Sunday Four Poetry, October 26

With a variety of hosts (or is that "a host of hosts"?) -- Dennis Sullivan to introduce the program, Edie Abrams for the open mic & Mike Burke to introduce the featured poet, Larry Rapant.

Alan Casline was the first poet up, with 2 "dragon poems," actually about carp & carp transforming into dragons (& I did not fall asleep). Marilyn said some of her poems "become lyrics" & her piece "Equinox" was that but she didn't try to sing this country song. Dennis Sullivan began with "Halloween Poem," a meditation of death & on the poet Delmore Schwartz; then a distressing piece about how the poor look different, & ended with "A Godly Pattern."

Mike Burke's touching piece, "Mates," drew parallels between birds & his parents. Edie Abrams paid poetic tribute to her poet friends, inspired, she said, by an email from Dennis. I tried to pick poems for this rural crowd, so I did 2 urban nature poems, "Planting Tulips" (actually saw the park crew doing just that again earlier this week) & my love poem to "The Lilacs." Tom Corrado, who had brought along his new string bass to accompany Larry, read a cluster of his short zinger poems on famous poets -- Pound, Williams, Brautigan, etc.

Mark O'Brien (aka "obeedude") read a piece on aging, getting wizened, then a coming-home-from-the-bar meditation, "Lament for a Simple-Minded Christian." Philomena Moriarty began with a poem for the political season, "Living the Dialectic," then "If Poems were Wishes," & "Meditation on Despair" (treat it as a crumb).

Mike Burke introduced the day's featured poet, Larry Rapant, while Tom Corrado quietly strummed his bass in the background. Larry gave us a variety from his life of poetry -- philosophical (or quasi-philosophical) ponderings like "Night Abets Each Noise," "The Fire," "Get In," or the funny "Thus Spake Larry." There were poems about his childhood -- about visiting aunts, recess & "The New Girl." And the love poems of "3 Winter Songs." He read us the latest version of "The Grand Larceny," a sort of cowboy-movie poem he has been working on for 31 years. A bunch of poems sprang from, or were recountings, of dreams -- "The Very Next" (another cowboy fantasy), "Flag on the Play," & "The Every Other Tuesday Night Poets." And then there were the lists --"Things I Learned from Living in the Suburbs," & "There is Nobody Here by that Name." He ended blissfully sitting in the Autumn sun with "Mr. October." Larry put together a varied, casual (he sat on the edge of the stage the whole time), humorous reading among a group of poets & friends for a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The fourth Sunday of each month at the Old Songs Community Building on Main St. in Voorheesville, NY, 3PM.

Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary, October 22

This was a reading at the College of St. Rose held in conjunction with a sand mandala being make that week by Lama Karma Chopal. The first flyer I saw about the series of events at the Sanctuary simply said it was a poetry reading, with the theme of the poet as a political voice. A subsequent flyer described it as "a poetry reading open to all." So I wasn't sure if it was an open mic, or what -- but I always have a few poems tucked away in my bag in case a random poetry reading breaks out somewhere.

The evening was hosted by College of St. Rose English professor Barbara Ungar, & most of the participants were students at the college. The half-finished mandala sat in the middle of the simple open space that is the Interfaith Sanctuary. Barbara had brought some poems to get us started & for others to read, but we were free to read our own. She prefaced the reading with comments about growing up in the Nixon era & the relationship of politics & art, then read from Caolyn Forché's masterful anthology, Against Forgetting, poems by Primo Levi, Anna Akhmatova (an excerpt from "Requiem"), and excerpt from Auden's "September 1, 1939," & Gwendolyn Brooks' "To the Boy Who Died in my Alley."

Of course, I had gotten there early, just as the students were arriving, & ended up first on the list (just like the old days of the QE2); I read "Baghdad/Albany," which unfortunately scared one student to a spot further down the list. But Jonathon Drayton rose to the challenge to read his response to a Beyonce song; his poem called "If I were a Man". Samantha Stewart read a poem by someone else (my notes are illegible). This was a first-time reading for Alyson Lyons, reading "The Evolution of the Wind Mill" & her critique on her generation, "Separation."

Dana Cardona read a poem by Rumi & Marisa one by Lucille Clifton. Lauren Ruggerio read one of her own, "Beauty Consumes You." Joan Horgan works at the Sanctuary & read her poem inspired by the experience of a young student who had done political lobbying in Washington, DC. And Dan Henderson reminded us that since "we're all in this together" that Love, "It's All You Need."

A pleasant evening of poetry in a spiritual place, with some fine, young poets. I hope to see them out & about at open mics "downtown." Look for their pictures soon on www.flickr.com/photos/dwlcx.

Poetry @ the UAG, October 24

Well, it's not too cool to review one's own reading, I mean, I did great, right? But as I've said so many times here already these Blogs are not reviews, but reports. So I guess I can report on my own reading; those of you who were there (or were not) feel free to comment away.

The night was hosted by Mary Panza, in stunning black (what else?). 

It was the night of the 2 Dans/Daniels & Dan Nester read first, starting off with my old poem "Where Were the Professors?" obviously not written about him (he was about 12 at the time), nor about any of the other "professors" who spend time at the community readings (I'll mention Sylvia & Pierre as outstanding examples). From there he read "all new stuff," including a couple of found poems (the most proletarian of genres), one a comment by Kiss star Gene Simmons, another an email from his sister. Other appropriated texts were his last 2 poems: a faux translation from Latin (with a fixation on "boner", total flash-back to my sophomore Latin classes), & the other his popular "Queries," which is composed of comments he has made on writing turned in by his students.

Other pieces he read were "This Onus Cannot be Cooled," "Messenger Scene" (note to Nester: the copy you gave to me had numbers before each line; you didn't read the numbers when you read the poem -- try it the next time), "Middle Class Low Song," & "Adagia." A good professor reading.

So when it was my turn, I started out with one of Dan's (the other Dan) poems, "Poem About 'Happy Days' Ending with a Line from Catullus." So that poem reminded me of my own written years back in response to the poetic tradition of poems "With a Line Beginning from ...", "Poem Ending with a Line from Proust." Thus my reading became a study in the nature of the poetic imagination, a comment on the nature of Art -- that Art is made up, it's not real, it's not about me, it transforms "Reality," or recreates it, or just makes it up. So of course the next poem was "Park Fantasy" (it's not real), then my contemplation of alternative pasts on French sheets, "Mayasarah" with it's made up footnote. "The End," about the art rock chanteuse Nico, was a nod to Nester's rock 'n' roll poems; then I continued the death theme with imagining my own death in "Death By Yuppie." So to end on a little levity, I took off my shirt, & did "The Bra Poem" (a tribute to the hundreds of bras over the bar in Weeds in Chicago).  After that what could anyone do (except put my shirt back on -- or go home)?

[The photo is from the original Bra Poem reading at Weeds in Chicago, April 2001, taken by Tom Nattell.]

I had fun -- & it was my 2nd reading in the Jawbone series, separated by about 20 years. May we all live so long.

Community of Writers Series, October 18

"Community of Writers" is a series of readings run by the Hudson Valley Writers Guild with support from various funding sources & held in libraries in Albany & Schenectady. The reading on October 18 was at the Albany Public Library Main Branch & was supported by a grant from the City of Albany. I served as the co-ordinator & host for the program.

Helen Raynes Staley is well-known to the writing & Guild community since she taught English for many years at Sage College & has served on the board of the HVWG. She read from her new collection of short stories, The House on the Rim (Westview, Nashville, TN). Her selections included the tale of rape, "Nothing," the vignette "The Good Samaritan," as well as short excerpts from other stories. Her work can be chilling & humorous, wit & playful language. A joy to have.


Naton Leslie, who teaches creative writing at Siena College, writes in his poetry & non-fiction of the lives of the working class. He read from his most recent book of poems, Emma Saves Her Life (Turning Point Books), from his chapbook, The Last Best Motif (Bright Hill Press), & from a new series of poems that he calls "my rights poems," about rights we don't know we have. These "rights" ranged from the right to a birthplace, to a cessation of hostilities, to a full set of wrenches, & to the grown-up menu, among others. There were plenty of chuckles in the audience.

Elizabeth Brundage has had 2 novels published by Viking/Penguin, The Doctor's Wife, and Somebody Else's Daughter. She read representative selections from Somebody Else's Daughter. I was especially moved by a poetic section in which one of the characters working on a roof in New York City, describes what he sees in the windows of the buildings around him. Often such readings from novels can be sleep-generating, but in her case the selections, combined with her straight-forward manner (like listening to a friend tell an interesting story), were engagingly poetic.

Visit the Guild website (www.hvwg.org) for information about upcoming programs. Also, there are additional photos from this event at www.flickr.com/photos/dwlcx/

Third Thursday Poetry Night, October 16

At the Social Justice Center, our Muse tonight, in honor of our featured poet, Don Levy, was Frank O'Hara & I read his poem "Why I Am Not A Painter." The proverbial tour bus was busy circling the block for a parking space so there was a small, but enthusiastic audience & bevy of open mic readers.

Alan Catlin read from a new gathering of poems he is calling "Men in Suits" the piece "Albino Farmer Riding Tractor in the Night" (you had to be there). Bob Sharkey read a piece quoting Finnegan's Wake, based on a poem in American Poetry Review by Racel Zucker about Spalding Gray; I think Bob's poem is called "Does She Carry Keys While Walking" but my notes are crabbed so I'm welcome for any corrections (as always).

Matt Galletta read his recently re-titled poem "Baggage" (it was "Luggage" when he read it at Don's open mic earlier in the month). In a little bit of synchronicity, Thérèse Broderick read a poem about Grace Harigan's painting "Pale Horse Pale Rider" (Frank O'Hara has some poems about Grace Hartigan).

It was great to see Shannon Shoemaker back making the rounds of the open mics & reading a brand-new poem, "Confession." Bryan Clogg did his piece, "Everyone's Got Something to Say" (hey, that's why we go to the open mics). And I read "Acrostic Jazz" in honor of Thelonius Monk's birthday on October 10 (also, today was the birthday of the art-rock chanteuse, Nico).

And speaking of birthday's, yesterday, October 15, was the birthday of our featured poet, Don Levy. Most of what he read were "pretty new," as he said. He began with a poem about his high school days, "Why I Never Had a Foreign Affair," a gay-fanasy about exchange students. Then on to taking apart the TV show "Gossip Girl" in "It's the End for You Gossip Girl" (don't ask me, I don't know the show either, but the poem is funny). Next his commentary on male friendships, "Isn't it Bromantic." Don's titles could be strung together as a poem in themselves, so he re-titled his poem "Gay Marriage in the Future" (a sort of gay Flintstones) to the much more camp "Going Where No Homo Has Gone Before." He got serious with "A Letter to Matthew Shephard," who Don reminded us was killed 10 years ago. He ended with a his own form of political commentary (or as he said, "who the fuck is Sarah Palin?"), "Rubbing Noses with Sarah Palin, or Don't Cry for Me Anchorage." It's all on tape.

So that's how we ended the night. You never know what's going to happen at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY (7:00PM sign-up, 7:30PM start), on the third Thursday of each month, except that there will be poetry, & it's always fun (I know, I'm the host).

Woodstock Poetry Society, October 11

At the Woodstock Town Hall, with our host Philip Levine. I haven't been down there in a while, but it's always worth the trip. I like to point out that these Blog entries are not reviews, but reports, & I have a "business" interest in this reading, being the publisher of the chapbook by one of the features, Mary Kathryn Jablonski. But let me know if you think there is a different tone or emphasis in this posting. There are usually some very interesting open mic poets as well as the features at this reading & today was no exception.

The first open mic poet was Georganna Millman who read in the Poets in the Park series this summer announced that her manuscript is a finalist in the Ruffian Press contest -- we wish her luck! She read 2 fine poems, one from the Kabbala, "Darkness is the Garment of Light" & "Creation was an Act of Passion" (yes, yes).

I did my fantasy memory piece "Shaken, Stirred," & the american haiku "Yom Kippur 2004." "Johnny Jive" was the man with the guitar & got us all singing "Thank you for being my friend." Bruce Weber read the anaphora "I'm Writing..." (I hope we all are) & "Diary Entry October 1." I was glad to see Kate Haymes again with the short, seasonal "Autumn."

Donald Lev did a couple of his own, "Bogart" & "The Festival" & in the middle read one of Enid Dame's, "The Woman Who Was Water." If you don't know about his Home Planet News, was amatter wid you?

Although her poem was missing a page, what Cheryl Rice read of "The Yard & Its Tree" was just fine. Modern day vaudevillian, Ron Whiteurs, did "Shofar" & the hilarious "Don't Let Him In Your Underwear."

The first of the day's featured poets was Mary Kathryn Jablonski, whose chapbook, To the Husband I Have Not Yet Met I recently published under the A.P.D. imprint (for more information email apdbooks@earthlink.net). She read 2 new poems as a prelude, "Fever 3" in which her refrigerator speaks in Spanish, & the haunting dream poem "Heart Nebula (Running Dog)." Then she read a selection of the husband letters (#1, 3 - 7, 9 & 10). She likes to tease, leaving the final letter to those who buy the book.

The second featured poet was Will Nixon, who began with a tribute to his friend & Woodstock poet, the late Saul Bennett, reading Saul's "On the Menu at the Asian Food Shoppe," "Glass," "Listen Carefully," & John Keats' "To Autumn." Then on to his own poems, "Autumn Leaf," a couple Zombie poems, then a few from his new book from FootHills Publishing, My Late Mother as a Ruffed Grouse: "Pride of Pumpkins" (set in Woodstock), "America," & the title poem.

Our host, Philip Levine finished out the afternoon with "Poet En Pointe," & a rambling, prosy piece that tried not to say anything, "At Oblique Angles Sliced Thin."

The second Saturday of each month, at the Woodstock Town Hall, Woodstock, NY, 2PM. And check out more of my photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwlcx/

Poetry @ the UAG, October 10

Brought to us during the college semesters by Jawbone Reading Series & Albany Poets. Tonight was an uncharacteristic open mic, with Mary Panza keeping us hopping. What is 4 minutes anyway?

Sylvia Barnard, in a change from her recent poems, read "To My Father on His 110th Birthday" (or what would have been). Norris sneaked his guitar in & even got us singing along with his fine finger-picking blues. I decided to resurrect my story of the old poetry scene, "Spy Stories."

A few weeks ago The Poet Essence had been scheduled to read in this series but was unable to make it so Mary let her stretch out a little longer. She gave us 2 of her best: "N-I-G-G-A Speaks" & "It's Not Just Words." Tom took off from that with a rap on being enslaved by words, getting a bit tangled in his own, but a powerful piece too. Randall Horton was once featured in the Jawbone series but I've rarely seen him in the open mic scene; I liked his memoir of life in DC, "Green Line 5 Years Rewind" & "Train Rain to NYC."

Unfortunately, Chris Rizzo did not read any of his own poetry, but fortunately he read from another fine poet, Gerrit Lansing, "In Erasmus Darwin's Generous Light" (the grandfather of Charles Darwin & a poet & naturalist). A new face, Canella (hope I got the spelling correct) performed from memory "The Eulogy of a Dope Fiend." And Adam Hoyt did 3 of his short rhymes, the last, "Prejudice," a bit too preachy, but the first one "Strawberry Shortcake" had more fine images.

The series continues to November 14, then hopefully begins again next semester, at the UAG Gallery, 247 Lark St., Albany, NY with free coffee from Scratch Bakery-Cafe.