2nd Tuesday All-Genre Open Mic Out of Bennington, July 9

Getting crowded here on Zoom — our host, Charlie Rossiter. After his signature introductory rant — “The Mic is Now Open!”  — 2 rounds, 1 poem each round.

I was “there” early & was 1st on the list. I read 2 of the 3 poems that have just been published in the inaugural issue of The Illegalist published by Dogtown Books in Gloucester, MA. In the 1st round I read about an encounter with a gull, “Hey!” in the 2nd round a piece titled “Last Weekend In Gloucester” which incorporates lines from the poetry of Gerrit Lansing, Vincent Ferrini, Charles Olson, & Tom Nattell.

Tim Verhaegen in his 1st round read a tender, loving tribute poem for “James” a friend for years & shared a screen shot of the poem; later, “Flash Friction” inspired by real events, at the Schenectady rose garden & a photography shoot in the park, with poet Ginny Folger.

Naomi Bindman read a short piece of prose memoir, half in each round, “Coming Back to Center” about doing yoga, potting, & joining her daughter Ellen at yoga.

Julie Lomoe read from the new version of her self-published chapbook of poems, Proof of Process, in the 1st round “My Last Rock Festival?” contrasting descriptions of a recent MassMOCA concert & memories of being at Woodstock in 1969; in the 2nd round, more memories, “Long Ago & Far Away,” a rambling memoir of Milwaukee & her fantasy of fucking famous jazz musicians. 

Ginny Folger began with a funny piece about choosing to be a cat in her next life, “You Can’t Leave Out the Difficult Parts;” then in the next round a portrait of a character titled “Sunday Mornings Sleeping In.” 

Mark O’Brien has been writing versions of stories he has found in old, local newspapers using lines from the original reporting; in the 1st round a piece titled “Knowersville,” the old name for Altamont, NY; in the 2nd round, from old police blotter items, “State News.”

Charlie Rossiter has been going through his archives & read, in the 1st round, a memoir from his Milwaukee days “Good Times Back in the Day;” then, later, an old road poem, of which he has many, “On the High Road to Taos.” 

In the 1st round, Cheryl A. Rice read from a series of poems based on photos by Jason Baldinger, a descriptive piece titled “Boudoir Mirror,” the poem stands on its own without seeing the photo that inspired it; her 2nd round poem was not part of that series, but about dinner at a local restaurant “Shrimp Stuffed Jalapeños.”  

Sharon Smith read a piece titled “Elmer” (the name of a childhood pet) in the first round, imagining her next life as a turtle; her 2nd round piece was about rebuilding a house & her body, both “built in the 1940s", “Structural Integrity.”

In both rounds Francesca Sidoti read from a memoir of 1974/1975, “Anatomy of a Thoroughbred,” being a tall girl, buying big clothes, family conflicts; then, continues, about working at the track, learning how to bet, finding confidence in herself, & herself now. 

Zosia Kessel joined us for the 1st time, & was clearly the youngest reader; she is an intern at the Hudson Valley Writers Guild assigned to write about poetry events, a little healthy competition going on here? She gamely joined in for both rounds, with descriptive pieces; round 1 was titled “Excavators” a description of new construction; her piece in round 2 was titled “After Bernadette Mayer“ one thing after another like one of Bernadette’s associative rambles.

Charlie hosts this Zoom open mic on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, starting at 7:00PM; if you are on his list he will send you the link, but if you are not on the list, send him an email & ask for the link & join us — charliemrossiter@gmail.com