***POETRY NEWS***
Here is your Poetry News for the month of October, 2015
Scroll down to see or link to more poetry in Worcester, the Berkshires, Boston, Vermont and other areas.
Poetry News will be published monthly from now on.
Please send events as you normally do. The site will be updated regularly.
To receive Poetry News in your email or to request posting of events write to lori@thepoetrynews.com.
Some Highlights of This Month in Western MA (more below, including workshops & calls for submission):
Thu. Oct. 1 – Theresa Carson & Dawn Potter at Collected Poets, Mocha Maya, Shelburne, 7pm
Thu. Oct. 1 – Gerald Yelle book release, The White Rose, Holyoke, 7:30pm
Sat. Oct. 3 – The Translator’s Craft, Jeffrey Diteman & Michael Goldman, Lilly Library, Florence, 10:30am
Tue. Oct. 6 – Laurie Ann Guerrero, Smith College Poetry Center, 6pm
Tue. Oct. 6 – Patrick Donnelly & open mic, Straw Dog Writer’s Night, The Basement, Northampton, 7pm
Wed. Oct. 7 – Jane Hirshfield at Wilde Auditorium, Univ. of Hartford, CT 7pm
Wed. Oct. 7 – Leslea Newman reading at Greenfield Public Library, Greenfield, 6pm
Thu. Oct. 8 – Reading! Florence Poets in Silkworm 8 anthology, Lilly Library, Florence, 6:30pm
Thu. Oct 8 – Lenelle Moise, Where There Are Voices, Laurel Park Tabernacle, Northampton, 7pm
Tue. Oct. 13 – UNBUTTONED presents Gail Thomas and Open Mic, Luthiers, Easthampton,7pm
Thu. Oct. 15 – Amy Uyematsu, Neilson Browsing Room, Neilson Library, Smith, Northampton, 7:30pm
Sat. Oct. 17 – Paul Muldoon at R. Michelson Gallery, Northampton, 7pm
Sat. Oct. 17 – Janet Aalfs, Poetry & Curiosity workshop, One Cottage St. Easthampton, 11:30am
Sun. Oct. 18 – Naila Morera & Linda Barnes Aaron, Neilson Library, Smith, Northampton, 4pm
Sun. Oct. 18 – 7 Minutes in the Literary Spotlight, Central Library, Springfield, 1pm
Tue. Oct. 20 – Writers Read presents Four Slate Roof Poets at the Lee Library, Lee, 5:30pm
Tue. Oct. 20 – Wally Swist at Jones Library, Amherst, 6:30pm
Wed. Oct. 26 – Northampton Arts Council Biennial Poetry reading, Forbes Library, Northampton, 7pm
Tue. Oct. 27 – Arda Collins, Paradise Room, Smith Coll. Conf. Center, 7:30pm
Amherst Poetry Festival!!! (Oct 1-4)
Info and schedule at:http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/amherstpoetryfestivalschedule2015
Brattleboro Literary Festival is Oct. 1-4 also!
Info and schedule at: http://brattleboroliteraryfestival.org/
Greenfield Annual Word Festival is Oct. 20-24
Info and schedule at: http://www.gawfest.org/
MORE POETRY IN THE PIONEER VALLEY AND BEYOND:
Smith Poetry Center Events:
Thu. Oct. 15 – Amy Uyematsu, 7:30pm, Neilson Browsing Room, Neilson Library
Tue. Oct. 27 – Arda Collins, 7:30pm, Paradise Room, Smith Coll. Conf. Center
I CARRY MY MOTHER at the Greenfield Public Library on Wednesday, October 7th starting at 6:00 p.m. I CARRY MY MOTHER is a book-length series of poems that explores a daughter’s journey through her mother’s illness and death and her own grief. Newman is a past poet laureate of Northampton, MA and the author of 70 books for readers of all ages including the poetry collections, NOBODY’S MOTHER, SIGNS OF LOVE, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY, and OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD (novel-in-verse). The Greenfield Public Library is located at 402 Main Street, Greenfield, MA.
UNBUTTONED
This month’s Unbuttoned Spoken Word night at Luthier’s will feature poet Gail Thomas on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Come to sign up for the open mic at 7:00 p.m., followed by Gail’s reading. This is the coolest venue in the Valley! Great stage, great audience, great host Alison Murchie, great beer.
Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton
Calling all Poets and Storytellers!
Sam’s Pizza and Cafe is now hosting an open reading night
Wednesdays, 7pm Sam’s Pizza, Northampton
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
Please bring a 3-5 minute selection of your work to share
Fabulous website with featured poets
http://www.northamptonpoetry.com/
Sat. 11:30am-1:00pm, Saturdays: Oct. 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21, Dec. 5, 2015 (age 18+), facilitator Janet Aalfs, Lotus Peace Arts at VWMA, One Cottage St. #319 in the heart of Easthampton’s Cultural District. Please pre-register: jeaalfs7@gmail.com or #413-320-3248. Fee by donation.
Saturday, October 17, 7pm
Paul Muldoon has been described by The Times Literary Supplement as “the most significant English-language poet born since the second World War.” Muldoon is the author of twelve major collections of poetry, and he has published criticism, opera libretti, children’s books, song lyrics and radio and television drama. He is lyricist for, and member of, the Princeton-based music collective Wayside Shrines.In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Muldoon has received an American Academy of Arts and Letters award in literature, the T. S. Eliot Prize, the Irish Times Poetry Prize, the Griffin International Prize for Excellence in Poetry, the Shakespeare Prize, the European Prize for Poetry, and many other awards. He has taught at Princeton University since 1987 and he is the poetry editor of The New Yorker.Muldoon will read from his most recent collection, One Thousand Things Worth Knowing, and Encheiresin Naturae, a limited edition fine press book illustrated with original wood engravings by Barry Moser.
Naila Moreira and Linda Barnes Aaron
reading from their recent work
Sunday, October 18, 2015, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room
Smith College, Northampton
Refreshments will be served.
Please join Maria Luisa Arroyo for one or more months in celebrating the poets and writers, who are sharing their original work. Audience members (18+) are always welcomed. Note that “7 Minutes: A Literary Arts Spotlight” falls on Sundays this season (except for August):
Sundays, 1 pm – 3 pm, Oct. 18, Nov., 15, & Dec. 13Same location: Community Room (street-level), Springfield Main Library, 220 State Street, Springfield, MAParking: Right across the street. Please be careful crossing very busy State Street. The community room is located on the street level. There is an entrance to the right of the library’s outside grand staircase. Enter and take an immediate right. Because of the many exciting events happening in Springfield, including the Mattoon Street Arts Festival, please plan your travels accordingly.
Program:
[12:30 pm – 1:00 pm- host & literary artists arrive & set up]
1:05 pm- 1:45 pm readings
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm intermission
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm readings
2:45 pm – meet & greet the authors; book purchases & signings; library evaluations
2:55 pm – FREE raffle drawing for a library tote bag(must be present to win)
Thank you all again for the gift of your time-as a literary artist, as an audience member, and as a promoter of this monthly series!
INVOCATION: A poetry reading by WALLY SWIST AT THE JONES LIBRARY
Join us on Tuesday, October 20th at 6:30pm for a poetry reading by Wally Swist celebrating the publication of his new book, Invocation. Published by Lamar University Literary Press, Invocation is Swist’s most accomplished work to date. Jill Hoffman, editor of Mudfish Magazine, writes: “Painterly, sensual, surprising landscapes of grief and beauty . . . poems [that] teach us how to feed the soul.”
The reading will take place at The Jones Library in the Special Collections Reading Room. Books will be available for purchase and signing. A reception in the Burnett Gallery will follow the reading and light refreshments will be served.
Wally Swist’s books include Huang Po and the Dimensions of Love (Southern Illinois University Press, 2012); Velocity (Virtual Artists Collective, 2013); and The Daodejing: A New Interpretation, with David Breeden and Steven Schroeder (Lamar University Press, 2015). His poems have appeared in many publications, including Commonweal, North American Review, and Sunken Garden Poetry, 1992-2011 (Wesleyan University Press, 2012). Garrison Keillor has read his work on the national radio program The Writer’s Almanac.
Free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Cynthia Harbeson at 413/259-3097.
Patrick Donnelly at Smith
On Sunday, November 1, at 4:00 PM, Patrick Donnelly will give the inaugural Poet Laureate reading of his term, sponsored by the Gallery of Readers Series at Neilson Browsing Room, Neilson Library, Smith College, 7 Neilson Drive, Northampton, Massachusetts. The reading will conclude with the first event of Donnelly’s Choral Poem Project, a performance of Albert Goldbarth’s poem “Library” given by a spoken-word choir comprised of a diverse group of people from the Northampton area. The event will be free, but donations will be accepted to further the work of the Poet Laureate.
Saturday, October 10 and Saturday, October 17 11:00—1:00 in downtown NorthamptonThis eight-day poetry workshop replicates the intensely focused environment of a writing residency, but without requiring you to leave home for a week or spend your entire paycheck. The emphasis is on creating lots of new work: after an initial in-person meeting (Saturday, October 10, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) you’ll write a poem a day for five days, receiving daily emailed critiques from the instructor and a classmate. After this week of intense writing, we’ll gather a second time the following Saturday, where we’ll develop strategies for sustaining the momentum we’ve gained, practice reading a few of our poems aloud, and celebrate the work we’ve done—a fitting conclusion to this productive and inspiring week. Appropriate for poets of all levels and backgrounds. ___________________Sarah Pemberton Strong is the author of a poetry collection, Tour of the Breath Gallery, and two novels, The Fainting Room and Burning the Sea. She is the recipient of the Walt McDonald First-Book Prize (for Tour of the Breath Gallery), a Promise Award from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, and the Elizabeth Matchett Stover Award from Southwest Review. Her poems have appeared in many journals, including The Southern Review, Poetry Daily, Rattle, and The Sun, and her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Sarah currently teaches creative writing at the University of Hartford and is poetry editor at New Haven Review. www.sarahpembertonstrong.com
Western MA poets: Be part of a community poetry event!
MOTION/EMOTION
Northampton Arts Council Announces a Call for Poetry
“The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that 100 years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.”
—William Faulkner
Western Mass Poets are invited to submit poems that resonate with the theme Motion/ Emotion. Artwork inspired by the same theme will hang at the Northampton Arts Council’s Biennial Exhibition during October in the Hosmer Gallery at Forbes Library.
The deadline for submission is Monday, October 12. The Arts Council will announce a list of accepted poets on October 19. A jury composed of Northampton’s Poet Laureate Patrick Donnelly, Perugia Press publisher Susan Kan and poet Chris Gonzalez will make selections.
Accepted poems will be posted on the Arts Council’s website www.northamptonartscouncil.org
Selected poets will be invited to present their work in the Coolidge Room adjacent to the Hosmer Gallery at a reading hosted by the Arts Council the evening of Monday, October 26.• Poets may submit up to 3 poems.
• Previously published poems are permissible.
• Submit poems as a pdf attachment to an e-mail addressed to: biennialpoetry@gmail.com with Biennial Poetry in subject line.
• Judging will be blind. Include your name, address, e-mail address and phone contact in the body of the e-mail but not on your poems.
• Poems may be submitted up until midnight on the October 12 deadline.
• Questions? E-mail: biennialpoetry@gmail.com.
“In Our Nature” Writing Workshops ~ room for more!
Whether you are 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!
Thursday mornings: 9:45 – 12:30 (2 3/4 hrs) for 10 wks (Sept 24 – Dec. 3, except Thanksgiving 11/26).
Monday mornings: 9:45 – 12:30 (2 3/4 hrs) for 10 wks (Sept 28 – Dec. 7, except Columbus Day 10/12).
Can’t come to the first meeting? If room, you’re welcome to join us after the first meeting.
Cost: $33/week, or save $30 by paying $300 (in 1 or 2 advance lump sums). Not sure? Try a meeting at no cost.
We meet at my Ashfield home, in a supportive environment using guidelines developed by Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA). Tuition includes occasional manuscript critiques for those who want them.
For more information, contact Susan at (413) 628-4039 or smiddle@crocker.com
Susan Middleton’s poems have appeared in a number of literary and environmental publications. In 2004 she and several other western MA poets founded Slate Roof, a collaboratively run small press, which published her chapbook, Seed Case of the Heart (Slate Roof Press, 2007). In 2013 she won 2nd prize for a short story in Write Action’s 8th Annual Prose & Poetry Writing Contest. Susan has been participating in workshops and peer-run groups based on the AWA method since 1996, and leading AWA workshops since January 2013. She also has extensive editing experience, having participated in critique groups for over 15 years and edited books as a freelance for 28 years.
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, October 8, 2015 at 6:30pm. We’ll be having a reading from Silkworm, and all are welcome!
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 WMUA-Amherst (the student and community radio station of UMass-Amherst) can be listened to at 91.1 FM within range of the transmitter. WMUA is also streamed live at http://www.wmua.org/. The program, produced 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
WORD IN THE BERKSHIRES
WRITERS READ IS NOW AT THE LEE LIBRARY
SPECIAL EVENT: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 5:30pm
Four Slate Roof Poets reading:
Abbot Cutler, Janet MacFadyen, Dennis Pollock, Cindy Snow
100 Main St, Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0385
~Writers Read Monthly Reading Series~
Readings begin at 5:30pm at the Lee Library Association, 100 Main Street, Lee –parking at the library. If you have questions and/or are interested in reading in the series, though we can make no promises initially, please email David Giannini, coordinator of the WRITERS READ series, 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 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 .
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
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
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.
Poetry News 