Pine Hollow Arboretum Poetry Open Mic, August 15

Our host, Mark O’Brien, invoked the Muse, read Ed Hirsch’s poem “Days of 1968.”

For the 2nd time this season there were 2 featured poets. 1st up was Sherri Bedingfield. She read poems about her son (“The Front Seat”), her Dad (“Seedlings”), a couple poems about trees, an opossum, & one to her friend Tom for introducing her to beer. There was a political piece about the election (“After”), a wistful love poem, “Addiction, Summer Kiss,” even a piece of “speculative” sci-fi narrative about an invasion. She ended with “300 Poems,” a letter about herself directed to her younger self.

She was followed by Tom Nicotera, the "Tom" who introduced her to beer, & he obliged by reading a poem for Sherri, “Smack Dab in the Middle of the Suburbs.” He also read a poem about trees, a wild turkey, a great blue Heron, & taking care of Nature. Tom works in a town library & read his homage “The Library in Heaven,” which in many ways described the good libraries here on Earth, then one about aging, “I Have Learned How to Slow Down Time." Tom likes to include music in his reading & performed with his harmonica in “Blues for America” & with his Irish drum on “The Gun is the Spell.”

Even with 2 featured poets, there were still 14 poets on the open mic list. 1st up was Philomena Moriarty who read a poem to her recently gone sister, “Still Here,” the a poem of affirmation dancing on her tiptoes. Paul Amidon acknowledged the presence of Birthday Boy Joe Krausman (who did not sign up to read), then read a a humorous poem “Theologians” & a found poem, “No Money Down.” — Then we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Joe &, it seems, to a visitor here, Mary.

Alan Casline, the coordinator emeritus of this series, read some Arboretum poems (of course), & poems from his series on “Summergreen.” Tim Verhaegen read a dream poem about meeting again his deceased mother, then one, titled “Dig,” about his twin brother, also deceased. Dennis Sullivan read a poem he originally wrote in Spanish, the English version “The Day I Became a Poet.” David Gonsalves read about the images of a “Slow Burn,” then one titled “Heart Throb.”

Ann Stoney, who was new here, said that she also writes short fiction as well as poetry; she read a piece about a boy’s question, “What Will They Do When the Sky Burns Out,” another piece titled “Disappearing.” Scott was also new, read a short prose memoir, recently published, “Summer Job” about working in forestry. Frank Robinson read a political piece titled “Who Was that Masked Man?” about the ICE raids, drawing parallels to German fascism. 

Tom Bonville read a piece written as letter to his daughter, “With Love.” Edie Abrams read about rabbits & goats, “Mowing the Lawn & Other Considerations.” Sally Rhoades read an older poem that she said she hadn’t read our previously, an emotional piece about her Aunt Polly’s house, “Disassembling.”

Mark O’Brien read a memoir about working for a newspaper, “My Time in the Pen.” Tom Corrado brought the evening to a close with “Screen Dump #824” commenting on A.I. & dysfunctional systems, now & in the past.

This poetry reading with an open mic is held on the third Friday of the month at the Pine Hollow Arboretum, 34 Pine Hollow Road, Slingerlands, NY — 6:00PM sign up, 6:30PM start — your donation supports the Arboretum.