All Genre Open Mic Out of Bennington, September 8

Charlie Rossiter, he host, out of his living room in Bennington, VT, got this monthly Zoom open mic going with his signature introduction “you can rant you can chant …” & we did. We went around in 2 sections of one poem each section.

I was first up on the signup list with 2 poems related to the upcoming 25 anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001 (where where you then?), in the 1st round with the opening segment, “Matins & Lauds,” of my older poem, subsequently published as a chapbook in 1991, Meditations of a Survivor (A.P.D.), then in round 2 one of my poem cards describing my experience on 9/11 in NYC, “Leaving New York.”

Sally Rhoades recently participated in a poetry workshop in Provincetown with Major Jackson & read this night in the 1st round a piece written there, “The sky was bright this morning…” a celebration of herself, her words, her memories; then in round 2 another new poem titled “Figures Forgotten in Porcelain” a memoir of her father, sitting, waiting for Death.

Sharon Smith began in the 1st round by reading Wallace Stevens’ famous poem “13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird,” then in her 2nd round her variation, “13 Ways of Looking at the United States,” images & history & baseball, quoting poet Claude McKay’s “America” to end the poem.

Our host, Charlie Rossiter, in his 1st round, read a new one, a memoir, “With the Radio Low” listening on a little transistor radio; then in round 2, 2 very short poems -- "Haiku Tears," maybe just notes, & “Call Me Lucky.”

In Tom Nicotera’s 1st round he read a a love poem from on a trip to Niagara Falls with Sherri, “Incongruities,” about a photo of him holding him a guitar in the Hard Rock Cafe, & list of books on his shelf. In his 2nd round, he said that our host, Charlie, was the first to publish him, a broadside of his poem “Spring Concert 4th Grade Chorus” about his daughter singing, wondering about the background of the diverse kids, wondering about the future.

Julie Lomoe used her 1st round to talk about not being able to find her poem about Windows on the World (a pre-2001 visit to the World Trade Center, & read a recent gloomy list poem. In the 2nd round she read her poem “The Terrors of Motherhood,” published by Moonstone Press in the anthology, The Weight of Motherhood, about the birth of her daughter & more.

The afore-mentioned Sherri Bedingfield read in her 1st round an older poem, “Gridlock,” set in NYC, as the subject of an attempted car-jacking; then, in the 2nd round, a poem written 

mid February in Georgia, a memoir of her father, a description of geese flying over a pond.

I prefer to spend my time at readings with in-person poets — & there are plenty where I live in Albany, NY. But I enjoy this Zoom open mic to hear poets from Connecticut & other parts of the country. It is run by poet Charlie Rossiter in Bennington, VT on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00PM Eastern time; if you want to get the Zoom link (& are not already on Charlie’s list) send him an email & ask him to send you the link charlierossiter@gmail.com. Maybe I will see you “there.”

2nd Tuesday All-Genre Open Mic out of Bennington, June 9

I was able to Zoom in this month, always an eclectic mix of poets from elsewhere. As usual, our host & moderator was Charlie Rossiter from his living room, & we did 2 rounds, not always in the same order this night.

I was up first & in my 1st round read a poem written (& titled) “June 3, 2007,” remembering the great gone poet Allen Ginsberg, & my own life intersecting. In the second round I read another older poem that I recently turned into a poem card, “Hidden Cafe Table Poem.”

Bill Thwing did his thing with his guitar, a song for his 1-year old granddaughter, Clara, “Our Sweet Little Buttercup,” her smiles now, the things she’ll do as she grows up. Then another song in his 2nd round, “Swept Away” about a dream of standing in a stream, that somehow led into a group discussion of AI.

Sharon Smith began with one of the 1st poems she wrote 7 or 8 years ago, “Between the Hidden & the Revealed” (which she included in her 2022 collection, reflection: poems. The 2nd time around she read a dream poem, “June 6,” which is the anniversary of her father’s death.

Our host, Charlie Rossiter read a poem I remember hearing years ago, a memoir of his father as a bad example, “Drinking While Driving.” His 2nd round poem was also a memoir titled “Eating Scrambled Eggs at Midnight Thinking of Blummie,” a woman who was not related but sort of “an extra grandmother.” 

Ginny Folger read he poem “Insomnia” that she has just heard has been selected for publication in Eclectica Magazine. In round 2 she also read a memoir poem, this titled “Visit.”

A regular here, Tom Nicotera, read a brand new poem, “BookTender” about librarians as bartenders listening to patrons, not just stackers the books. For his 2nd round he read a Father’s Day poem, “Dreaming of Fish: for My Father” about their time fishing together.

It had been a night of memoir which Mark O’Brien capped off in both of his rounds, first with “Fermented Childhood,” then in round 2 with another childhood memory of being at a local military firing range “I Have Never Found an Arrowhead” but lots of brass instead. 

One never knows where the poets show up from at this Zoom gathering held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. If you’ve been “here” previously Charlie has your email address & will send you the link each month; if not, send an email to Charlie at charliemrossiter@gmail.com & ask for the link — it’s worth the effort.

Writers Mic, May 13

Jackie Craven is the moderator for this congenial monthly open mic for writers & many of the readers this evening are regulars here (wherever “here” may be).

David Graham was up first with a poem from 2012 that he has not read out previously, “Self-Portrait with Change of Season,” a complex swirling mix of images pondering reality & memory, from fishing, to drums, to his father’s dementia & death.

Scott Morehouse read another of his dramatic & outrageously humorous narratives, this titled “Role Play” about an theater audition & rehearsal devolving into a sex scene, made even more wild with Scott taking on the voices of the characters.

Elisabeth Lockman read “Riptide Off Virginia Beach” from a prompt & a photo (or painting?) that Jackie was familiar with.

Alan Catlin read from his book, Still Life of the Apocalypse, an excerpt from the long piece “The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” including quotes from Oppenheimer about the first bomb test in 1945 with references to the Hindu god Vishnu.

I read 2 versions of my poem based on a line from Walt Whitman’s Specimen Days, “Here I sit in Solitude,” which I inadvertently wrote twice, first in August 2024, then in May of this year.

Naomi Bindman also read 2 poems not read out previously, the first based on the kids’ game in cars, “Punch Buggy” (your remember, don’t you, “punch buggy no punch back”). Later, at the end a descriptive piece in a store, “Passing.”

Susan Jewell read “Reading the 14th Amendment while Waiting in Line for Coffee” a poem written a couple weeks ago, clever playing with the text from the Constitution & pebbles in the river.

Ray Drumsta read 2 pieces related to cancer treatments; “Chemo Being” was poetic description of someone’s chemo therapy without reference to either the type of cancer or therapy, while “Kim’s Bones” was about another cancer patient who had read here sometime in the past, & has now passed, our host Jackie said that she remembered her.

Jackie Craven read 2 fairy tale poems, “Grimm Houses” with crows, & “Beauty & the Feast” complete with a troll & a lush table full of delicacies.

The discussion of poetry continued after the readings, on repetitions within the poems, even considering reading the over again to increase understanding.

Ray raised a question about having overdone the writing of poems about cancer, & to what degree should a poet indulge in the horrible details of disease, of death? The kind of issues to which there are perhaps no answers.

This Zoom open mic takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. One can find the link at the Writers Mic Facebook page. 

 

2nd Tuesday All-Genre Open Mic out of Bennington, March 10

I rarely use Zoom these days, but this event is one I do use it for, but lately whenever I go to an event the Zoom app jumps me hoops, sometimes landing at a virtual brick wall. This night was one of those times & by the time I was connected it was well underway.

Cheryl Rice apparently was the first on the list & I heard only the last few words of her 1st round poem (the host, Charlie Rossiter likes to do the 2-round thing, 1 poem each round). But I was there from the beginning for her 2nd round poem, “Ocean & Sky,” about the actors Robert Redford & Paul Newman (Cheryl is a big fan of old-time movies).

Sharon Smith’s first poem, titled “Discernment,” is in her latest book, stages (self-published, 2025) (contact her at sharonsmithyoga@comcast.net to find out how to order a copy). Her poem in the 2nd round was a new piece, “Why I Never Write About MY Mother,” a celebration in details of her life.

In both rounds Ginny Folger read poems of the season, in the 1st round “I Dream of Spring,” memories & cats; in the 2nd round the descriptive “March is Messy…” set in a graveyard.

Tom Nicotera began with a poem from a workshop prompt to write about a childhood experience, his a memory of fellow student in a wheelchair from polio, the first time he had thought about death. In his 2nd round he read “The Coming of the Light” in honor of the change to Daylight Savings Time.

Mark O’Brien, in the 1st round, read one of his “correspondence sonnets,” this one titled Ninehva Junction” on the Susquehanna River; in round 2 he read his annual birthday poem, this in the voice of his dogs, “What We Did for Daddy on His Birthday.”

Our host, Charlie Rossiter, read from his new book, For Now, from Foothills Publishing; in the first round, “Reading a Friend’s Poems,” just the fun of it, hearing the poet's voice; in the 2nd round, “They Say Clothes Makes the Man,” about starting to wear a beret — a vest, sky-blue speedo, ties, faded jeans — so fashionable!

Carl Nyberg’s label on Zoom said he was from Shelburne, I’m guessing Vermont; his 1st round poem was titled “Discontinuing the Lincoln Penny.” His 2nd round poem, “Not Creole, Not Jargon, Not Pidgin,” was about language in the military.

I thought I was the last poet to sign in & for the 1st round read a poem inspired by a breakup letter from some years back, “different taste in music,” then in the 2nd round a poem modeled on one by William Carlos Williams of the same title & inspired by a visit to Philadelphia, “The Great Figure.”

Julie Lomoe joined the Zoom event sometime in the 2nd round & spent the time going through her poems, apparently oblivious to what others were reading, was the final reader of the evening with a piece from a few years ago about getting fat, titled “Excess Baggage.”

This Zoom event takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7PM Eastern time. If you would like to join it & you are not already on Charlie’s list, send an email to charlierossiter@gmail.com & ask for the link. You’ll be glad you did.

  

Writers Mic, February 11

The host of this Zoom event is poet Jackie Craven whose most recent collection of poems is Whish (Press 53, 2024) - winner of the Press 53 Award for Poetry.

David Graham was up first with 2 new poems, “Wakeup Call after Martha Solano” like an autobiography through school, love & sex, remembering a day in class; his 2nd poem was a Valentine, “Bathtime,” with the tender/humorous line, “she’s going upstairs to bathe, well, I’ll alert the media…“

Alan Catlin began with a poem written just this Monday, “Once in a Blue Moon," an anxiety dream poem, the jumps & surprises of dreams, with kissing sybils; followed by one written today, another dream, “Kidnapping & the Poetry Reading, an Anxiety Dream Poem.” (I think our dreams write, sometimes, better poems than we do, since dreams are often filled with jumps & leaps, the kind of mixing of images that our best poems should have.)

Then I was next & began with my recent “Birthday Poem 2026,” part of an ongoing practice of writing a poem each year about my birthday, this one in Philadelphia with family during the snowstorm; my 2nd poem, “Vernada Delray,” was written in response to Alan Catlin’s fabulous 2011 collection of poems Alien Nation (March Street Press).

It was good to see Naomi Bindman here again; she read a birthing poem, “Patience of Potato,” a lesson from plants; then a brand new poem of loss, “Will You Come Back?” 

Scot Morehouse is characteristically humorous & outrageous, this night he was no different in 2 short stories; the 1st a (not) news-worthy story of 2 competing standup comics turning 100, Mimi & Mami, vying for all the cake; then “Forgotten,” an early 20th century tale of lady’s underwear, with a concluding limerick which are always funny.

Elizabeth Loctman, overcoming problems trying to unmute, read a political piece from inspired by event last month on the murders of Renee Good & Alex Pretti in Minnesota. 

Susan Carroll Jewell read a revised “Living in the City of the Dead” in the duplex form, mimicking the blues using repetitions (that work so well in poems). 

Jackie Craven read an experiment, from a short story into a poem, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” a surrealist mix of the night her mother died (or not?), a gerbil, a mermaid on the couch.

Theonel Mathebula Zoomed in from somewhere across the globe, with a piece about suicide, “If Suicide Wins,” from a series of how it won’t be dramatic, but he wins by persisting with the little things of his life.

With some time left on the Zoom window, Jackie opened it up to one more poem from anyone interested. I opted to read a quite old poem, “Valentine” (this being February). Theo read  “Between 2 Floods,“ dedicated to a friend in Mozambique who was born on top of the trees in a flood in 2000, last month passed away during another flood. Then Naomi, a lighter poem, new, “Lessons of a Broken Left Wrist: Ode to my Non-dominate Hand.”

One can find out how to join this monthly (2nd Wednesdays) Zoom open mic by visiting the Writer’s Mic Facebook page.  Hope to see you “there”.

2nd Tuesday All Genre Open Mic Out of Bennington, February 10

With our host, Charlie Rossiter, in his living room — & the rest of us someplace else. He likes to do 2 rounds of 1 poem each round.

Charlie put me first on the list once again (it’s sort of a tradition). I read my annual “Birthday Poem,” this year in Philadelphia for a party & a snow-filled weekend. In the 2nd round I read a recently typed poem from my series from the 1st Trump reign, "What Makes America Great,” this  #45: Antifa. 

Ginny Folger’s 1st round poem was titled “Old Women Dreaming,” imaging lovers from the past; her 2nd round poem, “The Gin Rickey,” was a memoir of Lake Hapatgon, NJ (where I once went for an office party when I worked in NYC). 

In his 1st round, Tom Nicotera read a dream poem “New Year’s Eve” with a crow & snow (note the dream rhyming); later, he read a new poem, “There Are Angels Everywhere” about a couple paying his bill in a restaurant in Brattleboro. 

Bill Thwing dialed in from Western Pennsylvania with a song written last year (which he read as a poem), “Waiting For the Phone to Ring;” in the 2nd round, “Grandpa Harold Went To War” also in rhyme, the Solomon Islands then (WWII) & now.

Sharon Smith read from her new book, stages, in the 1st round “Poem Origin Oddities,” inspired by a remark by Charlie made some years ago about the shape of poems; in the 2nd round, “Bird Meter,” listening to the birds’ song like poetic meter. 

Rachel Baum read from her book of children’s poetry Sit.Stay.Fetch.Sketch. A Book of Artistic Canines, in the 1st round, for “Cocco Chanel,” then for her 2nd round poem, one for Cocco’s cousin, “Christian Dior.” 

Anthony Bernini, in his 1st round, read a seasonal poem about the stream behind his house in Winter, “The Piscawan;” then later, a poem of war & history, “Before Iraq,” i.e., Mesopotamia.

Mark O’Brien began with what he described as a “quasi Haiku,” on losing people in life; in the 2nd round he gave a rambling introduction referencing Richard Brautigan’s Gothic novel, The Hawkline Monster, then into a poem about as slapstick incident with his brothers & a field mouse, “What Are You Talking About?”

Our host, Charlie Rossiter brought up the rear in both rounds, & read from his book, For Now, in the first round one from years ago, “One Summer Day at the Pig’s Foot,” & at the end, the pensive “Listening to William Carlos Williams,” as a form of immortality. 

This wonderfully low-key Zoom open mic takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:00PM, Eastern time. Although Charlie is in Bennington, Vermont, one can dial in from anywhere. If you are not already on his list & want to join the open mice, send him an email (to charlierossiter@gmail.com) & he will send you the link — you’ll like it.

Writers Mic, January 14

It’s been awhile since I joined this Zoom open mic, & I was glad to be back again. The host is poet Jackie Craven.

First up was David Graham with his 1st poem for 2026, “Blind Sided,” inspired by reading the poetry of Jim Harrison who was blind in his left left eye, as is David as a result of a stroke.  

Elizabeth Lockman was a new voice to me but seems to have been at this open mic previously; she read a piece written for the Rattle magazine ekphrastic challenge, “The Day Trip to Tumulo Park, Korea,” then a piece like chatting over coffee, “My Friend Met Someone from the Secret Service at Mass.”

I was up next with “The Blue Wind” inspired by reading the new translation (by Mark Polizzotti) of Andre Breton’s surrealist novel Nadja; then a little free-form automatic writing of my own, “The Moon is a Damp Alley.”

Susan Carol Jewell also read a poem for the Rattle ekphrastic challenge, written last November, “The Red Planet & the Blue Sun.” 

Alan Catlin read what he said was the closet things to a love poem, “Epithilmiums for Marcus & Karen,” for his son & daughter-in-law, then a political poem “Dis-respective for Renee Good.” Later, in an ersatz 2rd round, another political piece, absurdist instructions to employees in a bar in case of an emergency.  

Liz Grisaru also read a recent political piece titled simply “Minneapolis,” then another recent piece with a humorous twist, “Encounter at the Supermarket;” later in the 2nd round, “Travel” like a dream of a train in Europe.

Jackie Craven read a funny period piece about her father’s bomb shelter, “In Event of Nuclear Emergency.”

Julie Lomoe read a piece from 2016 titled “Donald the Bantam Rooster Speaks His Mind” from her collection Proof of Process.

If you want to join this monthly Zoom open mic (2nd Wednesday at 7:30PM EST) one can find the link on the Writers Mic Facebook page.  

2nd Tuesday All-Genre Open Mic Out of Bennington, January 13

I don’t do many Zoom open mics now, but this is one I visit regularly to stay in touch with old friends (emphasis on “old”?). This night we were certainly a senior gathering. Charlie, our host, likes to do the 2-round thing, 1 poem each round.

I started off the list with a poem a fairly recent poem in each round. In the 1st round a Frank O’Hara style piece about running errands, “The Shifting Sands of Errands,” then later one that has become a poem card from the constantly growing series of bus poems, “Bus Riders.”

Tom Nicotera read brand new poems, the first from working at the branch library, “Redtail Hawk Under the Library Window,” dead from crashing into the window; then in the 2nd round a poem based on a memory with his brother in 1957, like a dream, looking at the stars.

Sharon Smith read “13 ways of Ways of Looking at America” inspired by Claude McKay from a prompt from a workshop on “the poetry of presence;" for round 2, “Wind of Change,” waking looking at the leaves.

Sherri Bedingfield only read 1 poem, having to leave early, “Contact with my Brother,” memories of her brother, looking for reconciliation. 

Mark O’Brien read a pastiche of a famous poem by William Carlos Williams that he (Mark) apparently read last month here about a Vermont ice cream company, the poem began, “I have licked Wilcox’s stick;” then a poem about stars & missing his brother.

Ginny Folger said that in her youth she was “Brave” (the title of her poem), but now she worries about breaking the other leg; her 2nd round poem, titled “Sorting Things Out,” was about being in her new place & findings things that can be thrown out. 

Julie Lomoe read the piece she had read at the recent 2nd Sunday @ 2 in-person open mic in Troy, the introduction to her prose memoir about being a painter in the art scene in Soho in the 1960s.

Our host, Charlie Rossiter, read a Cento from a the 2014 collection Seasons of Wisconsin which was a fundraiser at the time; then a poem about a brief warm day in the midst of Winter, the hopeful “It’s Spring.”

If you’ve been to this Zoom open mic held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month it’s likely that you are on Charlie's list & he’ll send you the link when it comes time for next one. However, if you’ve never joined this open mic & think you might like to, send him an email at charlierossiter@gmail.com to ask for the link. You’ll have fun.

2nd Tuesday All-Genre Open Mic Out of Bennington, October 14

Of course we began as usual with our host’s Charlie Rossiter introductory rant, “The Mic is Open!” & on we went, with 2 rounds for each reader.

I was up first with a couple of new poems, in the first round my death-fantasy reaction to hearing the insipied song “On Eagle’s Wings” at a recent funeral. In the second round, an “accidental sonnet” on the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, “The Sound of the Tides.” 

Sharon Smith read 2 poems from her 2022 collection of poems, reflection. In her first round she read “Long Form Duet” for her parents, their cooperative roles, in a series of short stanzas, back & forth; then in the 2nd round the first poem she ever wrote back in 2018,  “Hearing the Shaman Boogie, or Is That a Waltz?”

Sherri Bedingfield read a poem titled “Animals Come” with strutting crows, an owl in the road, from a new book, for which Charlie wrote a blurb; then in her second round read a prose memoir, “Gloria & Me, 1957” for an Orenaug Mountain Press collection.

Charlie Rossiter, Full Circle Bookstore
Oklahoma City, 8/29/2010

Our host, Charlie Rossiter, began with a nature poem of sorts, “Nothing Much Happens Here;” his second round poem was “Morning Thoughts” which he said was one of many with this title.

Tom Nicotera’s first round poem, “The Trees on the Ridge,” was an Autumn poem, the trees & the light; then in the second round read a Halloween poem about The Green Lady Cemetery, a haunted place in Burlington CT, a descriptive piece, with a lyric ending.

Julie Lomoe’s only poem was titled “The Toothless Crone,” TMI about her missing dentures, hearing aids & growing old, 

Anthony Bernini began with a poem titled with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, “If You Can Keep It,” about fighting for our values, then, in the 2nd round, an old poem, “Survivors,” about squash abandoned in the fields, ending up in the market.

This is a monthly Zoom open mic for “all genres” with an eclectic mix of writers & & strummers, & what-evers is on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at 7:00PM ET. If you are not already on Charlie’s list, send him an email at  charlierossiter@gmail.com & ask for the link & bring your stuff -- I hope to see you there.