for the WIC Kid.”


Sarah asked to read again & her piece, “Washington Heights,” was memories of that NYC neighborhood, images of tossing sneakers to the wires, Spanish TV, Liberace.


Like most open mics, you never know what you might hear & this night, even with only a few readers, the variety was exhilarating. You can find the Zoom link on the Facebook page Writers Mic, add your voice to the stew.






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