Poetry News January 9, 2012
****POETRY NEWS****
Here is your Poetry News for the week of January 9, 2012.
Poetry events are unseasonably warm and welcoming this week in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.
Happy New Year to all my readers! May your year be a joyful one.
Scroll all the way down for more poetry in CT, Boston and other areas.
To receive Poetry News in your email or to post events write to lori@thepoetrynews.com
Send announcements to lori@thepoetrynews.com by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Please send in a BRIEF text-only announcement, no special fonts or spacing.
THIS WEEK in Western MA and Vicinity:
Sun. Jan. 8 - Straw Dog Guild Salon, Friends Meeting House, Northampton, 3pm
Sun. Jan. 8 - Gallery of Readers presents Don Horton & Aubin Tyler, Neilson Library, Smith, 3pm
Thu. Jan. 12 - Janet Aalfs & Sally Bellerose at The Odyssey Bookshop, S. Hadley, 7pm
Thu. Jan. 12 - Florence Poets Society meeting & poetry share, Lilly Library, Florence, 6:30pm
Sat. Jan. 14 - Poetry Workshop on War Veterans' poetry, Springfield Library 1pm
Have a joyous holiday, and please scroll down for details and more events!
This is just a sampling. There are many other poetry events in Western MA, Boston & Cape Cod, CT and beyond this week - Please scroll down!
SPRINGFIELD POETRY
FREE POETRY PROGRAMS AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
Led by award-winning local poet, María Luisa Arroyo
Springfield City Library presents a series of Saturday Poetry Workshops led by award-winning local poet, educator and teaching artist Maria Luisa Arroyo. Sessions will take place in the Central Library Community Room, 220 State Street in Springfield. June's Poetry Reading will be held in the Library's Rotunda. Sign up online: www.springfieldlibrary.org
War Veterans as Poets
January 14, 1-3 pm
Sign up online
Poets Yusef Komunyakaa, Fred Marchant, and Doug Anderson, among many others, have written about their experiences in war. The first part of this workshop will focus on reading and discussing some of their poems. Then, those attending will share their own poems for feedback.
The Harlem Renaissance
February 11, 1-3 pm
In celebration of Black History Month, we'll read and discuss poems by African American poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Then everyone will share their own poems.
Women's History
March 10, 1-3 pm
In celebration of National Women's History Month we'll read and discuss pieces by women poets, followed by sharing and feedback of your own poems.
National Poetry Month
April 7, 1-3 pm
Celebrate National Poetry Month by reading one of your favorite poems by another poet! Then those attending will share their poems.
Ekphrasis Poetry (poetry inspired by other art)
May 5, 1-3 pm
Back by popular demand, writers will get inspiration from pieces done by local visual artists! After a brief introduction, you'll have the chance to write a draft of a new poem inspired by one or more of the pieces of art. Then we'll share what we've written.
Poetry Reading
June 16, 1-3 pm
Join us for a family friendly, bilingual event (Spanish & English) for all ages. We'll accept as many entries as we can accommodate in two hours. Please pre-register by calling (413) 263-6828 , x 213 or sign up on our website. Limit of two poems per reader.
Sign up in person by stopping into the Central Library or any branch library, by calling (413) 263-6828 x213, or by sending an e-mail to mjaquith@springfieldlibrary.org. Pre-registration via Event Keeper calendar is encouraged for all events, but is required for Poetry Reading on June 16.
Ms. Arroyo is the author of Gathering Words: Recogiendo Palabras (2008). She is a Puerto Rican poet, educator, and teaching artist who has facilitated numerous poetry workshops regionally and has performed in various parts of the country and in Puerto Rico.
POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND
Thursday • January 12 • 7 pm
Bird of a Thousand Eyes and The Girls Club
Sunday Poetry at Esselon,
a new monthly poetry reading and open mic event
at Esselon Cafe on Rte 9 in Hadley, MA., from 3:30 to 4:30PM Save the Date!
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 3:30pm
Susan Stinson and Janet Aalfs followed by an open mic!
Here is the schedule through August 2012
January - Susan Stinson and Janet Aalfs
February - James Francis Cahillane and Fred Marchant
March - Maria Luisa Arroyo and Nick Fleck
April - Carol Potter and Mary Clare Powell
May - Paul Richmond and Howie Faerstein
June - a selection of poets published in the upcoming Silkworm 6, the annual publication of Florence Poets Society
July - David KherdianPoetry reading at Rao's Cafe
Kellogg Ave. in Amherst on December 30th at 8pm.
This event is free and open to the public.
“Making an Artful Life and the Limits of Self-Creation.”
Daniel Bullen and Michele Wick discuss Anaïs Nin and Virginia Woolf. A Straw Dog Writers Guild Salon. Sunday, January 8th, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Northampton Friends Meeting House, 43 Center St. Donations welcome. Reception to follow.
The Gallery of Readers Series presents
Don Horton and Aubin Tyler
Sunday, January 8, 2012, 3 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Refreshments will be served.
Don Horton was born in California but ricocheted around the world as a military brat. An unusually long assignment for his father at Westover AFB in Chicopee provided him with a “home town.” After Don’s discharge from the Air Force, he returned to the Valley, attending UMass, working as a library clerk and a social worker. He has retired in Northampton and vowed never to leave again.
Northampton resident Aubin Tyler has been a hiking guide, a magazine editor, a medical detective, a museum director, a newspaper reporter, a dude-ranch manager, and college writing teacher.
Haiku Group Invites New Members
The Haiku Poets’ Society of Western Massachusetts,
doors to new members. The group meets from 1 to 3 pm
on the third Saturday of every month at the Senior Center,
Middle Street in Hadley. Contact Patricia for more info
@ 413-525-6766 , or pmharvey@charter.net
Forbes Library Weekly Poetry Discussion Group
The Poetry Discussion at Forbes Library will resume meeting on Mondays at 7 PM in the Coolidge Room, starting September 26 and running through December 12 for the fall session. Poets to be discussed will include Jane Hirshfield, Diane Gilliam, Ida Stewart, John Ashbery, Patricia Smith and Gerald Stern.
FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY
The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday, January 12, 2011 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
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING AS A MEMBER OF FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY.
THE FEE IS $20.00 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.net/,, 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 florencepoets@comcast.net or check out our new web page at http://www.florencepoetssociety.net
NEW DAY AND TIME: Listen to "Twilite's Poetry Pub"
Enjoy the "Pub" with Carl and Tom every Tuesday night, 8pm 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: tommytwilite@gmail.com or: FPOETS@localnet.com or visit: http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/
POETRY A LA CARTE RADIO SHOW
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM
Mondays from 6:00 to 6:30pm
WMUA is ably run by students, and the Programmer, who has the unenviable job of arranging a continuous, live, on-air series of shows, 24 hours a day, is hard-pressed to get coverage when the UMass students are on vacation. (DJs are usually about half students and half community members). Hence the change in schedule.
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 pmonize@hcc.mass.edu
GREENFIELD, SHELBURNE FALLS AND NORTH
Northfield Open Mic
You are invited to an evening of poetry at Northfield Coffee and Books.
Northfield Coffee and Books is at 105 Main St., Northfield, MA.
The series will take place on the third Thursday of every month, and is sponsored by Bernardston poet and track & field coach Jim Bell. Arrive a little early to sign up.
Slate Roof poets ED RAYER and JIM BELL
will each read from their own works in Northfield
on Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. followed by an open mic. The reading will take place at NORTHFIELD COFFEE AND BOOKS, 105 Main Street, Northfield, MA. (Phone 413 624-7119). Books by both authors will be available for sale including Ed Rayher’s new book form Slate Roof Press.
The reading is free and open to the public. ALL SMALL CAPS
January 30 is the next reading.
The reading will be held, as usual, at the Deja Brew (57 Lockes Village Rd, Wendell). Doors will open at 7. 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.
We will also have copies of our fifth! ASC Anthology available for purchase. If you pay the upper end of our sliding scale, $5, you will receive a copy of the Anthology.
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.
The Collected Poets Series
Mocha Maya's Coffee House
47 Bridge St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 413-625-6292 . Wheelchair accessible. See www.collectedpoets.com or www.mochamayas.com for more information. 7pm
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.
WORD IN THE BERKSHIRES
Three Programs of Music with Poetry
A program of music with poetry will be performed three times in the
Berkshires in the New Year. The program will combine the music of
Alice Spatz with the poetry of Slate Roof poet Dennis Pollock. The
music is composed for flute player Norman Thibodeau’s many flutes:
piccolo, standard, bass and contra bass; along with double bass,
mandolin, and psaltery played by Alice Spatz. Dennis Pollock will
read his own poetry.
The first performance will be Wednesday, January 25, 2012
at 7:30 p.m. at Kimball Farms Life Care and Retirement Community,
235 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 01240. (Phone: 413 637-7000
The second performance will be Saturday, February 4, 2012 at
3:00 p.m. at the Berkshire Community School, located at 30 Wendell Ave.
Pittsfield, MA. (Phone: 413 442-1411)
The third performance will be on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at
7:00 p.m. at the Pittsfield Public Library located at 1 Wendell Avenue,
Pittsfield, MA. (Phone 413 499-9480)
ALL THREE PERFORMANCES ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This project is partially funded by an individual artist grant from
the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire and a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council.
Jerry's Place Poetry
There will be 2--one hour poetry programs starting at 2:00 pm at the
Pittsfield Community television station on Federico Drive, Pittsfield
Mass. A Jerry's Place production.This is an ongoing reading every third Thursday.
OUTSPOKEN!
Pittsfield's Monthly Performance Series and Open Mic
- Outspoken! hosted by Matt Mcfadden, is held the 3rd Thursday of every month.
- Micro Theater (311 North St. in Pittsfield, Greylock Bldg. upstairs among the ArtOnNo studios - Up the block from Jae's Spice - Entrance to theater is around the corner on Union St. thru Orange door, right next door to Mary's Carrot Cake.
- 8 pm ($5 suggested donation)
- Interested open mic performers can sign up for 5 minute slot by
e-mailing matt at mcfaddensrus@yahoo.com
- Those needing more information can e-mail the same address
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 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 details
WORD IN WORCESTER
The Little "a" Poetry Series
Every Thursday night at 7pm, with an open mic preceding the feature. It is free and all ages, and will be held at The Strange Attractor, 97D Webster St, Worcester MA. Hosted by "Cowboy" Matt Hopewell, who also does the booking and can be reached at themadcowboy@gmail.com or by phone at (508) 479 8311 .
More to follow as August and September dates are confirmed!
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 POETS ASYLUM
Sunday, Jan. 8:
Theresa Davis is the 2011 Women of the World Poetry Slam champion. She is a parent, poet, pirate, activist type person. She uses her tongue for bounty and weapon and treasures. She’s shiny and says shit you wish you said.
Theresa Davis is one of Atlanta’s best known performance poets, giving voice to the things that you’ve been thinking but never could articulate. Theresa has forged an impressive career as a solo performer, winning poetry slams and featuring at spoken word venues around Atlanta and the nation, as well as leading writing and performance workshops and headlining conferences across the southeast. She is a member of The Word Diversity Collective/Art Amok and represented Atlanta as a member of the 2006 – 2010 Art Amok Slam Team.
Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7p. Free and all ages; open mic to start. We’ll be at the WCUW Frontroom (910 Main Street, Worcester) – see you there!
Come down to the Front Room at WCUW (910 Main Street, Worcester). Remember, the reading now starts at 7:00 p.m. ; doors open at 6:30 p.m. No cover; donations accepted to support the feature. Don't skip this one, we think you'll regret it!
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 slams and featured poets. No cover; donations accepted. 21+ Please join us at our new home,
CONNECTICUT POETRY
Since CT has a wonderful and comprehensive newsletter online, I have decided to cut the CT Poetry section from Poetry News and only post special events that occur one time only. Write to Terri Klein at ctpoetnews@yahoo.com to get the CT Poet newsletter in your email.
The CT Poetry Calendar is online at http://poetz.com/connecticut
BOSTON/CAPE COD POETRY
Poetry Series at the Brockton Library
304 Main Street. Our website www.gbspa.org
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
Every Wednesday Night at 8, Featured Poet, Poetry Slam!
738 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA
Wednesday, January 11
Scott Beal is a poet, educator, freelance writer,
and stay-at-home father of two who grew up in Michigan,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Ohio, and earned his MFA from the
University of Michigan in 1996. He leads workshops
at the Neutral Zone (Ann Arbor’s teen center) and 826michigan.
In 2007-8 he was DZANC Writer-in-Residence at Ann Arbor Open School.
Scott Beal's poems have appeared recently in Indiana Review,
Dunes Review, The Legendary, and in a split book with Rachel
McKibbens and Aracelis Girmay called Jangle the Threads.
Open poetry slam in the 8x8 series.
• Wednesday, January 18
The World Qualifier Semi-Finals is one of our biggest slams of the year,
and by far the wildest. Poets will compete in 2- and 1-minute
speed rounds to see who advances to the February 1 finals.
This unusual format is guaranteed to flush out some extraordinary
and atypical writing from your favorite slammers.
Qualified to slam: Z, Carlos Williams, Sophia Holtz, Tatyana Brown,
Matthew Richards, Paulie Lipman, Antonia Lassar, McKendy Fils-Aimé,
Bobby Crawford, Sam Teitel, Nate Leland, Sean Patrick Mulroy,
Brian Omni Dillon, Meaghan Ford, Simone Beaubien, Melissa Newman-Evans,
and open slam winners from 1/4 and 1/11. Special $5 cover charge tonight.
• Wednesday, January 25
Megan Falley is one of just a handful of poets to be published on
both Write Bloody Press and Penmanship Books. After earning her
undergrad degree and representing SUNY New Paltz for four years at
CUPSI, she helped found one of the largest collegiate spoken word
tournaments in the country. Her publication credits include Vinyl,
kill author, and PANK. Open poetry slam.
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
meets from 8-10 pm. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art
Gallery at 106 Prospect Street in Cambridge with an open mic sign-up at 7:30
p.m. A featured poet follows the open mic.
For links to the feature's work, information on future features and more, visit
the Stone Soup Web site: http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com
Calliope—Poetry Readings at West Falmouth Library
Calliope – a community of poets
Sunday, January 22nd, 3 to 5 PM. Open mike sign-up, 2:45 PM.
Featuring: Mary Bonina, Christine Rathbun Ernst, Tidepool Poets
Directions: From Bourne Bridge. Rt. 28 south to Thomas Landers Road exit, right off ramp to Rt. 28A south (left), about 1 1/2 miles. Just past Old Dock Rd., on right, West Falmouth Library is on the left, with parking. From Woods Hole. Woods Hole Rd. to Palmer Ave. to Rt. 28 north to Brick Kiln Rd. exit, left off the ramp to Rt. 28A (stop sign). Take a right, and go less than I mile. West Falmouth Library is on the right, with parking (before the library, across from the Quaker Meeting House).
$5 donation requested. Refreshments.
Visit our website: calliopepoetryseries for Calliope’s complete schedule.
Email: calliopepoetryreadings@verizon.net or 508-566-1090 for information
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
Writing and Performing Poems WORKSHOP
Instructor: Barry Hellman
A 2012 Seminar Series Workshop at the
Wellfleet Library
155 West Main Street, Wellfleet, MA
www.wellfleetlibrary.org
Registration at the library desk or by calling 508-349-0310
Sponsored by Friends of the Wellfleet Library.
Fee: $5.00.
Registration begins December, 2011.
DATES & FORMAT:
4 Saturdays 2:30- 4 PM: 3 meetings in a writing workshop format:
3/24, 3/31 & 4/7,
followed by a 4th meeting in the form of a public open mic on 4/14 2:30-4PM:
The open mic reading on 4/14/12 is in Celebration of National Poetry Month.
Features workshop participants, invited poets, and members of the public who’d like to read.
One Original Poem Per Reader, on any theme.
To reserve a turn at the open mic members of the public may sign up in
advance by email to bmhellman@comcast.net and will receive an email
confirmation. Signup at the door may also be available. Refreshments served.
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 CIntern2@lowellma.gov
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/
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: kentthompson@comcast.net
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 a VT poetry events calendar go to: http://www.phayvanh.com/
For info on Brattleboro poetry and Write Action visit their website - www.writeaction.net
Poetry readings at the Putney Library
55 Main Street, Putney VT (802) 387-4407
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
News for Poetry News should be sent to lori@thepoetrynews.com. Please send your announcements in text only - do not format (no special fonts, colors, etc.) Send by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Thank you, Lori Desrosiers - Publisher
posted by Lori Desrosiers @ 9:52 AM
<< Home