We had a full house on the 11th with 14 of us. Good gaveling enabled us all to read. Actually it involved more drumming than gaveling, as Alan assisted with a wonderful drum. I have a beer cap tamborine. Maybe we could start another drum circle.
The business of the night included a plan to meet for discussion and libation at Mr. Willis' house in the next few weeks. Art will bring us a selection of Sunday afternoon dates that are agreeable with the mistress of his home and hearth.
The Red Menace is reading at the Social Justice Center on Thursday. Anyone who wishes can join the crowd at Ichiban at 5:30 for dinner before the performance. Mimi will be signing books at the Book House the same night.
Tim is featured at Cafe Lena in November, tba.
Alan is soliciting subscribers to Rootdrinker.
Cathy was home sick.
Joyce the traitor Schreiber is taking Thursday night fiddle lessons.
I am enjoying the furor that has been generated by the Ben Stein article. Who knew?
Okay, on to the poems.
Weighing heavily on my mind: Tom rudely pointed out that my poem about Dewar's, ice, water back, was full of cliches. Oh, the pain of it. He, on the other hand presented a Bukowski-like piece with shades of Anthony Bourdain which I liked and someone compared to a jazz piece.
Willow brought a ghazal, which I had no clue about and Mimi disagreed with and the scholars (Tom and Dennis) tried to enlighten us about the next day. Do your own research.
Dan Lawlor was back from his travels with a "First Date" poem, no rhymes, no cliches, just a few too many words that could have been edited out. Lots of "and"s.
Dennis, who called an intervention on himself, passed out a packet of poems (gosh, I wish I could be home writing all day). The Calling was about kids trying on identities, which we enjoyed, but concluded it needed some air.
I liked Tim being bullied on his way home from school, his line "sometimes my fear is praise enough" was totally awesome. Paul had a great line as well - "Mother Nature was about to slam down the window on the slipping fingers of the growing season" in First Hard Frost. Obie was "in the gloamin of the mornin" with the suicide squirrels and got no criticism. Art included a woodchuck/marmot in what was actually a to-war-or-not-to-war meditation.
Philomena tried a sonnet, with an evil topic, related to her work with sex abuse victims.
Mimi's Farewell asked a rhetorical question about keeping our boys boys.
Ben Bird wrote a WCW elegy for DH Lawrence in four parts that Tom wanted to chop up.
Edie amused us with a day in her life with Saul.
Beverly Osborne, who was not frightened away, and, indeed, seems to like us, had a personal reflection work titled Glass which had good pacing, good space. Suggested to leave off final line.
Food followed, with most of us at Smit's. Wish I could figure out how to be at both ends of the conversational table at once. I am always missing something.
This coming weekend (20th) is the library book sale. Thousands of donated books, good ones for cheap prices. On the 21st they are practically given away ($1 for a whole bag). Bake sale, too, on Saturday, begins at 10 a.m.
Some of Us
Dennis Sullivan, Beverly Osborne, Tom Corrado, Edie Abrams, Art Willis, Alan Casline (all seated); Paul Amidon, Mike Burke, Tim Verhaegen, Mark O'Brien, Barbara Vink, Philomena Moriarty
Monday, October 15, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Der Fuehrer's Post
Sans Barbara, Sans Gavel, Sans Women ... Almost!!!
Without Beverly, it would have been Guys Night Out! No telling where it would have ended. Certainly not Smitty’s! The bowels of Watervliet? Who knows! So where were the women? And who’s Beverly? The women didn’t show! Mayhaps because Barb, out on big time bronchitis-leave (Be well, Barb!), had warned them that Der Fuehrer (moi) would be in change. And Beverly? None other than our newest member; hailing from Albany by way of Tribes Hill. She’d browsed this blog, and, voila, appeared! Introductions, a quick look at the RULES, and we were off and reading! Beverly’s Right of Passage, which some felt was actually two poems, spoke of her chubby five-year-old self and her brother and sister. Oddly enough, no one asked Beverly why Right was right, and not Rite. Dennis, however, did have a problem with underwear, not his, or Beverly’s, but Gram’s and Grampa’s, insisting that old people’s undergarments are best disclosed as drawers. Welcome, Beverly! Alan presented an alangory titled The Three Sisters, a riff on three sisters, three golden apples, the threes of life. Short lines, innovative rhyme schemes. Bravo! Obeedude took issue with issue, departing from his colloquial tongue of late, and laying out a tender snapshot of baptizing his baby girl! Presumptive perhaps - a la Dennis - but very well done! Tim, champing at the bit to head off to P-town for an extended weekend, did justice to a War Rant, and the cruel, despicable irony of war, however cloaked. There’s always been war. Top-notch performance peace! Dan conjured the mood of Edgar Poe’s Lenore (at least for me) with his well-wrought Romeo at Juliet’s Tomb. Captivating musicality. He really nailed it! Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, Paul’s contribution, replayed a newsreel of a faded, peeling park, and a memory of a steeplechase ride which kept its strength hidden / until it knew it was all / that was left. Superb! Paul also stepped in to rescue my Flash Fiction, a brief journey into one my sanctums, from the land of bicycles by transforming pedals into petals! Thanks, Paul! Readers shouldn’t be given multiple choices was a point well-paraphrased by Dennis-the-Red-Menace’s invocation of Shelly’s 1819 Defense of Poetry, before launching into his Fifteen Rules For Living Sanely, a reworking of a piece he had open-mic’d in July at Albany’s Social Justice Center. A cool, erudite, edgy, entertaining list of rules written for (I believe) a 13-year-old friend of his, it displayed his usual panorama of juxtaposing images and education, reminding me, at least, of the list, which, mis-attributed to the late, great Kurt Vonnegut, toured the commencement address circuit a few years ago. All good stuff! And with time to spare before the library’s 9 PM closing! Then it was off to Smit’s where, amid Bloody Mary’s avec sidecars, Black and Tans, some weird concoction that Alan found a recipe for in an old copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, tried and true chilled mugs of Bud Lite, medium wings, burgers, Deutchedogs, Kraut, and American wannabes, the discussion got sidetracked - thanks to Kathy-of-wait-staff-fame - into ghosts and witches and Dennis who goes bump in the night. The tab for $100 muted the raucousness. We became the Society of Dead Poets! We reached into our threadbare pockets. Obeedude jumped up on a chair; Dennis upped his pontifications; Beverly sat wide-eyed (She won’t be back!); Alan ended up putting in $35 (Hey, we’re poets not mathematicians!); I grabbed a Metroland, and ran to Pheasant Run, just as the Sheriff of Nottingham arrived on the scene! Yes, it was poetic!
Respectfully submitted,
tHom
Addendum from the Blog Goddess:
Good work, Commandant. I am glad to hear that Beverly showed up (she emailed me several weeks ago) and I hope you rowdy boys didn't frighten her. I am feeling better. I have one of those breath-y machines which seems to working on my cough and I will be back at work on Monday. I am sorry to have missed the festivities.
Aside to tHom - I couldn't open the attachment because I can't access anything in MS Word, but was able to copy and paste. Thanks for taking over. Did you have to gavel anyone, or did everything just go to pieces?
bv
Friday, September 14, 2007
Summer Shower by Mike Burke
When the rain begins to fall
I move from the lakeside rocks
warmed by the afternoon sun
to the picnic table beneath the large oak
Susie my summertime dog
moves with me to stay at my side
I love to watch the rain drop on the lake
make endless repeating ripples
crash and join into each other
hear it drop on the leaves above
while I stay dry.
Watching the dark clouds
move toward me as the fog rolls in
I think of girls I have known
who were once in my life
but never wanted to come back
after they left.
I sometimes wish Susie was a hot babe
spilling out of her halter top
short-shorts legs crossed all thigh
arms around me snuggling
laughing at my jokes.
But now it's just me
and my summertime dog
we'll stay here
under the oak
till I get wet
or run out of beer.
I move from the lakeside rocks
warmed by the afternoon sun
to the picnic table beneath the large oak
Susie my summertime dog
moves with me to stay at my side
I love to watch the rain drop on the lake
make endless repeating ripples
crash and join into each other
hear it drop on the leaves above
while I stay dry.
Watching the dark clouds
move toward me as the fog rolls in
I think of girls I have known
who were once in my life
but never wanted to come back
after they left.
I sometimes wish Susie was a hot babe
spilling out of her halter top
short-shorts legs crossed all thigh
arms around me snuggling
laughing at my jokes.
But now it's just me
and my summertime dog
we'll stay here
under the oak
till I get wet
or run out of beer.
Shades of September!
The late Gary Yeager, who I was beginning to believe might be the actual late Mr. Yeager, appeared just as rumors of his demise were going to start circulating. Also greeted Philomena whose beautiful hair appears to have grown a couple of inches since our last sighting. Burke is back from the track- sounds like a tv show, doesn't it? - and brought a great poem (hey, it had a dog in it) which I am going to post here.
NEWS: I am the feature poet at Tess' Lark Tavern on
September 24. Don't ask me why I said yes, as I am not much into these readings anymore. I guess it was because I like Mary Panza, who was the one who asked me. Signup starts at 7, readings at 7:30 or so. Some of us will probably meet earlier for food and libations. They serve good burgers. Anyone who wants to come, let me know if you want to carpool. Dennis is the feature there in October. Always the last Monday of the month, I guess. Tim will be at Cafe Lena in November. Mary P. and other familiar faces will on stage at the Larkfest tomorrow. I think I might go.
Alan, who was a little clumsy with his lemonade, brought a broadside and accepted compliments on his Normanskill book last night. He is expending a lot of time as Benevolent Bird and doing a great job with publications. He is currently at work on a little book for me.
Lifelines is starting up again on September 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the director's office. I am planning to be there, at least for the first one. Also having the Elizabeth Brundage writing workshop here on October 6, signup required. I will be here.
READ THIS AND ACT: The library is conducting an online survey as part of our expansion planning. It is accessed through our website and asks questions regarding how and why you use VPL and what you think our future holds. Please take the time to take the survey and register your opinions, as you are regular and influential users of this library.
POEMS: Alan's poem was a tribute to Dan Lawlor (who missed it as he is in Denver), described his start as a singer, the triumph of being a tenor. Dan's influence showed up in a couple of poems as Cathy rhymed about Summer's End. We particularly liked the line that read "cones march up the arms of the pine". Distracted Mark, who just came by to pick up the cell phone he left here last night, expanded on his "this is not what I signed on for" rhyme, which is terrific and makes me laugh.
Seasonal poems abounded. I railed about the idiots who proclaim to love autumn, when to me it is a sad season, a precursor to death and dying. Okay, I may have been reacting to a serious downturn in my father's health. Paul was into trees with a description of an Old Maple and its changing fortunes. Philomena encountered an English bulldog on a walk (not a drive!) to a lake and a dangling caterpillar in a tree. Mike sat under a tree in a Summer Shower with his "summertime dog". We all loved it, I think.
Dennis, of course, was more erudite, but accessible, with an expression of the thin line between hope and despair. poor passing facts. How true. Tom had a good one, too, with what may become an annual tradition of end-of-the-track-season horse poems appropriately titled Thoroughbreds. I loved the Spanish leather line, as it reminds me of a favorite Joan Baez song. As usual, very little criticism of either work.
On to the controversy of the night - Tim's very excellent, scathing portrayal of two particular individuals in a restaurant. Descriptions were right on target, but general consensus was that it was could have been done with fewer words. A couple of people mentioned that he was being unduly mean-spirited in his description. Tim felt that the group was missing the point in the poem. I think we all understood the message - which was a good one, btw - but I feel that the effectiveness was obscured rather than highlighted by the repetitiveness.
Gary, if you could find me a sonnet-writing poet (still breathing) I am available for marriage or the remainder of my life. Arthur Davidson Ficke: good stuff.
MISC: I needed my gavel several times during the course of the evening, but had left it in my office and resorted to pounding the table. We did however manage to get everyone to read before closing. Tim and Cathy got lost somewhere between VPL and Smitty's. The rest of us ate a pile of wings and nachos with a variety of drinks. I am waiting for Mike's analysis of GW's speech. Alright, I will now post Mike's poem and wait for responses from you all. Can anyone think of a new poll? Don't forget the V'ville Peace Rally on Tuesday nights. Good turnout of writers. We are big advocates for peace.
NEWS: I am the feature poet at Tess' Lark Tavern on
September 24. Don't ask me why I said yes, as I am not much into these readings anymore. I guess it was because I like Mary Panza, who was the one who asked me. Signup starts at 7, readings at 7:30 or so. Some of us will probably meet earlier for food and libations. They serve good burgers. Anyone who wants to come, let me know if you want to carpool. Dennis is the feature there in October. Always the last Monday of the month, I guess. Tim will be at Cafe Lena in November. Mary P. and other familiar faces will on stage at the Larkfest tomorrow. I think I might go.
Alan, who was a little clumsy with his lemonade, brought a broadside and accepted compliments on his Normanskill book last night. He is expending a lot of time as Benevolent Bird and doing a great job with publications. He is currently at work on a little book for me.
Lifelines is starting up again on September 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the director's office. I am planning to be there, at least for the first one. Also having the Elizabeth Brundage writing workshop here on October 6, signup required. I will be here.
READ THIS AND ACT: The library is conducting an online survey as part of our expansion planning. It is accessed through our website and asks questions regarding how and why you use VPL and what you think our future holds. Please take the time to take the survey and register your opinions, as you are regular and influential users of this library.
POEMS: Alan's poem was a tribute to Dan Lawlor (who missed it as he is in Denver), described his start as a singer, the triumph of being a tenor. Dan's influence showed up in a couple of poems as Cathy rhymed about Summer's End. We particularly liked the line that read "cones march up the arms of the pine". Distracted Mark, who just came by to pick up the cell phone he left here last night, expanded on his "this is not what I signed on for" rhyme, which is terrific and makes me laugh.
Seasonal poems abounded. I railed about the idiots who proclaim to love autumn, when to me it is a sad season, a precursor to death and dying. Okay, I may have been reacting to a serious downturn in my father's health. Paul was into trees with a description of an Old Maple and its changing fortunes. Philomena encountered an English bulldog on a walk (not a drive!) to a lake and a dangling caterpillar in a tree. Mike sat under a tree in a Summer Shower with his "summertime dog". We all loved it, I think.
Dennis, of course, was more erudite, but accessible, with an expression of the thin line between hope and despair. poor passing facts. How true. Tom had a good one, too, with what may become an annual tradition of end-of-the-track-season horse poems appropriately titled Thoroughbreds. I loved the Spanish leather line, as it reminds me of a favorite Joan Baez song. As usual, very little criticism of either work.
On to the controversy of the night - Tim's very excellent, scathing portrayal of two particular individuals in a restaurant. Descriptions were right on target, but general consensus was that it was could have been done with fewer words. A couple of people mentioned that he was being unduly mean-spirited in his description. Tim felt that the group was missing the point in the poem. I think we all understood the message - which was a good one, btw - but I feel that the effectiveness was obscured rather than highlighted by the repetitiveness.
Gary, if you could find me a sonnet-writing poet (still breathing) I am available for marriage or the remainder of my life. Arthur Davidson Ficke: good stuff.
MISC: I needed my gavel several times during the course of the evening, but had left it in my office and resorted to pounding the table. We did however manage to get everyone to read before closing. Tim and Cathy got lost somewhere between VPL and Smitty's. The rest of us ate a pile of wings and nachos with a variety of drinks. I am waiting for Mike's analysis of GW's speech. Alright, I will now post Mike's poem and wait for responses from you all. Can anyone think of a new poll? Don't forget the V'ville Peace Rally on Tuesday nights. Good turnout of writers. We are big advocates for peace.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Construction Going On
Okay, I am doing a little work on the layout, at the prompting of the critical Mr. Corrado. I have not figured out how to resize photos, obviously. Maybe the kindhearted Mr. O'Brien will come to my rescue. I am trying to link to the pdf of our book so it may be read through the blog site.
Also, a NEW feature enables us to have fun and games like the poll now appearing. This one is rather simpleminded as I was in a hurry to practice the polling gizmo, but it also serves as a promotion for Alan's newest publication of Normanskill. It is a really nice work. He is a talented guy.
Speaking of talent, did you all get Tom's mail about his latest work on display at the Upstate Artists Guild? The opening reception is tonight. He is getting well-deserved acclaim for his "orbs" and "orbits" which I love (altho I am still distraught that he destroyed a green and purple one that was my favorite).
Dan Lawlor will be in Denver for the next meeting and Mimi will also be away, but I think Burke is Back and am expecting to see some faces who have been missing over the summer. I saw Cathy and Dennis and Joyce at the peace rally in the village on Tuesday. We were taking off our clothes and throwing ourselves under the wheels of motorcycles to protest the war.
BTW, Lifelines will begin meeting again on September 20 also with some new faces to give the group a little of infusion of life (sorry, couldn't help it). I am going to try again to attend, as I have been writing prose on my blog at home. I find it very difficult to get back to the library at night however after having been here all day. I love the library, but I don't want it to consume my life.
Take the poll so I see how it works.
Also, a NEW feature enables us to have fun and games like the poll now appearing. This one is rather simpleminded as I was in a hurry to practice the polling gizmo, but it also serves as a promotion for Alan's newest publication of Normanskill. It is a really nice work. He is a talented guy.
Speaking of talent, did you all get Tom's mail about his latest work on display at the Upstate Artists Guild? The opening reception is tonight. He is getting well-deserved acclaim for his "orbs" and "orbits" which I love (altho I am still distraught that he destroyed a green and purple one that was my favorite).
Dan Lawlor will be in Denver for the next meeting and Mimi will also be away, but I think Burke is Back and am expecting to see some faces who have been missing over the summer. I saw Cathy and Dennis and Joyce at the peace rally in the village on Tuesday. We were taking off our clothes and throwing ourselves under the wheels of motorcycles to protest the war.
BTW, Lifelines will begin meeting again on September 20 also with some new faces to give the group a little of infusion of life (sorry, couldn't help it). I am going to try again to attend, as I have been writing prose on my blog at home. I find it very difficult to get back to the library at night however after having been here all day. I love the library, but I don't want it to consume my life.
Take the poll so I see how it works.
Friday, August 24, 2007
War Psalm
Mimi's chapbook of WWII poems for her father has been published and she donated a copy for the VPL collection. The book has a pic of the author looking absolutely glamorous-in full color, with lipstick even!They are on sale from her or at Amazon ($13). (Mimi, my favorite is Postcard from the War.) Her poem last night was also about war, the current one, and the presentation of a medal to a young widow (aside: check out war portraits by Nina Berman in the NYTimes this morning 8/24).
Paul presented another glimpse into his mischievous young life with a circus story that was very funny and deserved a five-star rating. Obeedude did a funny with What maks tha Happie Maun happie? Rather oddly, it referenced serotonin. Perhaps a more colloquial spelling. Saeretunen?
Dennis started out to Perth Amboy with a bang - hauling a truckload of chickens with his grandfather. I thought I was gonna love it, but he lost me in stanza two and the discussion between us degenerated into a minor tift over Priam, of all things. I no longer have a mind for complexities. Oh, well. Joyce (welcome back, Schreiber!) was also into mythological references. Her Medea was very emotional, in spite of the spaghetti straps.
We discussed the shape and size of Asparagus, which was Tom's title. Not many comments, as Tom's style is all his own. Alan, on the other hand, fielded a lot of suggestions about his Campfire on the Land, a sweet/sad memory of father-son camping trips. (from me: read the poem on his second page called Poem as Confessional. Great one.)
I did not have a poem, blaming it on my computer which has vomited up my Microsoft Word and rendered me helpless.
I was wrong about segue. No one got gaveled.
No Ally, no Art, no Edie, Mike or Dan or Catherine. Tim is off to Rockport, MA, today and I am off to Maine next week. Tom is doing the old college trip with his daughter this weekend. Good luck to him. Maybe we will be back to full strength on September 13.
Paul presented another glimpse into his mischievous young life with a circus story that was very funny and deserved a five-star rating. Obeedude did a funny with What maks tha Happie Maun happie? Rather oddly, it referenced serotonin. Perhaps a more colloquial spelling. Saeretunen?
Dennis started out to Perth Amboy with a bang - hauling a truckload of chickens with his grandfather. I thought I was gonna love it, but he lost me in stanza two and the discussion between us degenerated into a minor tift over Priam, of all things. I no longer have a mind for complexities. Oh, well. Joyce (welcome back, Schreiber!) was also into mythological references. Her Medea was very emotional, in spite of the spaghetti straps.
We discussed the shape and size of Asparagus, which was Tom's title. Not many comments, as Tom's style is all his own. Alan, on the other hand, fielded a lot of suggestions about his Campfire on the Land, a sweet/sad memory of father-son camping trips. (from me: read the poem on his second page called Poem as Confessional. Great one.)
I did not have a poem, blaming it on my computer which has vomited up my Microsoft Word and rendered me helpless.
I was wrong about segue. No one got gaveled.
No Ally, no Art, no Edie, Mike or Dan or Catherine. Tim is off to Rockport, MA, today and I am off to Maine next week. Tom is doing the old college trip with his daughter this weekend. Good luck to him. Maybe we will be back to full strength on September 13.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Survivor by Roger McGough
Everyday, I think about dying.
About disease, starvation,
violence, terrorism, war,
the end of the world.
It helps keep my mind off things.
About disease, starvation,
violence, terrorism, war,
the end of the world.
It helps keep my mind off things.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Pooched for Kisses
Last night I wanted to be Marilyn Monroe with her dress blowing in the hot air, her wasp-waist and her red lips pooched for kissing. My poem reflected the reality of it all. Mimi remarked that she had been thinking about the word "pooch" recently. Odd.
Mimi brought her annual Elvis poem (yes, the King is dead!) which everyone liked. It is hard for me to imagine our sensible Mimi as "boy crazy", but that is what she admits to. Philomena, with a last minute entry, asked the pitiful question who am i.
Art's poem was visually pleasing to me, with a recurring line of "sometimes I ask too much of chance." It also struck a chord (sorry) with a reference to Sibelius' 7th, rising and hanging in the air. Dan, our opera singer, particularly liked that, too.
The stout-hearted Scottish wanderer continues his journey. Mark responded to our questions for further explanation about ULLANS, the language he has been sleeping with. He is able to access the words through glossaries and other writings to establish their meaning and usage, which I didn't understand. I thought he was just making it up as needed.
I was happy to see Paul at the Ernie Williams concert Wednesday night. It was a great evening. I love Ernie. Was wishing Tom was there to hear the sax player who was phenomenal. Paul's poem was very strong, about an old man dying to sounds of a baseball game outside his window. We all offered a little trimming advice and I suggested a title change to "Crossing the Plate".
Napoleon at Elba was well served by Dan's verse. In fact, we all wanted him to continue it beyond the four stanzas he had started with. A Napoleonic epic.
I got a little carried away with rearranging Cathy's effort at comparing pelican flight to the Blue Angels, although she took it graciously. My excuse was that I liked the concept so much it needed to be made stronger. Cathy won a nice cash prize in the Greenville All Arts Matter contest for her poem about driving with her oxygen. Good woman.
BTW, Cathy will be deciding soon whether or not to continue with Lifelines this fall. Anyone who wants it to keep meeting should be ready to make a real commitment to the group. Think about others you might recruit and contact Cathy at 861-8067. Any of you who are also prose writers might want to sign up for a writing workshop I have scheduled here in October with local author Elizabeth Brundage. Details will be coming out in the next Bookworm at the end of August.
Mimi was featured at Cafe Lena this month. I am going to be at the Lark Tavern in September. Mike Burke appeared on Mimi's program on Bethlehem TV last Thursday. I missed it.
Someone made a suggestion (after I ripped up Cathy's pelicans) that we pick a short poem and all write our own versions of it. Something simple, for example, the WCW poem about the plums whose title I can't come up with. We also mentioned another group topic night, which I always find interesting. Anyone got a topic?
Love and kisses, Marilyn
Mimi brought her annual Elvis poem (yes, the King is dead!) which everyone liked. It is hard for me to imagine our sensible Mimi as "boy crazy", but that is what she admits to. Philomena, with a last minute entry, asked the pitiful question who am i.
Art's poem was visually pleasing to me, with a recurring line of "sometimes I ask too much of chance." It also struck a chord (sorry) with a reference to Sibelius' 7th, rising and hanging in the air. Dan, our opera singer, particularly liked that, too.
The stout-hearted Scottish wanderer continues his journey. Mark responded to our questions for further explanation about ULLANS, the language he has been sleeping with. He is able to access the words through glossaries and other writings to establish their meaning and usage, which I didn't understand. I thought he was just making it up as needed.
I was happy to see Paul at the Ernie Williams concert Wednesday night. It was a great evening. I love Ernie. Was wishing Tom was there to hear the sax player who was phenomenal. Paul's poem was very strong, about an old man dying to sounds of a baseball game outside his window. We all offered a little trimming advice and I suggested a title change to "Crossing the Plate".
Napoleon at Elba was well served by Dan's verse. In fact, we all wanted him to continue it beyond the four stanzas he had started with. A Napoleonic epic.
I got a little carried away with rearranging Cathy's effort at comparing pelican flight to the Blue Angels, although she took it graciously. My excuse was that I liked the concept so much it needed to be made stronger. Cathy won a nice cash prize in the Greenville All Arts Matter contest for her poem about driving with her oxygen. Good woman.
BTW, Cathy will be deciding soon whether or not to continue with Lifelines this fall. Anyone who wants it to keep meeting should be ready to make a real commitment to the group. Think about others you might recruit and contact Cathy at 861-8067. Any of you who are also prose writers might want to sign up for a writing workshop I have scheduled here in October with local author Elizabeth Brundage. Details will be coming out in the next Bookworm at the end of August.
Mimi was featured at Cafe Lena this month. I am going to be at the Lark Tavern in September. Mike Burke appeared on Mimi's program on Bethlehem TV last Thursday. I missed it.
Someone made a suggestion (after I ripped up Cathy's pelicans) that we pick a short poem and all write our own versions of it. Something simple, for example, the WCW poem about the plums whose title I can't come up with. We also mentioned another group topic night, which I always find interesting. Anyone got a topic?
Love and kisses, Marilyn
Monday, August 6, 2007
from Mimi
On Sunday, July 29, 2007, EOTN Poets Joyce Schreiber, Dennis
Sullivan, Philomena Moriarty, Catherine Norr and Mimi Moriarty
attended a special service, "Poetic Perspectives on Spirituality," at
the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany. Philomena, along
with church member Julie Lomoe, hosted, greeted and opened the
service with their remarks and their poetry. Dennis, Joyce and Mimi
read three poems each, all on the subject of spirituality. As you
can imagine, each had a very different slant. Catherine played
guitar and sang two very haunting, beautiful songs. There were two
other poets, Carol Graser and Pam Clements, who also participated.
The EOTN poets were warmly received. Philomena was an especially
gracious host. Afterwards the poets, with guests, brunched at
Bountiful Bread in Stuyvesant Plaza. The conversation was lively.
Dennis entertained the table with a bit of Latin, Mimi, Catherine and
Joyce reminisced about their week at Pyramid Lake, and witnesses say
the place was much quieter when they all left for home.
Sullivan, Philomena Moriarty, Catherine Norr and Mimi Moriarty
attended a special service, "Poetic Perspectives on Spirituality," at
the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany. Philomena, along
with church member Julie Lomoe, hosted, greeted and opened the
service with their remarks and their poetry. Dennis, Joyce and Mimi
read three poems each, all on the subject of spirituality. As you
can imagine, each had a very different slant. Catherine played
guitar and sang two very haunting, beautiful songs. There were two
other poets, Carol Graser and Pam Clements, who also participated.
The EOTN poets were warmly received. Philomena was an especially
gracious host. Afterwards the poets, with guests, brunched at
Bountiful Bread in Stuyvesant Plaza. The conversation was lively.
Dennis entertained the table with a bit of Latin, Mimi, Catherine and
Joyce reminisced about their week at Pyramid Lake, and witnesses say
the place was much quieter when they all left for home.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
New Link
We are NOT meeting at Mimi's house on August 9. In addition to our mixed vacation schedules, Mimi tells me that Rte 85 is closed for construction until ???, making it very complicated to find her. Therefore, we will meet at VPL on the 9th and try for another date in the fall at Mimi's (beautiful) house.
Please see the new link on our link list. You can follow it to a new reference database the library has subscribed to (Thompson Gale), choose "literature" link and you will arrive at the Contemporary Poets site. You can look up hundreds of poets for bio information, reviews, etc. It is pretty interesting.
Congrats to Tom on another gallery acceptance. Those orbs are really in orbit, aren't they.
Have a happy weekend.
Remember "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." (Bertrand Russell)
Please see the new link on our link list. You can follow it to a new reference database the library has subscribed to (Thompson Gale), choose "literature" link and you will arrive at the Contemporary Poets site. You can look up hundreds of poets for bio information, reviews, etc. It is pretty interesting.
Congrats to Tom on another gallery acceptance. Those orbs are really in orbit, aren't they.
Have a happy weekend.
Remember "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." (Bertrand Russell)
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