Caffè Lena Poetry, August 6

In spite of the last-minute cancellation of the featured poet scheduled for this night, the open mic went on for the eager local poets who did show up to read. The host, Carol Graser, began by reading a love poem titled “Equinox.” But because there was no feature, she opened up the rules allowing 3 short poems.

Catherine Clarke read poems from her chapbook manuscript, one about April titled “Eclipse” then a poem she was asked to write by a neighbor, “King Road Spring.” David Graham read a couple of short poems, the 1st his own, “Upstairs Downstairs,” then one by Ron Pagdett “Words from the Front.”

I went next with a couple poems for today’s moment in history, first Tom Nattell’s “Hiroshima,” then my own “Poem for August 6.” 

Naomi Bindman showed up with her service dog (who did not take the stage with her) & she read a poem, “Stopping Time,” to her former dog, followed by an end-of-love poem, “You Used to Bring Me Flowers,” & ended happily with “About Hope.”

Mary Panza was my chauffeur for the night coming to Saratoga Springs & had put together an entourage of her ladies friends to see her friend Nick Bisanz play guitar backup for the cancelled poet, which, alas, was not to be. But we came for the open mic anyways & Mary read a poem about you marrying you, “Unbridled,” then instructions on Italian cooking, “Rules for My Mother’s Kitchen.”

A regular here, Leslie Sittner, began with the sad “Untitled Memory,” then a poem about an outdoor shower, “Full Buck Moon,” & ended with a dog poem. Randee Renzi is a veteran of the open mic scene in Albany & began with a poem for the Sun, “Unexcused Absences,” then an older poem,”The End of the Line,” about the birth of her son.

A.C. Everson was one of the folks in our entourage from Albany & read an older poem about the gone Albany poet, Tom Nattell, “Remembering Tom,” then a recent poem “Long Shadows.” 

Diana Steenberg, another member of our entourage & a 1st time reader here at Caffè Lena, read a piece in rhyme based on a true story “The Mermaid of Thompkins Lake,” then “The Fallen” (we are fallen angels).

Michael Walterish with a poem about teaching, “Time Beings What They Are,” then one about a poetry dinner party, “Essential Ingredient.” Pat Curtis read a dream poem in rhyme, “The Night I Punched the President at Caffê Lena.” Joseph Bruchac is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Saratoga Springs & long-time community poet; tonight he read a variety of pieces, a poem by the Japanese poet Issa that he had translated, his own poems “Thinking of Rilke Near Sunset,” & an old poem about the importance to listening to our grandparents.

Our host, Carol Graser, read an old Summer poem about being at Great Escape with her child, relating the water slide to giving birth. Sally Rhoades began with a poem for her grandkids, “Take Grandma’s Hands,” then her poem about the Lunar eclipse “Stopping By for the Eclipse” from her book Taking Time (The Troy Book Makers, 2025).

Rodney Parrott read a couple pieces, his “lost poem…” & one floating in air. Then Lee brought the night to a downer ending with 2 depressing poems, “The Bright Side of Life” in which he dreamed of dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, & a rhyming piece about being in the hospital after being hit by a truck.

<i>Caffè Lena Poetry</i> is on the 1st Wednesday of each month, featured poet at 7:00PM, followed by an open mic for community writers; signup starts at 6:30PM, $5.00 admission, free for students.