Poetry News

*****POETRY NEWS*****

Here is your Poetry News for the week of May 17, 2010.

May brings a garden of poetry events in the Pioneer Valley and beyond! Scroll all the way down for more poetry in CT, Boston and other areas. Check out all our links to the right for poetry events everywhere!

To receive Poetry News in your email or to post events write to [email protected]
Please Note: To send announcements or comments to Poetry News Do not reply to [email protected]. (Gmail buries your announcement under returned emails, junk mail, etc.) Send announcements to [email protected] by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Please send in a text-only announcement, preferably in the form of a news release.


THIS WEEK in Western MA:
Sat. May 15 - Best Damn Poetry Show, Kevin Deveney & Tanya Rubins @The Elevens, Noho, 8:00pm
Sun. May 16 - Maxine Kumin, Buckland Community Center, 3:00pm
Tue. May 18 - Oonagh Doherty & Karen Johnston at Greenfield Spoken Word, 7:30pm

There are many other poetry events in Western MA, CT and beyond this week - Please scroll down!



WORD IN WESTFIELD

Hands-On Creative Writing for Middle School Age Writers this Summer!
Got kids? Check out Lori Desrosiers' hands-on Creative Writing workshop for young writers ages 8-12, entitled "The Write Stuff" the first week in July at the Westfield State College for Kids program. There are other great workshops for kids 5-16 too! For more information go to http://www.wsc.ma.edu/cfk/CFK.pdf


Reading and Celebration of Library Contest Winners
Wednesday, May 19, 7pm
Westfield Athenaeum, 6 Elm St. Westfield, MA
413-568-7833 for more information



Holyoke/Springfield Area Poetry


María Luisa Arroyo's popular poetry workshops
have been scheduled through June, 2010. Dates include: March 20th, April 17th, May 15th, June 19th
In the Springfield City Library Community Room, 220 State St., Springfield times: 9:30 am - 11:30 am - March 20th, April 17th, May 15th, June 19th Preregistration required. Check out the poetry page @ the Library: www.springfieldlibrary.org Need more info?: E-mail [email protected]


Poetry Reading/Open Mic
Friday Nights at 8pm
Boriquen Y QuisQueya
326 St. James Ave.
Springfield MA


Starving for Art Presents open mic Tuesdays
@ 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/



WORD IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND

BEST DAMN POETRY SHOW: A Monthly Spoken Word Exhibition
Saturday, May 15
7:00 Doors
8:00 Open Mic
9:00 FEATURE POETS: Kevin Devaney & Tanya Rubins
$3 Cover. 21+

3rd Saturdays @ The Elevens, 140 Pleasant St. in Northampton, MA. For more info & subscriptions to the newsletter, email [email protected]



Green St. Poetry Series
Green Street Café, Northampton, Massachusetts

The Green St. Poetry Series showcases the voices of emerging and noted poets from the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts and beyond.
Please join us Wednesday, May 13th, at 7:30pm to hear Kim Abruzzo and Matt Suss

Starting immediately, The Green Street Poetry Series will present poetry readings on Wednesday nights instead of Thursday nights. Readings will still begin at 7:30. Please make a note of the changed dates below.
May 13 - Kim Abruzzo & Patrick Duggan
May 19 - Jono Tosch & Matt Suss
May 25 - Emma Van Driesche & Michael Miller
If you are a poet interested in reading at Green Street, please contact [email protected]


Gallery of Readers Series presents
Karen Randall and John Broglio
June 6th, 3 pm
Smith College, Neilson Browsing Room
A Gallery of Readers series
information at http://www.galleryofreaders.org/galleryofreaders/index.html


FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY

Next business/sharing meeting Thursday May 13, 6:30pm
ALL POETS OF ALL TYPES AND AGES are welcome, bring one of your original works to share,
(12 to 15 copies will usually be enough for all to share) The meeting is held at Lilly Library community room and begins at 6:30 PM. Poetry presentation and discussion begins at 7PM


WRITING GROUP
Martina Robinson and friends meet every 3rd Thursday at Lilly Library community Room at 6:30 PM. See Rich for details, this group is currently open to join.

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING AS A MEMBER OF FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY. THE FEE IS $15.00 FOR THE YEAR FROM SEPTEMBER TO AUGUST. Your membership supports our Fall festival,
SILKWORM our annual journal, (these first two items also are supported in part by the Northampton Arts Council via a grant) our website http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/,, our po box, the annual contest, the JAN SLAM, our spring art gallery reading. and our summer reading at William Cullen Bryant homestead.

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


Listen to "Twilite's Poetry Pub"
now Weekly! 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 http://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: http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/



POETRY A LA CARTE RADIO SHOW
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM 5pm to 5:30 pm on Tuesdays this Summer, streamed live at http://www.wmua.org/.
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.


Poetry at the Leverett Library
6:30 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, Poetry reading at the Leverett Library. 75 Montague Rd. Leverett, MA. Area poets are invited to read. For more information contact Petriana at 413. 549.9336 or by email at [email protected]


Poetry Reading and Open Mic
JUNE 19, 2010, 7 - 9 PM
Anchor House of Artists
518 Pleasant Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Contact: [email protected]
Join Ellen Mary Hayes, Michael Satz, Teri O'Shea & Karen Lowe
as they read from their book, "Wellstone", and join in the open mic.
This is a free event!



GREENFIELD, SHELBURNE FALLS AND NORTH

Bart’s Bards is Back!
Second Thursdays Open Microphone for Writers
May 13, 2010, Bart’s Café of Greenfield, 286 Main St., Greenfield, MA, 7:00-9:00 P.M., (Sign up to Read at 6:45)
Featured Readers: Authors, Poets: Kerry O'Keefe & Wyn Cooper


"Growing younger toward death every day: finding insight and inspiration in poetry, prose, and song".
New participants are always welcome at a biweekly group, which has been meeting for the past year and a half near Greenfield in western Mass, called "Growing younger toward death every day: finding insight and inspiration in poetry, prose, and song".

Bring and share your own, or a favorite poem, prose piece, or recorded song by others. Also listen to CDs of poet David Whyte reading his own and others' poetry, and discussing its meaning. The line 'growing younger toward death every day' is from Whyte's best-known poem "The Faces at Braga".
We also often read aloud and discuss poems and commentary in John O'Donohue's book "A Book of Blessings", and in the series of books edited by Roger Housden such as "Ten Poems To Change Your Life".
Optional pot luck supper at 6. Poetry-sharing begins at 6:45pm. More info: John Berkowitz 413-625-6374 [email protected]


May 31st Memorial Day Poetry - Spoken Word Festival
Where: In Wendell MA At the Deja Brew Pub - 57 Lockes Village Road
Doors open at 1:00 in the afternoon. The Festival will be from 2-6
$1 to $5 sliding scale
First slot at 2. With good weather bring a blanket to sit on, we will be outside with an out door stage. Rain we will be inside. There will be food to purchase and alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Tables for you to put out your books
Bring one piece about or by another writer who you think we need to remember, or bring a piece about authors you think we need to remember. And of course bring the pieces you want to offer to the festival
I have been taking names of people who want a slot. I will put your name, as I did for the Hope and Olive event, on small cards. That will give you a priority over those signing up at the door. That will be dropped in the hat when you arrive. When the slots are filled no more names will be added to the hat
There may be around 25 slots (still working out logistics of breaks, etc). This is looking like it will be a large event. So if you want a slot, now is the time to let me know, and arrive before 2pm.
For the Hope and Olive Event I had thirty names for 21 slots, and 19 showed and two signed up at the door. People were conscious of their time. Each slot will be 5-8 minutes. We also had a large crowd who just came to listen. Your best chance to have a slot is to let me know now. Get there early so your name goes in the hat for one of the slots.

Directions for Wendell http://dejabrewpub.com. Contact Paul at [email protected]



Greenfield Spoken Word
Always the third Tuesday of the month
May 18 Featured poets - Karen Johnston & Oonagh Doherty
9 Mill St. Greenfield, MA
Doors open at 7:00
Open Mic starts at 7:30
Open Mic will be 10 - five-minute slots
Donation - Sliding Scale $1 - $5
Book signing and selling of local writers works will be available. Come up to read. Bring your chapbooks to sell. We will have tables at no cost. Hope to see you there



ARMS LIBRARY READING
Third Friday Prose and Poetry Readings. 7 p.m. at The Arms Library, Corner of Main and Bridge Streets,
Shelburne Falls, Mass. 413-625-0306.

Held in the upstairs Reading Room, readers should arrive a couple of minutes early to sign up for a reading slot, and then have five minutes to share their work. The building is accessible by entering at lower level and taking the elevator upstairs.



Collected Poets Series
May 16 - Special reading by Maxine Kumin at Buckland Community Center, 3:00pm
Mocha Maya's Coffee House, 47 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, 413-625-6292. Wheelchair accessible. See www.collectedpoets.com for more information on all our poets reading. $2-5, sliding scale
(Please contact [email protected] for more information).

2010 Series
May 16 - Special Appearance by Maxine Kumin at the Buckland- Shelburne Community Center. Sunday, May 16, at 3:00 pm.
June 3 - Mihaela Moscaliuc and Nickole Brown
July 1 - Kristin Bock and Lee Sharkey
No CPS Readings in August or September
October 7 - Josephine Dickinson and Sharon Dolin
November 4 - Barbara Ras and Jennifer Sweeney
December 2 - Aracelis Girmay and Ross Gay

The Collected Poets Series highlights the work of established and emerging poets. Each event showcases the remarkable local poets of Western Massachusetts and the finest regional, national, and international talent.


ALL SMALL CAPS
Monday, May 24th, is our next reading for the All Small Caps series.
Please bring your work, work you admire and want to share, or just
come listen to the outstanding featured readers.

The reading will be held, as usual, at the Deja Brew (57 Lockes Village Rd, Wendell). Doors will open at 7 and the open mic portion of the reading will begin at 7:30, followed by a short break, followed by the featured readers. There will be food and drink available. If you need directions, a peek at upcoming readings, etc., please look-see our blog: allsmallcaps.blogspot.com


Announcing The Woven Word Summer Creative Writing Workshop
for Middle and High School Age Writers

For the third summer the Woven Word is offering week long creative writing workshops for middle and high school age writers. We use the Amherst Writers & Artists workshop method as a design to create safe space among peers so that young writers may explore the development of their own unique voice. The program includes 2-3 writing and sharing sessions, afternoons on a houseboat on the Connecticut River, and one ½ day creating hand made books of each individual selected writings.

Three week long sessions are offered: July 19-23, August 2-6, August 9-13. Sessions run 9 AM – 3:30 in Hadley and cost $200 per week.

Program Director Lynn Bowmaster is a published poet with more than 10 years experience leading writing workshops in her home, R.K. Finn Ryan Road Elementary, PVPA, Hilltown Cooperative Charter School, the Springfield Library, Soldier On, and Holyoke Community College.

For info. And a link to a slideshow of program, contact Lynn at 584-3373, [email protected].



WORD IN THE BERKSHIRES

SLATE ROOF READING WITH WACONAH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Slate Roof poet Dennis Pollock and eight Waconah High School
students will read from their poetry at 7 PM, Thursday, May
20th, at the Hinsdale Town Hall, 39 South St., in Hinsdale.

Dennis Pollock will read an original poem about the murder
of a Hinsdale man which took place in 1812. His work has
been anthologized in Holding True, edited by Barry
Sternlieb, and in the First & Second Berkshire Anthologies.
From Waconah High School, Amber Dezess, Jared Sweetser,
Becky Pare, Kirk Emerson, Claire Burnham, Breanna Heon,
Victoria Ware, and Jeanette Litz will read their original



OUTSPOKEN!
Upcoming Featured Performers:
May 20th: Rock Wilk- spoken word from NYC
June 17th: Taylor Mali- 4-time nat'l slam champ

- Outspoken! A monthly performance series and open mic featuring poets, storytellers, spoken word artists, serial monologists,(musicians, too)
- Hosted by Matt McFadden
3rd Thursday of every month at 8pm (suggested donation $5 - $10)
- Micro Theater: 311 North Street (upstairs) in Pittsfield, MA
(Off street public parking available in Melville Street lot, across from Boys and Girls Club on Melville Street - @ 1 block from theater).
- Open Mic performers can sign up at [email protected]
- For more information, please contact Matt McFadden at [email protected]


Power of Words, Open Mic
Third Tuesdays 7pm to 8:30 pm Hosted by Garfield Reed.
This is an open opportunity to share poetry, readings, music and other spoken word.
Free and open to the public at Berkshire South Regional Community Center , Crissey Rd.,Great Barrington, MA Every third Tuesday of the month. Please call Garfield at 528 4127 for more information.


In Words, Out Words in Housatonic
In Housatonic, MA there is an open mic for poets and performers of all styles and ages.
1st Tuesday of each month at the Deb Koffman Gallery 137 Front Street, Housatonic, MA 01236. “In Words, Out Words.” is hosted by John Meeks and there is usually a $7 suggested donation for heat and electricity. There are snacks there provided by whoever wants to bring them. The sign up technically is at 6:30 however the way it works is a lottery system. If you go to check it out once, then you can put your name on the contact email list. The following month you get an email reminding you of the upcoming event. If it’s your first time performing at In Words, Out Words, you are guaranteed a spot on the roster as long as you reply to the reminder email. If you’ve performed there before then you are put into the lottery system and randomly names are selected. Sometimes there are still slots open at the door.
The open mic begins at 7 and the featured performer goes on for about 20 minutes. It usually lasts until between 9 and 9:30.


Zeitgeist Gallery Pittsfield
Monday Poetry Nights 6 to10pm 648 North Street in Pittsfield call Alan Nidle, the Director at (857) 991-8448 for detail


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 [email protected] or call 413 243-8116 for further information.



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 and novelists. All are welcome. Call LuWanda Cheney (413) 277-9676 for a schedule.



WORD IN WORCESTER

This Week in Worcester:
Thursday, May 13
7:00 p.m. Michel Duncan Merle @ the Street Beat (WCPA Offices, 1 Ekman Street, Worcester)
8:00 p.m. The Little "a" Poetry Series (Dr. Gonzo's All-Natural Mega-Spicy Comestible Emporium, 122 Main Street, Worcester)
Friday, May 14
10:00 a.m. Shrewsbury Senior Writers @ the Shrewsbury Senior Center (100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury)
Saturday, May 15
10:30 a.m. Rodger Martin, Francine D'Allessandro and Kim Jennings @ Wake up and Smell the Poetry
Sunday, May 16
6:00 p.m. Gordo Elliott @ the Poets' Asylum
Monday, May 17
9:00 p.m.
RC Weslowski @ the Dirty Gerund Poetry Show
Thursday, May 20
8:00 p.m. The Little "a" Poetry Series (Dr. Gonzo's All-Natural Mega-Spicy Comestible Emporium, 122 Main Street, Worcester)


The Little "a" Poetry Series
at the Q Cafe, 362 Chandler St in Worcester, MA. We run the reading every Monday night, the sign-up list for the open mic goes up at 7:00pm and we get started shortly thereafter.


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. There will be an open mic followed by a feature. Worcester Storytellers never charges a cover. They ask you throw some money into the basket to support the artists who feature. For more info please contact [email protected]


The d'Alzon Arts Series: Poetry Reading
takes place at Assumption College (500 Salisbury Street, Worcester) in the Emmanuel d'Alzon Library on the third Friday of each month during the academic year. The format is an open mic for the first half-hour or so, a short break with refreshments and then 2 featured poets.. The reading starts at 7:00 p.m. and typically runs for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Readings run throughout the school year.


The After Nine Poetry Series
Every Thursday Night The The After Nine Poetry Series, formerly The Spot, is a weekly poetry reading in the Ship Room at the Hotel Vernon (1 Kelly Square, Worcester). The official start time is 8:00 p.m. but honestly, things get going closer to 9. Maybe this week will be different. 21+ and proper id is required


Poets Asylum
Sunday, May 16:
This week the Poets' Asylum welcomes Gordo Elliott as our feature. Gordo has become a regular of the Asylum over the past year. He was born in Illinois, spent most of his life north of Seattle, has lived in Utah & New Mexico and now calls central Massachusetts home. Gordo started writing poetry while in Santa Fe, NM where he self-published a chapbook. His poems have appeared in several anthologies including one of Ghost Ranch writers. Most of his poetry is based on the things he has experienced over the years and miles.

Come on down to Jumpin' Juice and Java (335 Chandler Street, Worcester). The reading starts at 6:00 p.m. No cover; please throw some money in the bucket to support the feature.


The Dirty Gerund
The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show will be held every Monday night starting at 8:30 p.m. The reading is being held at Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner (148 Grove Street, Worcester) and is hosted by Rushelle Frazier. There will be an open mic every week with a mix of poetry s lams and featured poets. No cover; donations accepted. 21+ Please join us at our new home,


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 [email protected].


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
Write to Terri Klein at [email protected] to get the new CT Poet newsletter in your email.

Poetry at Broad Street Books
First Tuesday in June
On the first Tuesday of every month, Broad Street Books hosts a featured poet followed by an open mic. All are welcome to come and read, recite, perform their work!

Broad Street Books
45 Broad Street
Middletown, CT 06457
-also-
Tune in to J-Cherry Presents every Tuesday night at 6:30 PM on 88.1 FM WESU in Middletown to hear from local artists from across all genres. On the first Tuesday of every month, J-Cherry hosts our featured poet on the show!! Tune in on Tuesday, May 4th at 6:30 PM to hear Leslie McGrath!

For more information contact: Brian Mitchard (860)685-7323


RIVERWOOD POETRY SERIES
The Underwood Café at Wood Memorial Library
Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 6:30 p.m.

Featured poets: Kate Rushin and Donald Gardner
Admission is free: donations gratefully accepted.
Wood Memorial Library
www.woodmemoriallibrary.org
783 Main St.
South Windsor, CT
860-289-1783
http://www.yeolde.org/riverwood/poetryseries/underwood/underwood%20current.htm


South Windsor Voices
If you are a resident of South Windsor, CT or know someone who is, this is important news.
The town of South Windsor, CT is looking for residents who have something to say….poetically, that is! The Steering Committee for a planned book of poetry written entirely by South Windsor residents, is inviting members of the community to submit poems for inclusion in South Windsor Voices: An Anthology of Poetry. Those submitting poetry must be town residents. Poems will be accepted from May 1st~ through October 31st with publication of the anthology planned for 2011. Poems will be selected for the anthology by a panel of experienced poets. Residents who are interested in participating in the project can review submission guidelines on the town website at www.southwindsor.org For questions concerning the guidelines, please contact Sandy at [email protected] , or 860-644-0049. For questions about the project, please contact Charles Margolis at 860-644-0697.



POETRY POTLUCK at The Sanctuary
59 Bogel Road, East Haddam, Connecticut
Poetry Potluck is back after a winter hiatus, now meeting every THIRD Sunday of the month
April through December 2010

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 third Sunday of each month from 4.30-6.00 PM. Our next meeting is on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at The Yurt 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. Refreshments will be provided.

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


Calling All Poets (and Poetry Lovers) 2010
Hosted by Victoria Muñoz
First Wednesdays - 6:30 - 8:00pm sharp
Silas Bronson Library
Open mike sign up 6:20

June 2nd Mother Tongue - World traveling trio in search and support of the written and spoken word
Theme: Slam poetry welcome!
Mother Tongue – a trio of women poets who have traveled the world in search of and in support of the written and spoken word. Valerie Lawson, Elizabeth Thomas, and Faith Vicinanza have been on various and multiple national poetry slam teams and stages, visiting artists in schools, competed side by side in the first Women of the World international poetry slam in Detroit in 2008, are widely published, and occasionally perform together as Mother Tongue. For more information about each of the poets in this troupe, go to their websites at http://www.upwordspoetry.com http://faithvicinanza.net ; & http://poetsforhumanrights.ning.com/profile/ValerieLawson.

Host: Victoria Muñoz, B.A. in music from Western Illinois University. Singer/songwriter, poet, flutist, music therapist, carries on the poetic tradition of her parents. Her work can be found in her Chapbooks: During Your Reading; and Scenes From Nature/Five Poems, translations of her father’s poetry; A collaborative CD, Revelation, by the Not Just Any Tom, Vic and Terri poetry ensemble. Other poems can be found in Appleseeds, Songs from the Meadow: An Anthology from the Wood Memorial Library, Stories from the Other Side, 5th ed., a text from Gateway Community College, poetz.com, and bentpinquarterly.net. She is also currently a member of Greystone Arts and runs the Poetry Salon at the Freight Street Gallery (Waterbury). The Bronson is please to welcome back Victoria Muñoz and all the outstanding poets who participate in this series.
Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT, Parking free after 6:30pm, Handicap Accessible
For more information: www.bronsonlibrary.org


Poetry/Reading Series at Billings Forge
The Studio @ Billings Forge is pleased to introduce to its programming a new poetry/reading series entitled,WordForge. WordForge is a series of readings featuring local poets along with an open mike component.

All events will be scheduled for Monday nights, with a 7 p.m. start time.
WordForge is curated and organized by local poet, Jim Finnegan. Harvest Reading, is the first reading in the series, scheduled for Monday, November 16th, and participants are asked to bring a canned good or small donation that will be contributed to a local food bank. Many of the readings will have a featured theme in addition to featured invited poets.
For further information about the WordForge series and to participate, please contact: Jim Finnegan at 860.508.2810 or at [email protected].

The Studio @ Billings Forge is a program of Billings Forge Community Works, a non-profit organization focused on reinvestment in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford. The Studio offers programs that bring vitality and arts to the neighborhood and include jazz and world-class music series, artistic and educational workshops and classes, family film series and more.
Billings Forge Community Works (BFCW), located in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford, is a nonprofit organization committed to revitalization in the community. At the forefront of the project is the award winning Firebox Restaurant.

For further information about The Studio @ Billings Forge contact Janice La Motta,
Program Coordinator, 860.548.9877 or [email protected].


Wintonbury Branch Poetry Series & Open Mike
My time my place my creativity Third Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. Fall 2009 Hosts: Marilyn Johnston/Tom Nicotera. You're invited to evenings of poetry to stir your heart, soul, and your creativity!
An open mike and light refreshments follow the featured poet at each event.
Wintonbury Branch Library 1015 Blue Hills Ave
Bloomfield, CT 06002
860-243-8855
www.prosserlibrary.info



Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series
at Manchester Community College, Great Path Academy,
Community Commons (Use Parking Lot B), Manchester, CT 06040
Sponsored by MCC Foundation / Hosted by Stephen Campiglio
2rd Thursday of each month; 7-9 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public

For more information and directions: www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php, or call (860) 512-2824.

THURSDAY, MAY 13
8:00 p.m. – Special appearance by Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning poet, JAMES TATE with Pushcart Prize winner and author of eleven books of poetry, DARA WIER

James Tate’s first collection of poems, The Lost Pilot (1967), was selected for the Yale Series of Younger Poets while Tate was still an MFA student at the University of Iowa student, making him one of the youngest poets to receive the honor. He published prolifically over the last four decades, including more recently, The Ghost Soldiers (Ecco Press, 2008), Return to the City of White Donkeys (2004), Memoir of the Hawk (2001), Shroud of the Gnome (1997), and Worshipful Company of Fletchers (1994), which won the National Book Award. His Selected Poems in 1991 won the Pulitzer Prize. Tate has also published various works of prose, including a short story/micro-tale collection, Dreams of a Robot Dancing Bee (Wave Books, 2001). His poems have appeared in numerous magazines, including The American Poetry Review, Kayak, and The Seneca Review. Since 1971, Tate has taught poetry in the M.F.A. Program for Poets & Writers at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Dara Wier received her M.F.A. from Bowling Green University and has published more than 10 books of poetry, including Remnants of Hannah (2006), Reverse Rapture (2005), which was awarded the Poetry Center and Archives Book Award, Hat on a Pond (2002), Our Master Plan (1998), for which she was a Phi Beta Kappa award finalist, and The 8-Step Grapevine (1980). In 2009, Wave Books published her Selected Poems, a major respective that spans her career from 1977 to 2006. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as well as a Pushcart Prize in 2002. Wier is a member of the poetry faculty and director of the M.F.A. Program for Poets & Writers at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and co-founder and co-director of the Juniper Initiative for Literary Arts and Action.

7:00 p.m. – Featured Musicians: Choraleers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble from Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, MA

The Choraleers, a selective vocal ensemble, study and perform a cappella chamber music. The repertoire focuses primarily on musical literature arranged in 4- to 8-part harmony. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble focuses on music of the jazz and swing genres. The ensemble makes a professionally recorded CD each spring and performs throughout the community, including school concerts and the annual Jazz Showcase Concert. Both vocal groups are open to students in grades 9 through 12, with selections based on auditions. Christine Costello, curriculum supervisor for the Fine Arts Department at Tantasqua Regional High School, serves as the choral director for these two vocal groups.



Wednesday Night Poetry Series at the Blue Z
The Wednesday Night Poetry Series (WNPS or Wedpoetry) meets at the Blue Z Coffeehouse, 127 South Main Street (Route 25) in Newtown CT. For 14 Years and counting: poets, spoken-word artists, monologists and storytellers, acoustic performances by songwriters and musicians are welcome! Read your own work or works by your favorite writers. OPEN MYK SIGN-UP starts at 7:30 PM / OPEN MYK – 7:45 PM /FEATURED READING – 8:45 PM We are a warm, friendly environment for 1st-time readers

May 19, 2010 "Crush" a Book Preview Event
So you missed the Valentine’s erotic neurotic open myk theme? Not to worry — here is a new opportunity for palpitations and lustful longing. This evening celebrates a new anthology called Crush created by Faith Vicinanza which is being released by Hanover Press, which has published books by a variety of Connecticut poets over the years including one-time state poet laureate, the late Leo Connellan. The evening’s featured reading will be various poets whose work is represented in the book. So come on down, with your own crush poems or anti crush poems!

For more information and future features go to http://wedpoetry.wordpress.com/


Poetry at the Estuary
Throughout the month of May the Estuary of Old Saybrook will be
presenting "Dual Expressions," a collaborative show of works by Old
Saybrook artist Judy Perry accompanied by related poems by Patricia
O’Brien. Perry’s watercolor portraits have taken top awards
throughout Connecticut, as well as across the country, including The
National Arts Club, The Salmagundi Club and The Pen and Brush, all in
New York City. O'Brien is an award winning poet whose works have been
widely published, including in the Connecticut Library Journal,
Fairfield County Magazine and Poet Lore. O’Brien is a member of the
Guilford Poets Guild. Perry and O’Brien have teamed up to explore
and showcase the complementary possibilties of pairing visual art with
the written word.

A reception will take place on Friday, May 14th from 5:00- 7:00 at
The Estuary, 220 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT. 860-388-6770



BOSTON AREA/CAPE COD POETRY INFO:

CANTAB LOUNGE
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, May 19
You’d think that being the 2009 Vancouver Poetry Slam-Grand Slam Champion, the Poet of Honour at the 2008 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, 2007 runner-up at the World Cup of Poetry in Bobigny, France, 2006 Canadian National Poetry Slam Team Champion and a multi-time member of the Vancouver Poetry Slam would give RC Weslowski a big head. Still, this surrealist voice is one of the most down-to-earth poet-organizers you’ll ever be lucky enough to meet. Don’t miss this rare chance to see this poet from way out of town. Season final poetry slam.

Doors for the show open at 7:15. 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.

Simone Beaubien, SlamMaster
The Boston Poetry Slam at The Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass.
http://www.slamnews.com [email protected]



The Greater Brockton Society for Poetry and the Arts
Presents
Poetry Series at the Brockton Library
304 Main Street. Our website www.gbspa.org

Sat., May 15th
Lisa Starr (Rhode Island’s Poet Laureate) http://gbspa.homestead.com/LisaStarr.html
Robin Linn http://gbspa.homestead.com/RobinLinn.html

Our workshops and venue are free, the seats comfortable, the refreshments delicious.
1:00 - 2:00 Prose Workshop (critique & discussion)
2:30 - 4:30 Memoir Workshop
~~~~~
12:00 - 2:00 Poetry Workshop
1:30 - 2:00 Sign up for Open-Mic Reading
2:15 - 3:15 Open-Mic Reading
3:30 - 4:30 Feature Poets

During Open-Mic Reading share your own poetry or read from works of your favorite poets

Upcoming Features (For information on the following poets click on our website)
Sat. June 19 - Naomi Chase & Ellen Jane Powers
Sat. July 17 - Rennie McQuilkin & Nora Pollard
Sat. Aug 21 - Rene Schwiesow & Lori Desrosiers (1st Prize Winner, GBSPA Poetry Contest in 2010)
Sat. Sept 18 – Catherine Sasanov, Mignon Ariel King & Susan Roney-O’Brien
Sat. Oct 16 - Juanita Torrence-Thompson
Sat. Nov 20 - Marie Gauthier



Last Thursday Open Mic at The Cultural Center of Cape Cod
307 Old Main St.,
S. Yarmouth, MA
co-hosts Joe Gouveia and Barry Hellman:
The last Thursday of every month, 7pm.
Open mic and featured poet.
Bring your own refreshments.
Arrive early to sign up for open mic.
For updated info on this and other Cape activities go to:
http://home.comcast.net/~bmhellman

CHECK OUT http://home.comcast.net/~bmhellman FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS ABOUT CAPE COD POETRY AND ALL OF THESE EVENTS.


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 [email protected]


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!


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/


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 si gn-up at 7:30 p.m. http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com/


Newton Free Library Poetry Reading Series
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


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


NH/VT POETRY
For more VT poetry events calendar go to: http://www.phayvanh.com/


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News for Poetry News should be sent to [email protected]. Please send your announcements in text only format - do not format (no special fonts, colors, etc.) Send by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Thank you , Lori Desrosiers - Publisher.