Poetry News

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

Here is your Poetry News for the week of February 7, 2011.

Poetry events are piling up as the snow blankets the Pioneer Valley and beyond! Scroll all the way down for more poetry in CT, Boston and other areas. Check out all our links to the right for poetry events everywhere!

To receive Poetry News in your email or to post events write to [email protected]
Send announcements to [email protected] by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Please send in a text-only announcement, preferably in the form of a news release.

THIS WEEK in Western MA and Vicinity:
Thu. Feb. 3 - Sandra Maria Esteves, Music and Poetry, WSU Downtown Art Gallery, Westfield, 7pm
Fri. Feb. 4 - Science & Nature open mic, Turner's Falls, Great Falls Discovery Ctr, 7pm
Sat. Feb 5 - Patrick Donnelly, Melanie Braverman & David Pratt at Pride & Joy, Northampton, 7pm
Sun. Feb 6 - Aubin Tyler & Shannon White at Gallery of Readers, Neilsen Library, Smith, 4pm

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

HOLYOKE/SPRINGFIELD/ WESTFIELD AREA POETRY

Sandra Maria Esteves, Poetry and Music at WSU Downtown Art Gallery
Contemporary poet, playwright and visual artist Sandra Maria Esteves will be performing Mandalas and Metaphors, a selection of her poems in concert with the Ibrahim Gonzalez Trio featuring GRAMMY-nominated Bobby Sanabria (percussion), Ray Martinez (bass), and Ibrahim Gonzalez (keyboard) with special guest performance artist Marilyn/Idaka Worrell at the Westfield State University Downtown Art Gallery Thursday February 3rd from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Born in the Bronx of a Puerto Rican father and Dominican mother, Esteves draws largely on her heritage to guide and inspire her artwork and poetry. Esteves credits her cultural background as the foundation of her work. “I embrace history as a vehicle for insight and awareness of who I am in current society,” Esteves said.

Barnes & Noble Open Mic
There will be open mic poetry at Barnes & Noble by the Holyoke Mall at 6:pm
This open mic is ongoing the first Monday of the month. No reading in December.

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

POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND

Patrick Donnelly, Melanie Braverman & David Pratt at Pride & Joy
Saturday, February 5th, 7pm
Poet Patrick Donnelly will read with novelist David Pratt (BOB THE BOOK) and poet Melanie Braverman (RED) at Northampton’s Pride & Joy Bookstore, 20 Crafts Ave., Northampton, MA 01060, 413-585-0683.

Forbes Library Susan Howard Case Poetry Corner
Have you visited the Susan Howard Case Poetry Corner at Forbes Library yet? It was created a couple of years ago in memory of a local poet who contributed to the region's poetry community through her volunteer service. This non-circulating collection consists of poetry books, chapbooks and poetry journals published by Pioneer Valley poets. "This collection developed in response to the abundance of many gifted poets in our area," said D.M. Gordon, Forbes Library Writer-in-Residence, who created the idea.

The Susan Howard Case Poetry Corner is housed in the Arts & Music magazine lounge on the library's second floor. There are now about forty volumes, including books by Tim Mayo, Rich Michaelson, The Freshwater Poetry Magazine, and samples donated from Perugia Press. Volumes are to be read in the library and comfortable seating is available nearby. The collection has been growing through donations, and anyone interested in donating a book, chapbook or literary journal should contact Lisa Downing, Assistant Director, at 413-587-1017 or [email protected].

Poetic Recovery Open Mic and Feature
Every FRIDAY night 7:30- 9:30 pm
Thirsty Mind in South Hadley MA 23 College St.

Green Street Poetry Series
Green Street Café, Northampton, Massachusetts
Green Street readings now take place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. 7:30 pm
Upcoming Featured Poets:
February 9th - Greg Purcell & Ish Klein
February 23rd - C.S. Carrier & Andrea Henchey
March 9th - Jendi Reiter & Mark Hart
March 23rd - Anne Gorrick & Mary Rose Larkin
If you are interested in reading at Green Street, send a note with bio and sample poems to
Maria Williams-Russell at [email protected]

Forbes Library Reading Series Schedule
First Wednesday of the month, 7 pm, Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library, Northampton

CHANGE OF DATE DUE TO SNOW:
February 16, 7pm: French Canadians in Western Massachusetts: Elise Bernier-Feeley, Hampshire Room for Local History, Forbes, Sally Bellerose, author of THE GIRLS CLUB, Ellen LaFleche, author of ESTELLA, WITH ONE LUNG

March 16: 3rd Wed River Gods Brian Kiteley, author of THE RIVER GODS

GALLERY OF READERS SERIES
The Gallery of Readers Series presents Aubin Tyler and Shannon White reading from their work
Sunday, February 6, 2011, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room, Smith College, Northampton
Refreshments will be served. Open to all.

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. She now resides in Western Massachusetts. She will be reading a short story from a work in progress, "The Apothecary's Assistant."

Shannon White was born and raised in Glastonbury, CT. She studied Russian at Georgetown University and earned an MA in Russian Literature from the University of Michigan. She has a life-long fascination with mythology and fairy tales, with a particular interest in the portrayal of girlhood in these stories—a subject she enjoys examining in her writing. Shannon currently works as an editor for Pearson Education and lives in Northampton with her husband and their three cats.

This reading is part of the Gallery of Readers series. The Gallery of Readers began in 1990 and takes its name from its first location, in Northampton's Forbes Library art gallery. The readers in the series are participants in Robin Barber's and Carol Edelstein's writing workshops.
For more information on other events in the series, please visit http://www.galleryofreaders.org/galleryofreaders/current.html

Series Schedule:
February 6 - Aubin Tyler & Shannon White
March 20 - Robin Barber & John Broglio
April 10 - Jonathan Wright & Rebecca Rice
May 1 - Bob Susskind, Frank Schwartz & Teresa Whitaker
June 5 - Ginny Rohan & Steffi Schamess

SMITH POETRY SERIES

Go to smith.edu and click on the Poetry Center for details
Upcoming Featured Poets:
March 1 - Michael Klein & Donald Morrill
March 29 - Maxine Kumin
April 12 - Edward Hirsch

The Visiting Writers Series (VWS) at the University of Massachusetts
Amherst is pleased to announce the schedule for Spring 2011.
For more than 40 years, the VWS has brought outstanding poets and writers
to the university campus for public readings of new work. The VWS is
sponsored by the MFA Program for Poets and Writers and the Juniper Initiative,
and made possible by support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the
University of Massachusetts Arts Council, the Vice Provost of Research &
Engagement, the College of Humanities & Fine Arts, and the English Department.

The Series opens with Matthew Rohrer and Anthony McCann on February 17.

All readings are on Thursdays at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall. All are free and open to the public. Information about past readers can be found at the Visiting Writers Series website: http://www.umass.edu/english/MFA_VWS.htm

Full schedule:
Feb 17 Matthew Rohrer & Anthony McCann
Mar 10 David Means
Mar 24 Aimee Bender
Apr 7 James Haug & Brandon Downing

FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY
The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday February 10, 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

WRITING GROUP
Martina Robinson and friends meet every 3rd Thursday at Lilly Library community Room at 6:30 PM. This group is currently open to join.

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.org/,, our po box, the annual contest, the JAN SLAM, our spring art gallery reading. and our summer reading at William Cullen Bryant homestead.

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

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

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

POETRY A LA CARTE RADIO SHOW
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM
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 [email protected]

New Group Starting: 'Poetry To Inspire Our Lives'
The second gathering of a new poetry-sharing and discussion group, whose purpose is to let poetry touch our souls and inspire our lives, will take place in Northampton on Monday, February 7, 6:45 to 9pm at a participant’s home.
A similar group has met in the Greenfield area for the past year, and is also open to new members.

The group is called “Growing Younger Toward Death Every Day: Poetry to Inspire Our Lives”. Members will listen and respond to the most recent recording of poet and teacher David Whyte called "What To Remember When Waking: the Disciplines of an Everyday Life". He reads his own and other’s poetry, and offers insightful and often-humorous commentary. His line “Growing younger toward death every day “ is from one of his best-known poems. Other sources to be used will include selections from Kim Rosen’s new book and CD “Saved by a Poem”; Roger Housden’s “Ten Poems To Change Your Life”; John O’Donohue’s “A Book of Blessings”; and poems by renowned poets such as Mary Oliver, Jane Hirshfield, and Billy Collins. Participants are also welcome to share their own poems, or ones by their favorite poets. Copies of all poems will be available, along with refreshments.
For more information, contact John Berkowitz at 413-625-6374 or [email protected].

STURBRIDGE READING & MUSIC

The Bluebottles
with Stephen Campiglio, spoken word; Jay Wood, drums; and Ryan Jesperson, piano
Saturday, February 19, 7-9 p.m.
Sturbridge Coffee House, 455 Main Street (Eastbound side of Rt. 20; note: new location)
Sturbridge, MA • (508) 347-2288 FREE (Donations accepted)

Stephen Campiglio was a finalist in the 2009 Bordighera Poetry Book Prize and his poems have recently appeared in Caduceus, Italian Americana, and The Worcester Review, and forthcoming in the anthology, New Hungers for Old: 100 Years of Italian American Poetry. His work has also appeared in Natural Bridge, Switched-on Gutenberg, and Urban Spaghetti, among others. He works in Continuing Education at Manchester Community College in CT, where he founded and coordinates the Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series (www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php).

Jay Wood is an alumnus of the Jazz Studies/Percussion program at the University of North Texas and has played with Edie Brickell, Hillary Tipps, and Catapult. In 1999, he co-founded The Kelvins, an original rock band that garnered considerable success in New England and which was nominated three years in a row for Best Original Rock Band, with Jay nominated as Best Drummer. The Kelvins were the opening act for Living Colour in New Haven, Boston, and Northampton. He is a drum instructor for Dynamic Percussion in Manchester, CT, as well as for Credit-Free Programs at Manchester Community College. He can be found on Facebook.

Ryan Jesperson is a composer with a taste for eccentric rhythms and dissonant chord progressions who incorporates his jazz and rock roots with the modern classical tradition. He holds both master’s and doctoral degrees in music composition from the University of Hartford and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, respectively. Recent or forthcoming performances of his compositions include Hebdomas Squatinae by the Luna Nova Ensemble; the premiere of Rhapsody for Dean Moriarty, a concerto for alto sax and big band, by Bobby Watson and the UMKC Big Band; and the premiere of I. Jest by Robert Olson and the UMKC Orchestra. His web site is: www.ryanjesperson.com.

GREENFIELD, SHELBURNE FALLS AND NORTH

ALL SMALL CAPS
Monday, Feb. 28th, is our next reading for the All Small Caps series.
Featured readers are poets from Naugatuck River Review, a journal of narrative poetry
Please bring your work, work you admire and want to share, or just come listen to the featured readers.

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

We will also have copies of our fourth! ASC Anthology available for purchase. If you pay the upper end of our sliding scale, $5, you will receive a copy of the Anthology.

4th Annual Science & Nature Poetry & Prose Open Mike Night
Great Falls Discovery Center, in the Great Hall,
2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, Friday, February 4, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
(doors open at 6:30 for reader sign-up)

All who share a love of good writing and the natural world are invited to enjoy an evening of literary conviviality in the beautiful Great Hall at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, MA.
Mary Clare Powell hosts this year, starting off with a selection of her own nature-themed poems. Mary Clare will be joined by special guest Vi Walker playing musical saw and singing as accompaniment to some of the poems. She will the open the microphone to readers from the audience. Feel free to bring along your own work or a short piece of prose you admire by another poet or writer -- as long as it's on a theme of science or nature, you'll be in the right place. Shad or shadbush, photons or polygons, light-hearted or profound, at the river, the lab, or the kitchen table: however nature and science inspire you to self-expression, this is the place to share it with like-minded and like-hearted people. Doors open for sign-up at 6:30. Readers will be allotted about 4 minutes each.

The event is free. Light refreshments and drinks will be for sale, with proceeds used to provide free nature programs for the public at the Discovery Center.

Mary Clare is Professor and Director of the Creative Arts in Learning Division at Lesley University. She received her Ed.D. from UMass-Amherst and is author of "This Way Daybreak Comes: Women's Values and the Future" and "The Widow," as well as two books of poetry, "Things Owls Ate" and "Academic Scat" (now, there's nature for you!).
The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Free & Open to the Public Accessible Facilities In case of bad weather, call 413. 863. 3321 ext. 3 or visit www.greatfallsma.org for information.

Greenfield Spoken Word
Always the third Tuesday of the month
Tue. Feb. 13th
Hold this date and look for up coming announcements
We are planning a "Valentine Reading"
The Ups and Downs of Love
And
The release of Silkworm 5 by the Florence Poets Society with the theme of Love
Reading at the Northampton Brew in their sun room
From 2-5
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

ARMS LIBRARY READING
Third Friday Prose and Poetry Readings. 7 p.m. at The Arms Library, Corner of Main and Bridge Streets,
Shelburne Falls, Mass. 413-625-0306.
Held in the upstairs Reading Room, readers should arrive a couple of minutes early to sign up for a reading slot, and then have five minutes to share their work. The building is accessible by entering at lower level and taking the elevator upstairs.

Collected Poets Series
$2– $5 suggested donation. Mocha Maya's Coffee House, 47 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, 413-625-6292. Wheelchair accessible. See www.collectedpoets.com or www.mochamayas.com for more information.

2011 Series
FEBRUARY 3 - No CPS — The Post-Holiday AWP Hiatus
MARCH 3 - Polina Barskova & Mike Young
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH:
APRIL 7 - John Hennessy & Caroline Knox
APRIL 21 - Gary Metras & Stephen Philbrick
MAY 5 - Diana Gordon & Leslie Harrison
JUNE 2 - Chard deNiord & Thomas Lux
JULY 7- Catherine Sasanov & Pat Schneider
No CPS Readings in August or September
OCTOBER 6- Joan Houlihan & Timothy Liu
NOVEMBER 3 - Patricia Lee Lewis & Special Guest
DECEMBER 1 - Peter Covino & Daniel Hall
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

Jerry's Place Poetry
There will be 2--one hour poetry programs starting at 1:30 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!
Back in February!
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 [email protected]
- 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 sign up technically is at 6:30 however the way it works is a lottery system. If you go to check it out once, then you can put your name on the contact email list. The following month you get an email reminding you of the upcoming event. If it’s your first time performing at In Words, Out Words, you are guaranteed a spot on the roster as long as you reply to the reminder email. If you’ve performed there before then you are put into the lottery system and randomly names are selected. Sometimes there are still slots open at the door.
The open mic begins at 7 and the featured performer goes on for about 20 minutes. It usually lasts until between 9 and 9:30.

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

WORD IN WORCESTER

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

Worcester Storytellers
meets on the second Friday of each month at the Village Arts Gallery (1 Ekman Street, Worcester). The reading starts at 8:00 p.m. There will be an open mic followed by a feature. Worcester Storytellers never charges a cover. They ask you throw some money into the basket to support the artists who feature. For more info please contact [email protected]

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

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

THE POETS ASYLUM
Sunday, February 6:
This Sunday, February 6th, the Poets' Asylum will hold the sixth Open Qualifying Slam of the 2010-2011 Worcester Slam season. We know there's a "big game" on TV; we don't particularly care. Live poetry beats televised athletics almost everyday of the week. Except the luge. Now there's a sport.

One of the best things about poetry slam is the range of poets it attracts. You'll find a diverse range of work within slam, including heartfelt love poetry, searing social commentary, uproarious comic routines, and bittersweet personal confessional pieces. The qualifiers will consist of two 3-minute rounds. The top two finishers in each qualifier will take part in the Spring Semi-final Slam, tentatively scheduled for April 3rd.
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 s lams and featured poets. No cover; donations accepted. 21+ Please join us at our new home,

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

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

March Poetry at Broad Street Books
Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00pm

On the first Tuesday of every month, Broad Street Books hosts a featured poet followed by an open mic starting at 7:00pm.

Broad Street Books
45 Broad Street
Middletown, CT 06457
-also- Tune in to J-Cherry Presents every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday night at 6:30 PM on 88.1 FM WESU in Middletown to hear from local artists from across all genres. On the 1st Tuesday of every month, J-Cherry hosts our featured poet on the show! Tune in at 6:30 pm on February 1st to hear an interview with guest Andrea Barton!
For more information contact: Brian at Broad Street Books (860) 685-7323

Workshop for Adults
March 26, April 2, 9, 16 and 30: Poetry writing workshop for adults 55 or older (“Love, Longing and Laughter”) offered by poet Bessy Reyna at the Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St., Hartford, CT. This program is part of the Library's Art and Archives series: Master Classes in the Arts and Humanities for Older Adults. Saturday mornings from 10 to 12:30. Free but registration is required and begins Mon., Jan. 31. Parking is available on the parking deck adjacent to the library on Arch Street, as well as on the street. Please contact [email protected] or call Hartford History Center 860-695-6347.

WordForge Series at Billings Forge
Monday February 21, 7pm—Eileen Albrizio and Gray Jacobik

Eileen Albrizio's is the author of three volumes of poetry: Messy on the Inside, Rain-Dark Water in Winter, and Perennials: New & Selected Poems (Nominated for the 2008 CT Book Award). In 2003 and 2008, she was a recipient of the Individual Artist Fellowships from the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Albrizio has taught creative writing at colleges and cultural institutions as well as the York Correctional Institute.

Gray Jacobik’s books include The Double Task (University of Massachusetts Press, 1998); The Surface of Last Scattering (Texas Review Press, 1999); Brave Disguises (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2002) and Little Boy Blue (CavanKerry Press, 2011). She holds the rank of Professor Emeritus from Eastern Connecticut State University, where she taught literature for many years. She writes, paints and gardens in Deep River, CT.

Plus Open Mike
Location: The Studio @ Billings Forge
563 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Parking available next to Firebox restaurant or along Broad.
http://wfreadings.blogspot.com/
Parking next to Firebox Restaurant or along Broad St.

Wintonbury Branch Poetry Series & Open Mike/ Spring 2011
Celebrating 15 years! "my time" "my place " "my creativity"
Third Thursdays-- 7:00 PM

On February 17 we welcome the Faxon Poets, a group of talented poets based in the Faxon Branch Library of West Hartford, led by poet and librarian, Marcia Lewis. The group will read from their fourth chapbook, Perspectives IV.

Our March 17 session will celebrate two poets of Native American heritage. Susan Deer Cloud and Stephanie Elliott will read from their recent anthology, I Was Indian: An Anthology of Native Literature, Volume I (edited by Susan Deer Cloud.) Ms. Elliott, a local poet with work appearing in the anthology, is publicist at Wesleyan University Press. Widely published, Susan Deer Cloud, a poet of Blackfoot, Mohawk and Seneca heritage, is the recipient of many honors, including a New York Sate Foundation for the Arts grant and a 2007 National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Finally, we celebrate National Poetry Month on April 21 with a salute to Rennie McQuilkin, "senior statesman" of poetry in Connecticut. Founder of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival and of Antrim House Books publishing company, he will read from his most recent collection, The Weathering, winner of the Connecticut Book Award for Poetry 2010.

A warm, supportive place to meet fellow poets and share your poems! Refreshments and an open mike follows each featured poet.
Wintonbury Branch Library, 1015 Blue Hills Ave, Bloomfield, CT
860 242-0041 www.prosserlibrary.info "Wintonbury Branch"

INESCAPABLE RHYTHMS POETRY SERIES
Real Art Ways, 7pm
56 Arbor St., Hartford
Ongoing: monthly, second Wednesday
Feature: TBA. Series format: a featured poet gives a half hour reading (7:00pm) followed by an open mike (7:30pm), in which members of the audience are invited to share their work. The series takes its title fromthe Wallace Stevens poem, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird." Stevens, a major American Modernist poet, was a Hartford resident. More info: Contact Andrea Henchey at [email protected] .

Calling All Poets ( . . . and poetry lovers)
hosted by Victoria Muñoz
Silas Bronson Library - 267 Grand St., Waterbury, CT 06702
First Wednesdays - 6:30 pm
Spring Series Line-up
Feb. 16 - Black History Month – Cynthia Zakiah Barksdale RESCHEDULED from Feb. 1
March 2 - Jon Andersen
April 6 - National Poetry Month - Ginny Lowe Connors
May 4 - Polly Brody & Jean Sands
June 1 - John Georgette

Potluck Poetry
is a monthly gathering of local (and not so local) writers who come together to share their work and listen to others. Original work preferred but not required. Please bring a small donation or dish to share and an open spirit to our beautiful space.
3rd Sunday of every month 5- 7pm.
Yoga Center of Collinsville
(860) 693-9642
10 Front St, Ste 102, Collinsville, CT 06019

James Longenbach, selected as Hugh Ogden Poet
to give a reading February 16 at Trinity College. Poet James Longenbach, a 1981 Trinity College alumnus, will give a public reading as part of Trinity’s Allan K. Smith Reading Series, where he will be honored with the 2010-2011 Ogden Poetry Prize, awarded in memory of beloved Trinity Professor Hugh Ogden, who died in 2006. A reception and book signing will follow the reading.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 ~ 5:30 p.m.
Wean Terrace Rooms, Mather Hall, 2nd Floor, Trinity College, Hartford

Longenbach is the author of four books of poems, most recently, The Iron Key (Norton). His poems also have appeared in many magazines, including The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The Paris Review. His reviews of contemporary poets appear frequently in The Nation and The New York Times Book Review. The most recent of his five books of literary criticism is The Art of the Poetic Line (Graywolf). He teaches regularly in the Warren Wilson MFA Program and at the University of Rochester, where he is the Joseph H. Gilmore Professor of English.

Background: The Ogden Poetry Prize was established at Trinity in June 2007 months after Hugh Ogden’s passing in December 2006. Family and colleagues had planned to surprise Ogden for his 70th birthday with a celebration and a poetry prize in his name, which he was sadly never to see. The prize is an annual recognition of a Trinity alumnus/a who demonstrates excellence in the art and beauty of language. A member of the English department since 1967, Ogden was the author of seven books and approximately 500 poems. While a professor at Trinity, he co-founded the Creative Writing Program.

Nominations for the Ogden Poetry Prize will continue to be sought annually with details available by contacting Margaret Grasso in the Department of English at [email protected]. Gifts to support the Ogden Prize endowment fund can be made by calling 800-771-6184 or visiting www.trincoll.edu/givingtotrinity and specifying the gift is for the Ogden Prize.

The February 16 reading and reception are free and open to the public. For more information, call (860) 297-2455. For directions and a map, visit www.trincoll.edu or call (860) 297-2000.

2011 Writer's Circle Retreat at Wisdom House
You’re invited to apply to attend the 2011 Writers Circle retreat, to be held at Wisdom House in Litchfield, Conn., from June 2-5, 2011. The event, which is open to writers in all genres and of all experience levels, has been held annually for nearly 20 years. While the group’s organizers are still fleshing out the 2011 agenda, the schedule typically balances optional group activities (critique sessions, workshops) with plenty of free time for writing. The venue offers clean, simple rooms and good food in a serene wooded environment. For more details on the retreat, visit our Web site at www.thewriterscircle.org. For details on the venue, visit www.wisdomhouse.org.
DETAILS
Dates: Thursday night, June 2—Sunday afternoon, June 5, 2010
Location: Wisdom House, Litchfield, CT
COSTS: It’s official: Rates are the same for 2011 as they were for 2010 (and actually lower than they were in 2008 and 2009): Specifically:
Three-night retreat (Thursday-Saturday nights), single room: $324
Three-night retreat, shared room: $264 per person
Two-night retreat (Friday-Saturday nights), single room: $217
Two-night retreat (Friday-Saturday nights), shared room: $177 per person
Day guest (Friday or Saturday): $75
The fee covers your room, all activities and all meals except Thursday dinner for three-night attendees (you can either pick up something on your own or join the group at a nearby restaurant).
TO REGISTER: Space is limited, so if you’re interested, please register soon! Please fill out the online application at www.thewriterscircle.org so that we have your correct contact information, room requests and meal preferences.
A $100 deposit is required to hold your place. Once you’ve filled out the online application, send a check for your deposit to:
Susan Lamson, P.O. Box 109, Waterford, CT 06385
Make checks to Susan Lamson, NOT to Wisdom House. At this time, we are unable to take electronic payments—only personal or bank checks. Once we’ve received your deposit, we’ll provide you with a username and password so that you can access the private 2011 retreat Web site.

Wednesday Night Poetry Series
The Wednesday Night Poetry Series (WNPS or Wedpoetry) will now meet at “The Garage,” at 53 Church Hill Road, Newtown.

MIC2SOUL™ Open Mic & Live Spoken Word Show
February 17, 2011 at 8:30pm to February 18, 2011 at 1am
at NU|REVEALED™ Photography and Creative Studio
Organized By: Ms Tabu
Mic2Soul™ is a live spoken word show hosted/produced by Ms Tabu. Mic2Soul successfully had its grand debut on September 23rd, 2010 and is scheduled to continue every 3rd Thursday of each month. Each month Ms Tabu will be choosing new talent to feature for the next show. Although the focal point of Mic2Soul is in fact Poetry, Ms Tabu is welcoming all varieties of artistry in the lineup! Should you be interested in featuring on a future date, please send your inquiries to [email protected] or call (203) 903-4856.
NU|REVEALED™ Photography and Creative Studio ADDRESS: 1211 Main Street Bridgeport, CT
DOORS OPEN: 8:30PMOPEN MIC BEGINS: 9:00PM
DRESS ATTIRE: ClassyAGE: Grown & SexyAUDIENCE FEE: $5 ADV (or) $7 DOORHOST: Ms. TabuSTARRING: ?Tai Allen?Proverbs?Life Star?Griffin The Poet?Speakers of the House?Francisco-Luis White?Elijah Brown?DJ SPADE spinning!!!?Professional Caterer "Crystal's Love Soul Food" ?"NonFiction Photography" ?Videography by Too Wavy Productions"MIC2SOUL WHERE THE MIC IS THE WHAT??? THE WINDOW TO YOUR SOUL!!!"www.facebook.com/MsTabu
http://www.facebook.com/tabitha.tabu.marie

RIVERWOOD AT THE BUTTONWOOD TREE
Last Saturday of Jan, Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June. ( NO poetry in Dec., July, Aug.)
Time: 6:30 PM
Riverwood Poetry Series presents the Saturday Night Poetry
The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown, CT
$5 suggested donation or $3 with a non-perishable food item for the benefit of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Open mike follows feature.
More info: www.riverwoodpoetry.org

ANYTHING GOES!
The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street, Middletown, $3.00 - $5.00 suggested donation
Ongoing: every Monday
This open mike, hosted by J-Cherry, is a warm group that encourages personal development--come play with us! You'll find Phill is available to drum along if you like. We have a piano and congas or BYO instrument, poem, dance, or whatever artistic piece of yourself you'd like to share. We're all in this together--let's have some fun and create ourselves anew! More info: [email protected]; http://www.buttonwood.org; (860) 347-4957.

Poetry at Broad Street Books
Tues Feb 1 - CANCELED due to weather
On the first Tuesday of every month, Broad Street Books hosts a featured poet followed by an open mic starting at 7:00pm. Broad Street Books, 45 Broad Street, Middletown, CT 0645
-also-
Tune in to J-Cherry Presents every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday night at 6:30 PM on 88.1 FM WESU in Middletown to hear from local artists from across all genres. On the 1st Tuesday of every month, J-Cherry hosts our featured poet on the show! For more information contact Brian Mitchard (860) 685-7323

Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series
at Manchester Community College, Great Path Academy,
Community Commons (Use Parking Lot B), Manchester, CT 06040
Sponsored by MCC Foundation Annual Fund Campaign / Hosted by Stephen Campiglio
3rd Thursday of each month; 7-9 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public
For more information and directions: www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php
or call (860) 512-2824.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17
7:00 p.m. – Thomas Schuttenhelm, classical guitar and composer; and Sarah Hersh, soprano voice
8:00 p.m. – Rafael Oses, poet, with Schuttenhelm, guitar, and Hersh, soprano

Oses holds degrees from Hartford Art School and Columbia University and teaches creative writing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. His work has appeared in Fugue, The Cincinnati Review, Endicott Review, The Portland Review, and Black Warrior Review. He has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, received an artist grant from the CT Commission on the Arts in 1999, was a MacDowell Colony fellow in 2002, received the Alonzo Davis Fellowship from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in 2007 and the Amy Rao Honorary Fellowship from the Djerassi Resident Artist Program in 2008, and was a Caldera Artist Residency fellow in 2010. His book-length narrative poem, The Night Pharaoh, was published last year by Publication Studio.

Schuttenhelm’s compositions have been performed by such ensembles and guitarists as the Adaskin String Trio, the Alturas Duo, Eliot Fisk, and Daniel Salazar and the Hartford Festival Orchestra. He received his doctorate in composition from The Hartt School, and has lectured in the United Kingdom at Cardiff University (Wales), University of Newcastle (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), University of Sussex, and University of London, and at the Mannheim Hochschule for Music. In 2008 he was a British Music Studies fellow at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently completing a monograph for Cambridge University Press on “Meaning and Identity in the Orchestral Music of Michael Tippett.” For more information, please visit: www.thomasschuttenhelm.com.

Hersh has been singing professionally since 1993 when she joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago as a member of the chorus. She sang with the Lyric for five seasons before embarking on her solo career, which has spanned opera and musical theater with such companies as The Metropolitan Opera, The Bronx Opera, The New York American Chamber Opera, Connecticut Opera, and The Goodspeed Opera House. She has had two new works written for her by composer Doug Andersen, which were premiered in New York, and has also collaborated extensively with Schuttenhelm and Raphael Oses.

Oses, Schuttenhelm, and Hersh will perform Tres Canciónes Españolas, with original poetry by Oses, as well as One Look Too Close, a tribute to American poet, Theodore Roethke.

BOSTON AREA/CAPE COD POETRY INFO:

Poetry writing workshop at Lexington Community Education
led by Tom Daley
Seven Wednesdays 6:15-8:15 pm
Dates: February 2, 9, and 16, March 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2011
cost: $125/95 seniors
workshop held at Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA
To register call 781-862-8043 or go online http://lexingtoncommunityed.org/

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

• Wednesday, February 9
Is it hot in here, or is it just you? On this Wednesday closest to Valentine’s, we present our wildly popular annual Erotic Poetry Night. We’ll present the best (and worst) of the erotic (and neurotic) all night long; open mic readers are strongly encouraged to bring original erotic poems, poems about sex, or poems about naughtiness in general. Don’t have anything sexy to read? Don’t worry! This year, we’re also planning our first-ever round of Erotic Poetry Night Bingo, featuring prizes and fun for audience and open mic readers. No poetry slam.

• Wednesday, February 16
Located more than two hours to our west, the Hampshire College Slam Collective has turned out a remarkable number of beloved Cantab regulars, from lauded open regulars to home slam team members. Near the top of the list of poets we’d like to hear more from is Andy Locke, a deliberate, dexterous writer with an endearing nerdy side and a surprisingly explosive range of performance. Open poetry slam in the 8x8 series.

• Wednesday, February 23
Hailing from Southern California, the “Illest Collegiate Poet in the Northeast” Phil Kaye, has been writing, performing, and teaching Spoken Word Poetry since he was seventeen years old. Phil was a semi-finalist at both CUPSI 2010 and the 2010 National Poetry Slam, and he also represented Providence at the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam. Open poetry slam in the 8x8 series.

• Wednesday, March 2
Jen(nifer) G(igantino) is a writer, filmmaker and aspiring hypothetical former marina trench explorer from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has represented San Jose and Santa Cruz at the Individual World Poetry Slam and the National Poetry Slam, respectively, been published in venues ranging from literary journals to erotic magazines to websites about sobriety, and featured around the Western United States both alone and as one-half of the poetry duo The Pincushion Orchestra. Open poetry slam in the 8x8 series.

Doors for the show open at 7:15. The open mic begins at 8:00, the feature performs at approximately 10:00, and an open poetry slam follows. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3 unless otherwise noted.
Simone Beaubien, SlamMaster
The Boston Poetry Slam at The Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass.
http://www.slamnews.com [email protected]

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

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

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

Upcoming Features (For information on the following poets click on our website)
Sat. Feb 19 - Gail Hanlon, Eve Rifkah
Sat. Mar 19 - Joan Houlihan, Daniel Tobin
Sat. Apr 16 - Diana Der-Hovanessian, F.D. Reeve
Sat. May 21 - January G. O”Neil, Bert Stern
Sat. Jun 18 - Jack McCarthy, Jack Scully & Nancy Brady Cunningham (reading Mike Amado’s poetry)
Sat. Jul 16 - Sharon Bryan, Dorian Kotsiopoulos

Calliope’s Fourth Season
Come Celebrate Poetry: Sundays 3 to 5 PM
West Falmouth Library,
575 West Falmouth Highway (Route 28A)
West Falmouth, MA 02574

February 27, 2011. Open Mike Sign-up, 2:45 PM. Featured Poets: January O’Neil, Dzvinia Orlowsky, Jadene Felina Stevens.
March 27, 2011. Open Mike Sign-up, 2:45 PM. Featured Poets: Wendy Mnookin, Max Money, Tam Lin Neville.
May 1, 2011. Open Mike Sign-up, 2:45 PM. Featured Poets: Marguerite Bouvard, Robin Clarke, Anna Ross.
June 5, 2011. Open Mike Sign-up, 2:45 PM. Featured Poets: Linda Bamber, Dorothy Derifield, Alice Weiss.
$5 donation. Refreshments. Alice Kociemba, 508-566-1090
[email protected] or www.calliopepoetryseries.com for details on poets and directions.

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 Poems About Personal Relationships- A Workshop With Barry Hellman
The Wellfleet Library, 55 West Main Street, Wellfleet, MA
March 16,23, 30 & April 6, 2011, 3-4:30 PM

REGISTRATION BEGINS MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2011
www.wellfleetlibrary.org Visit or call the library desk at 508-349-0310 The Registration Fee Is $5.00

Description: Open to all levels of writing experience. Limited to 12 participants interested in listening to, discussing, and writing poems about personal relationships with family, friends, lovers, and others.
At the first meeting on March 16, samples will be provided of straightforward, direct, and honest relationship poems, followed by discussion and analysis of the content of these poems as well as how they’re constructed. Assignment: Write a relationship-oriented poem during the coming week and bring it to the next meeting. Optional: An exercise to generate ideas and material for the poem.
At the March 23 and March 30 meetings participants who wish to do so present their poems for discussion, feedback, and revision suggestions.

The last meeting on April 6 will take the form of a poetry event at the library in celebration of National Poetry Month. Workshop members who wish to do so will give a reading of the current version of their relationship poem and the public is invited to attend.

Barry Hellman’s poems have appeared in literary magazines and won several poetry prizes. He is also a Ph.D. clinical psychologist with 35 years experience talking with people as they explore personal relationships, and has conducted previous workshops on the connection between poetry and psychotherapy and on writing poems about fathers.
Barry co-hosts the monthly Poets’ Corner Open Mic at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, and hosts the annual Chapel In The Pines Open Mic In Celebration of National Poetry Month. His website http://home.comcast.net/~bmhellman publishes information about poetry events on Cape Cod and other material of interest to poets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NH/VT POETRY

For a VT poetry events calendar go to: http://www.phayvanh.com/
For more info on Write Action visit their website - www.writeaction.net

Poetry readings at the Putney Library
55 Main Street, Putney VT (802) 387-4407

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News for Poetry News should be sent to [email protected]. 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.