Poets at the Farm, March 22

It was not quite yet National Poetry Month & already a new poetry venue was poking thru, like the tulips in Washington Park. This was the first of a new series run by poet Avery Stempel (of Collar City Mushrooms) held on a Sunday afternoon at Indian Ladder Farms, either Altamont or Clarksville, in the hills outside Albany, NY. It was held in the bar with a generous selection of beers & ciders, informal & relaxed. 

Our Host, Avery, was the 1st to take the stage with a poem written this morning, “A New Vision,” on the potential of the New, then one of his older chant/rants, “Because You Have Opened.” 

I followed with the 2 related poems that I had read at the Third Thursday Poetry Night, “Angels,” inspired by the late Jayne Robbins (1945 - 2014), then my elegy to her, “A Poem for Ja(y)ne Robbins, for Daring Deluxe with Vincent.”

Mimi Moriarty didn’t have far to go to be here & began with a new poem, “The Hardy Birds of Winter,” mixing the seasonal birds with the murder of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by ICE agents; “Precious Light” is also a new poem, a morning poem; & “Good Friday,” a poem in 3 parts, mixing the Biblical story & getting ready for Easter.

David Gonsalves read 3 short poems, “Brother from Another Mother,” & “Silent Movie,” both characteristically enigmatic. 

Elaine Klein began with a funny childhood memory of a pet toad, in rhyme, “The Ballad of Worm Doom,” then a most appropriate piece for the times, “Speak truth to power…”

This new monthly series was off to a great start. Poets at the Farm takes place on the 4th Sunday of each month at the local landmark, Indian Ladder Farms, 342 Altamont Rd., Altamont, NY, -- bring some poems to read, & maybe do some shopping while you are there.