All-Genre Open Mic Out of Bennington, March 14

Back in Bennington — well, not really, this event is on Zoom & on this particular night it was a good thing because it had snowed most of the day & I wouldn’t have made the attempt to drive the hour if it was an in-person event. Our host Charlie Rossiter does the 2-round thing, one piece each round.

I got into the Zoom room on time & was signed up 1st; my 1st round piece was a tribute to the poet (& my friend) Tamara Gabbard, titled “Tapestry;” in the 2nd round I read another piece about the witches in my attic “The Witch’s Necklace.”

Bill Thwing also writes & performs songs, said he wrote 30 songs in last month & read one based on Kenn Ash’s humorous Brooklyn songs,”I’m gonna miss me when I’m gone;” then on the next round performed one based on a poem by Naomi Bindman (see below) “The Shape of Wind.”

Cheryl Rice has been writing poems about the Zeigfield Follies for years, & reading them out at open mics or at her featured readings, tonight she read a descriptive, back-stage look, “College,” at star Eddie Cantor in black face, & Burt Williams; her 2nd piece was her prize-winning poem from the Stephan A. DiBiase contest “Jed Clampit is a Happy Man” with a summary of all the characters from that iconic TV show, you know the one.

Naomi Bindman was a finalist in the afore mentioned Stephan A. DiBiase contest with her poem about an ice storm  “Blown Glass;” then on the 2nd time around the poem “No Small Thing” a gift of tulips from a friend, written last year, neither the tulips nor the poem no small thing.

Charlie Rossiter, in the 1st round, read a college memoir about Bar City Grill in College Park, MD; his 2nd round piece was from a dream talking with his Dad titled “Sometimes It’s Good to Sit in a Car & Have a Beer.” 

Alexander Perez read from his mss. “Drama Queen” what he described as “a weird fucked up poem" about his corpse in a magician’s lab that was like a morgue; for round 2 he read an untitled piece put together today about recovering what is lost.

Tom Nicotera tried to join us earlier, eventually got connected, with a new poem about aging “I Have Learned How to Slow Down Time” then got cut off again — nothing’s perfect, I guess.

So if you want to join this gathering of poets on the 2nd Tuesday on Zoom, & you’re not already on Charlie’s list, send him an email request at charliemrossiter@gmail.com — tell him I sent you.

2nd Sunday @ 2: Poetry + Prose Open Mic, March 12

At the crossroads of Troy & Vermont, or so it seems. The hosts were me & Nancy Klepsch, & we also read in the open mic.

First up, from Vermont, was Bridget Elder who began with a piece like a letter to a friend, then a Haiku about crows.

The proprietor here of Collar City Mushrooms, Avery Stempel, read an untitled piece written after last week’s reading at Lark Hall in Albany that began “where am I?” a metaphysical pondering — while looking for his car.

Damien, who came over from Vermont to check out the mushrooms, also did couple of metaphysical pieces from memory similar to Avery’s.

Alexander Perez read 2 pieces from a surrealistic work-in-progress titled “Drama Queen,” one a dream & associated images with an eel for dinner, the other in a bed like a boat replete with shells.

My first poem was from my collection of Poem Cards “Content Advisory,” then one from my 1995 A.P.D. chapbook Ireland “Coitus Interruptus at the Dublin Zoo.”

Rhonda Rosenheck’s poems were a trio of ekphrastic pieces, the first based on a piece titled “Bird Mandela Orange” by a Tibetan artist, the 2nd was like a letter addressed to an artist whose work she was looking at, the 3rd was titled “Offer Me Gods” & was a “golden shovel” based on a line from Rumi — the golden shovel is a form invented by Terrance Hayes in homage to Gwendolyn Brooks.

My co-host, Nancy Klepsch, read a poem by Philip Good, “You Are My Sunshine” from his recent chapbook Sub-Atomic Moss, then her own poem a list/litany titled “Everything You Hear is Good.”

The final performer was a old friend of Avery’s from his youth, Emilio, now back in the area; he did not look like the same person who had read last week at Lark Hall, & what he performed was totally different. He began with a rambling introduction that led eventually to a brief guided meditation, which ended with him drumming. 

You can always find mushrooms at Collar City Mushrooms, 333 2nd Ave., Troy, NY, but what you will hear at the 2nd Sunday @ 2 Open Mic for Poetry + Prose is less predictable. Join us with your written/spoken words.

Writers Mic, March 8

Another stimulating evening of poetry on Zoom with Writers Mic, & our congenial host, Jackie Craven.

I got in on time & ended up 1st on the list. My first poem was one I wrote last year that I don’t recall reading out anywhere previously, titled “Confused About Pronouns,” then a recent piece following up on an earlier “witches poem,” this one titled “The Witch’s Necklace.”

David Graham said that he turned 70 recently which has inspired poems, so he read “Improvising” a birthday poem (he said that he shares the birthday with his wife), a memory of listening to Keith Jarrett together, then a tiny suite of 5 funny vignettes on aging “70 for Sure.” 

Susan Carroll Jewell shared her “latest Rattle ekphrastic failure” from January, titled “Wood Cuts,” riffing on the wood, on blank pages & the ink.

Scott Morehouse gave the usual dose of humor, this titled “The White Elephant Bed” a story of a large man who commissions a special made bed, then when he dies the bed is taken by the Smith Brothers Circus for the circus fat lady, & Billy the circus black smith finds happiness. 

Alan Catlin began with a piece from his collection of poems based on the photographs of Diane Arbus, then one from a new collection of poems based on found or remembered real stories, this a family story about bootlegging. 

Ellen White Rook read her poem “After Sunrise” about daughters with beautiful names for International Women’s Day, then one titled “Spanish Point,” a childhood memory of being on a beach in Ireland “before it was cool.” 

Alexander Perez read two poems with rich, vivid images, “A Blaze” imagining being burned alive, & a yet untitled poem written today about January leaves.

Sue Oringel read 2 memoir pieces, “My Mother’s Kitchen” perhaps a piece of flash non-fiction, then “Reunion in Iowa” a conversation about the old farm house not there anymore.

Naomi Bindman read 3 recent short poems, “Perspective” about the backyard a mess, “Sacrilege” on an alchemist, or priest, or deity as a baker, & “Breath” in the now.

Our host Jackie Craven brought the evening to a close with a descriptive, surreal, quirky prose block “Realtor.”

You can find the link for the monthly Zoom open mic — held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month — on the Writers Mic Facebook page — share your written/spoken words, poems, or prose with an always attentive audience of writers.

Invocation of the Muse, March 6

Starting off the month at Lark Hall, our host, R.M. Engelhardt, read a poem by William Wanting (1933 - 1974), “Open Letter to the Time,” then Rob read one of his own “Even Charlie Sheen was a Poet.” There were 2 featured poets on the bill this night, to make up for last month interrupted by weather, Josh the Poet & Avery Stempel. But first a bit of the open mic.

I read a new poem, that harkens back to a poem I wrote last Fall, this one titled “The Witch’s Necklace,” then my annual birthday poem this year titled “Magic in Gloucester.” Ian Mack was next reading from his phone with a poem about a car accident, then one for the past season of fantasy football, “The National Fucked-Up Team.”

The first of the night’s 2 features was Josh the Poet who recited from memory a series of his characteristic philosophical/spiritual poems. One titled “Black Boy” was inspired by his experiences, another was a meditation on “Undying Loyalty.” Josh has been busy going to Albany open mics & I fully expect we’ll see a lot more of him as he hones his poetic skills.

Back to the open mic, Mary Panza took the stage with a piece of childhood memoir about walking about barefoot, then a Limerick that began “There once was girl from Troy…” I’m sure “boy” & “toy” were in there somewhere too. Alexander Perez’s 1st poem was titled “Word Play” & was literally about his poems wanting to come out & play, then to a poem complete with screeching in the persona of an owl.

A late sign-up to the list was Joseph Ward (the father of Josh the Poet) who recited a poem that was like a prayer (as poems often are). Our host, R.M. Engelhardt, read a poem that began “Not Antifa …” about poets as deadly weapons against a non-defined “they”, then one titled “The Dive Bar at the End of the World” filled with lonely people. Next was Emilio Flores, who was introduced as “a friend of Avery’s” (the next reader), who performed a stream-of-consciousness word play about consciousness, then an emotional piece titled “Thought I Knew” from high school year book to the coffin.

Avery Stempel, the 2nd featured poet & the last reader of the night, began by reciting from memory “Walking Life’s Paths,” then continued with a reading of other philosophical, descriptive poems, such as “A Dream” (of being on the road), “A Murder” (of crows), “A Trojan Reflects from Across the River” (remembering the Albany of his past), & a piece combining singing & pressured speech “Homage to The Last Dragon” & so that was the night.

Invocation of the Muse is an open mic for poetry & the written/spoken word, with a featured reader (or 2) that takes place each 1st Monday of the month at Lark Hall, on the corner of Lark St. & Hudson Ave., (enter at 351 Hudson), Albany, NY -- 7:30PM sign up, 8:00 start.

Poetry Power Hour, February 19

Collar City Mushrooms is not just the breeding ground of mushrooms (if that is the correct term), nor just a retail store for more mushroom varieties than you ever knew, but is also an art gallery & performance space & home to the 2nd Sunday @ 2 Open Mic for Poetry + Prose. Urged on by poet Tim Verhaegen, Avery Stempel, the proprietor of Collar City Mushrooms, put together this poetry event to showcase the work of some of his poetry friends, as well as his own extensive body of work.

It began with a short open mic. I read a dream poem “Lily White,” then Carrie read a poem titled “A Resolution,” & Alexander Perez also read a dream poem.

Avery selected some long-time poetry friends to be the “invited poets” to read, & introduced them with nostalgic reflections on their poetry connection. Samson Dikeman read 2 pieces, apparently untitled, one on the imagined implications on finding a torn corner of a manuscript of music by Mozart, the other in the voice of a dandelion crushed by the stone that was rolled back from the grave of Jesus, with the line “the Savior came 3 days late …”

Mary Panza’s first poem was a pro-Roe manifesto/rant, which she followed with another of her marvelous rants, which are usually addressed to someone (unnamed) who deserves it (I think she should license the rents for people to use as needed).

Amber Jackson began with an untitled poem addressed to “you” (perhaps the poem itself?) about the poem being written; then a poem written today, also untitled, about her mother, on her mother’s birthday.

Tom Verhaegen, whom you can often find here on the 2nd Sunday, read an extended piece about walking in a cemetery, then worries about being mugged there & dying there.

Avery, April 2000, Cafe Web

Then on to Avery’s retrospective/anthology, which he described in the program as “A Mass of Entangled Meanings Delivered by a Wondering Wanderer.” There were 29 titles listed, & while I took notes on many of the poems, I can’t attest to whether he read all of them, though certainly most. He began with what is certainly an Avery classic, “From Me to You,” on building & exchanging a smile. Indeed, his performances can best be described as “enthusiastic,” & a frequent style or manner in his performances is that of a chant, as well as at times singing. 

This day, since there was a printed program, he frequently omitted the title in his performance & at times simply ran the poems together. There were portraits, sometimes satirical, there were philosophical ponderings, an ekphrastic poem (“Portals and Doors”), a Cento composed of texts of friend requests from social media, poems about his childhood memories, tales of installing a ceiling fan, even an audience-participation piece in English & Sanskrit. Phew, it was exhaustive, uplifting, funny & a good time was had by all.

Check out Collar City Mushrooms online for their menu of available mushrooms, mushroom products & wares, & for upcoming events, & art exhibits, & join us each 2nd Sunday at 2PM for Poetry + Prose.