***POETRY NEWS***
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Some Highlights of This Week in Western MA (more below):
Wed. Dec. 3 – Write Minds, 5 poets reading at Thirsty Mind, S. Hadley, 7pm
Thu. Dec. 4 – Ben Lerner at UMass Visiting Writers, Memorial Hall, UMass, 8pm
Sun. Dec. 7 – Paula Sayword reading at Leyden Town Hall, 4pm
Sun. Dec. 7 – Corrie Williamson and Carol Edelstein, Neilson Library, Smith, 4pm
POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND
Smith Poetry Center Fall Reading Series
December 2nd, Tuesday, 7:30 pm
Helen Hills Hills Chapel, Smith College, Northampton
ELIOT’S WORDS + BEETHOVEN’S MUSIC
T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets
Ludvig Van Beethoven’s String Quartet in A-Minor, Opus 132
JOHN FARRELL, a principal in Maine’s groundbreaking Figures of Speech Theatre, recites from memory Four Quartets, a suite of poems often considered T.S. Eliot’s greatest. First undertaken in 2011 with permission — rarely granted — from Eliot’s estate, Farrell’s recitation of Four Quartets affords audiences an opportunity to immerse themselves in 1,000 lines of poetry exploring humankind’s relationship with time and with experience itself. According to theatre scholar Paul Kuritz, / One review notes that Farrell “opens the text in ways beyond the ability of the solitary reader.”
In a 1935 letter to Stephen Spender, Eliot wrote of Beethoven’s A-Minor String Quartet (Opus 132): “I find it quite inexhaustible to study. There is sort of heavenly, or at least more than human gaiety about [it]. . .which might come to oneself as the fruit of reconciliation and relief after immense suffering; I should like to get something of that into verse before I die.”
Presented together in alternating sections, Eliot’s words and Beethoven’s music amplify one another in an infinitely stimulating artistic dynamic. Opus 132 will be played by distinguished local musicians JOEL PITCHON (violin), KATHERINE WINTERSTEIN (violin), RONALD CARBONE (viola), and VOLCY PELLETIER (cello).
Write Minds
an evening of poetry in South Hadley
presents
Gerry Yelle, Anita Gallers, Bob Lipton, Tommy Twilite and Marian Kent,
Wed. Dec. 3, 7pm
Thirsty Mind Coffee and Wine Bar
23 College St
S. Hadley, MA
UMass Visiting Writers Series
December 4, Thursday, 8pm
UMass Amherst, Memorial Hall
The University of Massachusetts Amherst MFA for Poets and Writers presents a reading with poet and novelist Ben Lerner on December 4th at 8pm in Memorial Hall.
Lerner’s latest novel, 10:04, won high praise this fall. NPR called the book “strange and spectacular,” and the New York Timesdeclared it, “frequently brilliant.” Times critic Dwight Garner ranked Lerner “among the most interesting young American novelists” for, as the book’s narrator describes it, “a work that, like a poem, is neither fiction nor nonfiction but a flickering between them.”
POETRY READING AND BOOK SIGNING
Sunday December 7th at 4pm
Leyden Town Hall
Paula Sayword is pleased to invite family, friends and neighbors to celebrate the publication of her full-length book of poems, Canticle of Light and Dark.
Poet Anne Love Woodhull writes: “Canticle of Light and Dark has sting and grace, cloak and bare skin; each poem chimes with passion and clarity. From the tender to unbearable loss, these poems shine into the dark of northeast woods, the mesas of the west and the rigors of human experience…Here is quiet bravery.”
So come join us for poetry and book signing. Refreshments will be served.
Canticle of Light and Dark was published by The Synthesis Center Press of Amherst, MA.
The Gallery of Readers and Perugia Press co-present
Corrie Williamson and Carol Edelstein
Sunday, December 7, 2014, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room
Smith College, Northampton
Refreshments will be served.
This reading will feature a current and a past winner of the Perugia Press Prize, which recognizes the best new women poets in the United States.
Weekly Poetry Open Mic at The Deuce
Every Tuesday Night 8pm – 10pm
Open Mic Signup starts at 7pm.
World War II Club, Conz St. Northampton,MA
Upcoming Featured Poets:
11/25 Cash Slam and Open Mic
12/2 Elizag and Open Mic
12/9 Cash Slam and Open Mic
12/16 David Keali’i and Open Mic
Please bring a 3-5 minute selection of your work to share
Fabulous website with featured poets http://www.northamptonpoetry.com/
Writers Night Out!
by Straw Dog Writers Guild.
Every first Tuesday of the month, 7-9 pm
The Basement, 21 Center St., Northampton.
Five minute open mike slots, then featured reader.
30 Poems in November for Center for New Americans
Poetry News supports Center for New Americans’ annual 30 Poems in November,
and we invite you to do the same! 30 Poems in November is open to all of you.
The Center For New Americans, a Northampton-based organization which provides literacy, citizenship, and support services for the immigrant communities of Western Massachusetts, is now sponsoring its 6th annual 30 Poems in November. Poets commit to writing a poem a day for the month of November, and raise money from family and friends against that commitment (just like when people pledge by the mile for a charity 10K).
“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/letters by Emily Dickinson are welcome.
The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday, December 11, 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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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 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.
Monday Poetry Nights
6 to10pm 648 North Street in Pittsfield
call Alan Nidle, the Director at (857) 991-8448 for details
ALBANY, NY POETRY
Go to http://www.albanypoets.com/ for schedules and events!
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.
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!
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.
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
write to Dan Bouchard to get his poetry calendar in your email at bouchard@MIT.EDU
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 artsbrockton.org
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)
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.
$5 Cover Every Sunday
Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm,
Feature: 9:30 pm,
Open Mike: 10:30 pm
617-547-0759 http://poetryjam.org/
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
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
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/
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
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM
Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam
INFO: kentthompson@comcast.net
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
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 info on Brattleboro poetry and Write Action visit their website – www.writeaction.org
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