Albany WordFest Third Thursday Poetry Night, April 19

In the past, when the weekend of WordFest started on Friday, the Third Thursday Poetry Night at the Social Justice Center was often proclaimed "the official un-official start of WordFest." This year with a week of activities, this reading was folded in as an official part of the program. & I was pleased to be able to bring in young performer from South Carolina, who was coming up for WordFest, as this month's featured poet -- Christopher the Poet.

But first, after invoking the Muse, tonight a poem by Catherine Connolly, a little bit of the open mic. Alan Catlin was up first with a poem from a series with animals as metaphors "Elephants at Low Tide." Rick Harrienger recovered enough from his first Slam appearance to show up & read the autobiographical rhyme "The American Refugee."

Chad Lowther read here for the first time last night, but the first time tonight for Third Thursday, his poem "The Way of Venom" on peeps & tweets read in an intentional monotone. Sarah Gragosian, also new to the Third Thursday, read "The Fish beneath the Portuguese-Man-of-War" from a collection she is working on. Matthew Klane has not been here for Third Thursday in (literally) years & tonight reminded us why we like to have him here with a selection of short enigmatic parts of what he calls "entertainments." Jan Tramontano was glad to be back among us Northern poets again & read a short selection from her new book Paternal Nocturne (Finishing Line Press, 2012).

Christopher the Poet (Christopher Fleming) just arrived this day from Columbia, South Carolina with his CDs, tee-shirts & wrist bands. He gave a spirited, at times tender, others times unsettling performance as anyone dubbed "The Poet" should. Actually "Poet" is an acronym for "Providing Opportunities for Education & to Teach," from Team P.O.E.T. His CD is titled Lyrical Alchemist. He began with one of his "Letter to My Unborn Children" in which he alternated love & advice to a son & daughter, & later read another version when the children are a little older. "Rotten Fruits" was a poem on the disconnect between the older & the younger generation, springing from his experience teaching poetry in middle school, then the piece "Souls of Black Folks" included spirituals & jazz & pop tunes. A new piece ("fresh ink") was about repairing himself after a breakup & how men don't show the hurt. He ended with "Addiction" where he plays the role of a crack-head. The other night at the Slam open mic Mojavi read a poem about wanting to hear more real poems from the brothers, & these poems from Christopher the Poet were just that -- poems about real issues & not just ghetto stylizing & self-promotion.

After the break & the generous contributions of the audience, I started off the 2nd half open mic with my poem dedicated to Catherine Connolly, "Tell Me Something That Matters," advice we all need to follow. Bob Sharkey read from the long saga "Sustenance" using names of local poets for characters & places. Jay Toraty, who has just surfaced in the poetry scene this week, responded to one of Christopher's poems with "Maturity" about the cultural gap between his more traditional parents from India & his assimilation into American culture.

Jill Crammond was a welcome sight with her poem from a prompt, "Icarus Takes Off the Wings, Puts on a Skirt." Dain Brammage read a string of cinquains that he made into "Reading into What is Not Said." Michael Purcell's poem "Prophet" was a tribute to Bob Marley. Mojavi closed out the night with "Intervention."

Even when it is not WordFest we are at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30PM, with a featured poet & an open mic for all our community poets, a $3.00 donation (more if you can/less if you can't) keeps poetry happening.

Albany WordFest, April 18

It was a dual/dueling event night, with the Yes! WordFest Communal Reading at the Social Justice Center & Live from the Living Room at the Pride Center. I had hoped to participate in both, but there were others using the store-front space at the SJC so the Yes! folks were slow in getting in. I had to cut out before it began. Matthew Klane had organized a string of poets to put together 1 minute segments from poems that would be read in a continuous stream. Apparently it went off well by all reports.

Meanwhile I had gone over to the Pride Center on Hudson Ave. for Live from the Living Room. This series, with Don Levy as our host, is usually on the 2nd Wednesday of the month but because of other things going on at the very busy Pride Center they asked Don to re-schedule for this night. The features were 4 poets from the Java Poets Collective, Suzanne Myers, Cecele Allen Kraus, Terry Royne & Amy White.

They read round-robin style, with Suzanne beginning with a memoir of childhood drills in a fall-out shelter, "Basement View." Cecele read "Rail Time," followed by Terry reading a rhymed poem, also referencing rails, "The Wrong Side" (from their 2009 collection, Java Wednesdays). Amy read a couple of flower poems, "About the Anemones" & "Hallucinations" (peonies?).

Suzanne continued with her poem "The Conversation" from the book, & at about that time more poets wandered in from the SJC to sign up for the open mic. Cecele read 2 poems, "Melissa and Jimmy" & the title poem from her new book, Tuscaloosa By-Pass (Finishing Line Press, 2012). Terry read the ironic "Prayers." Then Amy read "Query," "Winter Moment," & the bitter-sweet "Alzhiemers."

Back around to Suzanne with a story about an encounter in the grocery store, then Cecele's "Shanty Town" about being in the Peace Corps in Columbia. Terry's piece "Dirty Little White Spoons" pondered adoption & what her birth-mother's life was like. Amy concluded with 2 poems about her late husband, 1 just written this Easter.

Now there were plenty of poets in attendance for the open mic & I went first with my newest poem written for Catherine Connolly, "Tell me Something that Matters," then a bit of salaciousness "Looking for Cougars." Bob Sharkey read "Alarm" imagining his execution, then "Elephants" reading Alan Catlin's poems in Maine. Alan Catlin himself followed with 2 poems from his collection of made up self-portraits, "Self-Portrait of the Artist Afraid of His Self-Portrait" & "Formerly Repressed Self-Portrait Viewed from the Deep End."

Sally Rhoades read a poem from her recent vacation in Anguilla, "Quiet Splendor," then the in-progress "My Father's Slippers." Brett Axel read his touching poem to his mother "About You" about how she never came out to him as a lesbian. Don Levy ended the night with a poem-memoir of Boston poet Jack Powers, "Stone Soup" & then the recent "Action Figure with Kung Fu Grip."

This series is (most often) on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:30PM at the Pride Center of the Capital Region on Hudson Ave. in Albany, NY -- a featured poet followed by an open mic.

Albany WordFest Nitty Gritty Slam #16, April 17

A packed house with plenty of open mic-ers & more than enough for the Slam, "N-4-2" tonight.

Carolee Sherwood began the open mic with a new poem from her Blog "On Varietals: Dressing for Dinner."  A new poet here, Leo, followed with a long, long piece "about what Leo wants," which is basically everything. Daniel "Not Mojavi" Nester read the list he made for his shrink of all the things he hates (was making a list on there?). I followed with an old piece about a late night phone call, "Henry Rollings." Mojavi's poem was a plea to hear more real poems from the brothers. It was a night of virgins, with Sadie one of them, reading a poem about free writing.

Surprisingly, AlbanyPoets intern Tiffany Burnett was a virgin too & read a guy bashing poem "You Are An Embarrassment."

Thom & Mojavi took over the ritual reading of the rules from the Slam Master, then I read "Where Were the Professors" as the sacrificial poet/goat, whatever, & scored a respectable 23.3.

Lots of strangers on the Slam list, beginning with Rick reading a rhymed piece, & Jay Toraty did his thoughtful "If I Had a Daughter." Up next was Ben "Golden Boy" Golden, Sabrina (with hugs from her team mates after reading), & Christine all from the New Paltz Slam team. They were followed by locals Elizag, & Kevin Peterson, then Julie Z, Shannon "In the Money" Shoemaker & Carly.

When the dust settled the four were Carly, with a poem about being in Zucotti Park, Shannon with the Dick poem, Kevin with a piece about being a poet, & Ben with what sounded like an ad for dating. Then all confusion broke out when Carly & Shannon tied for 3rd place -- what to do?

Well, I'll tell you what I wouldn't have done, which is exactly what they did do & that was re-do the round with all 4 poets reading. That turned everything on its head, with Carly (who had been tied for 3rd) now #1, & Kevin & Ben who had been in the 1 & 2 slots (to have been decided in the final round), now ending up as 2 (Kevin) & 3 (Ben). Someone got screwed. Call me Mr. Cranky-Pants, but I don't think it was fair.

In any event there was lots of good poetry this night, even some real poems in the Slam portion. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month at Valentines on New Scotland Ave. in Albany, NY, $5.00 (just like at Subway).

Albany WordFest Saint Poem Reading, April 16

Uh-oh, a call from Madame Vice-President (of AlbanyPoets.com) Mary Panza just as I getting ready to head down to the UAG Gallery for the Saint Poem series tribute to e.e. cummings (open mic) that the host, R.M. Engelhardt was under intestinal assault & they needed me to be the host. So there I was on Lark St., now the person to unlock the door & to set up (with some help from the Sherwood boys), make a sign-up sheet, etc., etc.

Kevin Peterson showed up & took the coveted #1 slot to read cummings' poem "my girl is tall with long hard eyes…" then his own poem on his Saturday night at "P.F. Chang's" (& why he didn't eat on Sunday).  I recited cummings' "In Just Spring --" then his "I like my body when it is with your body…" & my take on that poem, "On a Poem by e.e. cummings."

Sally Rhoades read briefly from cummings' Six Non-Lectures, then her own recent poem about swimming at dusk on the island of Anguilla, & what she described as "half a poem," "My Father's Slippers."


Bret Axel announced he has a new children's book coming out very soon, Goblin Heart. He read 2 poems, "Stations" (on being a poet), & "At Job Services Center" with the great refrain that he would be "a better poet than a …. "

The night's virgin had been waiting outside when I got there & waited patiently to read for his first time, & quite a debut it was. Jay Toraty read a poem he wrote yesterday, a marvelously affirming "If I Had a Daughter," & based on this poem one hopes he does someday.

A short night, but it keeps Albany WordFest going. Saint Poem is regularly at the UAG Gallery on Lark St. in Albany on the 3rd Monday of the month, 8PM start, R.M. Engelhardt the usual host.

Albany WordFest The Founders' Reading, April 15

The 2012 edition of Albany WordFest is a week-long heart attack of events, starting with this night's reading by Albany poets who were there at the beginning: Thom Francis, R.M. Engelhardt, Mary Panza, Don Levy, Marcus Anderson, A.C. Everson, Mojavi, & me. In the past WordFest has been, among other things, an afternoon event in Thatcher Park, a weekend at Valentines, 12-hours over-night at the UAG, & 12-hours daytime at the Linda. This year a number of existing & special events have been strung together to create a week of WordFest. Check it out at AlbanyPoets.com.

We were in the back room of McGeary's where Poets Speak Loud! every last Monday of the month. The room eventually filled with poets & poet-gawkers & gawker-poets, et cetera.

I was first up with a reading inspired by the now-gone poet Catherine Connolly who left us way too soon last week.  I began with one of Catherine's poems from the just-published chapbook, Orion's Belt: Poems (Poet's Corner Press, 2012), then to a new poem of mine, just written, "Something That Matters,"inspired by a conversation at Catherine's wake.  A poem for Albany poet Moses Kash III, then "Good Friday Art Walk," the fragment "April Rain," "Coyote 4," & "At the End."

Mojavi began by recounting the history of the scene in Albany, from a Black perspective, from his perspective. His poems included the funny weed-inspired vision of the apocalypse, then on into a tender love poem, followed by (of course) a couple poems on the end of a relationship, then ending with a poem he said was inspired by me as a "poet cliché" (black clothes, wear a beret [but of course!]) about being a poet, with the marvelous phrase that he is "poem dependent."

Thom & Rob had been sharing the MC/hosting duties & as Rob introduced Marcus Anderson he gave some historical background on the open mic Rob used to run at Lionheart's (when it was where the upstairs of Bomber's is today). Marcus' poetry has always been rich in imagery with leanings towards hip-hop lines & rhymes, but delivered with quiet calm, letting the words take over. He began with a poem titled "Run On," then the Coltrane-inspired "Saxophone Love Jones," "Cornered" (from the Bush administration), & ended with a poem with a more positive view of life & the message that life is to be lived.

Before she got to her piñata, A.C. Everson read a selection of her poems from various points in her life, the very early "Mr. Wrong Guy," then the Memphis-based "Jesus on the Scene," "Soap Box & My 2 Cents," "Prattle Rhyme," & "Some Drunks." Also known as "Breaking My Art" & the Piñata Queen, Annine's offering tonight was a towering sun-flower/sun with shades, filled with small paper suns each containing a magnet of various designs (mine a candy-sucker ring), tossed with great glee into the audience, after she read, with audience help, "Under the Sun."

Don Levy is certainly a Founder of delight. Many of the poems he read tonight can be found on his FaceBook page. "Swanson's TV Dinners & the Merv" is touching poem describing his childhood dinners literally in front of the TV, while "Newsprint" is a tender tribute to his father, who worked nights as a newspaper sports editor. Don confronted gay bashing by a popular actor with "Growing Pain in the Ass," & struggled with dietary advice in "Shit My Nutritionist Says." He ended with a tribute, "The Annual Tom Nattell Beret Toss."

Of course, Mary Panza is one poet who can follow Don on a program without skipping a beat. Not only do her poems frequently contain snarky remarks & put-downs of phonies, but her banter in between the poems kept it going, directed at select members of the audience (me included). She began lusting after a waiter in the poem "The Treacherous End," then a handyman in "Roofing & the Art of the Kiss." The poem "Because of You I Believe in Housewife Tuesday" was dedicated to the actor Peter Falk, while you can guess the target of "Tattooed Crowded Day Care." She ended with 2 marvelous poems celebrating herself & the grand Sisterhood of family, "In a Post-Partum World" & "And the Women Cooked."

The last 2 poets of the night were our tag-team hosts. Thom Francis read what might be described as some of his "greatest hits," beginning with "Jesus Walks on the Water" (a Troy street character), the self-affirming "December 4,"& the thoughts on being the odd guy in the office, "Cast." The poem "Bar Hoper" is a sketch of someone at Valentines one night, while "Father Figure" is about his step-father, & "Hero" begins with his father but moves on to the real heroes. "Radioman" is a favored piece he does with Keith Spencer (as the duo "Murrow"). "American" is a critical look at military recruiters. He ended with Keith's favorite poem (& many other's I surmise, based on folks joining in) "Female Pedestrian."

R.M. Engelhardt was the poet responsible for first creating AlbanyPoets, then with coming up with the idea for Albany WordFest, an idea a myriad of poets have been carrying out since 2001. He began by reading his classic poem "Alchemy," then the poem titled "Et Cetera." A new poem, "Silence Falls," was followed by another classic, "The Day God Became Popular," with the deity as a CEO of a corporation running the world. He ended with a poem influenced by e.e. cummings (to whom tomorrow's Saint Poem reading will be paying tribute), "Underdog."

A great start to the 2012 WordFest by looking back & by readings from (some of) those of us who were there at the beginning. Now on to the rest of the week.

Third Annual Community of Jewish Writers, April 15

This special program was held at the Congregation Agudat Achim, with our MC, Leslie Neustadt. There were 9 readers in memoir & poetry, & each respected their time-limits to make for a pleasant afternoon of varied writing.

Marea Gordett read 2 sections of a "mosaic memoir" on Gods beyond Gods (including an invocation of the old afternoon TV show "Queen for a Day." She also read a couple of poems about loss, one on the loss of species in the environment, the other on the late singer Amy Winehouse.

Tina Lincer's prose memoir "Packing Aunt Gert" invoked in a lush, detailed piling up of details of the salvaging of her aunt's life-long accumulation of stuff from her Park Ave. apartment, done with humor & tenderness.

Joanne Seltzer's 3 poems, "In Search of the City of Peace," "Making Peace in Jerusalem," & "My Husband's Bones" were a beautifully linked tryptych. She has a new poetry collection out, Women Born During Tornadoes from Plain View Press.

Marlene Newman read 2 conversational prose memoirs, like a grandma telling tales of her youth to her grandchildren, on ironing (or "pressing") "The Table Cloth" of an long-gone aunt, & the broad description of life in "The City" (NYC, of course) during her youth.

Joseph Krausman read a sample of his poems, including a meditation on his "Doubts," the classic "Houdini on the Death of his Mother," "Going to a Double-Header" (a humorous fantasy of being married to a 2-headed woman), & the funny poem about a priest giving communion & asking for prayers for the Red Sox.

Terry Bat-Sonja's poems, starting with one about being at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, pondered being Jewish in a complex world. She included a California poem, "My Roof is Leaking," & the marvelous "Disordered Meditation…" about being Jewish.

Susan Oringel began & ended with Coney Island: first the marvelous, spirited "Song of Coney Island" based on a Lorca poem, & last "My Coney Island." In between she found the meaning of being Jewish in food: a poem on making soup, & a dream of "Mom & Dad Barbecuing in Heaven."

Henry Tedeschi writes mainly short stories; his poems, he said, are written quickly with little revision. The ones he read today were philosophical: "Elsewhere," "After-thoughts," & a poem about how often one can find good in what is at first a bad experience.

Susan Comninos was a big part in putting this reading together & read a cluster of poems on religion & on relationships, the Biblical sounding "We Have Trespassed" with its parallelisms, "Commitment," the take on the 1980s cartoon character "Max Headroom in Mid-Life Drops Advice on his Son," & the lush "Italian for You, Cooking for Antonio."

A marvelous afternoon of words, thanks to Leslie Neustadt, Susan Comninos & the Congregation Agudat Achim.

My NaPoWriMo: Update (2)

On the eve of the start of AlbanyWordFest, I thought I had better write an update on my April assignment of reading a poet a day before next week when I will be posting frequently on the shenanigans & might not have time to.

My first post on this process brought me up to April 7.  April 8 was Easter so I selected Thomas Merton as my poet, both as an appropriate choice for Easter & to counter the overly self-conscious experiments of e.e. cummings in 1x1 (not my favorite of his books). Merton's work is more discursive, meditative, a poet I've carried with me since my High School days. I carried him over to Easter Monday as well.

April 10 found me reading Time & Money by William Matthews, mainly because the book had been perched on my book shelf for a long time. How could I not love poems about baseball, 3 poems about Mingus, a poem about Monk? They are also discursive, conversational with enough of the dark side of poetry to be poetry. He was the kind of poet I would've liked to have had a chance to sit down with for a long talk over a beer, or whiskey, but, alas, he died too soon at 55 in 1997.

Amy Clampitt's book A Silence Opens has also been teetering on my bookshelf for years so I turned to it on April 11. A switch in tone from Matthews & Merton to a more lapidary poetry, stretching for the musical, exotic word. I also realized today that this little notebook in which I am recording my readings will serve as a reading list in the future for those poets I want to return to & read at greater length & depth.

On April 12 I read Donald Lev's new book, A Very Funny Fellow (NYQ Books, 2012). The poems are mostly short, half-page notebook jottings so I got through the whole thing. Watch for a full review on this Blog site sometime soon.

The works by & about H.D. (1886 - 1961) take up almost 6 inches on my bookshelf, including Barbara Guest's biography, Herself Defined, & I have read others, such as a second biography, from the library. I read mostly from the Selected Poems & the introduction by Louis L. Martz, but also read in Trilogy, a copy from Ted Adams' library, with his handwritten notes in the back, including a phone number for a cholesterol screening. Born at the end of the 19th Century, H.D. lived through 2 Word Wars & sought help from Sigmund Freud. As a young poet she was wooed by a youthful Ezra Pound. She progressed on to become one of the early (can one say "seminal"?) feminist poets of the 20th Century.

For today (April 14) I settled on Langston Hughes, mainly as a result of a Blog by George Wallace about Hughes' poems about the Spanish Civil War. More on that next time.