Third Thursday Poetry Night, May 17

A lovely evening, so nice that thousands of people were running through the streets of Albany in their underwear -- actually, the annual Corporate Run. Our featured poet, Elizabeth Thomas, came all the way over from Connecticut, with another CT poet, Faith Vicinanza. Tonight's muse was a West Coast poet who left us in 2004, Carol Tarlen, whose poems about work, workers & working were collected posthumously in Every Day is An Act of Resistance, published recently by Mongrel Empire Press in Norman, OK. I read her poem "Today," about having a day off with pay (something to consider the next time the corporations start bashing the unions).

Starting off the open mic was a new voice at the Social Justice Center, Joe Mangini, with advice in rhyme "If you're going to win this race…" Amy Nelson Hahn works with photos & ekphrastic poetry &, also a new voice here, got choked up reading "Fox Bones."

Faith Vicinanza is a Connecticut poet & publisher of poetry who accompanied our featured poet here to Albany; she read a tender, loving poem, "Confession," for her husband who died 4 years ago. Avery showed up with no paper & was excited to recite by heart "OM, a Kundalini Experience." Joe Krausman read a poem titled "A True Story," which he says so many of his poems are. Tess Lecuyer's poem, "What Riches May I Bring to Your Table," was started in April & she "just slapped a ending onto it".

Our featured poet, Elizabeth Thomas started with "Poetry Is…" a collaborative poem by 4th graders in Hartford. A good way to start for this advocate of youth in the arts. She continued with her favorite poem, "Revelation", about a young student. "On Words & English Teachers" was about her addiction to words, the teachers who encouraged her, passing it on to her students, then "5th Grade Poetry Workshop." Her poem "Speak" was inspired by a woman in a poetry workshop whose son had been sent to Iraq, twice, but can't find a job. The sad, ironic "Hero" was read -- & sung -- in memory of Dave Van Ronk, & soldiers returning damaged. Another favorite, "Mother's Work," was a tribute to the birthing woman of the world, then she ended with another collaborative poem, this from a writing workshop at a Senior Center, "Home is the Place…" A stellar performance, one the audience loved & responded to throughout.

After the short break, we continued with the open mic & I read a new piece, "Lilacs, Again." Jim Eve, one of the hosts of the "Calling All Poets" series at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, was in town & read about being at a lousy poetry reading (not here). Bob Sharkey read, again, his poem "Cycles" that he had read at Don's open mic, the poem now revised from its earlier "wretched version" (his words). Elizag has been working on a new poem, "To the Company Making Shooting Targets that Look Like Trayvon Martin" (for real, unfortunately) & tried out the beginning. Moses Kash III got a ride from across the river & began with a ramble about his life in NYC, then struggled with a section from a book about the Obama family. The final poet for the night, D. Colin, appropriately enough read "On Being a Teacher, Part I: The Things I Can't Say," the next generation takes it on. Here's to all those dedicated, imaginative (& under-paid) people who are teaching our children & grandchildren, making the future.

Join us at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY on the third Thursday of each month for a featured poet & many fine local poets who read in the open mic -- $3.00 donation helps pay the featured poet, helps the SJC & promotes other readings in the area.

Local Poets from Finishing Line Press, May 16

This reading, hosted by Mimi Moriarty at the Pine Hollow Arboretum in Slingerlands, featured 5 poets published this year by Finishing Line Press.

I am most familiar with Jan Tramontano's Paternal Nocturne which she has been reading around at various venues, including Albany WordFest. This evening she read 2 poems from each of the 3 sections of the chapbook, poems based on letters home written by her grandfather in the 1930s & 1940s. She ended with "the most personal" poem in the book, her own tender letter to him, "Letter 2011."

Mimi Moriarty & her brother Frank Desiderio's chapbook Sibling Reverie pulls together some of their "companion" poems they have been writing & performing for a number of years. They read 4 sets, some like "A Matter of Substance on my TV" (Frank) & "Mummers Parade, January 1, 2010" because they were both there; others pairings, notably "Afternoon Recreation" (Frank) & "Jesus at Bat" (Mimi) came about because they discovered that each had written about Jesus & baseball (which would almost get me to go to church again).

Jan Tramontano, Linda Sonia Miller, Mimi Moriarty, Frank Desiderio & Cecele Kraus

I was least familiar with the work of Linda Sonia Miller, whose chapbook from Finishing Line Press is titled Something Worth Diving For, which she said was an oblique reference to Adrienne Rich's work. She began with a few recent poems not in the chapbook, "The She-bear's Lament" & one about living in Paris in her youth, another about Thanksgiving. The poems she read from the book included the marvelous childhood memoir in the Bronx, "Poetry," & one about watching herons.

I've also recently heard Cecele Allen Kraus read from her captivating chapbook, Tuscaloosa Bypass, memoir poems of growing up in Alabama. She read the beginning ("Every Sunday Morning") & concluding ("Mississippi Encounter") poems, & others. I was particularly moved by the poem "Mirror" about a dead brother, & the companion piece "Three Sisters."

After the reading, the group fielded questions about being a poet & their experiences with the process of being published by Finishing Line Press. All in all a pleasant evening of poetry in the front room of the Pine Hollow Arboretum, a light & airy setting for small readings.

Nitty Gritty Slam #18, May 15

Dustin Walker reading

Thom Francis, el presidente, was a busy man tonight, hosting the open mic, keeping score & slamming. The open mic offered a great variety of poems & poets, starting with Leslie Michelle doing a poem by someone else, then Dustin "Nervous Cal" Walker with a tale about the death of his grandfather done as a series of snapshots ("The Camera"), Tasha with an untitled love poem, Carolee with a new poem based as a picture in her aprtment "Hades Confides in Persephone," & Daniel Nester with a litany of the agony of puberty based on his journals when he was 12 years old.

At this point Dain Brammage took over as the Slam Bastard, I mean Master. But no sacrificial lamb tonight with the small crowd (they even had trouble getting judges). I had signed up for the Slam because at the time few had & by now there were 5 of us. I was first with perhaps the world's shortest slam poem, coming in at 21 seconds, "Fat" (I love it a lady's butt/but wish it wasn't on my gut), & scoring 23.9, enough to make me 5th & thus the only one eliminated in the first round. The rest of the field, Shannon Shoemaker, Elizag, Jess ListenToMyWords & Thom Francis advanced to the 2nd round.

Thom Francis, Elizag, Dain Brammage & Shannon Shoemaker

When that dust settled Elizag was #1 & there was a tie for 2nd place, so rather than battling it out, Thom & Shannon shared the second place honor (normally, the 1st & 2nd place Slammers would battle it out, with 3rd resting on her/his laurels, but this way everyone was honored without undo strife).

Twice a month at Valentines on New Scotland Ave., just down the street from Washington Park, in Albany, NY, the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, $5.00, a Slam & an open mic (you can only do 1 or the other). & beer.

Poetry + Prose Open Mic, May 13

Back on our regular day, the 2nd Sunday, at the Arts Center in Troy, me & Nancy Klepsch your hosts. It being Mothers' Day there were some pieces on that theme, but in general a wide-ranging open mic like we are used to.

No one signed up in the first slot so I took it & read Julia Ward Howe's 1870 Mothers' Day Proclamation, then my own "Mothers Day Meditation," both anti-war statements.

Harvey Havel had a strange, untitled prose piece about a coup by a pitt bull in a nation of dogs (with this great line, "with approval the audience barked like mad"). Brett Axel has just had a children's book published, Goblinheart: A Fairy Tale, but his poems circled around his mother, the very short "Red Paint," "My Mother Became an Artist…" (painting pictures with mercurochrome), "Mother" (as an invalid), & "Birthday." Tim Verhaegen is known for his poems about his family & included one for his mother, "Is She Crazy or Just Plain Mean?" but began & ended with rants, one about "writers who don't write" & the other a list culled from the news about heroes, some ironic, some not. Howard Kogan began with "This Dream" then the tender, chilling account of his mother's family stuck in Poland in "The Great War."

A new reader, all the way from across state lines, was Naomi Bindman, beginning with an older poem "Spring Waking," then touching on the day's theme with "In Praise of my Daughter's Navel," & the sad, & tender "Run Over;" "Fallen" was a love poem & she ended with "Invisible." My co-host, Nancy Klepsch, hadn't signed up to read, but before she announced the next-to-last reader "stole a moment" (as she put it) to pay tribute to a teacher from high school who was her "poetry mother," Nancy Fagan. Ron Drummond spent some time rattling his papers before he launched into the end of his piece he had read excerpts from previously, "The First Woman on Mars." Trina Porte ended up as the last reader of the afternoon (after a battle over who would be the last reader) with the graphic description of a hospitalized person, "Inpatient" then a piece whose title I think was "Rose." And that was the end.

This series continues next month on the 2nd Sunday at 2:00 PM at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River St., Troy, NY -- free! & open to writers of prose & poetry.

Live from the Living Room, May 9

Tonight at the recently refurbished Pride Center there were some folding chairs for the poets, but still no comfy couches -- still better than sitting on the radiator, as some did last month.

Waiting for the feature to arrive, our host Don Levy started the open mic as poets began to arrive, quite a good group tonight, with poets coming out of the woodwork who have not been out in a while. Sylvia Barnard was fresh back from a trip to Israel & read 2 poems from her trip, the blood & Apocalypse of "Israel 2012" contrasted with the more gentle images of "The Garden Tomb." I followed with 2 recent poems, "For Moses Kash III" & one for the 100th birthday of the Oreo cookie back in March, "Ode to the Oreo."

I had not seen Kim Henry reading her poetry for a long time & tonight she read a poem about death that she wrote today after not writing poetry for 4 years -- yay! Kim, come back soon. Tess Lecuyer said it was Joy Harjo's birthday & read 2 of her poems. Kristen Day had also not been out out in a very long time & started with a haiku for a clogged ear, then the work-related "Summary of a Meeting" (she is always good with the work-related stuff).

Emily Gonzalez is slowly inserting herself back into the local scene & read a poem for a friend from her phone, on death & dying. Bob Sharkey crammed 5 days of WordFest into 1 64-word poem, "Trip Wire" -- amazing! -- then read "Cycles" with Guinness & Earl, back again. Somehow before Julie Lomoe read Don got into a discussion of the soap opera, General Hospital, then Julie read her old poem "Bi-Polar I." Rob Smith rarely reads out but wrote a poem written today after lobbying at the State Capitol on trans-gender issues, a poem about the sculptor Constanin Brancusi, "Re-encountering Brancusi." Avery began with a poem from last year on the assassination of Osama bin Laden, "And there Was Much Rejoicing," & followed with a feel-good piece in advertising-speak on smiling (just like the nuns used to tell you).

Our genial, chatty host Don Levy read 2 newer poems that can be found on his FaceBook page, "Sunspot" & "Cowboy Josh." Jenna, who was the volunteer at the Pride Center's cafe tonight, was our last poet & read from her laptop a poem she said she could sing, "Freedom Flows," a work-in-progress. That's what open mics are for: to try new pieces out, to work on the works-in-progress.

Now usually there is a featured reader who starts off the night & one had of course been scheduled but never showed. But with tonight's array of open mic poets we barely missed him. Too bad. Usually on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Pride Center of the Capital Region on Hudson Ave. in Albany, NY, in June there will be no open mic (too much else going on here for Pride Month), but will be back in July. & always straight-friendly.

Calling All Poets! -- Robert Milby & Dan Wilcox, May 4

Calling All Poets! is a popular name for a reading series (there is one over in Connecticut with the same name), this one held the first Friday of each month at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY. I read there a few years ago & the folks who run it, Jim Eve, Mike Jurkovic & Robert Milby are actively promoting local & regional poets.

Photo by Glenn Werner

I was the first of 2 featured poets & began the night with a mixed bag of mostly recent poems, starting with a poem by Catherine Connolly, "Ending," then my poem in her memory, "Something That Matters." In honor of the students gunned down at Kent State on this date in 1970 I read my poem from 2010 "44,000." Then the cluster of poems I wrote in Florida this January, & the 4 Coyote poems. The older poems were "The Lady Bishop" &, from boundless abodes of Albany "My Sather Gate Illumination." Then ended with a couple from Poeming the Prompt (a good marketing ploy because a number of people bought books).

Robert Milby, the whirling dervish of the lower Hudson Valley poetry scene, read next & he too likes to begin with someone else's poem, tonight Thomas Kinsella's "Ancestor." His poems are often situated in the natural world, such as "July's Slash & Burn," the family story "Catherine's Oaks," & "Flood Plain," even his "Coyote" poem about finding a roadkill. He included a couple with references to classical music, "Rosamunde Revisited" & one on hearing Brahms on his radio in the kitchen & backyard. From his chapbook Crow Weather (Fierce Grace Press, 2009) he read "The Memory of Fire" & "The Dead Have No Truth" (after reading Anne Sexton). Other poems from writing were "Barrows Full of Bones & Memory" (after reading Dracula) & "Contracting Hank" (Bukowski, of course). & what would be a Milby reading without a ghost poem? He ended with one, "The Green Medusa."

After a too-long break the surprising long line of open mic poets began. Were all these folks in the house when I & Milby read? Glenn Werner, who also makes poetry happen in the area, began the open mic explaining tidal bore, followed by Ken Howard with a couple poems. Chris Peña's 2 poems ranged from tender to vicious, while husband Tony Peña's "Day Tripper" was a rambling druggie surrealistic romp. Robert Phelps' poems were trees & squirrels, followed by "Ivan Smirnoff" with an accent that sounded more Irish than Russian. Another local stalwart, Christopher Wheeling read a just-written piece & "The Ink Well" (revising the title at the mic), then John Douglas with a portrait of a recluse, followed by Kenaya Massaline also with a brand-new poem & tender one for a late friend, "Dear Raoul."

Hayden Wayne read Cherokee & English from his book, whose title I missed. Stephen Coyle read O.P.P. (a poem by someone else), launched into a lecture about corruption in Iraq (duh!) then wanted to do another poem (after already going way too long) & someone, who didn't sound like either of the tag-team hosts said to go ahead. This was indicative of the chaotic way the open mic was being run. After the first couple of poets neither of the hosts came up to the mic to announce the next reader, but called out the name from the back of the room. Sometimes people were still applauding, sometimes the name was unclear but I'm sure I'm not the only one who frequently didn't know who was reading. It's not just important for a nut like me trying to keep the archives accurate, but also does a disservice to the poet themselves: when I get up to read I want the folks in the audience to know who I am, what my name is. Fortunately for me I was able to hijack the sign-up sheet before heading out.

Ras Negus reads Mutabaruka

The next poet was a good example of that: it was Eve Hinderen's first time here, with a rant & a Wal-Mart Barbie poem, but when announce I only heard "Eve." Likewise, the next poet, Ras Negus, but then his name would've been difficult anyways. He began with "Dis Poem" by Jamaican poet Mutabaruka, then his own "Nature's Holistic Paradise" but then asked (& was granted permission) to sing "a short verse" that went on for another 2 minutes. Co-host Mike Jurkovic did a couple poems, one with a bra in it, then Stephanie Luzzi read, & another first timer, Michelle Johnson, then Franklin with one of his poems in a faked Polish accent, & finally the last reader of the night Sonia with a couple of personal essays.

It had been a long night, at least for those of us here from the beginning. Calling All Poets! is held each first Friday at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY, 8PM, with featured poets & an open mic. The website doesn't seem to be up to date on the schedule, but can give you directions.

Caffè Lena Open Mic, May 2

Through one reason or another the last time I was at Caffe Lena for the open mic was in February -- it was good to be back. Our host, Carol Graser, started us off with a reading of Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Boy with His Hair Cut Short" then on to the open mic.

Joe Mangini started us off with a piece about his Uncle Joe & a '41 Chrysler, then "My Voice Can't be Recorded" (at least how he hears it). I followed with a poem for May Day, "Crane Alley" then the wise-cracking "Mother's Day." Barbara Ungar made a rare open mic appearance with 2 poems for her father, the first inspired by tonight's featured poet Djelloul Marbrook, "The Book of Sand" then her "first & last pantoum," "Becoming My Father's Mother." Kate McNairy first poem, "George's Girl," was about an encounter at a gas station, then one about baseball, "The Harbinger of Spring." It was Nick's first time reading here & he did well with "I Can't Write a Poem About Paris," & "My Dreams Like White Mist."

I had noticed tonight's featured poet, Djelloul Marbrook, earlier in the day at the reading by Harry Staley at the Writers Institute (see the previous Blog) but didn't know who he was until now. He read from his 2 books of poetry, Far from Algiers (Kent State University Press, 2008) & Brushstrokes and Glances (Deerbrook Editions, 2010), as well as newer poems. His poems are generally short (a page, or less in his books), directly & conversationally stated & focused on a moment in time, such as looking at himself in a mirror, or contemplating at line by William Carlos Williams ("My Last Civilized Moment"). They are often (cf. the poems in Brushstrokes and Glances) about the museum moment, less ekphrastic poetry than an aesthetic response to being there, such as seeing a Renoir at the Frick Museum, or a poem simply titled "In a Museum." His titles, also, can be like a poem itself, e.g., "The Doorknob Throbs with Desire," "Gussie Me Up," "Repairing the Herald Angel," or "Which of our Protuberances." I'm looking forward to reading his poems after hearing them flit by like butterflies.

Carol Graser returned us to the open mic with her fabulous working-class poem "Plastic Factory." Then Marilyn McCabe read a couple of (related?) poems, "The East Field" & "Eden, an Alternative Version." Barbara Garro gave us literal treatments of "Wild Stallions" & the Biblical tale of "Abraham & Isaac." I wondered if Carole Rossi Kenyon's poem "Graffiti Rant" (with its compelling phrase "secret zombie fortress") might be about Freud's Id? Charles Watts was funny tonight with a conversation on a plane, "A Poet," & his lament for fame "Why I Will Never…"

Debbie struggled with her laptop & the mic, but was able to get through a poem based on the screen names of friends, "Blushful Moon," & the quieter "Down by the Stream." Andrew Sullivan's one poem (did I miss the title or he not say it?) was based on a tennis tournament as a metaphor for love & life. Mary Eliza Crane had the award for coming the longest distance (from the State of Washington) & read the tender, funny "Dad's Pajamas." Ellen Finn read 2 historical poems from class assignments, "Little Rock Crises," & one on the 1974 - 1979 fight for bi-lingual education (now being dismantled).

Emily XYZ (the NYC performance poet) sang/chanted a mantra/poem with the recurring line "if they don't get it it's alright…"

Ah yes, with Emily XYZ's comment on poetry readings in our heads, we headed out the door & I, for one, hope to be back soon. It's every 1st Wednesday at the historic Caffé Lena on Phila St. in Saratoga Springs, NY, $3.00, bring some poems, & always a featured poet (or 2).