****POETRY NEWS****
Here is your Poetry News for Western Massachusetts for the month of May, 2019.
Poetry News is published monthly. EMAIL: Please send events to thepoetrynews@gmail.com. The site will be updated regularly.
To receive Poetry News in your email also send to thepoetrynews@gmail.com
I also have a public group on Facebook called “Poetry Events: Northampton, MA and Vicinity.” I update it regularly when a new event comes my way, so please go there in between if you want to post an event, and please join the group for updates. Thanks! Here’s a link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/369429966453898/
Wishing you Peace through Poetry,
Poetry Highlights of This Month in Western Massachusetts:
Thu. May 2 – Collected Poets present Dzivinia Orlovsky & Julia Bouwsma, Mocha Maya’s, Shelburne Falls, 7pm
Sun. May 5 – Writers Read (Straw Dog) presents Joshua Michael Stewart & Open Mic, Belding Memorial Library, Ashfield, 2-4pm
Tue. May 7 – Writers Night Out! Straw Dog presents Charlie Bondhus & Open Mic, The Basement, 11 Center St. Northampton, 7pm
Thu. May 9 – Florence Poets Society Meeting & Poetry Share, 2nd Thu. of the month, Lilly Library, Florence. All Welcome! 6:30pm business, 7pm poetry share.
Sat. May 11 – “To Refract Our Complex Identities: How to write an American Ghazal” workshop with Maria Luisa Arroyo, Lilly Library, Florence, 10:00am – 12:30.
Sat. May 11 – Write- up Springfield A monthly creative writing group for Springfield area writers will be holding its monthly meeting in the Community Room at the Springfield Central Library. New members always welcome! 1-3pm
Tue. May 14 – Northampton Poetry – Kai Pretto and Open Mic at The Deuce, WWII Club Northampton, 7pm.
Tue. May 14 – UNBUTTONED presents Emily Everett & Open Mic, Luthiers Co-op, Easthampton, 7pm.
Tue. May 21 – Third Tuesday Spoken Word: Howie Faerstein, Tommy Twilite & Open Mic, 9 Mill St. Greenfield, 7pm.
Sun. May 26 – Literary Rendezvous: Open Mic & featuring Tommy Twilite at the Voo, (Rendezvous), Turners Falls, 2:30 – 4:30pm
Tue. May 28 – Writers Read: Gary Metras & Jessica Piazza, Lee Library, Lee, 5:30pm
Wed. May 29 – Teatro V!DA Youth Open Mic, Bing Arts Ctr., 716 Sumner, Springfield, 7pm
IN DETAIL: POETRY EVENTS: PIONEER VALLEY AND BEYOND!
Last Sunday of every month, 3-5pm
Open Mic host: Candace Curran
The Rendezvous, Turners Falls, MA
Tuesday Nights 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/
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, MAIn the Forest Park neighborhood: free on street parking
www.teatrovida.com www.bingartscenter.org
Breathing, Age, and Different
WordXWord announces spring schedule for Poets Creating Conversation.
Pittsfield, MA – WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation continues to challenge poets to provoke and bear witness, asking them to put their words to work unpacking difficult issues in the current discourse. The spring schedule includes Breathing in America, April 29; Age in America, May 20; and Different in America, June 24. Poets Creating Conversation events take place at the Berkshire Museum and admission is free.
By challenging poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue PCC events create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience. By sharing personal stories, observations, challenges, as well as moments of inspiration and hope, these events weave a tapestry of creative voices that makes us stronger and helps us individually and collectively navigate the way forward.
May 20, 7P
Age in America
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield
Poets of a certain age / all ages / ageless, may or may not act their age when we dive into what age means in America. If age is just a number, let’s do the math.
June 24, 7P
Different in America
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield
From inside and out, over and under, what does it mean to be different in America? What is “different“ and who gets to decide?
All WordXWord events are free and these programs are open to all; however, parents and guardians are advised that some content may be challenging for younger children.
The schedule is subject to change – for more information visit WordXWordFestival.com.
WordXWord is made possible by lead sponsor Greylock Federal Credit Union, with additional support from Housatonic Heritage.
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WordXWord encourages poets to accept a greater role in the cultural landscape, to provoke and bear witness, to use their craft to advocate for social justice, to act as agents of change, and to add their voices in celebration of the full potential of the human spirit. We use the arts – spoken word, poetry and storytelling – to build community, promote creativity, and provide a safe space for celebration of identity and exploration of the challenges of our time.
WordXWordFestival.com
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
Cape Cod Poetry is under Barry Hellman’s Cape Cod Poetry Group on Facebook.
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
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News for Poetry News should be sent to thepoetrynews@gmail.com. Please send your announcements in text only – do not format (no special fonts, left-align, no colors, etc.) and please 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 