All Genre Open Mic out of Bennington, January 10

Nobody had to drive to Bennington in the dark for this open mic, except for our host, Charlie Rossiter, who was already there. I Zoomed in from the warmth & safety of my home. One piece each round.

In the early months of the New Year, I’m reading at open mics poems written in 2022, some of which I have read at 2022 open mics; in the first round I read “The Rescue” about an encounter at the Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic; then in the 2nd round a poem I think I never read out previously, “What I Saw at the Mall.”

Bill Thwing frequently brings out his guitar as he did this night for his 1st round piece, a sad song based on a restructured poem about helping the homeless, what a church is for; in the 2nd round a response to a Haiku in an anthology, thus a renga.

Cheryl Rice dialed in from Kingston, NY; her 1st poem, the descriptive “Spring in the Village;” in the 2nd round she read a piece from the early days of the pandemic, “Two Weeks.”

Bruce Robinson began with a sonnet based on a painting by Hendrik Abercame; in his 2nd round he read a piece about being on a bus, in16 lines, “Seat Yourself.” 

Alexander Perez read a descriptive narrative about being at an Adirondack lake “Holiday’s End;” then in the 2nd round his poem “In the Catalog of Smiles” was an interesting take on searching for one to fit his face.

Our host, Charlie Rossiter, read 2 poems he has submitted for publication recently; in the 1st round, “Spirit Days” based on a used copy of Ginsberg’s Indian Journals with lines left behind, like a letter to the previous owner; 2nd time around read “A Fable for the Times” about bears at the door.

It was great to have poet Naomi Bindman back after a hiatus during the Fall with a piece titled “Marble Goddess,” responding to a poem by Rosemary Wahtola Trommer, also a grieving mother; then in the 2nd round she read a new poem written New Years Day titled “Burning Wishes” for her daughter, Ellen, 14 years gone.

Mark W. O’Brien talked about the places in upstate New York he has been reading about in old records, such as an 1888 newspaper; then read a sonnet based on characters from his work-in-progress.

Jim Madigan regularly dials in from Illinois, in the 1st round read a poem written on random pieces of paper, like a list, “Slipping Poetry Across the Border;” then in his 2nd round a poem about the anniversary of the walk on the Moon, “From Above.”

Tom Nicotera said he was reading “another hopelessly romantic poem,” “Her Voice New Year’s Eve 2022 for Sherry;” then his 1st poem of the New Year, in 2 parts, New Years Eve & New Years Day, about being alone with COVID, numbered lists.

Julie Lomoe read only in round 1, left to watch the Golden Globe Awards, she read a serious, anaphoric list poem about her dead dog, Sirius.

This open mic (for all genres) is a monthly Zoom event held on the 2nd Tuesdays at 7:00PM EST. If you haven’t made it to Charlie’s list yet you can email him at charliemrossiter@gmail.com & ask for the link.