***POETRY NEWS***
Here is your Poetry News for the week of May4, 2015
Scroll down to see or link to more poetry in Worcester, the Berkshires, Boston, Vermont and other areas.
To receive Poetry News in your email or to request posting of events write to lori@thepoetrynews.com.
Some Highlights of This Week in Western MA (more below):
Thu. April 30 – Karen Skolfield & Diana Whitney, Pelham Library, Pelham, 7pm
Thu. April 30 – Missy Marie Montgomery & Henry Lyman, A.P.E. Gallery, Northampton, 7:30pm
May 1-3 Mass Poetry Festival, Salem (see below)S
Sun. May 3 – Carolyn McKeown & Alice Barber, Neilson Library, Smith, Northampton, 4pm
Tue. May 5 – Straw Dog Writers Guild: Amy Dryansky, The Basement, Northampton, 7pm
Tue. May 5 – Community Slam & Open Mic, The Deuce, WWII Club, Northampton, 8pm
Wed. May 6 – Doug Anderson & Rich Michelson, Broadside Books, Northampton, 7pm
Thu. May 7- Peter Marcus & Diana Whitney, Collected Poets, Mocha Maya, Shelburne, 7pm
Sat. May 9 – Gary Metras book release at White Square Books, Easthampton, 7pm
May 1-3, Friday-Sunday Salem, MA**Massachusetts Poetry Festival**
Three days of readings, workshops, panels, and performances held in Salem each May, featuring more than 150 poets and presenters each year, and headlining today’s top poets. For more info, please visit http://www.masspoetry.org/festival2015/
POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND
New Open Mic WED nights in Northampton!
Calling all Poets and Storytellers!
Sam’s Pizza and Cafe is now hosting
an open reading night, Wednesdays, 7pm
Sam’s Pizza, Northampton
ORANGE WORD
Open mic, featured readers:
First Monday every month, 6:30pm
The Bohemian Kitchen
23 N. Main St. , Orange, MA
Email paul@humanerrorpublishing.com for more information
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 and Slams
4/28 – Community Slam!
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.
Open Field Press invites you to a celebration of two new poetry collections
Missy-Marie Montgomery, Half-Life of Passion
Henry Lyman, The Land Has Its Say
Readings & revelry
Thursday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
A.P.E. Gallery, 126 Main Street, Northampton
Books will be available at the event, at local bookstores, and online at http://www.openfieldpress.org
Pelham Library presents:
Karen Skolfield & Diana Whitney
Thursday, April 30, 7 p.m.
2 South Valley Road, Pelham, MA
The Gallery of Readers Series presents
Carolyn McKeown and Alice Barber
Reading from their recent work
Sunday, May 3, 2015, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room
Smith College, Northampton
Refreshments will be served.
Doug Anderson and Rich Michelson
will read from their new books of poetry
Wednesday, May 6, 7 pm
Broadside Bookshop
247 Main Street, Northampton, MA
Doug Anderson has taught at Eastern Connecticut State University and at the University of Connecticut. He has published two previous volumes of poems, The Moon Reflected Fire, and Blues for Unemployed Secret Police, as well as a memoir of his time in Vietnam, Keep Your Head Down.
Rich Michelson is the author of two previous collections of poetry, Battles and Lullabies and Tap Dancing for Relatives, as well as several children’s books. He is the proprietor of the Michelson Gallery in downtown Northampton, and a recent poet laureate of the city.
FOUR VOICES
THE POETRY OF TRISH CRAPO, SUSIE PATLOVE,
CAROL POTTER AND PAULA SAYWORD
POETRY READING, 6-8 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015
GREENFIELD COMMUNITY TELEVISION
393 MAIN STREET, GREENFIELD
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND SIGNING.
REFRESHMENT WILL BE SERVED
Eileen Kennedy Book Launch Party
May 31, Sunday, 2pm
Pioneer Valley Co-Housing Common House
120 Pulpit Hill Road, Amherst, MA
Local Poet Eileen Kennedy will read from her new book of poems, Banshees. Kennedy has published poetry in more than 25 literary journals, online publications and magazines. She has also written and published fiction, children’s stories, nonfiction, and an academic book. She holds a doctorate from Fordham University, a Master’s Degree from Brooklyn College and an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She is on the faculty of Kingsborough/City University of New York. She has also written and published fiction, children’s stories, nonfiction and an academic book.
Call for Submissions: Plum
Plum, GCC’s online literary journal, seeks submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from writers from western Massachusetts and southern Vermont. Our mission is to celebrate the rich tradition of writing alive in our regio, and create an engaging exchange of stories, ideas, and experiences that strengthens the community as a whole. Read an interview with Sally Bellerose, poems from Ed Rayher and Maria Louise Arroyo, and stories from Wilson Roberts, plus many other poems and stories by students and area writers! http://www.gcc.mass.edu/plum
Write Like a River: Women’s Writing Workshops with Chivas Sandage (Northampton, MA)
Jump start, reboot, develop, and deepen your writing in a supportive circle of women. Generate new material and/or make progress on an ongoing project. Count on intriguing prompts, time to write, supportive feedback, and discussion of craft, strategy, and writing as a practice. The end of each session features a balanced manuscript critique for rotating participants. Nurture and connect with your work and a lively community of writers. This multi-genre, generative workshop is appropriate for all levels. Space is limited.
Chivas Sandage’s first book, Hidden Drive (Antrim House, 2012) was a finalist for the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards in Poetry and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. MSNBC just released a mini-documentary in which she speaks of her current work on a nonfiction book about the 2012 double shooting of a young lesbian couple in south Texas. Sandage holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA from Bennington College.
When: April 16 on Thursdays / 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Where: Writers in Progress Studio, a literary arts center located in the Arts & Industry Building on 221 Pine Street in Florence, MA (http://artsindustryopenstudios.blogspot.com)
For more info: http://www.writelikeariver.com
Call for Submissions: Slate Roof Press,
a member-run, not-for-profit collaborative, is pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Poetry Chapbook Contest. The winner becomes an active member of the press and will have his/her chapbook published by Slate Roof. We publish limited-edition, art-quality chapbooks with letterpress covers — beautiful books by an award-winning book designer and printer. Winners make a 3-year commitment to the press, including monthly meetings in Greenfield, MA, and share work responsibilities for many aspects of publishing. Submit no more than 28 pages of poetry. $25 reading fee. Deadline (upload/postmark): May 15, 2015. For full contest guidelines, visit http://www.slateroofpress.com or http://slateroofpresscontest.submittable.com/submit.
Poetry Critique Group Seeks Members
A Belchertown based poetry critique group is seeking members who actively write poetry, have previously published their work, and can commit to meeting the second and fourth Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.Contact: dcfontaine @yahoo.com
Weekly Workshops with Nerissa Nields
are full of joy, humor, camaraderie and great writing. We’re starting a new session in January. Sessions go for 10 weeks, and I have three groups. Monday Writers (meets 7-9pm), Tuesday Writers (meets 12:30-2:30pm) and Wednesday Writers (meets 7-9pm).Send me a message to join! And please spread the word. I have one spot left in each group.http://nerissanields.com/garden-groups.html
Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop led by Tom Daley
Eight Mondays, March-April 2015
For poets working at an advanced level, particularly those preparing to apply to MFA programs, and for those ready to begin submitting poems to journals and magazines. Also useful for graduates of MFA programs who wish to continue to work at their craft in the workshop format at an advanced level.
With optional exercises based on the poetry of James Dickey
At the instructor’s house in West Cambridge (free parking, accessible by three bus routes from Harvard Square)
Eight Mondays from 7:45-9:45 pm starting March 2, 2015.
Dates: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27.
Cost: $200
For more information, contact the instructor at tom.daley2@verizon.net
To apply, send 3-5 recent poems in the message box of an e-mail (no attachments, please) to tom.daley2@verizon.net
Fiction Writing Group at East Forest Park Library
122 Island Pond Road (Next to Rite Aid in the plaza)
Springfield
First Wednesday of Each Month
Time: 6:00 pm
Contact: Theresa Boulrice (413) 263-6836)
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/letters by Emily Dickinson are welcome.
FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY
The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday, May 14, 2015 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
ORANGE WORD
Open mic, featured readers
First Monday every month, 6:30pm
The Bohemian Kitchen
23 N. Main St. , Orange, MA
Email paul@humanerrorpublishing.com for more information
Greenfield Word
Third Tuesday in Greenfield
9 Mill Street Greenfield
4/21: James Smethurst and Karl Meyer
And Nick Fleck will read from his new book
Doors open at 7:00
Reading starts at 7:30
There are 10 open mic slots of 5 minutes each
$1 to $5 sliding scale donation
Hope to see you there
Check email in case of a snow cancellation
Paul: paul@humanerrorpublishing.com
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.
“In Our Nature” writing workshops, spring 2015
Thursday mornings, May 7–June 11 (6 weeks), in Ashfield, MA
Cost: $28 per wk, or save $18 and pay $150 in advance. Can join after 1st week if there’s room.
We meet 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., primarily in my Ashfield home; once or twice, weather permitting, we’ll meet 8 minutes down the road at the whimsical, inspiring Three Sisters Sanctuary in Goshen, MA.
We follow the guidelines developed by Amherst Writers and Artists to keep our writing environment feeling safe.
Tuition includes occasional manuscript critiques (by the group and/or by me) for those who want them.
Whether you’re a beginning writer or advanced, new to writing with others or an old hand at it, passionate about nature, human nature, or other topics altogether … come write with us!
Not sure? Try a meeting at no cost.
Contact: Susan Middleton at 413-628-4039 or smiddle@crocker.com.
WORD IN THE BERKSHIRES
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
http://www.facebook.com/RAMBLINGPOETS
http://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
ALBANY, NY POETRY
There’s a vibrant and active poetry community in the Albany area.
Go to http://www.albanypoets.com/ for schedules and events!
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.
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 http://www.ctpoetrycalendar.com
Here’s a cool event coming up, a lecture on Walt Whitman at the Wood Memorial Library in S. Windsor.
http://woodmemoriallibrary.org/programs/whitman-at-the-wood-opening-reception/
BOSTON/CAPE COD POETRY
We are reprinting Dan Bouchard’s Boston Poetry Page here on Poetry News. Check it out!
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 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: 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
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
INFO: 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
Poetry Slam
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
http://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 – http://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, left-align, no 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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