An Afternoon of Poetry, October 23

Indeed it was, & a most pleasant afternoon it was at the Chatham (NY) Public Library. This is a quarterly event; when they send me an email about it I bounce it to the Poetry Motel Foundation list, but this was the first one that fit in my schedule. It’s an easy drive from Albany.

The reading was held in a corner of the Library’s main room; it’s a small Library, but there seemed to be a regular stream of patrons in & out. There was no sign-up sheet, just informal introductions & a random, self-selected order to the reading, with a mic & podium. Many of the poets, as usually happens at long-running series, knew each other. We went around twice, no specific limit but each poet was sensitive about leaving time for others, & there was a mix of original poems & poems by others. 

Judy Staber began the readings. Her poems include “Going South” about watching geese, a more serious piece about an empty house, “Erosion Restoration,” & one titled simply “October.” 

David Bly read a mix of Nature poems & political pieces, including “A Thanksgiving” (with geese, again) apparently from a chapbook, a descriptive Spring poem, & one looking back to Easter 100 years ago; then a trio of political poems written in the last month, “Is Feudalism Our Future,” “Morning Glories,” & “Where Will We Find Hope?” He said he was a recent transplant to Chatham from Minnesota where he had served in the state legislature.

Joanna Auerbach coordinates this series & sends out the PR. She read a peace she heard read at an event to support refugees, titled “Home,” but I didn't catch the author's name; then a piece written in a poetry workshop, “Write a Poem She Said About New York City,” & a poem imitating Emily Dickinson’s rhymes, “Dear Emily.”

This being in the midst of the World Series I read some pieces from my chapbook, Baseball Poems (A.P.D., 2019).

Chris Stewart read poems by David Whyte (including “The True Love”) & by Mary Oliver (of course “Wild Geese” just to connect to the afternoon’s minor theme).

Jay McEwan read a mix of short pieces, many without titles, descriptive, sound/word play, even a string titled “Bad Jokes,” another humorous piece titled “Wind Directions, & a poem, “Angel Fire,” responding to a photo of band.

Steve Auerbach read a piece, “Cold Hard Facts,” written in a workshop, a political piece titled “Choosing Sides,” & poems by William Carlos Williams & Leonard Cohen.

Thomas Morrison arrived in the middle of the 2nd round & read poems by others, “The Night of the Wickie” by a librarian here (Laura?), & the beginning & ending of Robert Services’ famous “The Cremation of Sam McGee," & one of his own about the sea.

It was an afternoon with poets & lovers of poetry. If you can get to Chatham, NY try calling the Library & asking when is the next Afternoon of Poetry.