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.