***POETRY NEWS***
Here is your Poetry News for the month of November, 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):
Sun. Nov. 1 – Patrick Donnelly at Neilson Library, Smith, Northampton, 4pm
Sun. Nov. 1 – Monica McClure and Paige Taggar at Jones Library, Amherst, 3pm
Mon. Nov. 2 – Leslea Newman at Springfield JCC, Springfield, 7pm
Mon. Nov. 2 – Candace Curran at Wagon Wheel, Gill, 7pm
Thu. Nov. 5 – Upstreet Poets, Emily Dickinson Homestead, Amherst, 6:45pm
Thu. Nov. 5 – Collected Poets, Gail Thomas & Jenifer Browne Lawrence, Mocha Maya, Shelburne, 7pm
Fri. Nov. 6 – Jenifer Browne Lawrence & Markie Babbot, Smith Poetry Center, Wright Hall, Smith, Noho, 7:30pm
Sat. Nov. 7 – Poetry, Race & Racism, Mark Twain House, Hartford, 1-9pm
Sat. Nov. 7 – Bernadette Mayer reading at The Bookstore, 11 Housatonic St. Lenox, 3pm
Mon. Nov. 9 – Lake House Poetry: Adam Grabowski & Open Mic, Ashfield Lake House, 8:30pm
Tue. Nov. 10 – UNBUTTONED, Carolyn Zaikowski and open mic, Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton, 7pm
Thu. Nov. 12 – Florence Poets Society meeting, 6:30pm, Poetry share, 7pm
Sun. Nov. 15 – 7 Minutes in the Literary Spotlight, Springfield Central Library, 1pm
Tue. Nov. 17 – Writers Read, Deborah Poe & Matthew Klane, Lee Library, Lee, 5:30pm
Tue. Nov. 17 – Write Minds, Jena Schwartz, Adam Ortiz, Marian Kent, The Thirsty Mind, S. Hadley, 7pm
Tue. Nov 17 – Claudia Rankine at HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE! Franklin Patterson Hall, Hampshire College, S. Hadley, 5:30pm
POETRY IN THE PIONEER VALLEY AND BEYOND:
Sunday, November 1st at 4:00 PM
Neilson Browsing Room, Neilson Library, Smith College
Patrick Donnelly will give the inaugural Poet Laureate reading of his term, sponsored by the Gallery of Readers Series. 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. More information about Northampton’s Poet Laureate here.
Sunday, November 1st at 3 PM
Monica McClure and Paige Taggar will be reading from their collections. McClure’s debut poetry collection, Tender Data, was published by Birds, LLC in 2015. Her poems and prose have appeared or are forthcoming in Tin House, jubilat, Fence, The Los Angeles Review, The Lit Review, Lambda Literary Review’s Spotlight Series, The Awl, Spork,Intercourse, CultureStrike and elsewhere. Taggar is the author of two full-length collections, Or Replica (Brooklyn Arts Press, Dec 2014) and Want for Lion (Trembling Pillow Press, March 2014), as well as 5 chapbooks. In addition to their poetry, both authors are involved in the visual arts.
Goodwin Room (formerly the Trustee’s Room), Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA
Lesléa Newman Reading in Springfield
Monday, November 2, 7:00 p.m.
Springfield JCC
Noted author Lesléa Newman will read from her book, I Carry my Mother, a sequence of poems exploring the author’s journey through her mother’s illness and death and her own grief. The pages depict an accurate description of changing emotional states, all born of the closeness, humor, and love in a mother-daughter relationship, and will resonate with anyone who has lost a parent, spouse or loved one.
Lesléa Newman is the author of 65 books for readers of all ages including the bestselling children’s book Heather Has Two Mommies. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts Foundation. From 2008-2010 she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA.
Free for JCC Members, $5 General Public
RSVP by Thursday, October 28 to Beverly Nadler at 413-739-4715 or
bnadler@springfieldjcc.org
Wagon Wheel Word Open Mic
Featuring Candace Curran
Monday November 2, 6pm
39 French King Hwy (Rt. 2), Gill, MA
We are continuing the experiment. Wagon Wheel Word is moving to first Mondays of the month.
Please come hungry for poetry and victuals!
https://www.facebook.com/Wagon-Wheel-Restaurant-171938482843399/timeline/
Broadside Books: Poetry Reading
Wednesday, November 4th at 7 PM
Rebecca Okrent presents her new collection of poetry, Boys of My Youth, at Broadside Bookshop. In this new book, Okrent explores themes of nature, childhood, and memory. John Skoyles says, “the reader closes [Boys of My Youth] renewed and affirmed with the power of her art.”
Broadside Bookshop: 247 Main St., Northampton, MA
Thurs. Nov. 5, 6:45 PM
Emily Dickinson Homestead
280 Main Street, Amherst, MAA reading featuring four upstreet poets from the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts
–Karina Borowicz of Belchertown
–Amy Dryansky of Conway
–Howard Faerstein of Florence
–Maya Janson of Florence
Hosted by Vivian Dorsel, editor/publisher of upstreet
Free and open to the public.
Gail Thomas and Jenifer Browne Lawrence
Thurs. Nov. 5, 7pm
Mocha Maya’s, Shelburne Falls
The Collected Poets Series features Gail Thomas and Jenifer Browne Lawrence reading new work. Lawrence is this year’s Perugia Press prize winner for her book, Grayling, and Thomas, who was the first Perugia poet, will read from her third collection, Waving Back.
A Poetry Reading
Friday, November 6, 7:30pm
Poetry Center at Smith College
Wright Hall, Smith, Northampton
Bernadette Mayer Reading in Lenox
Sat. Nov. 7, 3pm
The Bookstore and Get Lit Wine Bar
11 Housatonic St. Lenox, MA
Bernadette Mayer: Eating The Colors of A Lineup of Words: The Early Books of Bernadette Mayer
“Bernadette Mayer is among the most influential American poets of the late 20th century and the present, and much of that influence is based on her early books, previously available only in fragmentary form. As a Brooklyn high school student at the beginning of the 1960s, Mayer began writing with an embodied directness and resource belying her youth. Over the next two decades, this precocious start would culminate in a body of writing extraordinary in its range and impact. Even in a New York milieu given to radical practice as evidenced in the journal 0 TO 9 that she co-edited in the late ’60s these books in their collective force represent an explosion of poetic forms and investigation as profound and sustained as any in contemporary poetry. The poems some short, some book-length, written in the city as well as the country are irreverent and sacred, jocular and aching, gentle and tough, erotic and reflective, rigorously fashioned and off the cuff a poetic skill, intelligence and generosity scaling the heights.” Poets & Writers
Riverwood Poetry Series presents:
Conversations that Challenge: Poetry, Race & Racism –
what we write about when we write about race.
Please join us for this Day-long Festival of free poetry events,
Saturday, November 7th; 1-9 pm
Mark Twain House, 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT
Poetry workshops; dramatic performance; featured poets;
panel discussion; optional open mic; and Twain House tours.
Box Dinner available for $10
Pre-registration preferred: www.riverwoodpoetry.org
Lake House Poetry in Ashfield
Monday, Nov. 9, 8:30pm
Open Mic and Featured Poet Adam Grabowski
We heard a lot of talent last time and can’t wait to hear more! Come perform a poem, a sonnet, a haiku, or spoken word, all types of original writing are welcome. Or you could just come to chill, listen, and cheer on the poets! Sign-ups start at 8:00pm but get there fast, there are a limited number of slots. One poem per person, and please keep your poems to about 3 minutes in length as we want to be able to hear as many people as possible. The event is by donation.
Ashfield Lake House, 141 Buckland Rd. Ashfield, MA
UNBUTTONED
This month’s Unbuttoned Spoken Word night at Luthier’s is on Tuesday, November 10. Come to sign up for the open mic at 7:00 p.m., followed by featured reader Carolyn Zaikowski. 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/
Saturdays at 11:30: 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.In this workshop, no particular experience required, we’ll write and share poetry aloud, and experience brief and simple moving meditations that are gestural poems. Fan Chun, a poet in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) said: “For writing a poem, there are 4 steps: the introduction (Qi) direct; the elucidation (Cheng) tender; the transaction changeable (Zhuan) and the summary meaningful (He).” In moving meditation, such as Tai Chi and Qigong, we practice integrating the same elements. These steps are not linear, but rather spiral throughout the process of making a poem, a dance, or any work of art.
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,Nov., 15, & Dec. 13
Community Room (street-level), Springfield Main Library, 220 State Street, Springfield, MA
Parking: 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!
“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, November 12, 2015 at 6:30pm. Poetry share at 7.
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
~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.
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 