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.