Poetry News

****POETRYNEWS****
To receive Poetry News in your email write to
or check it out online at http://www.poetrynewscalendar.com/ or our new alternate website
at http://www.poetrynews.wordpress.com/ featuring pages such as News & Kudos and Poetry Radio!

THIS WEEK check out:
Misha-Maya-Gat open mic Manchester, CT Thursday Jan 15
Third Thursday Writer's group Lilly Library Florence Thursday Jan 15
Packard's Poetry group Sunday January 18 6pm
Inaugural Poetry Open Mic Yellow Sofa, Northampton Tuesday Jan 20 7pm
BaracK the Mic Blue Fusion Springfield Tues. January 20 6:30pm

Also, there are a plethera of wonderful poetry events in Northwest CT, the Berkshires
and in the Boston area to check out below!

Here is your Poetry News for the week of January 12, 2009.
Spoken word events are keeping us warm this week over the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

Please email if you would like to be added to the mailing
or are interested in featuring at Word in Westfield open mic on Tuesdays.
Peace through poetry - Lori


Spoken Word in Westfield:


WORD IN WESTFIELD
EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT 7PM
at Teapot Gallery
22 Elm Street (route 10/202)
in Westfield, MA
Hosted by Eli Baenziger and Lori Desrosiers

Sign up is at 6:30 and open mic starts at 7:00PM
followed by a guest feature.
All are welcome.
every Tuesday night at 7

Upcoming Features:
Teapot Gallery will be closed for two weeks (Jan. 13, 20)
Tue. January 27 - Open SLAM
Tue. February 3 - Appleseeds Anthology Reading
Tue. February 10 - Em Jollie
Tue. February 17 - Corey Boykins
Tue. February 24 - Open Slam

We are now booking features for March and April.
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.

Poetry, Prose,
Verse, Yarns

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

Call 562-6966 (Teapot) or 348-7218 (Eli B.)

for info and encouragement,
or email to feature.



Chicopee/Holyoke/Springfield Area Poetry


NEW OPEN MIC
Starving for art presents
"BaracK the Mic"
Tuesday, January 20th.
At BLUE Fusion
487 St. James Ave.
Springfield, MA
6pm social hour,
7pm-9 open floor.
Admission is free.
For more info , check out http://www.brendaschild.com/.


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


SPRINGFIELD LIBRARY POETRY

Spoken Word Sundays!
The Springfield City Library's monthly open mic series
is now indoors at the library

Please join us this Saturday, January 10th, 2:00 pm for Spoken Word Saturday!
(note the change in day and time from last month!)
Central Library Community Room, 220 State Street.
Come share your voice with the community, or just listen.
Light refreshments provided.
Advance sign-ups are welcome, but not necessary.
Please call Anna (number below) with any questions.
Mark your calendar as well for February 7th, and March 7th.

Sunday February 7 featuring Lynette Johnson
2:00 pm
All languages, all forms of creative writing, and all ages are welcome. This is a family friendly
event, so please keep that in mind as you prepare your readings.
Advance sign-ups are welcome, but not needed.
For more information, call Anna at 263-6828 x426
or e-mail [email protected].
Springfield City Library — A Place for You

The Library Creative Writing Group will continue to meet
throughout the summer… although the times may change a bit!
No advance sign-ups needed,
but if you'd like more information, contact
Anna at .

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

Questions? Or to sign up,
contact Anna at
or 263-6828 x426.
Free parking is available in the State Street lot across from the library,
or in the Elliot Street lot next to the Springfield Museums Welcome Center.

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

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


Word in the Valley and Beyond


INAUGURAL POETRY EVENT

Northampton Poet Laureate Lesléa Newman,
The Florence Poets Society, and the Northampton Arts Council
will host an open poetry reading on
Tuesday, January 20th
starting at 6:30 p.m.
at the Yellow Sofa Café
24 Main Street, Northampton
to celebrate the election of President Barack Obama.

Poets are asked to write an inauguration poem
celebrating this momentous occasion and bring it to read.
Sign up will begin at 6:00 p.m.

"Barack Obama loves poetry; he is having poet Elizabeth Alexander read
at his inauguration, he has been spotted with a book of Derek
Walcott's tucked under his arm, he is going to be a fabulous president
in termsof supporting the literary arts," said Poet Laureate Lesléa Newman,
who will emcee the event. "I don't know who came up with the idea
originally, but similar events will be happening coast to coast, and
the goal is to make this the biggest simultaneous open reading of
debut poetry that's ever happened in this country. I know the poets of
the Northampton community are going to write amazing poems to read
for, about, and in celebration of Barack Obama, and I can't wait to
hear them.

"No previous writing experience is necessary in order to participate.
Come one, come all, and read a poem for Obama!
The Yellow Sofa is located at 24 Main Street in Northampton, and
offers delicious Mediterranean food such as hummus and spinach and
feta pie, as well as a wide assortment of coffee, tea, and locallybaked goods.

For more information, about the event, contact: Lesléa Newman at
413-552-3865 or .
For information about the Florence Poets Society, contact Carl Russo at
.

---
---

Christian Drake on Tour in New England:
For those of you who remember Christian from Hampshire or Word on Wednesday,
here's an opportunity to reconnect. For those of you who don't, Christian Drake is
a dynamic and humorous poet. He went to Northampton H.S., was on Hampshire College
slam team as well as slam teams in Washington D.C. and Berkeley, CA, and is now living on the West Coast. He performed one of his first features at Jester's in Westfield. This is a poet not to miss!

January


4: Cambridge, Lizard Lounge

6: Hampshire College

7: Cambridge, Cantab
8: Providence, RI

9: Manchester, NH
10: Worcester, Youth Slam
11: Worcester




The Juniper Summer Writing Institute
and the Juniper Institute for Young
Writers are now accepting applications for
the June 2009 session. Both sessions are held
concurrently from June 21-27, 2009 at the
UMass campus.
Please check out our website at
http://www.umass.edu/juniperinstitute/ for
more information.


Let your words out to play at Open Words
the Pioneer Valley's newest creative writing workshop.
The first 8-week session begins January 7, 2009,
in Easthampton, MA. It is open to writers of all levels and genres.
Leader: Kathryn Good-Schiff, MFA,
Amherst Writers and Artists affiliate
For more information: orhttp://homepage.mac.com/kathryn_schiff/Menu10.html



New Writing Group
Wednesdays at 2pm,
Windhorse Associates,
211 North St, Noho.
Chaya Grossberg and David Stark.
Lots of poetry, lots of humor.



FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY .
Next business/sharing meeting Thursday January 8
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


OPEN MIC at Evolution Cafe
1st Thursday evening of each month.
We are now facilitating the open mic at Evolution Cafe,
it is basically an Evolution Cafe event that florence poets will help facilitate using
the resources we have for contacting poets. This venue is open to poets and aimed
at the entire local poetry community. We had a fine turn out on Thursday evening.
IT IS THE FIRST THURDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH
AT EVOLUTION CAFE, SIGN UP AT 6:30 PM.
Bring a poet friend and tell other poets about this great cafe reading venue.
AND REMEMBER TO PATRONIZE THIS FINE CAFE.!!!!!


Global Citizenship Open Mic
Thursday February 5th, 2009
there will be a one hour open-mic at
the Cup & Top Cafe at
1 North Main Street (Route 9),
in Florence, MA.
The open-mic will be part of the opening reception for
em jollie's art show (which runs February 1st-March 31st at the Cafe)
called "Roots to Routes: exploring the circle."
Please write/bring pieces to read which focus on whatever
the general themes of global citizenship, home (roots),
and journeying (routes) mean to you.
Reception begins at 4 and runs until 6.
Open mic is 4:30-5:30 (arrive early to sign up).



Valley Writers School:
Now Accepting Applications for Poetry Workshop
The Valley Writers School offers (variously) fiction, non-fiction, and poetry workshops for writers seeking to generate new work, refine works-in-progress, read and discuss great literature, and join a supportive writing community. Poetry workshop begins February 24, 2009 and runs for 10 weeks. Tuition is $290.
Workshop will be serious, fun, eye-opening, and supportive. Location is Northampton. Please contact us at [email protected] or at 413-636-5088 if you have any questions or if you'd like to apply.



WRITING GROUP
Rich Puchalsky 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.

LASTLY 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 or check out our web
page at http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/


Florence Poets Society Readings:

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 www.valleyfreeradio.org.
Bringing to you a variety of interesting poetry and music!

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


Poetry Nights in Northampton:

Writer's Group at Packard's in Northampton:
Northampton Writer's Group is an ongoing writer's group
for any kind of written word. We currently have several openings
for new members.
For information please contact Lori
It meets in the library room at Packard's restaurant/bar at
14 Masonic St. in Northampton.
Participants bring copies of their work to read and have
critiqued in a supportive, gentle, constructive environment.
The next dates -
Sunday January 18, 6:00pm
Sunday February 1, 6:00pm



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.


Greenfield/Shelburne Falls and North


ALL SMALL CAPS:
A NIGHT OF SPOKEN WORD. READINGS
AT THE DEJA BREW PUB,
57 LOCKES VILLAGE ROAD,
WENDELL, MA.
THE LAST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH
January 26th
Open Mic Sign Up 7-7:15
Open Mic Readings 7:15-8:00
Featured Readers:
Kerry O'Keefe
Lea Banks
$1-$5 sliding scale admission
This program is supported, in part, by the Wendell Cultural Council, a local agency, The Massachusetts Cultural Council, a
state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

$1 - $5
Sliding scale admission
For directions and additional
information see our website
http://allsmallcaps.blogspot.com


Deja Brew Pub
& Cafe
57 Lockes Village Rd.
Wendell MA
(978) 544-2739



Bart’s Bards:
Thursdays Open Microphone for Writers
In Greenfield

Next meeting:
January 8, 2008

Bart’s Café of Greenfield
286 Main St.
Greenfield, MA
7:00- 9:00 P.M.
(Sign up to read at 6:45)

Featured Reader:
Lori Desrosiers
Free to All
(Open Microphone readings of 5 minutes or less, sign up at 6:45)

Please note that our meetings will change
To SECOND Thursdays
As of January 8, 2009
For more information, please contact:
Larry Fader, (413) 475-3321



Collected Poets Series
Features Patrick Donnelly, Jeffrey Levine, Art opening by Liz deNiord
Thursday January 8, 2008
7:30pm
at Mocha Maya’s Coffee House,
47 Bridge Street,
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370,
413-625-6292.
Wheelchair accessible. Free.

The 2009 Series
Jan. 8 - Patrick Donnelly, Jeffrey Levine, Art Opening by Liz deNiord: Art + Poetry = Excitation
Feb. 5 - Mary Clare Powell and Diane Lockward
Mar.5 - Nikki Finney, Tara Betts and poets from The Holyoke Care Center for Teen Mothers
Mar.29 - Martha Collins and Lynne Thompson
April 2 - Carey Salerno and Anne Marie Macari
May 7 - Genie Zeiger, Dorianne Laux, and Kerry O'Keefe
June 4 - Two Massachusetts Poet Laureates: Gertrude Halstead of Worcester and Lesléa Newman of Northampton
July 2 - Dara Wier, Lesle Lewis, and Elizabeth Hughey
~ no CPS for August and Sept. ~
Oct. 1 - Patricia Smith and Annie Finch
Nov. 5 - April Ossman, Peter Waldor, and Pamela Stewart
Dec. 3 - Mary Koncel and Kate Greenstreet

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. The series is usually held every first Thursday of the month. See http://www.collectedpoets.com/ for more info about upcoming events.



Spoken Word in Greenfield
Spoken Word Greenfield
Always the third Tuesday of the month
Jan 20th
Greenfield Spoken Word
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
Feature Readers
Stan Lindh (a.k.a. Sympetalous)- making the long dark drive home back into the belly of the beast that goes by the name of Connecticut
Pam Roberts - Colrain writer, artist and facilitator of Spirit of the Written Word
Anna Viadero's - Montague writer and editor
Karl Meyer - Greenfield writer
Book signing and selling of local writers works will be available
Come to read
Bring your chapbooks to sell
We will have tables at no cost
Hope to see you thereBook 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.
To see a video of Paul's reading at Florence Poetry Festival go to
http://www.humanerrorpublishing.com/

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


Give voice to your natural feelings!
Science & Nature Poetry & Prose
Open Mike Night
in the beautiful Great Hall
of the Great Falls Discovery Center
with Poetmaster PAUL RICHMOND
Friday, January 23, 2009
7:00 p.m. - Doors open at 6:30
Free & Open to the Public
Light refreshments and drinks will be available.
Proceeds support science and nature programming at GFDC.
2 Avenue A in Turners Falls – Handicapped Accessible

Bring something to read, or just come listen & enjoy!
Presented by the Friends of the Discovery Center

______

New Poetry-Sharing Group
"Growing Younger Toward Death Every Day: Poetry To Inspire Our Lives"
is a new group that focuses on recorded poet David Whyte reciting and discussing his own and others' poetry, and inspiring us to live a fully present and engaged life.
The group's 5th biweekly gathering is Monday Jan. 19, from 6 to 9pm
at a participant's home in Greenfield. Participants may attend occasionally or regularly. They will listen to parts of Whyte's CDs, then discuss his message. His line "Growing younger toward death every day" appears in his best-known poem, 'The Faces at Braga'. Participants can also bring and share poems, prose, songs, or other material created by themselves or others, that moves and inspires them deeply. Whyte is a British/Irish poet, author, and public speaker who has lived in the Seattle area for over 25 years. He travels the country and world reading his and others' poetry, and galvanizing listeners to explore their lives and destinies through poetry. He has published 5 books of poetry, and recorded 12 CDs of various readings and talks he's given. Some of his CDs that we will use are: "The Poetry of Self-Compassion"; "A Change for the Better: Poetry and the Re-imagination of Mid-life"; and "Thresholds: Navigating the Difficult Transitions of Life". Some of his recent poetry books include "Everything Is Waiting For You" and "The House of Belonging".The group will also read and discuss parts of the series of recent books edited by Roger Housden, such as Ten Poems To Set You Free and Ten Poems To Change Your Life. For more info, contact John Berkowitz at 413-625-6374,

______________

New Writing Groups
for beginning and experienced writers

led by Ann McNelly

a.. Come write in an encouraging supportive environment
b.. Experience the deepening and growth of your own writing
c.. Contribute to the deepening and growth of others' writing
d.. No writing experience necessary--only the willingness to put pen to
paper

Groups meet weekly in Greenfield, are ongoing, and open to all genres.
We follow the Amherst Writers & Artists method, emphasizing:
a.. writing together (prompts and exercises offered each week)
b.. positive, supportive comments in response to new work
c.. balanced, constructive critique and discussion of revised work
d.. the development of each writer's unique voice
e.. a safe place where your writing and creativity can flourish.

Introductory fee: $125 per 5-week session, groups limited to 6 - 8 people.

To join, or for more information call 413 772 2375, or email


Ann McNelly, BA, MSN, is an Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) trained
Writing Workshop Leader, a published poet, and has written in local creative
writing and poetry workshops based on the AWA method for the last six years.

________________

News from Mo and Ginger Cat Press

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

The Equinox is available at http://www.thebooksmyth.com/


Word in the Berkshires

Robert (Bob) Ronnow will be reading
his poems and those of other poets
Saturday, January 10th, 7:00 p.m.
at PapyriBooks,
45 Eagle St.,
North Adams, MA.
Come out mid-winter into the post-holiday reality to hear this poet who Pulitzer Prize-winner W.S. Merwin calls "an original voice" and about whom Lewis Turco has written, "Ronnow puts some meaning back into the term 'experimental'. . .a poet whose work is both idiosyncratic and based in the best elements of a literary tradition."
The event is co-sponsored by Inkberry.
Visit Ronnow's web site at http://www.ronnowpoetry.com/.
The reading will be followed by an open mic, refreshments
and a book-signing of his New & Selected Poems, 1975-2005.
Admission is free.

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.


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

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


Writing Group at Bartholomew's Cobble in Sheffield
A nature-inspired writing group begins this winter at Bartholomew's Cobble on the second Sunday of each month. Sessions combine outdoor walking with indoor writing. Emerging and experienced writers of poems, songs, memoirs, essays and fiction are welcome! The group will be facilitated by local writing instructor and poet Pauline Clarke with Trustees of Reservations naturalist Tammis Coffin. They will share techniques for tuning into moment and place with the senses and the imagination.

Former New York Times nature columnist Hal Borland lived just down the road from Bartholomew's Cobble, and many of his fine pieces of writing center around the hills, forests, fields, and river of the Weatogue Valley that this group of writers will explore. It is a place of great interest and beauty, with winter ducks and eagles appearing along the river, the tracks of bobcat and coyote in the fields, and some very large trees. The Cobble is registered as a National Natural Landmark for its exceptional scenic value and natural diversity.

Pauline Clarke holds a Masters Degree in Writing from Vermont College . From 1990-2005, she published a column of nature related and local color essays in the Berkshire Record. She is a writing tutor and has taught writing workshops through Berkshire Community College . Tammis Coffin, M.A. has led nature-inspired writing workshops for Inkberry, The Thoreau Society, Massachusetts State Parks , and National Fish & Wildlife.

The cost of the writing group is by donation to The Trustees of Reservations. The location is at the Bartholomew's Cobble Visitor Center on Weatogue Rd. , Sheffield . The group meets January 11, February 8, and March 8 from 1-4pm. To learn more, or to register, contact Tammis at The Trustees of Reservations at 413-298-3239 x3003 or send an e-mail to .



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



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

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

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

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



Word in Ware/Palmer:

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



Word in Worcester:

___

Worcester Storytellers
Second Friday of each month at Vasa Hall
(1 Ekman Street, Worcester).
The reading starts at 8:00 p.m.
There will be an open mic followed by a feature from Emily Ferrara.
Ferrara is the author of The Alchemy of Grief, a collection of poems selected to win the 2006 Bordighera Poetry Prize. The book was published in bilingual edition (English and Italian) by Bordighera Press in 2007. The Alchemy of Grief is her first full length book. A long-time member of Poem Works: Workshop for Publishing Poetsin Brookline, Ferrara is Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she teaches creative writing and directs the grants and special projects division for the school's Office of Educational Affairs.
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 dave...@.

Invitational Slam Tonight @ the Spot
This week The Spot, the weekly poetry reading at the Hotel Vernon (1 Kelly Square, Worcester), will hold the Captain of the Ship Invitational Slam II. The reading starts at 8:00 p.m. with a brief open mic. Expected to compete are Jon Wolf, Danny Bilel, Ryk McIntyre, Cole Rodriguez, Marlon Carrie, Artie Moffa, Cassandra DeAlba, Chris Johnson and Erin Jackson.
First 30 to pay cover get entered in a raffle for a $25 prize to be drawn before the final round. $100 cash prize to the winner of the three round slam. $5 cover - 21+ and proper id is required.

Speakout! Youth Slam Saturday Night
The Speakout! Youth Poetry Slam returns from the winter hiatus and is back to meeting every Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The format is an open mic, youth slam (ages 13-19 welcome) and a feature. This week their feature will be 2008 Worcester Slam team member Trevor Byrne-Smith. Come share a poem at the open mic or come to see slammers. Join them in The Bisto in Higgins Student Center (950 Main Street, Worcester).

Poets Asylum

Coming up on Sunday, January 18th
Join the Poets' Asylum for a feature by the Worcester rep to the 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam, Alex Charalambides. Charalambides is a Worcester Native & Boston College Graduate who began performing poetry in the fall of 2000. He's the first slam poet to represent teams from Worcester, Boston & Providence at the annual National Poetry Slam, ranking as high as 5th in the team competition (2003). He is the Founder & Director of Speakout! Poetry Collective, a group responsible for mentoring teen poets at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival, coaching & chaperoning Worcester Youth Slam Teams since 2004. An original cast member of the Cambridge Poetry Award winning theater ensemble "Doc Brown's Poetry Circus," he has also hosted, organized & performed at countless events from libraries to rock clubs throughout New England.

Head over 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 features.

The Dirty Gerund starts on January 19th
There's a new poetry reading in town starting January 19th! 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,


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
.



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

Wintonbury Poetry Series & Open Mike
Third Thursdays 7:00 PM

Michael Cervas, poet and teacher of English at Simsbury's Westminster School, kicks off our spring season on January 15. Mr. Cervas has published in small magazines throughout the country. He has authored one full collection of poetry, Inside the Box, published by Antrim House Books in 2007. He came to writing poetry in his mid-forties, partly as a way to encourage creative writing in his students. David Huddle says of Cervas' work, "these deeply felt poems give us back our lives."
Open mike theme: “Clear Statements of Mixed Feelings”

On February 19 we celebrate "Two Voices" with Julia Paul and Tom Nicotera. Julia Paul is a practicing attorney who has found her way back to poetry after a long hiatus. Her award-winning poems have appeared in fine journals such as Broken Bridge. Tom Nicotera, veteran bard and poetry/drum performer, is the co-host of our Wintonbury series. Mr. Nicotera's poems have been published in many poetry journals, including Poetry Therapy. One of his poems was recently selected by the East Haddam Stage Company to be enacted in their "Plays and Poetry" production in a series of performances around the state.
Tonight’s open mike theme: “Voices”

Joining us on March 19 is John Popielaski. His recent book, A Brief Eureka for the Alchemists of Peace has garnered much praise. As one critic says, "these poems are by turns solemn, comic, earnest, ironic, wistful and hopeful...Popielaski explores the small (and not-so-small) kindnesses and brutalities of humanity." He teaches at Xavier High School.
Open mike theme: “Dreams”

Finally, on April 16 Dana Sonnenschein will be our special guest for National Poetry Month. An author of three full-length collections of poetry, she is a professor of literature and writing at Southern Connecticut State University. Her poems have appeared in The MacGuffin, Seneca Review, The Briar Cliff Review, and The Spoon River Poetry Review.
Open mike theme:
“Memory”

An open mike follows the featured guests each evening. Themes are optional.

Wintonbury Branch Library
1015 Blue Hills Avenue
Bloomfield, CT 06002
860-243-8855

Ken Waldman, Fiddling Poet in Connecticut:
New Book, Two New CDs, a New Accompanist
Recession? What recession?
Friday, January 16, 7:30 p.m.,
Ken Waldman, Alaska’s Fiddling Poet, comes
to the Buttonwood Tree,
605 Main Street,
Middletown, Connecticut, his
first appearance in state in almost four years. He’ll be featuring his
new 2008 book, Are You Famous?, his new 2008 double-CD, 55 Tunes, 5
Poems, and a brand-new CD, Some Favorites, a 2009 release that features
tracks from his first seven discs. The fiddling poet will be accompanied
by Hamden banjo player, Brian Slattery. Expect Waldman‘s mix of
traditional and original fiddle tunes with spoken word. Slattery, who
also plays fiddle, is no ordinary accompanist--he’s also a novelist with
two well-regarded books, and also writes for the New Haven Advocate.

Suggested donation is $10.
More information? Call Buttonwood Tree at860/347-4957.
(Also a popular visiting artist in schools, Waldman has a
children’s CD, and will also be doing two family shows at the venue on
Saturday morning: a 10 a.m. show for younger children, 2-6, and an 11:30
show for all age children. $5 for adults, $3 for children--2 children for$5).

A twenty-three-year Alaska resident, Waldman has been touring since 1995
as Alaska‘s Fiddling poet, combining old-time Appalachian-style fiddling,
original poetry, and mostly Alaska-set storytelling. His live show has
been described by Michael Miller, music columnist for The State in
Columbia, South Carolina, as “Picture William Carlos Williams behind a
dogsled. Walt Whitman jamming with the Carter Family.” According to
Austin Chronicle writer, Ric Williams, “Feels like a Ken Burns movie. . ..
Always recommended.” More recently, Shepherd Express Weekly in
Milwaukee termed Waldman, “A one-man Prairie Home Companion.”
More? http://www.kenwaldman.com/.
(Home page not only has cover of new book, but
has a link to publisher at www.catalystbookpress.com and a link to Q & A
with Waldman. Read the book and be amazed how Waldman has managed to
endure the past decade; then be more amazed that he‘s chosen to invest in
two new CD projects and yet another round of touring. Recession? What
recession? Waldman‘s dealt with these kinds of issues for years.)
And go to www.bfslattery.com for more about Brian Slattery.



Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series
at Manchester Community College
Learning Resource Center, Fireside Commons
Great Path, Manchester, CT 06040

Sponsored by MCC Foundation / Hosted by Stephen Campiglio
3rd Thursday of each month from 7-9 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The featured poets are Jeff Cannon and Gray Jacobik. Cannon was published in the 2004 release of Jennifer Graf Groneberg’s anthology celebrating parenthood, My Heart’s First Steps. In May 2008, he self-published a sampling of his work entitled, Traces of Passionate Leaves. He is pleased to announce the impending release of Intimate Witness: The Carol Poems through Goose River Press. More information on his poetry recordings, shows, and publications are available at the author’s web site: www.myspace.com/yellowpadpoet. Jacobik is on the graduate faculty of the Stonecoast M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at the University of Southern Maine. She earned her Ph.D. in American and British Literature from Brandeis University and for many years was professor of literature at Eastern Connecticut State University. Her books include The Double Task (University of Massachusetts Press, 1998), The Surface of Last Scattering (Texas Review Press, 1999), and Brave Disguises (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2002).

The featured musicians are Lydia Fortune, with guest guitarist, Miguel Melendez. Fortune's interpretive vocals cover everything from ballads, blues and spirituals to country, pop and subtle jazz. She released her first recording, Songs from the Road, in 2001, which earned her Best New Artist in the "Worcester Wormtown Sound Awards" that year. The CD featured 10 original songs and established her as a singer/songwriter. Her second CD, All Over the Map (2003), succeeds in further blurring musical lines. For more information on Fortune, including her CDs and upcoming appearances, please visit her website: http://www.lydiafortune.com/. Venezuelan-born Melendez has been playing guitar for more than 30 years and performs a various venues in the Worcester, Mass. area

For more information on the performers and upcoming events, please visit the Mishi-maya-gat web site at: www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php.



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


First Tuesday Poetry Series
at Broad Street Books in Middletown
starts at 7:00pm
with a featured poet followed by an open mic.
Broad Street Books
45 Broad Street
Middletown, CT
(860)685-7323



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

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


HARTFORD HAPPENINGS


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:

Dire Literary Series
""Best Undiscovered Reading Series 2008, Boston Phoenix""
Host: Timothy Gager
Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm
Out of the Blue Art Gallery
106 Prospect St.
Cambridge, MA

The Greater Brockton Society for Poetry and the Arts
Presents
Poetry Series: at the Brockton Library
304 Main Street. New website!! http://www.gbspa.org/

Celebrating Poetry One Saturday Every Month

Sat., January 17, 2009

Elizabeth Quinlan http://gbspa.homestead.com/ElizabethQuinlan.html
Martha Collins http://gbspa.homestead.com/MarthaCollins.html

This is a Free Event
with really comfortable chairs and divine refreshments

12:00 - 2:00 Poetry Writing 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

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

• Wednesday, January 14
First generation American Twain Dooley found his performance voice after a two-year civilian stay at Guantanemo Bay. Now a three-time Baltimore/DC slam champion and a six-time national competitor, this insightful, humorous poet has since opened for Jimmy “JJ” Walker and Amiri Baraka. Prepare to get your funk on! Champion of Champions Slam: Adam Stone defends his title against the latest challenger!

• Wednesday, January 21
Author, editor, and widely-published poet Scott Woods can also lay claim to multiple appearances on National Public Radio and in the national press. He is the President of Poetry Slam, Inc. and MC for the Writers’ Block Poetry Night, an open mic series in Columbus, Ohio. A prolific and disciplined writer, this sometime curmudgeon, sometime tenderhearted bard is a consummate entertainer. Open poetry slam in the 8x8 series.

• Wednesday, January 28
IWPS Semi-Final Slam! If you’ve never seen our annual Speed Slam, this is a night not to be missed. By this date, more than twenty poets will have qualified to represent the Cantab at the 2009 Individual World Poetry Slam; all of ‘em will slam off in one- and two-minute rounds to determine who will advance to the Finals in February! This unusual format is guaranteed to flush out some extraordinary and atypical writing from your favorite slammers. Cover charge tonight is $5 to help raise funds for our IWPS rep.

Doors for the show open at 7:30. The open mic begins at 8:00,
the feature performs at approximately 10:00, and an open poetry slam follows.
The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3 unless otherwise noted.
Simone Beaubien, SlamMaster The Boston Poetry Slam at
The Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, Mass. http://www.slamnews.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bostonpoetryslam


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

_____
THURSDAYS
Lowell Poetry Slam and Open Mic Every FIRST Thursday at Brew'd
Awakening! Only poets can compete in the slam and win the prize...
but the mic is open to musical performers as well.
Whether you come to perform, compete or just enjoy some coffee
and great local talent, don't miss this event!
7:00pm - 9:30 pm
*Sign-up between 6:30-7:00*
The event is free and open to the public—so come on down for an evening
of good company and some terrific regional voices!
Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus
61 Market Street
Lowell, MA 978-454-BREW
For more info, please email

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

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

_____
SATURDAYS

The Greater Brockton Society for Poetry and the Arts
Presents
Poetry Series: at the Brockton Library
304 Main Street. Map it! New website!! www.gbspa.org

Celebrating Poetry One Saturday Every Month

This is a Free Event
with really comfortable chairs and divine refreshments

12:00 - 2:00 Workshop with Danielle Legros Georges
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
Sat., Dec 20 - Nancy Brady Cunningham http://gbspa.homestead.com/NancyCunningham.html
Sheila Twyman http://gbspa.homestead.com/SheilaTwyman.html
Joanna Nealon http://gbspa.homestead.com/JoannaNealon.html
Sat.,Jan 17 – Elizabeth Quinlan
Martha Collinshttp://gbspa.homestead.com/MarthaCollins.html


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

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


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

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

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

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

Gypsypashn's Poetry Caravan
at Bestseller's Cafe
24 High Street
Medford, MA. 02155
Third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM.
Free refreshments open mic.
The Poetry Man' hosts
The Main St. Cafe, North Easton MA.

New Hampshire Poetry
The New England College MFA Program in Poetry
in Henniker, NH will host a free all day open house for
regional poets interested in exploring an MFA program
on Thursday,January 8, 2009.
The day-long program from 9:30 AM-8;30 PM will include
a morning writing workshop, a lecture, and an evening reading.
There will be an optional nominal charge for meals on campus.
Participants in the all day event will have an opportunity to meet
with faculty, students, and the directors of the MFA program in the
context of an actual program.
Please contact, Jacqueline Gens, the co-director of the program at
866-387-6432 or to preregister and for further information.

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