Poetry News March 31, 2014

Here is your Poetry News for the week of March 31,  2014

***It’s finally feeling like Spring, so…HAPPY SPRING!!***

Scroll down to see or link to more poetry in Worcester, the Berkshires, Boston, Vermont and other areas.
Some calls for poetry contests are also below!
To receive Poetry News in your email or to request posting of events write to lori@thepoetrynews.com  

This Week in Western MA
Mon. March 31 – Ekphrasis talk with Maria Luisa Arroyo, 200 Main St. Monson, See below to register, 6:30pm
Tue. April 1 – Susan Deer Cloud, Ely Library, Westfield State University, Westfield, 2:30pm
Tue. April 1 – Martin Espada, Adrie Kusserow, Bunkong Tuon, Afaa Michael Weaver & Teresa Mei Chuc, Seelye 106, Smith College, Northampton, 7:30pm
Tue. April 1 – Open Mic and Lenelle Moise features at The Deuce, WWII club, Northampton, 8pm
Thu. April 3 – Collected Poets present Howie Faerstein & Barry Sternlieb, Mocha Maya, Shelburne, 7pm
Fri. April 4 – Staged reading of OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD by Lesléa Newman, Haydenville Congregational Church, 143 Main St. Haydenville, 7pm

POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND:

Coming up at Smith:
James Sacré
March 27th, Thursday, 4:30pm
Smith Poetry Center, Wright Hall, Smith College, Northampton
– Born to a farming family in the tiny village of Cougou in western France, James Sacré has published well over 60 books of poetry. His poems have appeared in every major French literary journal, and he has won just about every literary prize awarded to poets in France. He is a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Doris Silbert Professor Emeritus in the Humanities at Smith College, where he taught French for many years. Prize-winning translator David Ball, also Professor Emeritus at Smith, will read his English versions of Sacré’s poems.Presented  by the Department of French Studies at Smith, with support from Comparative Literature, the Mount Holyoke French Department, and the Lewis Global Studies Center.

Conversations with the Sea

Friday, March 28, 7pm
Reading with Hannah Fries, Sara Parrilli and Marie-Elizabeth Mali
Centennial Hall, Miss Hall’s School, 492 Holmes Rd, Pittsfield
Marie-Elizabeth Mali’s underwater photography and poetry has been inspired by the plight of sharks, rays and other sea creatures worldwide. Hannah Fries and Sara Parrilli were inspired by the albatrosses of Midway Island, who feed at the plastic-filled Great Pacific Garbage Patch, to embark on a multimedia correspondence of poetry and visual art. Through poetry and striking visual images, the three artists will create a conversation inspired by the tragedies and beauties of the sea. The presentations will be followed by a discussion and Q&A on process and collaboration.

The Gallery of Readers Series presents
Robin Barber and Sally Bellerose
reading from their recent work
Sunday, March 30, 2014, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room
Smith College, Northampton
Refreshments will be served.

“Ekphrasis: Writing Poems in Response to Art”
in conjunction with the 21st Annual Spring Art Exhibition and Sale
Monday, March 31, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Sponsored by the Monson Arts Council. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 31st, 6:30-8:30 at the House of Art, 200 Main Street, Monson. Ms. Arroyo, a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow in poetry, is the author of a poetry collection, Gathering Words: Recogiendo Palabras, published in 2008 by Bilingual Review Press, Arizona State University. She enjoys performing her poetry nationally, including in Puerto Rico and in the Palabra Pura Series hosted by The Guild Complex in Chicago. She has facilitated workshops at the previous two Spring Art Exhibits in Monson. Participants will be introduced to various writing techniques for responding to art and then will be afforded the opportunity to tour the exhibit, The 21st Dimension, before composing original poetry. Seating is limited to twenty people. To register, contact Gay Paluch by e-mail john.paluch@comcast.net or by phone 413-893-9014. Additional information about the spring exhibit can be found at http://www.monsonartscouncil.com/shows.asp

Susan Deer Cloud Reading at Westfield State University
Visit and poetry reading by Susan Deer Cloud
Tuesday, April 1, 2:30 pm
Ely Library, Westfield State University, Westfield

Reading by Martin Espada, Adrie Kusserow, Bunkong Tuon,
Afaa Michael Weaver & Teresa Mei Chuc
Tue. April 1, 7:30pm, Seelye 106, Smith College
United by a common interest in promoting peace and justice, this talented and diverse group of poets will read from their work about the struggles of the world’s outcasts, immigrants, and working classes.  They speak for those who are discriminated against and sometimes forgotten as empires clash and wage relentless war. All are contributors to a new anthology, With Our Eyes Wide Open: Poems of the New American Century (West End, 2014), edited by Doug Valentine.
This reading is free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible.  Sponsored by the Smith College English Department, it is supported by the Poetry Center, the American Studies Program, the Lecture Committee, the Five College Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program, and the Five College International Relations Program.

The Collected Poets Series Welcomes Howard Faerstein & Barry Sternlieb
Please join us next Thursday, April 3, 2014, at 7:00 pm, when poets Howard Faerstein and Barry Sternlieb will continue the seventh season of the Collected Poets Series. Mocha Maya’s Coffee House, 47 Bridge St, Shelburne Falls, MA. ($2-5 suggested donation)

The Haydenville Congregational Church will present a staged reading of
OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD by Lesléa Newman on
Friday, April 4th at 7:00 p.m.
at the Haydenville Congregational Church,
143 Main Street, Haydenville.
The event is open to the public and wheelchair accessible.
There is no charge; donations are gratefully appreciated.

“The Joys and Challenges of Aging:  Readings and Conversations with 4 Local Elder Poets.”
Thursday, April 10, 2-3:30pm, at Loomis Village, 20 Bayon Rd., South Hadley,
with poets Jane Yolen, Henry Lyman, Sasha Berman, and John Berkowitz;
Thursday, April 24, 1:30-3pm at Rock Ridge Retirement Community, 25 Coles Meadow Road,  Northampton, with poets Pat and Peter Schneider, Zane Kotker, Lisa Colt, and John Berkowitz.
Each poet will have 10 minutes to share their work, and then another 5 minutes to respond to questions or comments from members of the audience.   The audience will also receive a program with the poems in it, so that they can read along to enhance their understanding of the content of the poems, as well as enjoy them again at home and share them with others.
Both events are free and open to the public in addition to residents of Loomis and Rock Ridge retirement communities.
For more info:  John Berkowitz   413-387-8439  johnpberk@gmail.com

Slate Roof Press offers 2^nd Annual Poetry Chapbook Contest.
Limited-edition, art-quality publisher sponsors annual chapbook contest. Winner becomes active member of the press, a nonprofit collaborative; 3-year commitment, monthly meetings, shared publishing experience. $25 reading fee.  Manuscript length: 28 pp. Deadline (upload/postmark): March 31, 2014. Contest guidelines,: www.slateroofpress.com. or http://slateroofpresscontest.submittable.com/submit.

The Forbes poetry discussion series 

Our winter/spring semester will have a variety of poets under discussion through May, led by several different discussion leaders. Several of the evenings are timed to precede a reading by that poet in the area (including Jean Valentine and W.S. Merwin). As always, we’ll meet at 7 pm in the Calvin Coolidge Museum on the second floor of the Forbes Library.

Emily Dickinson International Society (EDIS) presents:
“Poetry Conversation” 

Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA;
in the Amherst Room, 2nd floor
1st Friday of each month — 2pm – 3:30pm
2nd Thursday of each month — 5:45pm – 7:15pm
All who are interested in sharing thoughts and ideas in a group
discussion based on selected poems/letter by Emily Dickinson are welcome.

The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 6:30pm. Please consider joining the Florence Poets Society.  Your $20 membership dues (Sept. – Aug.) support our annual journal, Silkworm, as well as public readings and events.  We meet monthly at the Lilly Library in Florence on the 2nd Thurs. of each month, and all are welcome.  Please visit our web site for more information: http://www.florencepoets.com or contact us at info@florencepoets.com.

POETRY A LA CARTE RADIO SHOW
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM
Wednesdays at 5:00pm (Note change of day and time!)

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.

Northfield Open Mic

You are invited to an evening of poetry
at Northfield Coffee and Books.
Northfield Coffee and Books is at 105 Main St., Northfield, MA.
The series will take place on the third Thursday of every month, and is hosted
by Bernardston poet and track and field coach Jim Bell. Arrive a little early to sign up.

Nick Fleck Reading at Northfield Library
On April 29, Tuesday, Nick Fleck will be reading from his poetry book, Natural Sustenance, as part of the Northfield Dickinson Memorial Library’s ongoing series: The Northfield Woodlands. The reading is scheduled for 6:30 4/29 at the Library. Nick is a Northfield resident who has published in number of small press magazines and continues to be the featured reader in the Neighboring towns.

All Small Caps at the Deja Brew in Wendell
Fourth Monday of the Month

Doors open at 7:00 and the first reader is at 7:30.
There are 10 – 5 minutes open mic slots
Two featured readers
$1 to $5 sliding scale donation
For anyone interested in being a featured reader
Contact paul@humanerrorpublishing.com

OUTSPOKEN!

Pittsfield’s Monthly Performance Series and Open Mic

– Outspoken! hosted by Matt Mcfadden, is held the 3rd Thursday of every month.
– Micro Theater (311 North St. in Pittsfield, Greylock Bldg. upstairs among the ArtOnNo studios –
Up the block from Jae’s Spice – Entrance to theater is around the corner on Union St. thru Orange door,
right next door to Mary’s Carrot Cake.
– 8 pm ($5 suggested donation)
– Interested open mic performers can sign up for 5 minute slot by
e-mailing matt at mcfaddensrus@yahoo.com
– Those needing more information can e-mail the same address

Power of Words, Open Mic

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

In Words, Out Words in Housatonic

In Housatonic, MA there is an open mic for poets and performers of all styles and ages.

1st Tuesday of each month at the Deb Koffman Gallery 137 Front Street, Housatonic, MA 01236. “In Words, Out Words.” is hosted by Francine Ciccarelli and there is usually a $1-6 suggested donation for heat and electricity. There are snacks there provided by whoever wants to bring them. The open mic begins at 7 and the featured performer goes on for about 20 minutes. It usually lasts until between 9 and 9:30.

Zeitgeist Gallery Pittsfield

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

WORD IN WORCESTER

Poetry, People!
Every Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (sometimes later)
@ The Coffee Loft
406 Lincoln Street
Marlborough, MA
508.251.1431

Poetry, verse, and short stories are are welcome at this very friendly, informal open reading. Now booking for features to start in March. Please contact Jarad at CoffeeLoftBooking@gmail.com for more info or to become a featured poet.

The Little “a” Poetry Series 

Every Thursday night at 7pm, with an open mic preceding the feature. It is free and all ages, and will be held at The Strange Attractor, 97D Webster St, Worcester MA. Hosted by “Cowboy” Matt Hopewell, who also  does the booking and can be reached at themadcowboy@gmail.com or by phone at (508) 479 8311 .

More to follow as August and September dates are confirmed!

The d’Alzon Arts Series: Poetry Reading

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

The Dirty Gerund

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

CONNECTICUT POETRY

Since CT has a wonderful and comprehensive newsletter online, I have decided to cut the CT Poetry section from Poetry News and only post special events that might be of interest to MA poets. Write to Terri Klein at ctpoetnews@yahoo.com to get the CT Poet newsletter in your email, or the CT Poetry Calendar is online at www.ctpoetrycalendar.com 

The Brockton Poetry Series

at The Fuller Craft Museum
455 Oak St. Brockton, MA
508-588-6000
Third Saturday each month
Poetry workshop at 12:00
Open mic 2:15
Our feature poets 3:00
New website up and running mid-month. artsbrockton.org

The Fuller Craft Museum, in Northwest Brockton, has invited us to hold our monthly poetry readings in their beautiful facilities. The Fuller is a highly regarded, internationally known museum with a lovely reflection pool, kitchen, and of course, interesting monthly craft/art shows. (fullercraft.org)

Cambridge Common 1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

$5 Cover Every Sunday Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm, Feature: 9:30 pm, Open Mike: 10:30 pm

617-547-0759 http://poetryjam.org/

Stone Soup Poetry
meets from 8-10 pm. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art
Gallery at 106 Prospect Street in Cambridge with an open mic sign-up at 7:30
p.m. A featured poet follows the open mic.
For links to the feature’s work, information on future features and more, visit
the Stone Soup Web site: http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com

For updated info on Cape activities go to Barry Hellman’s website on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/263857693775152/

Lowell Poetry Slam and Open Mic

Every FIRST Thursday at Brew’d Awakening! Only poets can compete in the slam and win the prize… but the mic is open to musical performers as well. Whether you come to perform, compete or just enjoy some coffee and great local talent, don’t miss this event! 7:00pm – 9:30 pm *Sign-up between 6:30-7:00*
The event is free and open to the public—so come on down for an evening of good company and some terrific regional voices!
Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus, 61 Market Street, Lowell, MA 978-454-BREW
For more info, please email CIntern2@lowellma.gov

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

VERMONT POETRY

Brattleboro SLAM and OPEN MIC:
Every first and third Wednesday of the month.
First, Poetry Slam, then is an open mic
Equilibrium 14 Elm Street
sign-up at 7:30 event is 8-10pm
www.facebook.com/BrattleboroPoetry

For a VT poetry events calendar go to: http://www.phayvanh.com/

For info on Brattleboro poetry and Write Action visit their website – www.writeaction.org

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 lori@thepoetrynews.com. Please send your announcements in text only – do not format (no special fonts, colors, etc.) and check it for errors. Send by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Thank you, Lori Desrosiers – Publisher, Editor, wearer of all hats.