***POETRY NEWS***
HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!
Here is your Poetry News for the week of April 7, 2014
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
Tue. April 8 – Alicia Ostriker, Neilson Browsing Room, Neilson Library, Smith, Northampton, 7:30pm
Tue. April 8 – Bill MacMillan and Open Mic at “The Deuce”, WWII club, Conz St. Northampton, 8pm
Wed. April 9 – Emily Dickinson inspired reading, Forbes Library, Northampton, 7pm
Thu. April 10 – Joys and Challenges of Aging: Jane Yolen, Henry Lyman, Sasha Berman, John Berkowitz, Loomis Village,S. Hadley, 2pm
Thu. April 10 – Florence Poets Society meeting and poetry share, Lilly Library, Florence, 6:30pm
Sun. April 12 – Gallery of Readers: Susan Cocalis & Don Horton, Neilson Browsing Rm, Smith, Northampton, 4pm
POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND:
Alicia Ostriker at Smith College
Tuesday, April 8th, 7:30pm
Neilson Library Browsing Room
Smith College, Northampton
A self-confessed “unashamed woman poet,” Alicia Ostriker expertly intertwines the personal with the political. She is the recipient of dozens of awards and the author of fifteen books of poems and eight of ground-breaking critical prose. Both her poetry and her scholarly work challenge received concepts of identity, speaking for women as diverse as Hagar, Miriam, Sheba, the “crazy” woman on the subway, and herself. In the words of Joyce Carol Oates, “Alicia Ostriker has become one of those brilliantly provocative and imaginatively gifted contemporaries whose iconoclastic expression, whether in prose or poetry, is essential to our understanding of our American selves.”
Supported by the Program for the Study of Women and Gender
Forbes Library’s Local History/Local Novelists Series
Presents an Evening Inspired by Emily Dickinson/Quiet
Wednesday, April 9, 7 pm
Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library
Jane Wald is director of the Emily Dickinson Museum.
Kevin Quashie teaches cultural studies and theory at Smith College. He is the author or editor of three books, most recently The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture.
Charles Coe is author of two books of poetry: All Sins Forgiven: Poems for my Parents and Picnic on the Moon.
“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
The Gallery of Readers Series presents
Exciting New Discoveries: Susan Cocalis and Don Horton
Sunday, April 13, 2014, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room, Smith College, Northampton
You are invited to a debut reading of
As You Write It A Franklin County Anthology, Vol. IV edited by Laura Rodley
on Sunday April 13 at 1 p.m. at the Gill Montague Senior Center
on 5th Street in Turners Falls, Featuring writers Estelle Cade, Patricia Carlisle,
Lillian Fiske, Frances Hemond, Dorothy Hmieleski, Robin Panagakos
and Joseph A. Parzych, and the work of Rosalie Bolton
Join us as runaway rivers carry away bridges, friends stay united for sixty years, a hapless child receives a miracle, a woman born in 1919 clamors for a woman president, a student overcomes bullying, dogs find forever homes with a loving family, three eaglets are hatched at Barton Cove, and cars exert their mighty muscles across this vast American landscape we call home.
Sponsored in part by the generous Local Cultural Councils of Gill and Montague.
Reading is free and free delicious refreshments will be served.
Friends of the Palmer Library
will host their 10th Anniversary
Poetry Reading
Palmer Public Library
1455 No. Main St, Palmer, MA
April 16, 2014 @ 6:30 p.m.
Free admission.
Refreshments served.
Poetry at Odyssey Books Thursday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. Odyssey Books Jeffrey Harrison reads from INTO DAYLIGHT and Kevin McCaffrey reads from LAUGHING CULT.
INTO DAYLIGHT explores being in a long marriage and parenting teenagers, in light of the devastating loss of a brother who commited suicide. Jeffrey Harrison's poems have appeared in THE NEW YORKER, THE PARIS REVIEW and many other publications. LAUGHING CULT, written in various traditional poetic forms, explores romantic ambiguity, science fiction, the occult, and quirky angst. He works at Mt. Holyoke College. http://www.odysseybks.com/event/jeffery-harrison-daylight-kevin-mccaffrey-laughing-cult
Smith College Faculty & Staff Poetry Reading series present:
Maya Janson and Naila Moreira
Thu. April 17th, Thursday, 4:00pm
Poetry Center, Wright Hall
Smith College, Northampton
Maya Janson is a lecturer in poetry at Smith. Her poetry collection Murmur I& Crush was published by Levellers Press in 2012 and was a finalist for the Montaigne Medal. Her poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Best American Poetry and elsewhere.
Naila Moreira’s journalism, nature essays, and children’s nonfiction have been published in The Boston Globe, The Seattle Times, Science News, and The Common Online. She earned a 2005 doctorate in geology at the University of Michigan and is the science writing specialist in Smith’s Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching, and Learning.
Sponsored by the Department of English and the Poetry Center
Celebrate Poetry Month at A.P.E. Gallery
Six Valley Presses present poetry and a poetry book fair!
Friday, April 18, 4:30-8:00pm
Poets begin reading at 5pm
Slate Roof Press – Hedgerow Books – Open Field Press
Paris Press – Factory Holl0w Press – Perugia Press
More info at http://hedgerowbooks.wordpress.com
A.P.E. Gallery is at 126 Main St. Northampton
The Mayflower Center will host a series of Writers Spring Forth workshops at its Sumner Avenue location.
The first two workshops will run from 12:30 pm to 2 pm on the following two Wednesdays: March 12 and April 16.
Your workshop leader is Springfield resident and poet Phyllis St. George, founder of Writers Spring Forth. Workshops are run using the Amherst Writers and Artists method where participants are encouraged to find their own unique voice in a supportive environment. Beginners are welcome!
Come write down your personal stories and, if you wish, share them with the community at a public reading at the end of 2014. For more information, and to register please call the Mayflower Senior Center at 413-782-4536.
Workshops are free and open to the public! Coffee and tea and light refreshments included.
Threads in the Cloth: Come weave your words!
(quiet acoustic music also welcome)
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Sign-ups: 6:30, Open Mic Begins: 7:00pm
Christine’s Bean Sprout has been open in Easthampton for just under a year. In addition to coffee and fresh juice, they feature delicious meals, with options for vegan/gluten free/local/etc. Come out to support them, and bring your poetry! All kinds of verse welcome, from slam to sestina.
The length of the slots will depend on how many people sign up, but should run about 5-7 minutes each. This is a first event and, if it goes well, we have the opportunity to host a monthly open mic! Come show your enthusiasm for this possibility!
Any questions, feel free to contact emjollie@gmail.com or EliotCardinaux@gmail.com
Weekly Poetry Open Mic at The Deuce
Every Tuesday Night 8pm – 10pm Signup starts at 7pm.
World War II Club,
Conz St. Northampton,MA
Upcoming Featured Poets:
4/8 – Bill MacMillan
4/15 – Open Mic & Cash Slam
4/22 – Tara Bernier
Notable perks at Hinge: right in downtown Northampton,
close to bus stops! All ages, beer and wine, and modestly priced meals)
Please bring a 3-5 minute selection of your work to share
Fabulous website with featured poets http://www.northamptonpoetry.com/
Straw Dog Writers Guild presents Writers Night Out
First Tuesday of the month,
at The Elevens, Northampton, 7-9 pm.
For all lovers of writing.
Open mike – put your name in the hat until 7:10; reading begins at 7:15,
followed by time to schmooze, drink, make merry, and find out what’s
happening in the local writing world.
For more information, go to www.strawdogwriters.org/events/
Spring Forth Workshops in Springfield
The Mayflower Center will host a series of Writers Spring Forth workshops at its Sumner Avenue location. The first two workshops will run from 12:30 pm to 2 pm on the following two Wednesdays: March 12 and April 16. Your workshop leader is Springfield resident and poet Phyllis St. George, founder of Writers Spring Forth. Workshops are run using the Amherst Writers and Artists method where participants are encouraged to find their own unique voice in a supportive environment.
Beginners are welcome! Come write down your personal stories and, if you wish, share them with the community at a public reading at the end of 2014.
Mayflower Senior Center
1516 Sumner Avenue Springfield, MA 01118
Slate Roof Press offers 2nd 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.
FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY
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.
GREENFIELD, SHELBURNE FALLS AND NORTH
WRITERS READ
The Good Purpose Gallery
Friday, April 25, 5:30pm
Dennis Barone and Steve Straight
40 Main St #1 Lee, MA
A monthly series of established poets and writers reading from their works.
Each fourth Friday
$3 Suggested donation to support the gallery and the poets
David Giannini, coordinator davidgpoet@gmail.com.
Greenfield Word
Always the Third Tuesday
At 9 Mill St in Greenfield
Doors open at 7:00
Open Mike at 7:30
$1-5 sliding scale cover
10 open mike slots each will be five minute slots
Greenfield Annual Word Festival 2014
Has now set the dates: Thursday October 23rd to Sunday October 26th
Put it on your calendar more info soon.
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
WORD IN THE BERKSHIRES
WRITERS READ
The Good Purpose Gallery
40 Main St #1 Lee, MA
A monthly series of established poets and writers reading from their works.
Each fourth Friday
Friday, March 28 features Kathline Carr & Claudette Webster
$3 Suggested donation to support the gallery and the poets
David Giannini, coordinator davidgpoet@gmail.com.
Rambling Poets Presents
Poetry Slam @ Parlor Cafe
Every third Thursday of the month The Parlor Cafe 303 Ashland St North Adams, MA $2-5 Suggested Donation – Bartering Welcomed. We are a 14 poet, 3 round slam, with cash and prizes awarded to all poets who sign up. Sign ups start at 7pm Poets meeting at 7:45 Event starts promptly at 8pm
www.facebook.com/RAMBLINGPOETS www.theparlorcafe.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
BOSTON/CAPE COD POETRY
If you want more events in the Boston area (and there are many more!) write to Dan Bouchard to get his poetry calendar in your email at bouchard@MIT.EDU
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)
Cantab Lounge
Every Wednesday Night at 8, Featured Poet, Poetry Slam!
738 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA
Doors for the show open at 7:15. The open mic begins at 8:00 and the
feature performs at approximately 10:00. When indicated (most nights),
an open poetry slam follows the feature. The show is 18+ (ID required)
and the cover charge is $3 unless otherwise noted.
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
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:
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
Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Sunday Night!
Cambridge Common 1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge $5 Cover Every Sunday Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm,
Feature: 9:30 pm, Open Mike: 10:30 pm 617-547-0759 http://poetryjam.org/
Newton Free Library Poetry Reading Series
The series meets the second Tuesday of every month open mic after features. Starts 7PM For complete information go to http://newtonfreelibrarypoetryseries.blogspot.com/ Director: Doug Holder http://authorsden.com/douglasholder
Cambridge Community Television
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam I
NFO: kentthompson@comcast.net
LETRA Poetry Nights
in LAWRENCE MASS Every TUESDAY at Julio’s 99 Club 99 Essex Street Lawrence, MA
Doors open at 7pm open mic starts at 8pm Admission $3.00 For more information or for directions please call Michelle Richardson at 978-423-7045
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.
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