***POETRY NEWS***
Here is your Poetry News for the month of January, 2017
Poetry News is now published monthly. Please send events as you normally do to lori@thepoetrynews.com. The site will be updated regularly.
To receive Poetry News in your email or to request posting of events write to lori@thepoetrynews.com.
Happy New Year and a wish for Peace and Strength!
Some Highlights of This Month in Western MA
Tue. Jan. 3 – Straw Dog Writer’s Night Out, Jeannine Atkins and Open Mic, The Basement, 21 Center St. Northampton, 7pm
Tue. Jan. 3 – Nkosi Nkululeko & Open Mic, The Deuce, Northampton, 8pm
Wed. Jan. 7 – Poetry Open Mic at Sam’s Pizza, Northampton, 7pm
Mon. Jan. 9 – Wagon Wheel Word! Paul Richmond, Catherine Weiss & Open Mic, Wagon Wheel Restaurant, Rt. 2, Gill, 6pm.
Tue. Jan. 10 – TBA & Open Mic, The Deuce, WWII Club, Northampton, 8pm
Wed. Jan. 11 – Celebration of Local Novelists, Forbes Library, Northampton, 7pm
Tue. Jan. 17 – UNBUTTONED Features and Open Mic, Luthiers Coop, Easthampton, 7pm
Tue. Jan. 17 – TBA & Open Mic, The Deuce, WWII Club, Northampton, 8pm
Tue. Jan. 17 – No Greenfield word this month. Look forward to February!
Thu. Jan. 19 – “In the Dark Times there will be Singing” poetry and protest on the eve of the inauguration, Eastworks, Easthampton, 8pm. Info: seriousplaytheatre@gmail.com
Thu. Jan. 19 – Jane Yolen reads from “Before the Vote, After” new book from Levellers Press, Florence Civic Center, 7pm.
Thu. Jan. 19 – Six local poets reading, Candace Curran and others, Underdogs Lounge, 10 Bridge St. Shelburne Falls, 7pm
Fri. Jan. 20 – In UGH uration party featuring Jane Yolen, White Square Books, Easthampton, 7pm
Tue. Jan. 24 – TBA & Open Mic, The Deuce, Northampton, 8pm
Tue. Jan. 24 – Writers Read, Barbara Ungar & Stuart Bartow at Lee Library, Lee, 5:30pm
Wed. Jan. 25 – Ign!te the Mic, Youth open mic, Bing Arts Center, 716 Sumner Ave. Springfield, 7pm
Fri. Jan. 27 – Ben Hersey book release at White Square Books, Easthampton, 7pm
Sun. Jan. 29 – Exploded View poetry & art at Pushkin Gallery, Greenfield, 4pm
Sun. Jan 29 – Gallery of Readers presents Norma Sims Roche and Laurie Sanders, Neilson Library, Smith College, Northampton, 4pm
Tue. Jan. 31 – TBA and Open Mic, The Deuce, WWII Club, Northampton, 8pm
POETRY EVENTS: PIONEER VALLEY AND BEYOND!
Writers Night Out
This month’s writers are Barbara Ungar and Stuart Bartow.Barbara Ungar’s most recent book, Immortal Medusa, was chosen as one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Indie Books of 2015 and was a co-winner of the Adirondack Center for Writing Poetry Award, along with Stuart Bartow’s Einstein’s Lawn. Prior books include Charlotte Brontë, You Ruined My Life and The Origin of the Milky Way, which won the Gival Prize, an Independent Publishers Silver Medal, and a Hoffer award. A native of Worcester, MA, Barbara is a professor of English at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, where she teaches writing and literature.
Stuart Bartow teaches writing and literature at SUNY Adirondack where he directs the college’s Writers Project. He is also chair of the Battenkill Conservancy, a grassroots environmental organization working along the Vermont-New York border. His most recent book of poems, Einstein’s Lawn, is published by Dos Madres Press and was co-winner (with Barbara Ungar’s Immortal Medusa) of this year’s Adirondack Center for Writing Poetry Award. He has also published a prose work: Teaching Trout to Talk: the Zen of Small Stream Fly Fishing, and lives in Salem, New York.
Open Mic Night for Youth
Every last Wednesday of the month from 7-9 p.m. from September through April, youth ages 12-25 are invited to Ign!te the Mic, The Valley’s only open mic for youth by youth.
A safe and non-competitive space for youth to share poetry, spoken word, music, monologues, theatrical scenes, dance, visual art, puppertry, or whatever your imagination can conceive!
All languages welcome. Admission $5 (no one turned away for lack of funds) Come and experience the healing power of the arts!
Co-sponsored by Teatro V!da and the The Bing Arts Center
Every last Wednesday of the month from 7-9 p.m.
Performers sign up at 6:45 p.m.
Bing Arts Center
716 Sumner Avenue
Springfield, MA
In the Forest Park neighborhood: free on street parking
www.teatrovida.com www.bingartscenter.org
Winter Poetry Workshop offered by Slate Roof Managing Editor Janet MacFadyen
Slate Roof Press is glad to announce a winter poetry workshop with Managing Editor Janet MacFadyen via Amherst Leisure Services.
Tuesdays, 6-8 pm, January 24 – March 7
The long dark nights of winter are the perfect time for looking inward, writing poetry, and sharing it with others. We’ll follow a traditional workshop format —giving feedback on participants’ poems, exploring writing techniques, and generating new material. The atmosphere will be relaxed. Open to all adults, from people who want to try their hand at something new to published poets. All you need to bring is an open mind, perseverance, and something to write with.
Six-week session via Amherst Leisure Services. $124/$135. Location in Amherst TBD; no class Feb. 7. Register online http://www.amherstma.gov/432/LSSE — click the Browse button, then search under Poetry. Or call/email Amherst Leisure Services: 413-259-3065 lsse@amherstma.gov
Janet MacFadyen is the author of three works of poetry, and has held residential fellowships at the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center and Cill Rialaig, Ireland. Her work has been nominated for the Forward Prize (UK), and twice nominated for a Pushcart. It appears most recently in Crannóg (Ireland), White Stag, Terrain, Mead, and Sweet. Earlier work appeared in Poetry, The Atlantic Monthly, The Atlanta Review, Malahat, Rosebud, and The Southern Poetry Review.
Now in our 13th year, Slate Roof Press is member-run and committed to publishing the best new voices in poetry, with a focus on Massachusetts and regional poets. Designed by the poets themselves, Slate Roof chapbooks feature letterpress covers, special papers, and hand-sewn bindings. To learn more, go to slateroofpress.com.
26th Annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest
Open to residents of Franklin County
Two categories: Adult and Young Poet (ages 12-18)
Submit up to three poems. Indicate “Adult” or “Young Poet,” and Young Poets write your age in lower right hand corner of front page, circled. Write name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available) on reverse. No personal identification on front. Submit on white 8.5 x 11 paper, printed clearly in ink or type; title of poem on each page, no staples (paper clip please). Poems will not be returned. Notification of entry will be via email, unless SASE is provided. Only unpublished poems may be submitted. Previous 1st place winners may not submit (though youth can, if entered in a new age category!)
* First Prize, Adult: Poet’s Seat Chair for one year and name engraved on plaque; hand-crafted, poet’s ceramic platter; $20 book store gift certificate; and gift certificate for one night’s stay at Poetry Ridge B&B, Greenfield
*All other prizes: 2nd and 3rd Place Adult, as well as top 4 Youth Poems (Youth poems judged in separate categories, ages at time of submission 12-14 and 15-18): hand-crafted poet’s ceramic mug, $20 book store gift certificate
*Awards Ceremony: Thursday, April 27, 7 p.m., Capen Room, Stoneleigh-Burnham School, 574 Bernardston Road, Greenfield
*Send poems to: POET’S SEAT CONTEST
Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301
Deadline: March 6, 2017 (postmark)
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/
FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY
Our regular meeting this month is Thursday, January 12, 2017. Business at 6:30, poetry share at 7:00pm. 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 atinfo@florencepoets.com.
GREENFIELD, SHELBURNE FALLS AND NORTH
3rd Tuesday of the month
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
The Hangover Hour Poetry Salon
is every other Sunday afternoon, with a poet from the community reading the works of a poet from history. The open mic before the feature is a tight 5 minutes, for poems, stories or other spoken word propaganda. Spread the word nerd! The future is a drag, man!!! We start promptly at 5:00 p.m. every other Sunday, so come early, have a tasty beverage and be cool cats. 18+ Nicks (124 Millbury Street, Worcester)
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 .
CONNECTICUT POETRY
CT has a wonderful and comprehensive newsletter online. Write toctpoetnews@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 8-10pmhttp://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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 the end of the month for publication. Thank you, Lori Desrosiers – Publisher, Editor, wearer of all hats.
Poetry News 