Writers Mic, August 14

This was a stimulating gathering of regular readers here & new faces/voices — always a good mix. The host each month is Jackie Craven.

First up was Susan Oringel with 2 poems from a recent stay at a writers retreat on Pyramid Lake, both poems with “the same woman” (herself) with a poem titled “Simple Joy,” then one titled “6 Years And” grieving her lost bladder (to cancer) & the graphic process of dealing with it  — quite frankly, TMI. 

David Graham described his poem “This is Called Grace” as a “gift” inspired by a  passage from poem by the late Jim Harrison. 

Alan Catlin read a poem he found in  his papers, published 20 years ago, “Displaced Diva in 2nd Hand Salvation Army Gown,” then a new poem inspired by reading Nelson Algren writing about Chicago, a true story from Alan’s years of tending bar, “After Last Call.” 

Julie Lomoe read from her revised book of poems, Proof of Process, a poem titled “Eclipse,” same title as a tune by jazz musician Charles Mingus, a memoir of Julie making the rounds of famous jazz musicians.

This was the first time I’d seen Marilyn McCabe at this monthly Zoom event; she read “Ugly Old Vase I Can’t Throw Away” about the things & the folks we’ve lost over time, then “Aubade” reflecting on the scattering the light by a pine tree.

This may have been Ray Drumsta’s first time here also; he read “Another Plane,” a dark portrait of an older Air Force veteran, then “Of Us, An Ode” a descriptive piece about a handmade bowl, the potter’s name stirring a memory of an ex-.

Scott Morehouse read an hysterical political satire set in 2027, the story of a couple taking a cruise to support Trump’s 2028 candidacy. 

I read 2 recent poems, “The Pink Moon” from April, a new addition to my series of “Witch poems,” then a new piece inspired by a passage from Walt Whitman’s Specimen Days (“A Sun Bath — Nakedness,” dated 8/27/1877) my poem titled “Days Here I Sit in Solitude.”

Jackie Craven said that she has had 52 rejections from publications for this poem, the story of her submissions effort, like fishing with her father (“throw my line reel it in…”).

At this point Jackie said there was time left if anyone wanted to read another poem, & Julie Lomoe availed herself of the opportunity to read from her book again, this poem in the persona of Donald Trump getting his Chinese astrological sign wrong, “Donald the Bantam Roosters Speak His Mind.” 

Kim had been a quiet audience member throughout the reading but at this point had Ray Drumsta read a gentle love poem she had written.

Alan Catlin read from his book Beautiful Mutants (Night Ballet Press, 2015) the “The Singers” about a bad cover band’s gig in a bar.

David Graham read a 2nd time also, a piece titled “Ghost Creek,” thinking of walks he took when he lived in Wisconsin.  

Susan Oringel read “Allies of Foes,” a poem inspired by a workshop prompt.

Ray Drumsta was the final reader with reflections on the deaths of his mother & of his grandmother, “A Tiny Dying.” 

Jackie Craven hosts this Zoom open mic on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, at 7:30PM Eastern Time. One can find the Zoom link on the Facebook page Writers Mic.