Third Thursday Poetry Night, March 17

It’s catching on again, the regulars, the irregulars, the new-returning & the new — what open mics are all about. & the featured poet, Judith Prest, at the Albany Social Justice Center. This being St. Patrick’s Day there were a few poems on the theme of the day.

The first open mic poet was the hardy Sylvia Barnard with a poem about going to the St. Patrick’s Day parade with her daughter, Siobhan, “St. Patrick’s Day,” from Sylvia’s book Trees (The Troy Book Makers, 2012). Early up on the list was a poet new to the Third Thursday, JoLynn Backes, who read a poem of strength & self-affirmation with the back & forth lines  “Because of you … Because of me…” Melissa Anderson was the new poet last month & she was back tonight with a poem titled “Ode to the Third Grade Potato Maze,” full of images of the touch & smell of dirt. 

Tim Verhaegen will be the featured poet in May, tonight he decided to sit & read a poem/story titled “The Countess of Waldam, The Year 1837” about a notorious midwife who took care of the unwanted pregnancies of the Countess. Edie Abrams was also back, read a very short poem about her mother postponing death “Refusing to Say Goodby.”

Our featured poet, Judith Prest, has a new book out from Finishing Line Press (2021) Geography of Loss. She began with poems from her earlier chapbook After (Finishing Line Press, 2019), “Recovery Poem 1,” “Naming the Scar,” & “Demons.”  From her new book, she began with a poem about her father’s “Snake Bite Kit,” then a couple about her mother “Wardrobe Alchemy,” & “Grace” (about her mother’s death), & about herself “Questions About Death.” Then to other poems, one inspired by an Amanda Gorman quote, “There is a poem in this place” about native children from boarding schools, their graves, the names of the tribes, a sad tribute; & “How Grief Works Time” a recent poem that fits with her book. Then from a new manuscript being sent around Grafted Tree, some poems from the results of DNA testing “An Old Story,” “My Mother as the Farm in Delaware,” “Amulets Against Amnesia,” & “Longing” looking back to her ancestors waving to her. 

After a short, book-buying break, we went back to the open mic, with me as the next reader, with a poem from my 1995 chapbook Ireland, a poem about finding your lineage “Tracings.”  Tom Bonville read about a post-op visit to his surgeon, having a defiant cigarette, & “Still Here.” 

Sally Rhoades debuted her new chapbook from A.P.D. (all poets dance) Greeted by Wildflowers with her poem “I Have Danced with Druids;” if you are interested in getting a copy, contact Sally, or email me at dwlcx46@gmail.com. Joe Krausman, while not Irish, has many literary ties to Irish writers, talks about rhyme, then read his prize-winning poem “Deceptions.” Joan Geitz, who said, “I’m not a poet, I just think a lot,” was our last poet of the night & read her poem from 2016 “Reaching Out” to everyone watching, listening to her.

The Third Thursday Poetry Night takes place at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY, 7:00PM sign-up/7:30 start, with a featured poet & an open mic for community writers; your donations of $5.00 +/- helps pay the featured poet, supports poetry events in the area, & supports the work of the Social Justice Center.