Poetry News

****POETRYNEWS****
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Here is your Poetry News for the week of November 4, 2007.
Spoken word events are swirling like multicolored leaves 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. We need poets!
Peace through poetry - Lori

Word in Westfield:

Community Voices Poetry Open Mic
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT 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 due to the kids' taking lessons
at the music store next door

Upcoming Feature Poets:
Monday November 5 - Adam Grabowski
Monday November 12 - Irene Willis

We're now booking features for November and December.
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 at Jester's.

***************
Poems of War – Poems of Peace
Thursday November 15, 2007
Westfield Athenaeum (Library)
7:00 – 8:00 PM

Poetry
Bob Lehan
"The Charge of the Light Brigade" (Tennyson)
"Dulce Et Decorum Est" (Wilfred Owen)
"Alabanza" (Martin Espada)

Lori Desrosiers
Two poems of Emily Dickinson
"The End in the Beginning" (Wislawa Szmborska)
"From the Porch" (Lori Desrosiers)
Strangest Dream (Woody Guthrie) sung a capella

Ashley Shea
"For the Union Dead" (Robert Lowell)
"Thanks" (Yusef Komunyakaa)
"To Go or Not to Go" (Civil War era)
"The Shield of Achilles" (W.H. Auden).
"Momma, Look Sharp" from the musical "1776". sung a capella.

Tommy Twilite
"Little Song of the Maimed" by Benjamin Peret
"The Dead Shall be Raised Incorruptible" by Galway Kinnell
"Carry Me" by Tommy Twilite

Ashley Shea
has over 25 years of experience as an actor. She trained in the BFA acting program at Southern Methodist University
in Dallas, Texas, and earned a MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) and a MA in English (Literature) from the University of Memphis.
She is a member of Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. Since 1997 she has been Manager of Communications for
the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Robert Lehan,
a veteran of the Korean War, received his BFA and MFA in Directing from Boston University's School of Theatre Arts intending a directing career. He became a professor of Theatre Arts, however and for 32 years he directed and designed a lot of college plays and worked 9 or 10 seasons in summer stock as a Technical Director and sometimes actor. He's been seen on stages locally at Smith and Mt. Holyoke colleges and the Miniature Theater of Chester. He also has written quite a few short plays, 5 of which are published by Pioneer
Drama Service. Find him at: Pioneerdrama.com/Playwrights.

Lori Desrosiers
is a poet who has made Westfield her home for the past ten years. She teaches English Composition at Westfield State College and is working on her MFA in Poetry from New England College in New Hampshire. She has taught workshops for every age group, including hands-on creative writing for the WSC College for Kids program last summer. Her poems have been published in numerous magazines, including Big City Lit, The Equinox, Silkworm, The Ballard Street Poetry Journal and Blue Fifth Review. She is currently working on a manuscript about three generations of women in her family.

Tommy “Twilite” Clark
lives in Florence, MA and is the founding co-director of the Florence Poets Society. He writes poetry because he can't help himself. His poems have been published in various periodicals including; Tom's Voice, Equinox, Silkworm and Sinister Tales. He is the author of 6 chapbooks of poetry, including his latest effort "Black Guitar". Tommy works as a Captain/EMT for the Northampton Fire Dept

Bob Plasse's
sixty-two short years have included stints as an school teacher, college professor, arts administrator(Springfield's Mayor's Office for Cultural and Community Affairs), social worker, professional film/television /theater actor and expert cater waiter. Born in Springfield, educated at Cathedral High School, Holy Cross College and Fordham University, Bob moved Westfield
from Manhattan, where he directed a program for homeless persons living with AIDS and substance abuse. He is currently a Professor in the Human Services Department of Holyoke Community College and has a small psychotherapy practice. As President of Westfield on Weekends and Chairperson of Westfield Dickens Days, he is living proof that there is life "after New York City."

***********************
Chicopee/Holyoke/Springfield Poetry

PATRICIA SMITH TO READ IN HOLYOKE
The 2nd Annual Women’s Poetry Open Mic
featuring and hosted by world renowned poet,
writer and performance artist Patricia Smith
will be held on Friday November 16, 7 pm
at el Mercado Café
413 Main St.,
Holyoke, MA,
conveniently located right on Route 116 in Holyoke.
Directions to el Mercado at http://www.motherwoman.org/
All proceeds to benefit MotherWoman, Inc.
MotherWoman, Inc. is a local non-profit organization that supports and empowers mothers to create personal and social change for themselves, their families, their communities and the world.
As an extremely dynamic African American woman, writer, mother and grandmother, Patricia Smith leaves her audiences breathless with the honesty, beauty and energy of her poetry performances. She speaks the truth, empowering others to express themselves with more courage.

In addition to performing her own explosively brilliant work,
Patricia Smith will host the
2nd Annual Women’s Poetry Open Mic.
This dynamic & interactive event is open to the public (men are welcome in audience) with a donation of $15.00 at the door to benefit MotherWoman, Inc.
Limited scholarships available to low income participants.
Call (413) 253-8990 to apply for a reduced ticket rate.

This event is made possible through the generous support of many, including: Amherst College Black Studies Department, Amherst College Creative Writing Program, Centro de Artes at el Mercado, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, Deans Beans Organic Coffee, Green River Doula Network, Patricia Lee Lewis at Patchwork Farm Retreat, Smith College Office of Institutional Diversity, UMass Social Thought and Political Economy Department, and the Valley Advocate, Writers in Progress. Patricia Smith is one of the finest published poets and performance poets in the world. As a performance poet, Smith is the four time individual champion of the National Poetry Slam and has performed her poetry for audiences throughout North America and Europe. She was featured in the nationally-released film “Slamnation,” and was a featured poet on the award-winning HBO series “Def Poetry Jam.” A film of Smith performing her poem “Undertaker,” won awards at the Sundance and San Francisco Film Festivals and earned a prestigious Cable Ace Award from the Lifetime Network’s Women’s Film Festival.

Smith’s latest poetry book, Teahouse of the Almighty, was chosen by Ed Sanders for the 2005 National Poetry Series and published by Coffee House Press. Her poems have appeared in many publications, including, The Oxford Book of African-American Poetry and The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry. Her other poetry books include: Close to Death, Big Towns, Big Talk, and Life According to Motown. Her first children’s book, Janna and the Kings, won the New Voices Award. Her second children’s book, Mahina the Mad, Mad Moon was just completed. As a scholar, she is the co-author of Africans in America, the companion book to the PBS series. She is currently completing a book of poems about the human toll of Hurricane Katrina, as well as Fixed on a Star: The Journeys of Harriet Tubman, to be published by Crown in 2007. Smith’s essays were recently published in the anthologies Convictions and Rise Up Singing: Black Women Writers on Motherhood, which won an American Book Award.

She is the winner of the Patterson Poetry Prize, the Pushcart, the Carl Sandburg Award, the Illinois Council of the Arts literary award, and has received an honorary degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She was recently inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent.


Women's Writing Group,
Mondays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Springfield location,
beginners welcome, leader trained in Amherst Writers & Artists method,
for information call 413-737-4262

GUMBOLIVE
Open Mic poetry and music
3rd Friday of every Month
Days Inn, 450 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA
Doors open at 8:30- Showtime 9:30
$9 tickets at http://www.gumbolive.com/$13 at the door
Want to be their feature act?
Email

Springfield Library Events

Springfield Library Poetry Page:
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

Word Warriors at Food For Thought
On Friday, November 9th, at 7pm,
prize-winning editor/poet/performer Alix Olson
will host an energetic evening of spoken word brilliance
by the poets whose work she has collected in WORD WARRIORS
at Food For Thought Books in downtown Amherst.

Artists taking the mic will include Northampton-based
poet/performer/playwright Lenelle Moise and Karen Garrabrant.
The evening will open and close with DJ Chebba Dee spinning!

While performance poetry was male-dominated in its inception,
in recent years, women spoken word artists have become some
of the most popular voices nationwide. This demanding oral poetry
of the early 21st century has defined a vanguard of lithely muscled
voices; women who think and act decisively to create their distinctive
and desperately earned realities. The combination of the eminent
slam movement and the upsurge of bold, underground feminisms
created a unique pool of women verbally challenging society on all fronts.

This event is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible.
Everyone is welcome!
For more information contact: Food for Thought Books
@ 253-5432 or Everywoman's Center @ 545-0883 or
http://www.foodforthoughtbooks.com/ or www.umass.edu/ewc/

Upcoming Smith Poetry Center Event
November 13, 2007 , 7:30 PM
Alumnae Readings with
Gail Mazur '59, Eve Grubin & Gina Franco '97
Stoddard Hall Auditorium
Smith College

LAURIE A. GUERRERO
whose manuscript, BABIES UNDER THE SKIN
was chosen by Naomi Shihab Nye as the
winner of the Panhandler Press Chapbook contest
will be giving a reading hosted by the
Latin American and Latino/a Studies department of Smith College
on Thursday, Nov. 15th at 7pm in Seelye 106.

Forbes Library Poetry Series
You are invited to an evening of poetry
on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
for readings by local award-winning poets
Christopher Janke, Elizabeth Hughey, and Dennis Finnell.

This is the first reading in our monthly poetry reading series, now in its 5th year. Once again, the series features a wonderful array of local poets. This year’s series includes readings by MCC artist grant recipients, poets from the magazine The Equinox, Smith College’s Writer in Residence - Nikky Finney, poetry of Northampton’s poet laureate Jack Gilbert, middle school poets, and Smith College student poets.

For complete program details, please visit our website www.forbeslibrary.org or pick up a program brochure at the library.

Please join us for a delightful evening of poetry
the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Forbes Library
Coolidge Museum
20 West Street
Northampton, MA 010

www.forbeslibrary.org

About the poets:
Christopher Janke's first book, Structure of the Embryonic Rat Brain, won the 2007 Fence Modern Poets Series Prize. The strange volume is a roller coaster through consciousness via rats and stars. His poems have appeared in Harper's, American Poetry Review, and many other journals. He's just helped open a bar, The Rendezvous, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, next to the laundromat where he hosts a found laundry fashion show extravaganza the first Saturday of December. Come by: a wash is still only $1.25, and the beer is good and cold.

Elizabeth Hughey grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Hollins College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she received her MFA. Her first book, Sunday Houses the Sunday House, won the 2006 Iowa Poetry Prize and was published by the University of Iowa Press in April 2007. Her poems have recently appeared in The Hat, Vanitas, Tool: A Magazine and La Petite Zine. She lives in Western Massachusetts, where she teaches writing and runs a yoga studio.

Dennis Finnell is a graduate of the M.F.A. Program in English at the University of Massachusetts. He has published three books of poems. The first, Red Cottage, won the 1990 Juniper Prize for Poetry from the University of Massachusetts Press. The next two books were published by the University of Georgia Press in its Contemporary Poetry Series. Belovèd Beast was published in 1995, and The Gauguin Answer Sheet, a sequence of poems loosely based on a painting by Paul Gauguin, was published in 2001. A grant from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation helped support the work on The Gauguin Answer Sheet. Currently, Finnell is working on a manuscript of poems with a working title of Happy Genius. He makes his living as a financial aid officer at Greenfield Community College, but has also taught literature and writing at various levels and places, including the University of Tennessee, Mount Holyoke College, and Wesleyan University. He makes his home in western Massachusetts, but was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.



DEJA BREW
57 LOCKE'S VILLAGE RD.
WENDELL, MA
Open Mic signup: 7:15
Open Mic: 7:15-8
Followed by features
ALL SMALL CAPS
A NIGHT OF SPOKEN WORD
Last Monday of each month Déjà Brew Pub, Wendell MA
Doors open 7:00 p.m.
Featured readers 8:15 - 9:30
All comers are invited to read from their own
work or the works of others, poetry or prose
Admission sliding scale $1 -$5
Deja Brew, between the country store and
Post Office in downtown Wendell
*If you would like to be one of the two presenters
call 978-544-8784
http://www.allsmallcaps.blogspot.com/

Women's Science Fiction/Fantasy Writing Group
Have you been writing science fiction or fantasy, and want a supportive
environment to get feedback on your writing? Do you want encouragement
and support to write? Have you thought about writing scifi or fantasy,
but haven't yet tried it?
We want to form a peer group of women in the Pioneer Valley who are
interested in delving into science fiction and/or fantasy writing. We
would meet regularly to write and share our writing and ideas.
Please email or call Michelle Murrain: or
413-367-0064


The Blue Guitar Gallery
The Blue Guitar Gallery is open Sat/Sun 12 - 4, Mon. 9-1, and by appointment.
We invite you to come see the art work,
and if inspired, share something at the Catalyst Cabaret.
We will have Openings in conjunction with Art Walk Easthampton
(www.ArtWalkEasthampton.org)
every second Saturday of the month, 5 - 9 pm,
with a short performance at 7 pm.
Allowing two weeks for people to prepare something,
The Catalyst Cabaret
will take place every 4th Saturday, at 7 pm.
A donation of $5 - 10 is requested to keep our programs running.
For further information, please contact Christina Svane:
Christina Svane
[email protected]
The Blue Guitar Gallery
186 D Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
413-247-9454/413-348-5288
http://www.theblueguitar.org/


EVOLUTION OPEN MIC
The first Thursday of the month
November 1
Open poetry night at 7pm
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 third meeting of the new season on
Thursday, November 8 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:

Listen to "Twilite's Poetry Pub"
on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Weds from 9-10 am on 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.
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.
Admission is free, and supper and drinks are available for purchase.
The next dates -
Sunday November 11, 6-9PM
Sunday November 25, 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.

RAPIDS, Visions for Body-Mind Centering®,
journeys through essential messages from Body-Mind Centering® gleaned from the author-photographer’s initial seven years of study with her pioneering mentor Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen who writes the Introduction to the book. The thought crystals, forming Rapids’ text, alight on principles of weight and gravity, center and balance, organs, voice and breath, muscles and joints, evolution, senses, and brain patterns. They are accompanied by 70 blackand white photographs.
Beth will present a slide show, reading and booksigning of Rapids at
Forbes Library, Northampton
Wednesday evening, November 14th at 7pm.
She will also lead the audience in a writing exercise from Rapids’ text.
Refreshments will be served.

Ziji Beth Goren is a poet, writer, photography enthusiast, and workshop facilitator of Body-Mind Centering® and Authentic Voice-Movement practices. Beth received three Massachussetts State Arts Lottery awards from 1982-1986 for performance and publication. In 2003, 2004, and 2006, her poetry was published in the Patchwork Journal, and articles and photographs have appeared in Contact Quarterly Magazine, Currents Journal, and the Cultural Survival Quarterly.


Shelbourne Falls Poetry

The Collected Poets Series:
Nov. 1, Thurs., 7:30 p.m,
prize-winning poets Laura Rodley and Marie Gauthier will read from their work.
The Collected Poets Series highlights the exciting work of established and emerging poets.
Each event, showcasing this area's finest, features readings followed by informal discussions. Every first Thursday of the month.
Free.
Mocha Maya's Coffee House & Espresso Bar,
47 Bridge St.,
Shelburne Falls, MA
413-625-6292

Open Mic at the Arms Library

Third Friday of the Month
Open Prose & Poetry
(November 16, 2007)
7:00 pm

Meeting Room
Arms Library
Bridge & Main Sts. Shelburne Falls
Writers of All Ages Most Welcome!
Come and be heard, or just listen to the diverse voices in our community.
Sign ups at beginning of program.

Please take a moment to visit our new web site:
http://www.geocities.com/annieteekski/now.html

The Third Friday Reading Series
at the Arms Library
welcomes you
Bridge and Main Streets,
Shelburne Falls, MA
7—9pm, 3rd Friday of each month
Open reading of poetry and prose.
Come early and sign up for a 5 minute reading.
When a writing group is featured,
the 2nd half of the evening will be an open reading.
Please plan to stay for the entire event.
Refreshments will be served.
(now in its twelfth year!)

For more information, please call Arms Library 625-0306
or Lisa Merrill 625-9765

News from Mo and Ginger Cat Press
102 Mechanic Street, Shelburne Falls (413 625 6728)
Ginger Cat Press has a new website: http://gingercatpress.com/

Equinox Poetry Journal
Spoken Word Open Mic

Sunday, Nov 4 from 3-5
at Green Trees Gallery,
105 Main Street NORTHFIELD.
Hosted by Equinox, a locally published literary journal, which invites poets, writers, lyricists, & illustrators to share their creations in a supportive gathering. Sign up begins 2:30; light refreshments served; listeners encouraged. Free and open to public. Equinox funded in part by Northfield Cultural Council and MCC. Info: Maureen 413-625-6728.

SUNDAY SALON
Sunday, November 25 at Mo's Place
102 Mechanic Street, Shelburne Falls

Future open mics:
Northfield, Nov
Colrain and Hadley, sometime before end of year

Word in the Berkshires

Stockbridge Booksellers
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:

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:

Workshop Series, Fall 2007
Workshops are are free and open to the public
with a suggested donation of $3-5 dollars,
and there is a limit of 10 participants per session.
To register, sign-up at

Sunday, November 4th, 3-5PM:
Bob Hoeppner Writing Against Yourself
In his book of essays, "Solidarity, Solitude", Adam Zagajewski writes "One must think against oneself, otherwise one is not free." Participants are encouraged to write a poem from a perspective opposed to their own. This does not necessarily have to be a political perspective. For instance, someone who hates math can write a poem about the beauty of numbers. Participants will share their poems and discuss the experience of writing against oneself, including tips and techniques that can help to effectively write from the other side. Bob

Hoeppner is a poet who compulsively reassures himself of the value of poetry. He's been published in The Ballard Street Poetry Journal, The Berkshire Review, The Equinox, The November Third Club, Silkworm, and Hooks, a Sacred Fools Anthology.

Sunday, November 18th, 3-5PM:
Elaine Bentley Baughn The Joy of Workshopping
explores the fun and anxiety of letting others see you, er, your work, naked and tell you what they see in a safe and supportive way.

Elaine Bentley Baughn is a poet, psychotherapist, and Feng Shui consultant. She has been honored to be published by the Ballard Street Poetry Journal as well as other prestigious publications.

The BSPJ Workshop Series is held at
the Worcester County Poetry Association Office
at 1 Ekman Street,
Quinsigamond Village,
Worcester, MA.

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 from area poet Dan Lewis. Lewis writes about the everyday but often presents his images and stories with a philosophical twist that not only makes his listeners stop and think but keep on thinking for quite a while.
Free & open to the public. They will pass the hat so bring some money to support the artists! For more info please contact .

Sacred Fools Press Submission Call-Out:
Americana Poetry
Send us your poems about American icons and experience.
Drive down that road in that classic car.
Retell the tales of Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan.
Deconstruct American Gothic . Get nostalgic. Get
bitter. Show us humor. Political poems given
consideration, but should have a general audience appeal.
Submit poems as text in email and 20 word or less bio
to:
Deadline: January 15th, 2008.

Poetry Journals Indexed
The contents of the now defunct journal Troubadour, Le Poete Lyrique is now fully indexed at getCITED.org and The Worcester Review is on track to be the next.

As you may know, The Worcester Review has been publishing poetry since 1973. It has published poetry by some 20 Pushcart Prize winners, and other well known writers including Fr. Daniel Berrigan, Stanley Kunitz, May Swenson, ... and many others.

Chapbooks and many small press journals are partially indexed at getCITED. This a one of the few free research tools available to literary researchers and writers on the web looking for hard to find information on a very poorly funded art form!

see: Wikipedia articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GetCITED

***
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].

POET'S ASYLUM
Join us at the Java Hut
(1073A Main Street, Worcester).
Open mic sign-up every Sunday night at 6:30 p.m.
with the reading starting somewhere around 7:00p.m.

The feature follows the open mic.
Please throw some money in the bucket when it comes your way;
everything collected goes to the feature.

Sunday November 4
Join us this week for Denver poet Robert Ceriani. Ceriani sounds like a mix between a baptist preacher and sports broadcaster from New Jersey. He is a member of the 2007 Denver Mercury Cafe Slam team as well as the 2006 team from Colorado Springs. He helped coach the Denver youth slam team and ran a poetry writing workshop for teens with mental disabilities. He has featured across Southwestern US and is bringing his work to the East coast on tour.
For more info visit his MySpace page.

The open mic sign-up list goes out around 7:00 p.m. and the reading starts closer to 7:30 p.m. The slam follows the open mic. 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


Performance Poetry
Tuesday, November 6 7:00 P.M.
Join three performance poets
at the Prosser Public Library
for an evening of dramatic readings.
Love! Death! Doo-Wop Shakespeare!
Whether reinventing a classic or interpreting their own words,
"Not Just Any Tom, Vic, and Terri"
energizes audiences with their own unique blend
of high-performance poetry.
The group includes
Tom Nicotera (vocals, bodhran, harmonica),
Victoria Muñoz (vocals, flute, guitar, percussion),
and Terri D. Klein (vocals, percussion)
Please register by calling 243-9721.

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


WINTONBURY LIBRARY POETRY SERIES

Selected Thursdays, 7 pm
November 15, December 6, 2007

Please join us for great poetry readings this fall. Notice what's new: "Theme Nights" for the open mike portion of our evenings. In the open mike following each featured poet, you're invited to read poems applicable to the evening's theme-- or read whatever poem you'd like to share! A warm and revitalizing evening! Peace, Marilyn Johnston

Here's the list of featured poets coming up:

"I love a son/ who loves the Marines/ and the sounds of men/ smashing each other/ on hard cold fields..." These are the words of Elizabeth Kincaid-Ehlers who will open our poetry reading series on October 18. Dr. Kincaid-Ehlers will be reading from her new book of poetry, Leaping and Looming (Meganser Press). Ms. Kincaid-Ehlers has been a teacher and psychotherapist and has received many awards and prizes for her strong, wise, and poignant poems, including the North Country Poetry Prize and a nomination from Nimrod for a Pushcart Prize. Dr. Kincaid-Ehlers was featured in the first year of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Open mike theme: "Hidden Selves"

November 15 we will host Steve Foley who is author of a second volume of poetry, A Place at the Table (Antrim House). He currently chairs the English Department of the High and Middle Schools of South Windsor and has been published in many journals, such as Northeast magazine and the Portland Review. Open mike theme: "All About Family "

Patricia Ryiz, former student of Brendan Galvin, joins us December 6. Many of Ms. Ryiz's poems explore the joys and pain of romantic love and loss. A long-time member of the popular group, the Wood Thrush Poets, she is a veteran public reader, featured in many Connecticut venues including, the Buttonwood Tree Bookstore and the Wood Memorial Library. Open mike theme: "Love, As You See It..."

Wintonbury Branch Library
1015 Blue Hills Ave
Bloomfield, CT 06002 860-242-0041

NOW IN ITS 2ND SEASON
Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series

at Manchester Community College,
Great Path, Manchester, CT 06040

Presents

on Thursday, November 8, from 5:45 – 8:45 p.m.
in Fireside Commons, Learning Resource Center, MCC

* Spoken Word Open Mic – beginning at 5:45 p.m.
Open Mic Feature: Sympetalous, East Hampton performance poet

* Music by the NORMAN JOHNSON JAZZ DUO, with DON WALLACE, bass – beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Norman Johnson has been a performing jazz guitarist in the Connecticut area for more than 30 years. He has performed with such notables as Dave Brubeck, George Coleman, and Houston Person. He was the Dean of the Hartford Conservatory in the 1990s and is presently a faculty member at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. He also owns his own recording studio, and has engineered, produced and performed on numerous CDs for local and national artists.
Don Wallace has a performance degree from Hartt College of Music and worked for more than 10 years as a studio bass player and singer, doing jingle work in New York and Connecticut. He continues to play in jazz clubs throughout Connecticut, in addition to his work as a music copyist.

* Featured Poets: A CELEBRATION OF CURBSTONE PRESS, with Alexander Taylor, Cheryl Savageau, and Jon Andersen –
beginning at 7:45 p.m.

Jon Andersen teaches at E. O. Smith High School in Storrs, Connecticut and lives in Willimantic. His poetry has appeared in numerous periodicals, including The Cafe Review, Connecticut Review, The Progressive, and Rattle. Stomp and Sing is his first full-length collection of poetry.
Cheryl Savageau’s third collection of poetry, Mother/Land, was published by Salt Publishing as part of their Earthworks Series in 2006. Her second book of poetry, Dirt Road Home, was a finalist for the 1996 Paterson Poetry Prize, and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Her work has appeared in Gatherings IX, The Massachusetts Review, AGNI, River Styx, The Indiana Review, Sojourner, The Boston Review, Peregrine, and other literary journals, as well as several anthologies.
Alexander Taylor is the author of five books of poetry, including Clear Water and Voices in the Park. He has also translated extensively from Danish literature. He is Co-Director of Curbstone Press (with Judith Doyle) and Professor Emeritus at Eastern Connecticut State University. He has held fellowships for writing and translation from The Connecticut Commission in the Arts, The National Endowment of the Arts, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Danish Ministry of Culture, The Danish Literary Centre, The Danish Foreign Ministry, and The Augustinus Foundation. His recent book of new and selected poems, Dreaming at the Gates of Fury (Azul Editions) was also published in Bulgaria by The Union of Bulgarian Writers (Sofia) as a bilingual edition.

There will be a book signing after the readings.

Free and Open to the Public
Sponsored by the MCC Foundation
Hosted by Stephen Campiglio

For more information or directions, please visit the Mishi-maya-gat web page at:
www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php or call (860) 512-2824.




WOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Spoken Word Series II

Four evenings of poetry and a Poetry Workshop
Read by distinguished Connecticut poets.

Thursday, November 1st at 6:30 P.M.
Three Poets: Colin Haskins, Moderator
with
featured poets Julia Paul, Charles Lipka and Trish Epstein
Open mic follows featured poets

Monday December 3rd at 6:30 P.M.
Poetry Workshop with Ken Cormier, Instructor in Creative Writing,
University of Connecticut
Fee: $20
(no open mic this evening)

Thursday, December 6th at 6:30 P.M.
Poetry for the Deaf: hosted by John Basinger and Tom Nicotera
Open mic follows the poetry
Using the synthesis of American Sign Language and spoken word
developed by the National Theater for the Deaf

Each evening will conclude with refreshments
Wood Memorial Library
783 Main Street
South Windsor, CT
(860) 289-1783
The Wood’s website: woodmemoriallibrary.org
Admission is free except where noted


Spoken Palabra Spoken Word Open Mic
Every Monday evening starting at 8:00pm
Hosted by MIRA & Mind Evolution
at La Paloma Sabanera Coffee House
405 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel 860.548.1670(on the corner of Babcock St & Capitol)
for more information:
http://www.lapalomasabanera.com/Events.html


Windsor Workshop:
A workshop for serious poets interested in critique
at the Windsor Library, Windsor, CT
each second and fourth Monday at 6:30 PM.
For information call Alice Ahrens Williams 860-668-6142
or Janet Henderson 860-688-5770


HARTFORD HAPPENINGS

SOUL SESSIONS at The Art Space Gallery

The creator of the Monday Night Love Jones brings you--
"Soul Sessions" every Monday night at 8:00 PM

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

$5.00 donation. B.Y.O.B.
For more info, call 860-874-8797
or email mailto:[email protected]

The Art Space Gallery
555 Asylum Street
Downtown Hartford


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:


POETRIBE
PETER COVINO
Saturday, November 10, 8 pm
7:30 Open Mike Sign-Up
8:00 Open Mike 9:00 Feature Poet
The Community Room
East Bridgewater Public Library
32 Union Street East Bridgewater, MA
http://www.poetribe.org/

FUTURE FEATURES

November 10 Peter Covino

Hosted by David R. Surette and Victoria Bosch Murray
For info and bookings, contact

Directions to Poetribe (from the East Bridgewater Public Library website http://www.sailsinc.org/ebpl/):
Take Route 24 to Exit 16A, Route 106 East towards West Bridgewater. Follow Route 106 for about 4 miles to Route 18. Take a left onto Route 18 North. At the 6-way intersection in East Bridgewater center stay straight on Route 18. The red brick library building is one block north on the left, at the corner of Union Street and Route 18.


CAMBRIDGE READINGS

The Boston Poetry Slam Simone Beaubien,
SlamMaster http://www.slamnews.com/

Central Square’s world-famous Cantab Lounge
presents performances from local and national poets, as well as a
chance to present your own work in the open mic or poetry slam.

• Wednesday, November 7
The Denver-Mercury Poetry Slam has a long history of heavy-hitting slam poets, and Rob Ceriani is no exception. A two-time National Poetry Slam competitor for Colorado Springs and Denver, Rob calls his sound a mix between Baptist preacher and New Jersey sports broadcaster, but slammers will recognize the warrior tone that is one hundred percent Denver.

• Wednesday, November 14
New York City slammers ShadoKat and John “Survivor” Blake kick open the door on their Justice for All tour. These two slam powerhouses can lay claim to some very serious credits: just for starters, ShadoKat qualified for all three NYC 2007 Grand Slams, and Survivor went on to the finals 2007 National Poetry Slam with Bar 13. These two will bring high energy and strong New York sound to the Cambridge stage.

• Wednesday, November 21
Internationally touring folk poet and progressive queer artist-activist Alix Olson arrives in Boston for the release of Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution. This impressive collection of work contains work from Alix herself, plus familiar names like Patricia Smith, Eileen Myles, and many others. Stay tuned for other special guests reading from this new book at this feature!

The Boston Poetry Slam
Downstairs at the Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Ave,
Central Square, Cambridge, Mass
(617) 354-2685_
(mailto:) _
www.slamnews.com_ (http://www.slamnews.com/)

Doors for the show open at 7:30. The open mic begins at 8:00, the feature performs at approximately 9:30, and an open poetry slam follows. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

The Boston Poetry Slam at The Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass.

http://www.slamnews.com/ [email protected]



Brockton Library Poetry Series,
Joanna Nealon, Maria Conley
Saturday, November 17
304 Main St.
(508) 580-7890 x 207
www.thinkworks.com/bps

Free Event with really comfortable chairs and cool refreshments

12:00 - 5:00 Art Exhibit
12:00 – 2:00 Writing Workshop. Danielle Legros Georges,
2:15 - 3:30 Open reading
3:45 - 4:45 Feature

Upcoming Features:
November 17th Joanna Nealon, Maria Conley
December 15th Steven Cramer, James G.H. Moore

For park information, call 978-369-3254.

Cambridge Community Television
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM
Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam I
NFO: [email protected]
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the Poetry Session at O’Shea’s
THE CAPE GETS ITS VOICE BACK
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 (Route 28) in the village of West Dennis.
Info: call Gregory Hischak at 508-398-5434

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!

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
Every Sunday 21+ $5 at door
1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA
617-547-0759 Website - http://poetryjam.com/
Blog - http://poetryjam.com/blog/poetryjam.html

Providence Poets

GOT POETRY LIVE
Every Tuesday starting at 7:30 PM
@ Reflections Cafe
8 Governor St, corner of Wickenden St
Providence, RI 02903-4429
(401) 273-7278

http://www.gotpoetry.com/ContactUs.html

BRATTLEBORO VERMONT POETRY SERIES

Reading series in downtown Brattleboro on the first Saturday of every month.

Hooker-Duhnam Theater
139 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT
7:00 PM
November 3, 2008
Regie O'Hare Gibson & Chard deNiord

Boston poet/performer Regie O'Hare Gibson will join Chard deNiord of Putney in a lively reading and performance. While no two poets would seem as different aesthtically as Regie and Chard, both speakers are masters of the ecstatic mode of the revealtory that navigates ordinary realities toward a purity of language and depth of feeling even in these dark times. Poet, songwriter, author, workshop facilitator, and educator Regie Gibson has performed, taught, and lectured at schools, universities, theaters and various other venues on two continents and in seven countries. Most recently in Havana Cuba. Regie and his work appear in the New Line Cinema film love jones, based largely on events in his life.

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