Invocation!, March 19

Invocation, which had been at a couple other venues in town over the last few years, had its first open mic last month here at Ophelia’s on Broadway in Albany -- the slow gathering of poets, folks ordering food, drinks, taking their seats, nodding their pleasantries to fellow poets, etc. It is organized & hosted by poet R.M. Engelhardt, who introduced the night with a excerpt from the epic poem Pharsalia by the Roman poet Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, AD 39 - AD 65), who was forced to commit suicide by the Emperor Nero. 

Lee Martin read poems by the absent Charles Lapinsky, “Behold the Twisted Cross,” & “Corinthians” (as in the New Testament texts). Nancy Klepsch read “Children Too” an outcry & litany of countries where children are dying of war, famine, disease; then the much lighter cry for good bagels, “Bad Bagel.” Samual Maurice read his piece “Spins on Change.”

It was about here that karaoke began blasting from the front bar area. The sound system there was better & was over-whelming the the voice of the poets, & I knew it could only get worse. What idiot would schedule both a poetry open mic & karaoke on the same night at the same time? — one who is greedy & cares neither for poetry nor karaoke, I would guess, caring only for sales by packing the house with both events at the same time.

I split, fuming the whole way home & into my (now quieter) night. I apologize to the other poets there & to our unfortunate host, R.M. Engelhardt, for my leaving so abruptly. 

Last month was his first first night at Ophelia’s & it seemed to go well but we will have to see if it will continue here on the same night of the month (3rd Wednesday) or even if it will continue here at all. Check the listings at hvwg.org & in the pages/online of Metroland Now; also Dead Man’s Press Ink Facebook page.

 Maybe I’ll see you there, maybe not.