Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic, May 1

I was glad to get back to the long-running Caffè Lena poetry night after a number of months of missing it, & the fine featured poets they showcase. The featured poet tonight was Darcy Smith (who had been the featured poet in June of 2023 at the Third Thursday Poetry Night that I host in Albany, NY). The featured poet is live streamed, but first the host, Carol Graser, introduced the night by reading “The Nature of Quiet,” a poem by Susan Jefts, who was the featured poet here on April 3, 2024, then introduced tonight’s featured poet.

Darcy Smith is the author of River Skin (Fernwood Press, 2022) & began with a poem about her mother at 92, “Loose Gravel” from her book, read others from the book, poems down by the river, in the woods. She mixed in poems from a manuscript-in-progress, poems on issues of mental health, beginning with the rebellious “Sequins,” the scientific “Spin Particles,” “Rehab Ice Cream & Icarus,” & a poem for her brother, “Pain Management.” The poem she ended with, “Mama When Did the Rain Begin,” written for her mother-in-law, formed a bookend with the mother poem from the start of the reading. I like Darcy Smith’s readings of her poems — just good poems read well, with just enough background to give the listener a context. You can view the entire performance on the Caffe Lena Youtube channel.

Then on to the open mic with a whopping 32 poets signed up, beginning with Saratoga poet Rachel Baum with a hospital poem, “Surfaces.” David Graham is a regular here, read “Half-blind & Rain in the Night.” Another local poet, Carol Schupp Star, read “Spring” & “Quilting Joy.” Leslie Neustadt read a poem about a young girl on the West Bank, who she said could be her granddaughter, from a forth-coming book.

Judith Prest read a new poem, “Tricks of Light,” then one from her book Grafted Tree: Family Poems “If Only.” Dianne O’Neill read about Spring “Thru My Window.” Leslie Sittner read about her deaf dog, “Adaptation.” Lance LeGrys read “The Prodigal Son’s Last Word.” His daughter, Alex LeGrys, read “Fake Cowboys,” & “The Closest Thing I Can Get to a Love Poem.” Jeannine Laverty shared a poem by Brian Doyle, “October Poem.”

After a short break, our host Carol Graser read about her chickens, “Alarm at Dawn.” I read 2 of my “poem cards,” “Shaker Hymn,” & “April 18” (Poem-in-your-pocket Day). Another Darcy in the house read 2 rhyming poems, “City Light My Nemesis,” & “Queries I Have So Many.” Kirsten also read 2 (sad) rhyming poems, “Looking Up from the Gutter,” the other untitled.

Harry continued the rhymes with “The Beast” & “Mother’s Wish.” Toni read about saying goodbye & a piece titled “The Way I Know You.”

Franklin Whitney was involved with poetry at Caffè Lena even before the regular 1st Wednesday readings started over 20 years ago; he recited a poem in 3 parts, & accompanied each part by a different flute. Stanley was also a musician & played music he wrote to accompany a poem about Summer & katydids by Susan Fantl Spivack. This was Grace’s 1st time ever reading at an open mic, she read a sad, goodbye narrative “Deer in Tomorrow’s Garden.” Robin read a poem, “Ode to Voyager I” with the line “… who will sing to you when you turn 50?”

Lucia read 2 poems, one about her sister making puzzles. Rhonda Rosenheck read what she described as 2 love stories, “Impending Fall,” the other from an anthology she edited, Thriving. Chris Prager read the only poem he ever wrote, about a bird singing Mozart taking him away from the world. Elissa brought us back to rhyme, one titled “Sharing the Last Bite,” a birthday poem to someone in the audience.

E.R. Vogel (Eric) & I shared a table in the crowded cafe; he read a love poem about enjoying Spring days by the water. Ellen Rook read a poem titled “What Can’t Be Explained,” then a poem inspired by a Georgia O’Keefe painting “Tender Perennial.” Elaine Kenyon’s poem, titled “Bobby Knight” was inspired by a poem by the late North Country poet Stuart Bartow. David Rook read a poem from The New Yorker magazine by W.S. Merwin (1927 - 2019) “Neither Here Nor There.”

There were so many poets on the open mic that Rodney Parrott was not even last; he read “From the Perspective of Movement,” a section from his memoir-in-progress “The Wanderer.” Colleen Lovette (not sure of the spelling) said she was an actor & recited lines from Shakespeare put thru the food processor of her brain, as she put it.

Sam Dakota began with an untitled poem in rhyme, then one that she said was a rant about the FASA form (for financial aid for college students). & the last reader, Lulu Feeney (? spelling) — for those that stayed all the way to the end — also read an untitled poem in rhyme.

Phew! quite a night, but then there are many such nights here at Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic Night — always a local, regional, or national poet as the featured reader, then an open mic with fine poets from the surrounding region, near & far. It happens at 47 Phila St. on the 1st Wednesday of each month, starting at 7:00PM, doors open at 6:30PM, $5.00, students free.