Poetry News

****POETRYNEWS****
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Here is your Poetry News for the week of June 16, 2008.
Spoken word events are spreading like allyssum in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

Please email if you would like to be added to the mailing
or are interested in featuring at Jester's.
Peace through poetry - Lori

Word in Westfield:

Community Voices Poetry Open Mic
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT 7PM
at Jester's Cafe and Deli
124 Elm Street (route 10/202)
in Westfield, MA
Sign up is at 6:30 and open mic starts at 7:00PM
followed by a guest feature.
All are welcome.
This venue is PG 13

We are now booking features for October and November.
Jester's will close for July and August. We will re-open September 8th.
Please email if you haven't featured in at least 6 months
and would like to return, or if you would be interested in featuring for the first time.



New Open Mic in Westfield!
THE SPOKEN WORD
at the Teapot Gallery
Tuesdays, 7-9PM
Poetry, Prose,
Verse, Yarns

Come to listen, come to speak,
Your words, words for our times,
Immortal words, mortal words...

Call 562-6966 (Teapot) or 348-7218 (Eli B.)
For info and encouragement



Writing Group at the Athenaeum
Saturday June 21, 11AM
Saturday July 19, 11AM
Community Room, Westfield Athenaeum
6 Elm Street (on the corner of Court St.)
Westfield, MA
supportive group for poetry, memoir and
fiction, facilitated by Lori Desrosiers, local poet and
Adjunct Professor of English at WSC.
There will be prompts and exercises to inspire and
encourage all sorts of creative writing.
FREE
All styles welcome. For info call Lori at 413-250-3008


Summer Writing Workshops for Children with Lori Desrosiers

WSC College for Kids: July 7-11 Hands-on Creative Writing for ages 8-12
Sign up at http://www.wsc.ma.edu/

Writing Your Wild Side - a wild animal poetry workshop for kids
July 15 and 16th, 10am - 12 noon
Westfield Boys and Girls Library
Westfield, MA
http://www.westath.com/

Creative Writiing in Vermont for grades 4-6
August 11-15
Brattleboro, VT
More information TBA


Chicopee/Holyoke/
Springfield Poetry

NEW OPEN MIC
Starving for Art Presents
open mic Mondays
@ Blue Fusion Bar and Grille
487 St. James Ave
Springfield, MA
doors open at 6pm for social hour.
Showtime is 7-9pm
All poets, musicians, singers, and visual artists are welcome.
This event is free
For more info visit http://www.brendaschild.com/

I Sing My Name!,
a multi-media performance by the new performance art group
Teatro Vida, will be presented on June 13 and 14 at 7 p.m.
in the Davis Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts at the Quadrangle.
The performance has been scripted by a diverse youth ensemble,
ages 12-18, in collaboration with poet-in-residence Maria Luisa
Arroyo and artistic director Magdalena Gomez, both of Springfield.
The performance is for ages 12 and up only.

I Sing My Name! is Teatro Vida's creative response to an
inter-generational act of violence that took place in the Hungry Hill
section of Springfield in March 2008.
The performance will feature live music, video, ritual, poetry,
monologues, original movement work, and song.

Tickets are $5 per person, and seating is general admission.
The performance will last one hour with no intermission.
Late-comers will not be seated. Light refreshments will be served
following each performance.
Call 413.263.6800, ext. 255, for advance tickets.



Please Join the Poets of The Care Center
for a reading and book-signing
with the young mothers & poets of The Care Center

JUNE 20 · FRIDAY · 10:30 AM
The Odyssey Bookshop
The Village Commons
9 College St
South Hadley MA 01075
http://www.odysseybks.com/

Nautilus II vol. 6 is a collection of poetry and art
from students at The Care Center in Holyoke,
an inspiring non-profit educational center where
young women study academic subjects for their GEDs,
along with poetry, art, computers, parenting, nutrition,
athletics and more.

Copies of Nautilus II will be available for sale, $10.
“The young women poets at The Care Center write
straight from the heart, right from the truth of experience.
They give voice to their lives in these hard-won poems,
made with courage and fierce honesty.”
— Mark Doty, poet and author of Sweet Machine

For information about Nautilus II and to order copies contact:
Anne Teschner, Executive Director or Tzivia Gover,
Nautilus II Staff Editor: (413) 532-2900 or

http://www.carecenterholyoke.org/
http://www.tziviagover.com/
http://www.dontcallitpoetry.wordpress.com/


SPRINGFIELD LIBRARY POETRY

Contest: Winning Poems are posted on the Library's Poetry Page:www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetry/poetrypage.html
For info call: 413-263-6828 x426 or visit http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/

Spoken Word Saturdays!
The Springfield City Library's monthly open mic series
moves outside for the summer:

Poetry in the Park
June 7, July 26, and August 16
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Quadrangle Tent, behind the library
(Community Room if weather is bad)
Springfield City Library
220 State Street


The Western Mass Regional Library System's
Sunday's Poetry Slam Grand Finale,
at the Eric Carle Museum, was a great time!
First place went to Jacob Snow, representing the
North Adams Public Library. Two of the Springfield Library's
three poets made it to the final five! (out of 22 participants)
-Shariff Butler (our #1 slammer) came in second overall,
and Daisy Pereira-Tosado came in fourth.
Maurice "Soulfighter" Taylor, our #3 slammer, got high points,
but got marked down for going over the 3-minute limit.
Yari Rodriguez came in fifth - she is ALSO a Springfield
resident, but was representing the Northampton Library...
she missed our slam, so she competed in theirs.
Third place went to Seth Brown, representing North Adams.
Congratulations and thanks to all the poets who participated
in the slam series!


Poets looking for advice on publishing?
Maria Arroyo has offered to present an interactive
workshop on Saturday, June 21, from 10:00 - 11:30 am,
at the Central Library, 220 State Street.
All the details, including a link to sign up, are on the library website: http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetpublish.html

Also, the Library Creative Writing Group will continue to meet
throughout the summer… although the times may change a bit!
The next meeting will be Saturday, June 14th at 12:30 pm,
in the Library Community Room. Daisy Pereira-Tosado
will be here that day to facilitate. No advance sign-ups needed,
but if you'd like more information, contact
Anna at .

Shariff's, Daisy's, and Maurice's
April 12th performances are on youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/user/springfieldlibrary ]

Readings at the monthly Open Mic series should be "family-friendly."
Questions? Or to sign up,
contact Anna at
or 263-6828 x426.
Free parking is available in the State Street lot across from the library,
or in the Elliot Street lot next to the Springfield Museums Welcome Center.

http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetry/poetrypage.html
Or contact Anna at
or 413.263.6828 x426.

Bookmark the Poetry Page
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetry/poetrypage.html
for updated information, and to read the work of some of our poets
(anyone who's read at events here, send a poem to be posted!)


Word in the Valley and Beyond

QUEER POETRY OPEN MIC AT EVOLUTION
Queer poetry open mic at Evolution Cafe,
Thursday, 6/19 from 7-8:30.
Covers encouraged - bring your favorite poem,
or read one of your own!
(Doesn't have to be queer-themed)
Cafe Evolution
22 Chestnut St.
Florence, MA



SUMMER POETRY SLAM
July 17, 2008 7-10pm
at The Yellow Sofa Cafe,
24 Main Street
Northampton, MA
for more info
contact Jamila at



EVOLUTION OPEN MIC
The first Thursday of the month
July 3rd
Open poetry night at 7pm
Hosted by Charles Simpson
at
Cafe Evolution
22 Chestnut Street
Florence Mass
phone 413.586.0200


FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY .
The Florence Poets Society celebrates it's 5th year of existence
with the next meeting of the new season on
Thursday June 12 at the Lilly Library in Florence.
Our new starting time is 6:30 pm so that Society business can
be conducted prior to the poetry portion of the meeting,
which will be from 7-9 pm. Regular meetings are held the second
Thursday of every month. An annual membership fee of $15 dollars
contributes to our programs and events, however it is not necessary
to be a member to participate.
All poets are welcome to attend and share original work.
We are always looking for new poets.
Discussion and critique is offered if desired.
Look for our new writing group coming soon.

For more information:
Email us at or check out our web
page at http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/


Florence Poets Society Readings:

The poets of the Florence Poets Society return to the Wm Cullen Bryant Homestead for a special afternoon reading of original poetry. Step back to an earlier time and enjoy a gracious stroll around the charming Homestead grounds. Sip lemonade with your friends as you taste a warm, home-baked cookie, then close your eyes and listen to the words. Old favorites, as well as new voices. This program has become an annual tradition at this wonderful venue. Join us on Sunday, June 29, from 2-4 pm at the Wm Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington MA for this free event. Presented by the Trustees of Reservation and the Florence Poets Society. The poets will be available to sign chapbooks. For more information call Tom at (413) 584-5914 or email us at

Listen to "Twilite's Poetry Pub" now Weekly!
"Twilite's Poetry Pub" goes weekly starting in May!!!!
Enjoy the "Pub" with Carl and Tom every Wednesday from 9-10 am
on Valley Free Radio, WXOJ 103.3 fm, Northampton and now
with improved streaming at http://www.valleyfreeradio.org/ !!!
Poetry to the people!
WXOJ-FM LP 103.3 and streaming at www.valleyfreeradio.org.
Bringing to you a variety of interesting poetry and music!

-----------------------------
All events are free and open to the public except as noted
For more information, Call Tom at (413) 584-5914
or email at: [email protected]
or: [email protected] or visit:
www.florencepoetssociety.org
or visit: http://www.tommytwilite.com/


Poetry Nights in Northampton:


Writer's Group at Packard's in Northampton:
Northampton Writer's Group is an ongoing writer's group
for any kind of written word. We currently have several openings
for new members.
For information please contact Lori
It meets in the library room at Packard's restaurant/bar at
14 Masonic St. in Northampton.
Participants bring copies of their work to read and have
critiqued in a supportive, gentle, constructive environment.
The next dates -
Sunday July 6, 6-9pm





POETRY A LA CARTE
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM
Fridays 4:30-5:00pm
The program, hosted by Daisy Mathias,
includes reading aloud from past
and contemporary poets, and occasionally
features live interview and
poetry-reading with a local poet.


THE WOVEN WORD
SUMMER CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
for Middle and High School Age Writers
July 21-25, 9 AM – 1 PM
in Hadley

About the Workshop: This workshop is designed to create safe space to develop each writer’s unique voice, since there are stories and poems that belong to each of us alone.

The Amherst Writers & Artists method takes writers to both unexpected and familiar places, while supporting them in an affirming space among their peers. We focus on creativity, not grammar or spelling. The workshop is anchored in the conviction that every voice is beautiful, that every person deserves to be heard; and that knowing you are heard is itself a dramatically empowering act.

This workshop program will involve two daily writing and sharing sessions, a recreational break with swimming & kayaking near our houseboat on the Connecticut River, and drawing, painting, or flower picking on the farm land where we live.

Workshop leader Lynn Bowmaster is a published poet who has led workshops in her home, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Middle School, Hilltown Cooperative Charter School, Finn Ryan Road Elementary School, and Holyoke Community College.

For info: contact Lynn at 584-3373, Lrbowmaster
“There is a vitality, a life force, … a quickening, which is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist.” Martha Graham


Greenfield/Shelbourne Falls and North

Slate Roof Reading
2 Slate Roof poets

Paula Sayword & Janet MacFadyen

and guest poet Barbara Paparazzo

will read their poetry

Tuesday, June 17
7:00 pm
Field Memorial Library
Conway center
Conway, MA
Free & open to the public.
Refreshments served.
There will be time to learn more about small-press publishing and chapbook creation, how Slate Roof operates, and how to join Slate Roof. Slate Roof books will be available for sale.

Paula Sayword's first collection, "Stories from the Sky," is forthcoming from Slate Roof in 2009. A Leyden resident with deep connectionsto the natural world, Paula writes about the grief and joy of rural life, and the intimate moments of memory and meaning. A 2006 Poet Seat Poetry Contest finalist, she has been published in Sanctuary.

Shutesbury resident Janet MacFadyen will read from "A Newfoundland Journal," a book-length poem about the human and natural landscape of maritime Canada. Her poems have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry, New England Watershed, and Osiris.

From Conway, we welcome Barbara Paparazzo. Barbara received
an MFA from New England College in 2005, and her work has
appeared in national journals such as The Atlanta Review,
Cincinnati Review, Runes, and Rattle.

For more information, contact: Janet MacFadyen
413-259-1985
Slate Roof Press is a member-run press committed to publishing Pioneer Valley poets. Designed by the poets themselves, Slate Roof chapbooks feature letterpress covers, special papers, and hand-sewn bindings.


Collected Poets Series
at Mocha Maya’s Coffee House,
47 Bridge Street,
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370,
413-625-6292.
Wheelchair accessible. Free.

On Sunday, July 6th, at 7:00pm, the Collected Poets Series is sponsoring a special reading with the preeminent poet Galway Kinnell; winner of a Pulitzer Prize, a National Book Award, the Frost Medal, and a MacArthur Fellowship. His most recent collection of poetry is Strong Is Your Hold. Kinnell is currently a Chancellor of The Academy of American Poets and lives in Vermont. He will read from his work at Mocha Maya’s, 47 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, 413-625-6292. Wheelchair accessible. Free.

The Series
July 6 — Galway Kinnell
August ~ No CPS ~
Sept.4 —Toi Derricotte and Regie O’Hare-Gibson
Oct. 2 — Carol Frost and Michael Waters
Nov. 6 — Wyn Cooper and Amy Dryansky
Dec. 4 — Dzvinia Orlowsky and Mary Clare Powell
Jan. 8 — Patrick Donnelly and special guest


Contact info: Lea Banks, 39 Green St., Apt. 2., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, (H) 413.625.6702
Website: http://www.mochamayas.com/


Spoken Word Greenfield
Spoken Word Greenfield
The third Tuesday of each month
Here are the Feature Reader for June 17, 2008
Dina Stander
and
Joseph Parzych
At 9 Mill St in Greenfield
Doors open at 7:00
Open Mike at 7:30
$1-5 sliding scale cover
Book signing and selling of local writers works will be available
Refreshments
Come up to read
Bring your chap books to sell
We will have tables at no cost
Open mike will be five minute slots
With 10 open slots

Directions
If you come up 91
Come into the center of Greenfield
At the lights of Federal and Main
Where the Common is
You take a Rt
Down the hill
Toyota will be on you left
You go under the railroad bridge
Come to a light
Take a RT
and you are there
That is Mill St
9 is on the conner
You can park in the Art Space next door
or on the street
If you are coming up 5 & 10 into Greenfield
When you come to the lights
Where you can either go left
Or Right under the Railroad bridge
You want to go Left
That is Mill St
9 is the first building



News from Mo and Ginger Cat Press

Equinox is still planning open mics for Charlemont, Northampton,
Orange and Pittsfield. These will be scheduled for July-August time frame.

The Equinox Literary Magazine NEWS:
This issue will be released, god willing and the creek dont rise,
on Sunday, Sept 21, 3-5 at Moca Maya's coffee house in Shelburne Falls
-- go ahead, put it on your calendar: in ink!

The web site can be accessed with this address:
http://www.thebooksmyth.com/
Maureen
Web site: http://www.thebooksmyth.com/ submission guidelines now available


JUNE
? Montague tba at the Montague Book Mill,

JULY
? Charlemont tba

SEPT
21 Shelburne: Sunday 3-5 at Mocha Maya 2008 issue Release Party
25 Amherst: Thursday, 7-9 at

EQUINOX DEADLINE: May 15, 2008. Submission guideline available on website
http://www.thebooksmyth.com/ or http://www.gingercatpress.net/
The Equinox is available at http://www.thebooksmyth.com/


Sturbridge Reading

Poems & Tunes

Sturbridge Coffee House
479 Main Street (Rt. 20)
Sturbridge, MA 01566
(508) 347-2288

Saturday, June 28
7-9 p.m.
Free (Hat is passed)

Featuring
John Surowiecki – poetry
Stephen Campiglio – poetry
John E. Surowiecki – singer/keyboardist

John Surowiecki has published two books of poetry, The Hat City after Men Stopped Wearing Hats (The Word Works), and Watching Cartoons before Attending a Funeral (White Pine Press), as well as several chapbooks. He has also been published in many journals, including Poetry, Alaska Quarterly Review, Prairie Schooner, Nimrod, Rhino, and Indiana Review. He recently won a Pegagus Award for his verse drama, My Nose and Me.

Stephen Campiglio is the featured poet in the summer ’08 issue of the journal, Italian Americana. He has also published in journals such as the Anthology of New England Writers, Natural Bridge, Switched-on Gutenberg, and Urban Spaghetti, and is a regular contributor to the Worcester-based journal, Sahara. He founded and coordinates the Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series at Manchester Community College, CT.

John E. Surowiecki, singer, composer and keyboardist, performs originals and rock covers in café and venues, mostly throughout eastern Connecticut. He is also a member of the rock band, The Black Burns. Samples of John’s music and more information on him can be found at: www.myspace.com/johnsurowiecki.



Word in the Berkshires

Lee Writers Group
(every 2nd Tuesday of the month)
at the Lee Library Conference Room.

Develop and hone writing skills through constructively critiquing
others as well as receiving helpful hints and suggestions.
This forum will host a variety of short stories, poetic compilations,
insightful and original essays, and other varieties of writing similarly
tangible in length. The purpose of this group is to embody character
and narrator through obsessive directive fervor with written and
spoken words.
The group will meet every second Tuesday sharing original works
via recitation and distribution and should be prepared to accept
constructive feedback and be able to, in return, deliver such
feedback in a respectable and deliberate manner.
Contact
or call 413 243-8116 for further information.


Stockbridge Booksellers Open Mic
Garfield Reed hosts our bi-monthly open mike poetry night
every other month on the third Thursday of the month.
...The Power of Words. P.O.W. is open to all poets,
writers and performance artists of all types.
We also welcome those less dramatic types who prefer
to watch from the audience. recently we have seen some
amazing young poets come out and wow their audience.
Don't miss out!!



Word Street
is a youth literacy project and creative writing center located at
163 North Street in downtown Pittsfield.
Since 2003, Word Street has offered homework help, tutoring,
MCAS and SAT test prep, creative writing instruction,
mini-magazine publishing, summer camps, and much more to
Berkshire County youth ages 7-18 absolutely free of charge.

"Poets are the theoretical physicists of language.
Rivers of literary magma are flowing just under the
surface all over Berkshire County.
This reading is a volcano."
--Steve Dew

For more information, please contact:
Steve Dew
Development Director
Word Street
163 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
( 413) 458-5171 home
(415) 407-3664 mobile
( 413) 997-3307 office
http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/

Check out this website for information on
spoken word events in Pittsfield:
There are some great events so check it out.
http://www.wordstreet.org/



Word in Ware/Palmer:

Carpe Stylum! (Latin for Seize the pen!)
meets every Wednesday 6-8pm, usually at the Ware Library
but some meetings are held elsewhere.
This group includes poets, short story writers, novelists,
historians, political satirists, video game designer and others.
All are welcome.
Call LuWanda Cheney (413) 277-9676 for a schedule.



Word in Worcester:

Motherhood Themed Reading
The Frances Perkins Branch Library
(470 West Boylston St., Worcester, 508-799-1687)
will hold a poetry reading and book signing on
Thursday, June 12 at 7 pm.
Poets Julia Lisella and Emily Ferrara will read poems
on the theme of motherhood.

Julia Lisella is the author of Terrain (WordTech Editions, 2007),
a full-length collection, and Love Song Hiroshima (Finishing Line Press, 2004),
a chapbook. She holds an M.A. in creative writing from New York University
and a Ph.D. in English from Tufts University.
She has received several community teaching grants through the
Massachusetts Cultural Council and has held residencies at the MacDowell,
Millay, and Dorset colonies for the arts. Currently she is assistant professor
of American literature at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.

Emily Ferrara is the author of The Alchemy of Grief, winner of the 2006 Bordighera Poetry Prize (Bordighera Press, 2007), published in bilingual edition in English and Italian. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Boston University, and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Lesley University. Recently featured in the Winter 2008 season of NPR’s “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress,” Ferrara is assistant professor of family medicine and community health at UMass Medical School in Worcester.

For directions to the Frances Perkins Branch, see http://www.worcpublib.org/

Worcester Storytellers
meets on the second Friday of each month at the
Village Arts Gallery (1 Ekman Street, Worcester).
The reading starts at 8:00 p.m.
Performance Host: Dave Macpherson

***
Shakti Women's Writing Pact
The Shakti Women's Writing Pact meets
every Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at
the Java Hut (1073A Main Street, Worcester).
Shakti was created with the intention of enhancing women's
sense of belonging within the poetry community through the
an unmoderated writing circle.
For more information please contact Sou MacMillan at
.


Duende Thursday June 12, @ the Ship
Join the fun tonight at the Hotel Vernon
(1 Millbury Street, Worcester) for The Spot.
This weekly reading meets in the Kelly Square Yacht Club
(that room in the back) and starts at 8:00 p.m.
Every Thursday night there will be an open mic followed by a feature.
This week the feature will be Duende with Tony Brown & Faro.
No cover but bring money to buy a beverage a
nd to support the feature. 21+


POET'S ASYLUM
Venue Update
The Poets' Asylum now meets at The Q, a cafe located at
362 Chandler Street in Worcester. The owners are excited
to have us on their schedule and are working with us to make
the transition as smooth as possible. Please help spread the word.

Worcester Slam Team Annual Auction
to raise funds to cover travel and lodging expenses.
This year the auction will be held
on Sunday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at
The Q Café (362 Chandler Street, Worcester MA).

To donate items for the auction, or offer a donation to the 2008
Worcester slam team, please visit http://www.poetsasylum.org for more information.

The open mic sign-up list goes out around 7:00 p.m.
and the reading starts closer to 7:30 p.m.
No cover; please throw some money in the bucket to support the feature.

The Poets' Asylum -- in its fifteenth year of
bringing the best in Performance and Slam poetry
to Central Massachusetts and beyond.
http://poetsasylum.org/mailman/listinfo/


THE ECLECTIC WORD, Radio Show
Poet and journalist Victor D. Infante hosts The Eclectic Word, an
Internet radio show that will delve into literature's fringe with poets,
satirists, alternative journalists and even (gasp!) bloggers. We'll be
stepping off the beaten path of literature, taking a close look at the odd,
the eccentric and the cutting-edge. Should be fun.

The show will run at 7 p.m. EST the first and third Friday of every month,
as part of The World Wide Word Radio Network. You can listen to the
shows live, or you can download it later for your listening convenience.
So give it a listen! It's going to be a blast!


CT POETRY
-------------------------------------------------------
Visit the CT Poet Online calendar,
updated weekly: http://www.poetz.com/connecticut

The Connecticut Poetry Society is proud to be part of
“Connecticut Open House Day”
in coordination with the Connecticut Culture and Tourism Bureau.
Join the celebration at the University of Hartford,
Saturday, June 14, 2008 in Butterworth Hall,
1265 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT. from 1-4 pm.

Featuring members of CPS reading from their published books of poetry.
Following guest readings there will be an ‘open mic.”
Refreshments will be served.
This event is free and opened to public.
A limited number of guests will receive Connecticut Vacations Guides,
Culture Guides, Tourism Maps and Key chains.
Featured guests:
Ginny Lowe Connors, moderator
Sharon Charde, Robert Jacob, whose book "Perspective" based
experiences as a hospice volunteer is being considered for a Pulitzer Prize.
Lorna Morris Cyr and Sandra Maineri
Maria Sassi, West Hartford's town Poet Laurette
For information on this event, call Lorna Morris Cyr,
e-mail, . or visit the Connecticut Poetry Society
website at http://www.ct-poetry-society.org/

Rose Garden Reading
Pond House, Elizabeth Park
Saturday June 21st, 1pm

As part of Rose Festival Weekend at Elizabeth Park, the annual Rose Garden Reading will be held on Saturday, June 21st at 1 o’clock.

This year featuring two poets: Richard Deming and Gray Jacobik.

The reading will be held in the Pond House, and the event is free and open to the public.

Pond House, Elizabeth Park, Hartford CT (entrance on Asylum Ave., half-block west of Prospect).

This event sponsored by The Friends & Enemies of Wallace Stevens.
For more information, contact Jim Finnegan, or 860/508-2810,
--

Richard Deming is a poet and a theorist who works on the philosophy of literature. His poems have appeared in such places as Sulfur, Field, Indiana Review, and Mandorla, as well as Great American Prose Poems: From Poe to the Present. He is the author of Let's Not Call It Consequence (Shearsman), about which Susan Howe has written, "Deming restlessly calculates the split between promised and actual experience. The poems in his impressive new collection balance at an edge of danger syntax can only shadow." With Nancy Kuhl, he edits Phylum Press ( http://www.phylumpress.com/). Currently a lecturer at Yale University, he is also the author of Listening on All Sides: Toward an Emersonian Ethics of Reading (Stanford UP).

Gray Jacobik is a recipient of Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. Gray's work has appeared in The Best American Poetry, The Kenyon Review, Poetry, Ontario Review, Ploughshares and many other periodicals. Her books: The Double Task (U. of Massachusetts Press, 1998) received The Juniper Prize and was nominated for The James Laughlin Award. The Surface of Last Scattering (Texas Review Press, 1999) was chosen for the of X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize. And Brave Disguises (U. of Pittsburgh Press, 2002), was winner of the AWP Poetry Series Award. She is on faculty of the Stonecoast MFA Program, based at U. of Maine-Farmington.

The Monday Night Windsor Poets
are still meeting for serious poets interested in critique
at 6:30 PM on the second and fourth Mondays
at the Windsor Library, Windsor CT
Call Alice Ahrens Williams at 860-668-6142
or Janet Henderson at 860-688-5770.
Alice and Janet are both on the staff of the Common Ground
Review, an international poetry magazine.

First Tuesday Poetry Series
at Broad Street Books in Middletown
starts at 7:00pm
with a featured poet followed by an open mic.
Our featured poet on June 3rd will be...
Sympetalous...means his petals are fused sorta like a
MorninGloriouS...so here's his story: A mild mannered
reporter for The Subterranean Homesick News hears
the call and suddenly awakes One Velvet Mornin' when
he's straight then starts to sway and write this way for no
apparent planetary reason save the motion of a Blue Moon
and the Red Dwarf Stars Illusory Time passes as does
Whirling Earth one full spin around Sacred Sun and the
Pipes of Pan's bright words in uttered sound begin to fly
and float about a Space filled with pairs of eaGer ears open
wide to viVid minds, some more'n willin' to ride the Wild Juice
of this Stream o' Con Ki-o-tay Trixter Messenger Now some
two more years have cycled on through and it seems his lines,
never sullied by the published page or the bold imprimateur of
some faceless arbitrary hand, have been spoken-word-heard
more than 100 times afar and wide as he stands before you
here these days and eves just like some Third Millenial
Troubadour So invite him over some time, he'll gladly sing
for his supper and what's more...
Broad Street Books
45 Broad Street
Middletown, CT
(860)685-7323

Poetry at Peaberry's Café Simsbury, CT
ArtSpeak
4th Saturday of every month.
This month's date, June 28th
Because local artists are important, and should be celebrated.
Peaberry's Cafe
712 Hopmeadow St
Simsbury, CT
(860) 658-2930
Host Robert Dauphinais
Peaberry's, a great alternative to the local bar scene, is a cosy little
cafe that seeks to give local artists support, a voice, and a venue!
Help us keep this dream alive! Food is served all night and wine, beer,
and coffee cordials are served after 5:00.

The night will begin at 7:30 and go until 9:30, however,
if there is an abundance of artists, we will go until 10:00.
Our aim is to create an environment where poets of all ages
will feel welcome and wanted, as well as challenged.
We want this to be an atmosphere where artists can share
and network, and, most importantly, grow!

All ages are welcome and we ask that each artist be sensitive
to the audience and what may or may not be appropriate.
Beyond this request, we want to keep censorship to a minimum,
and we support freedom of speech and expression.

So come, bring your friends, students, parents, children, neighbors...
let's see if we can set the CT poetry scene on fire!

Please email Leanne at
with any questions or suggestions.

Wednesday, June 11 & Wednesday, June 26 2008
6:30pm - 8:30pm
THE SUNKEN GARDEN POETRY FESTIVAL IS BACK!

The summer-long Sunken Garden Poetry Festival returns
this summer to Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington following
a one-year hiatus. Jeffrey Levine, poet, publisher, and teacher,
has assumed the role of Artistic Director for the 16th season
of the Festival, which will include some of the most talented
poets and musicians in the country.In June, the festival kicks
off with Robert Pinsky on the 11th, followed by the Connecticut
Poetry Circuit Winners and Coleman Barks on the 26th.
Over the course of the summer, the scheduled poets include
such brand names as Billy Collins and Paul Muldoon and, as
always, the Night Of Fresh Voices. (Check out the Summer
Performance Series page on the web site for all upcoming readings.)
There will also be music at each event, too; the format will be mixed:
some evenings, poetry and music will be separate, other evenings
they will be interspersed, such as when Coleman Barks reads Rumi
accompanied by cellist Eugene Friesen.
http://www.hillstead.org/activities/poetry.html

GUMBOLIVE
This is an open mic with a feature
and real Gumbo!
It is held on the 1st Thursday of the Month
at Vibz Uptown in Hartford, CT
3155 Main Street.
If people want to feature,
call James Lewis at 413-221-4768.

POETRY POTLUCK at The Sanctuary
Do you love poetry?
Would you like to be part of an ongoing poetry
discussion group offering food for the mind and the heart?

If so, come and join us on the first Sunday of the month
from 4.30-6.00 PM
at The Sanctuary in East Haddam, Connecticut,
to discuss poetry and build community.

This is not about sharing our own work but instead offers
us a chance to share the work of poets we love, so you don't
have to be a poet to be part of this group. Just come and bring
your love of poetry and a poem you would like to share.

Hosted by Greg Coleman, Suzy Lamson,
Marilyn Nelson, and Edwina Trentham
For more information call 860-319-1134.

DIRECTIONS
Directions to the Sanctuary for Poetry Potluck on Bogel Road
– Look for sign: Labyrinth & Yurt (it's a dirt driveway)

FROM MASSACHUSETTS:
Take I-91 South to Rte 9 South. Take exit 7 onto Route 82 East.
Turn LEFT onto Route 154 (Saybrook Road). Turn RIGHT onto
Route 82 (Bridge Road). Turn LEFT onto Route 151 (Town Street).
Turn RIGHT onto Daniels Road. Turn LEFT onto Bogel Road.
Phone number: 860-319-1134

FROM HARTFORD:
Take I-84 East towards East Hartford. Take exit 55 onto Route 2
East towards Norwich. Take exit 16 . Go RIGHT onto Route 149.
Turn LEFT onto Route 151 (Plains Road). Turn LEFT onto Daniels
Road. Turn LEFT onto Bogel Road.
Phone number: 860-319-1134

FROM NEW HAVEN: Take I-95 North towards New London.
Take exit 67; stay to the LEFT at the fork on the ramp. Turn LEFT
onto Route 154 (Middlesex Turnpike). Take Route 9 North towards
Middletown. Take exit 7 onto Route 82 East. Turn LEFT onto
Route 154 (Saybrook Road). Turn RIGHT onto Route 82 (Bridge Road).
Turn LEFT onto Route 151 (Town Street). Turn RIGHT onto Daniels Road.
Turn LEFT onto Bogel Road.
Phone number: 860-319-1134

FROM NEW LONDON: Take I-95 South towards New Haven.
Take Route 9 North towards Middletown. Take exit 7 onto Route 82 East.
Turn LEFT onto Route 154 (Saybrook Road). Turn RIGHT onto Route 82
(Bridge Road). Turn LEFT onto Route 151 (Town Street). Turn RIGHT
onto Daniels Road. Turn LEFT onto Bogel Road.
Phone number: 860-319-1134

WEDNESDAY NIGHT POETRY SERIES
Every Wednesday 7:30
at: 102 Greenwood Ave,
Bethel CT
Open mike sign up begins at 7:30. The open mic begins at 8
open for people to read their work 3-5 minutes.
The first 8-10 poets will read before the feature
who will read for 30 minutes followed by a
Q & A. Open mic will continue till closing time.
WNPS represents a varied community of people with
a common interest and appreciation for poetry.
The open mic is open to poetry, stories and musician (5 minute time limit).

WNPS, going on 12 years has been the longest
CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING WEEKLY Poetry Open MIC
and featured poet reading series in Connecticut!
For more details and updates: http://www.wedpoetry.net/
Or http://www.wednesdaypoetry.com/
and http://www.wednesdaypoetry.org/


HARTFORD HAPPENINGS

SOUL SESSIONS at Vibz Uptown
The creator of Love Jones brings you--
"Soul Sessions" every Wednesday night 9:00 PM - 11:00PM

Join us for live Jazz Jams & share your Poetry and Song
backed by a live band or just come and chill in the vibe
of Hartford’s Hottest Open Mic Event.
Hosted By Charmagne

For more info, call 860-874-8797
or email mailto:[email protected]

Vibz Uptown
3155 Main Street
Hartford, CT
(860) 246-7390


Freestyle Hip-Hop Open Mic
Tuesdays
in Hartford
Filthy Kleen host Sully’s Hip-Hop Open Mic night
every Tuesday in Hartford
Sully’s Pub
2071 Park St.Hartford, CT
860-231-8881
http://www.sullyspub.com/




Boston Area Poetry Info:

WEDNESDAYS CAMBRIDGE, Mass.,
Central Square's world-famous Cantab Lounge presents weekly performances
from local and national poets, as well as a chance to present your own work
in the open mic or poetry slam. DJ Muse spins before the show and between poets.
Upcoming features include:

Wednesday, June 18-
It’s the Cantab’s first Regional Poetry Slam of the year… With a special all-star guest host appearance by world-famous slammer BIG POPPA E!

Doors for the show open at 7:30.
The open mic begins at 8:00,
the feature performs at approximately 10:00,
and an open poetry slam follows.
The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3 unless otherwise noted. S

imone Beaubien, SlamMaster
The Boston Poetry Slam at The Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, Mass. http://www.slamnews.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bostonpoetryslam

the Boston Poetry Slam @ the Cantab Lounge bringing contemporary poetry
to the community since 1991

_____
THURSDAYS

Lowell Poetry Slam and Open Mic
Every FIRST Thursday at Brew'd Awakening!
Only poets can compete in the slam and win the prize...
but the mic is open to musical performers as well.
Whether you come to perform, compete or just enjoy some coffee
and great local talent, don't miss this event!
7:00pm - 9:30 pm
*Sign-up between 6:30-7:00*
The event is free and open to the public—so come on down
for an evening of good company and some terrific regional voices!

Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus
61 Market Street
Lowell, MA
978-454-BREW

For more info, please email

* * *
Borders Downtown Crossing Presents
A Tapestry of Voices
Hosted by Harris Gardner (617-306-9484)
Thursday, June 12th, 6:30 PM
Free
With an open mic to follow
Featured poets:

LISA BEATMAN's most recent book, “Manufacturing America:Poems from the Factory Floor” ( Ibbetson Street Press 2008) was an April /May “Pick of the Month” by the Small Press Review, and was featured in the Boston Globe.

THADE CORREA's work has appeared in Modern Haiku, Lyrical Somerville , the Spoonful Journal, Ibbetson Streetand elsewhere.

SUSAN EDWARDS RICHMOND has been poet-in-residence at the FruitlandsMuseum in Harvard, teaches creative writing to inmates at MCI-Shirley, and is a founding member of The Concord Poetry Center.

* * *
the Poetry Session at O'Shea's
THE CAPE GETS ITS VOICE BACK
7 to 8:30PM Every Third Thursday!
The Poetry Session at O'Shea's is a free monthly all-ages open mic
for poets and lovers of poetry
held in the Back Room at O'Shea's Olde Inne.
348 Main Street, Rte. 28 West Dennis, MA 02670
Free
Contact Info: Gregory Hischak

* * *
Returning to the Black Spot (formerly the Prodigal Son) in Hyannis
the last Thursday of the month! Cape Poets Theatre Fourth Thursday
Open Mic at The Black Spot.
Free
Mary Ellen Redmond and Jose Gouveia host at the old Prodigal Son,
under new name and ownership, now called
The Black Spot Cafe,
10 Ocean St., Hyannis.
We are the last Thursday of every month, 8PM, (508) 771-4004

_____
FRIDAYS
The Brookline Poetry Series is pleased to welcome THOMAS LUX
for our final reading of the season.
STEPHANIE KARTALOPOULOS will open the evening, and our open mike
will close it.
We meet Friday, June 6, 7-9pm
at the Brookline Public Library Main Branch.

_____
SATURDAYS

POETRIBE
http://www.poetribe.org/

The Community Room
East Bridgewater Public Library
32 Union Street East Bridgewater, MA
Hosted by David R. Surette and Victoria Bosch Murray
7:45 Open mic Sign-ups,
8:00 Open Mic,
9:00 Featured Poet
Upcoming Features:

June 7 THOMAS LUX

* * *
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the City of Boston Present
Slam at the Strand
7pm, Saturday, June 7th
with HARLYM125, GRINGO CHOIR, JEFF ROBINSON TRIO,
SOFIA SNOW, JME, ARTICULATION, Cloud Foundation,
Boston Poet Laureate SAM CORNISH and more.

Strand Theatre,
543 Columbia Road,
Dorchester
(617) 635-3911
www.cityofboston.gov/arts

* * *
OPEN BARK
meets @ the Out Of The Blue Art Gallery,
106 PROSPECT ST. (the home of Stone Soup)
CENTRAL SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE.
SIGN-UP AT 8:00pm
OPEN MIC STARTS @ 8:15pm,
FEATURE @ 9:00pm
Come and perform or listen!
_____

SUNDAYS Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
Sunday Night! Cambridge Common
1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
$5 Cover Every Sunday
Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm,
Feature: 9:30 pm,
Open Mike: 10:30 pm
617-547-0759
http://poetryjam.org/

* * *
Poetry at the Old Manse
Poets from The Concord Poetry Center will read in the Concord
Riverfest celebration on Sunday, June 15, from 2 to 4 p.m.

MARTHA CARLSON BRADLEY, JOEL MOSKOWITZ,
JAY FEATHERSTONE, JACKIE MALONE, CAMMY THOMAS,
FRANNY OSMAN, SUSAN EDWARDS RICHMOND,
BETTY BUCHSBAUM,

The reading is free and open to the public.
The Old Manse,
269 Monument Street, Concord, MA
Directions at http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/346_old_manse.cfm.

* * *Sunday, June 29th, 4:00
Longfellow National Historic Site,
East Lawn 105 Brattle Street,
Cambridge
Golden Rose reading by awardee CAROLYN FORCHE
All Readings are Free and Open to the Public

_____
MONDAYS
Stone Soup Poetry
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday
at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery
(located on 106 Prospect Street in Cambridge)
with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m.
http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com/

_____
TUESDAYS
Newton Free Library Poetry Reading Series
Winter Spring 2008.
The series meets the second Tuesday of every month open mic after features.
Starts 7PM
For complete information go to http://newtonfreelibrarypoetryseries.blogspot.com/
Director: Doug Holder http://authorsden.com/douglasholder

the Boston Poetry Slambringing contemporary poetry to the community since1991
http://www.slamnews.comhttp//groups.yahoo.com/group/BostonPoetrySlam

Cambridge Community Television
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM
Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam I
NFO: [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LETRA Poetry Nights
in LAWRENCE MASS
Every TUESDAY at
Julio's 99 Club
99 Essex Street Lawrence, MA
Doors open at 7pm open mic starts at 8pm
Admission $3.00
For more information or for directions please call
Michelle Richardson at 978-423-7045

Gypsypashn's Poetry Caravan
at Bestseller's Cafe
24 High Street
Medford, MA. 02155
Third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM.
Free refreshments open mic.
The Poetry Man' hosts
The Main St. Cafe, North Easton MA.
August is Biker Poetry Month,
and celebrated at Besteller's on the 13th.
After this reading there'll be a 2nd annual BBQ at Gypsy's.
Come one come all, come and enjoy a night of poetic delight
in a cozy bookshop setting!


VERMONT POETRY CONFERENCE

The Power of Words conference:
Liberation through the Spoken, Written and Sung Word
Sept. 12-15, 2008, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT.
Seek greater freedom and transformation for yourself and your community
through the power of words at this unique gathering of people who write,
tell stories, perform, and do other language arts. Make community with
others in the emerging field of Transformative Language Arts, and discover
ways to make a living doing what you love.
Keynotes: Walter Mosley, Bread and Puppet Theatre, Kelley Hunt,
Rick Jarow, Sherry Reiter, Lewis Mehl-Medrona plus 25 more presenters.
Organized by Goddard College’s Transformative Language Arts concentration,
this conference features hands-on workshops, performances, open readings &
celebrations at the peak of fall foliage.
Conference costs start at $210 for registration plus additional fees for
pre- and post-conference workshops.
Lodging and all meals on campus begin at $216/double or $276/single.
Some partial scholarships available including scholarships through the
Roxanne Florence Fund for people of color. Work-study positions available.
Professional and poetry therapy hours available.
Complete schedule and registration at www.goddard.edu/powerofwords
or call Denise at , 802/454-8311, x204.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
News for Poetry News must be received by
by Wednesday for Thursday or Friday publication. Lori Desrosiers - Publisher, Wearer of all Hats, even yours.