with permission from Mr. W

Dandelion

Ted leapt from the end of his bed
Trimmed down the stairs
And ran full-bore
In an endless lope
Toward an horizon only he could see.
His right foot caught a noteworthy rock
And forward he went as his chin
Cut a narrow furrow in the grass.
Chest, arms, waist and knees
Bounced along in a rude clap of earth and bone.
The three-year-old opened his mouth
In rehearsal of an outraged howl
As he came face to face with a dandelion
In full yellow-butter bloom
Blasting light and green:
A dandelion monument shined out
In the magnificent rise of glowing eyes
And a smile of utter, final surprise.
He made a sound somewhere between
O and Ow and Wow.

A.Willis, Jan. 21, 2009

Not Barb

Okay, I don't usually make a big deal out of this, but as more and more of you are becoming guilty of this crime against person (me), the time has come to announce: DON'T BARB ME. A barb is a fishhook, a sharp curving metal object that is used to injure and capture slimy and disgusting fish. It is not my name. Although I will answer to almost anything else, I am no longer responding to "Barb".

Incidentally, at Smitty's yesterday after Sunday Four, me an' the guys talked about that sing-songy voice that is used by many performers reciting their poetry. I guess it is a style that is falling out of fashion. At least, I hope it is. I hate it.

Our poetry brunch is on the board for April 11. If anyone has any great ideas to improve the day, let me know soon. Just don't call me Barb.

I have a lot to say...

I had what I considered to be a brilliant idea before I fell asleep last night. I have those frequently, but they don't always hold up in the light of day. This one is still okay. In keeping with Alan's efforts to promote poetry to the unwashed masses, I am thinking of compiling an email list of my friends and acquaintances who do not read poetry or who never hear my poems. I would ask if they would mind if I sent them occasional poems that I have written (not anyone else's!).

If I got asked to be on such a list, I would think: well, I don't care much about poetry, but I like this person and don't want to hurt her feelings by saying no. And it's better than ordinary Spam, so sure.

You may steal this idea if you like it. You would have to be prepared for rejection with no hard feelings, and the poems would have to be only your best and only occasionally. If the poems are well received, I plan to give others permission to "re-gift" them to their own friends and - my poems might be set loose to travel the world! (And no, it is not important to me to protect my "rights" to my work.) Enough on that.

I have booked us for June for an art show so you can start thinking about your project. We can use the hall and the community room walls if necessary. If you want to do an assemblage or other three dimensional piece or sculpture, we'll have to talk about how and where it will be placed, so give me some advance notice. Don't give me the excuse that you are not an artist. It is a given that all writers are not visual artists and nobody expects show quality pieces. We are first word artists, which means we are clever. It is your imagination and creativity that will be on display here and our two previous shows have been much fun.

Last night I learned (or re-learned) that the little reference a writer might place under the title of a work is called an epigraph. Tom had one on Is That You? that talked about the use of the second person offering the reader a feeling of being connected to the poem and the poet. O'Bee equated Tom's poem to "an abstract painting with words". It began:
The funhouse has been rehabbed by an avatar
who was fingered by the mob
for selling love seats door-to-door.

R. A. Pavoldi has pretty much cleared his Thursday nights to include us in his groove again. He was inside tonight and not standing outside in the snow (old joke) looking in the window. (He did that once and we didn't find out he had been there until much later.) His poem was a little mysterious, not as grounded in Italian moms and uncles and friends as we are accustomed to from him. Mapping the Gnome Gene Human was pretty clever - he started with the title and built the poem around it. Not everybody got it on the first or second read, which I guess it what made it clever.

Stacie's poem called new republic was word perfect, very spare, with some words she picked for no significant reason. Good explanation. It was a view of the inaugural that combined some midwifery.

Kathy M., who btw will be in Florida for our next two meetings and assures me she is not deserting us because of our shenanigans, graciously considered our suggestions about chopping extraneous words and phrases. Her poem about a broken relationship with a friend prompted me to remember wanting to write about a similar situation. Tim and I were talking this week about being inspired by other poets and this was a perfect example. We agreed that when inspiration hits, you must go home and write immediately or you will lose your impetus. Happens to me all the time.

I am in love with Alan this week - you know what I mean - with his style, which is so different in The Quality of Light than the style I harshly criticized the last time. I commented that he must have two little guys in his head warring over who gets to express himself. This poem was thoughtful, sensitive, human, and was a pleasure( for me) to read. Mimi said that any woman would appreciate receiving this poem and I certainly am on board with that. Bravo. "His story became the story of the train." Love it. (Note to Alan: don't forget to send me a revised copy to save, please.)

Mimi was a poem of the night candidate with Mummers Parade - January 1, 2009. It was a terrific marriage of abstract and concrete concepts about dealing with death and the ensuing grief. " I am flying with my father. Together we keep the beat with knees high, jacket flapping the breeze." To me, who lost my father a year ago, it kinda "crack(ed) my chest apart."

I know this is going on forever, but gosh, we had some good stuff.

Tim painted "an impressionist portrait" of an old life in East Hampton which was not as literal as he usually is. Ron and Alan both mentioned it as a "tight" and "finished" poem. Everyone praised the final stanza which was a fine character description.

I'm sorry, I forgot who mentioned that they appreciated Edie's introduction of the "Jewish cultural voice" into her work, but it is accurate. The poem began with her colorful description of three cats which led to quite some debate over the old question of is this one poem or two, but no conclusion. The title was "the rest is silence", which were Hamlet's last words and it was followed by the musings of what comes after death. My favorite line: "The heart is like a hotel, Margo's mother said. "

In keeping with my resolution, it was Mark's turn to bear the brunt of my brutal tongue. His poem incorporated a multitude of words such as distress with the "dis" omitted. Art compared it to the playfulness of Finnegan's Wake and Edie mentioned Jabberwocky (which I love and we can all quote). Others agreed with me that it more of a writing exercise than a poem.

Tom made an interesting comment about Paul's Grandfather. He said that when he reads work that is extremely good (and this was), he gets "fidgety" waiting for the writer to screw it up before the end. Veddy interrresting.

Art left us all laughing with a truly joyous poem about his grandson Ted taking a header on the lawn full of Dandelions. It was delightful and for me, Art's most memorable. It also prompted a discussion of the use of a or an in front of "h" words.

In conclusion, it pleases me to report, because I admire Art greatly, that he said my poem about a murder was "masterfully crafted". It was a poem I had been carrying in my head for months and was finally able to write in a way that I was satisfied with. Thanks.

For your consideration...

another poets' art show this summer. Mimi and Art have both answered yes. I would like this time to link your work to one of your poems or vice versa, have the poem framed and hung with the art.

Think about it.

Queen Mildred

Few of you remember, I know, but for those of you who do, I rec'd holiday greetings in the form of poems, pictures and a drawing from Mildred Kerr. She is obviously missing Donald, her life partner since they were 5 years old together. Mildred is 91 and still writing and sketching. Charlie Rossiter also sent new year's greeting from Chicago.

Italy ruled last night. I proclaimed my impatience with all things Irish and fortunately Mr. Pavoldi arrived with the Poem of the Evening to trump those silly green sheep and shamrocks. Ron was true to (his much-missed at EOTNP) form, echoing his mother's voice and wisdom during a recession. Comments on cast iron and canaries particularly capturing.

Joyce was back (after a trip to Ireland) and with memories of her grandmother. There was a little quibbling over the use of the word magic. Everyone like her grandfather in his rocking chair. Suggested a title changed.

On Being Irish - that Irish Philomena took us deep into the countryside with every Irish image one could conjure up. They were all quite lovely. Some suggestions were made regarding rearranging lines. Green, green, green. Thanks goodness, Mark was here, but had no Irish poem. I was also poem-less, btw.

Kathy McCabe took our previous comments to heart and came in with a very spare and successful offering called "Aging Faces" about sisters. Suggestions: break into stanzas and drop the last line. Tim's pick of the evening.

Edie, Edie, Edie surprised us all with a serious poem called "The Laying of Hands". We discussed the word "blowzed" and agreed it was one of her best. Dennis was rather subdued, but brought a good poem about the new year which brought us some questioned for which he didn't offer much explanation. Paul took us on a first trip to Vegas with a young gambler who seemed pretty sophisticated to me. How do you spell bettors?

I must tell you now that my new year's resolution was to be a nastier person and I admit I tried my new attitude out on Alan, who took my criticism very graciously and didn't un-invite me to his party, as I feared he might. I said his poem read like a science/weather report rather than a poem. He had one wonderful section about his friend Steve plunging over a hill and hitting the snow like "a third grader on a lunch tray". That was a great section. BTW, it looks like I will not be at the party because Josh and Amy are coming for the weekend and we are celebrating my mother's 89th birthday on Saturday.

I am nominating for my second favorite of the night Tim's "Marijuana Cookie", which was spot on with cadence and humor. His feverish desire for the cookie was wonderfully expressed.

Larry and the philosophers met in the other room. They seem to be going strong and are very enthusiastic. I think he's got a good group going. They are having an extra meeting next Thursday.

Hope you all have a great party at Alan's. It was lovely to see Ron. We meet again on the 22nd.

PS-Dennis just stopped in and in the course of our talk, suggested we have a "5 O'clock Poem" night, where everyone churns out a poem at that time and rushes with it to the group. Could be fun. Also heard that I missed a chatty time at Smitty's after the meeting.

A few things

It was a good turnout yesterday and I was impressed with Tom's presentation. That voice was mesmerizing. Too bad you can't just talk that way, TC. My only problem was wanting to see the pictures while you were speaking. Dennis and Georgia, thanks for having us over. Dr. Jarus seemed to enjoy himself and the pumpkin pie was superb.

I want to remind you all about Steve Lewandowski being here at the lib on Sunday at 2 pm. I guess Alan will be emceeing that one.

Dan Lawlor sends goodbyes on his departure for FL.

My weekend was lovely in New York with Josh and Amy and the boys.

Peace.
bv

Holiday Miscellany

Yo, and ho-ho...it has been a long time since a meeting and will be longer still as things continue to interfere with our lives, weather, ersatz heart attacks, dinners at Ichiban and now, of all things, those darned holidays. I cannot come up with a date to reschedule our lost meeting(s), so the next time we will be together is on January 8.

I remind you that our Tom is the featured reader at Sunday Four, here at the Old Songs venue in V'ville this Sunday the 28th at 3 pm. I will be there (if the creek don't rise, and so forth) and hope to see lots of you then. Nots lots of you, but many of you, although I wouldn't mind seeing more of you if the weather was warmer. I was hoping Dennis would arrange a little snow-trudging carol singing, but I haven't heard anything along those lines. Oh well, sing to yourselves.

Dan Wilcox's annual open house is on New Year's Day. You can probably check his blog for details.

A friend of Alan's named Steve Lewandowski is giving a poetry reading here at VPL on January 4 (Sunday) at 2 p.m. if you would like to put that on your calendars. Probably AC will be reminding us. Alan's January party sounds good and I hope to be there.

BTW, in case any of you are new digital camera owners, VPL is having two camera programs that might interest you - one in January on the basics of the settings, operations, et al. and a second on options for processing and saving the photos. I plan to attend them, too. More about all of these programs will be in the Jan/Feb Bookworm which comes out next week. Ya gotta sign up for these.

Well, my shopping is done, my wrapping is done, my body is bruised and sticky from a short hospital stay which turned out to be a not-heart-attack-only-a-separated-shoulder. I am asking the Great Claus to bring me a lime green dog stroller, a pedometer, a Persian kitten and a 3-disc Rod Stewart collection, and I will try not to be disappointed when none of this arrives.

This time of year leaves me melancholy, lonely, sad, repentent, weepy, nostalgic and ruminating on Life. To say nothing of grumpy because my arm hurts.

So, have a touch o' the grape for me, hope for peace and toast to poetry.
And don't forget to sing.

MC,
Barbara

ADVENTURES IN COLONIE (from Paul)

Three EOTNP poets entered the annual poetry competition at the Colonie Town Library, an event sponsored, conducted, and judged by William Robert Foltin. He also conducts the monthly Poets’ Corner at the library, where poets read and discuss their own and others work without critical commentary. The Day of Poet, as the competition is known, was well run, fairly well attended, and had more good poetry than I expected. My expectations were based on thin air, however, as I’d never attended the event before. Only after the event was over did it occur to me to submit a write-up about it, so I must limit myself to observations and impressions. A listing of poems read would be a long list, too long.
Contest Rules: Each poet pays a $3 entry fee (which all gets handed back to poets as prizes), and reads or speaks for two minutes. The reading periods are timed, and if the poet goes over the limit by 15 seconds the judge yells “time” and the poet must stop speaking immediately. After all the competitors read for two minutes, they all repeat the process for a three-minute period. Same rules. After the three-minute readings, there is an intermission. With eleven poets competing, a break is a good thing. Next, all the contenders go back up to the podium for the last round of four minutes. Poets are scored on the basis of presentation, content, and how close they come to the limits of two, three, and four minutes. The watch starts the minute the poet starts talking, whether making introductory remarks, reading poems, or plugging a book or upcoming event. Poets can use only their own work, making this a writing as well as performance contest.
Another rule is that anyone who wins the top prize ($200) is not eligible to ever win first, second, or third place money in this contest again. This rule probably insures that more people who don’t win will keep trying, and encourages new competitors to give it a try. Other poets can win token sums as determined by the judge and the amount of money taken in by entry fees, and this year W.R. Foltin chose to give every entrant a token prize if they were not in the top three.
Alan , having won the event last year and knowing he was ineligible for any of the top prizes, gave a less-than-inspired performance and ended up in tenth place (out of eleven contenders). We all know he can do better, much better; he proved it by winning last year. Tim Verhaegen (Tim Lake was also there) and Dennis were also entered, and read good selections from poems many of us have heard at our group’s meetings. I noticed that both Tim and Dennis had fine-tuned some of the poems I recognized, and that their presentation ability was above one or more poets who ended up higher in the final standings than they did. (Dennis placed sixth, and Tim placed eighth.)
A comment about the winners: that’s first, second, and third place. All were excellent, far above most of the people who show up at open mics around the region. Tim Lake (fourth place, couldn’t place higher by rule as a previous winner) is also a very polished poet and reader. First place went to Miriam Axel-Lute, whose level of presentation can honestly be described as professional. She probably has competed and placed highly in poetry slams, no doubt other events as well. She did all of her work from memory, and if she missed on anything it didn’t show. Everyone else in the contest read their work. Second place Michael Hare, from Saratoga, read from his book “Saratoga Lives.” A very strong reader. I’ve seen him at Café Lena. Third place Will Nixon, who hauled up from Woodstock to compete, read effectively from his own book (but I failed to get the title. A pen and a pair of dollar-store glasses are never around when I need them.) He was also a very practiced reader.
The whole thing ran from 10:00 to about 1:15, but was worth staying for because the upper end of the poetry and presentations was so good. There is no admission fee, only the $3 fee to enter. Anyone can watch it. The room at the Colonie Town Library is a fine venue for events like this.
William Robert Foltin has created a fine event. I expect to be there next year.
Paul Amidon

Notes from Dennis

Dear Fellow Poets,

Just a note to remind folks of two upcoming events, the dates for which you might want to jot down in your calendar with the intent of joining in them in the ways they allow.

First of all, Benevolent Bird will be reading at the Social Justice Center in Albany on Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 I think it is. He gave out reminders to that end yesterday at the Sunday Four open mic. What dine poems all around, really.

To share in Bird?s reading, several of us are going to get together for dinner at circa 5:30 at Ichiban on Central Avenue for eats and a few laughs. Mark suggested last even another nearby place, Thai [?]? if folks want to go there and MO?B wishes to organize that, I will go anywhere. We would like a little room or outlet or inlet, however which we were able to get the last time we went for such an event, when I read or was it Barb?s gig? Perhaps this could be one of our convivial social events?we do try so hard sometimes and occasionally succeed in being so.

Then on December 28th, the Sunday after Christmas, for those who celebrate that event, there will be an even greater birth, if you will: the esteemed and venerable Tom᳠Corrado will be the featured poet at the Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic at Old Songs. For one of the founders of the Thursday group and inveterate veterans of vetting?oh sweet redundancies!!?perhaps you might consider coming out?to support Tom and to read as well. He says he has some interesting dings in mind; he gave me some ideas re: that yesterday but has sworn me to secrecy. That is at 3 pm. We have been getting a pretty good showing; I am surprises that so many people who call themselves poets do not appear to be interested in presenting their work aloud in such venues. But there was Wallace Stevens and The Belle of Amherst, was that her name?

Also in January of February I am thinking of having an event at Ga?s and my domicile, a 2nd Willis Farm Syndrome. Let folks speak up if they are interested informally. I have a small agenda, spelled a-g-e-n-d-a?sometimes I do use that word?for the event that will require some work. The idea is for us to be better poets by extending our boundaries, no? That was rhetorical.

If Barb gets this up for Thursday, I wish everyone a fruitful Thanksgiving amidst the ever-changing definitions of family this 21st century continues to wreak. DCS

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Lily Alys weighs in

I am hoping that the first commenter on the last blog was not serious as the attitude expressed shows a lack of understanding, both of poetry and human nature. Having an agenda is an intrinsic part of each one of us, making us who we are. How foolish to think that we could write a poem without it being colored by our own personality. It is fun for me to be able to identify the writer by the style and subject matter of the poem. It means that we are developing our own "voice", which is a good thing.

Thank you all for commenting, whoever you may be. I wish that we could get that kind of response after every meeting. I will take the suggestion that I should post anon comments, as long as I approve the tenor of the remarks. In plain English, if you want to say something critical, it's okay with me as long as you put your name on it. If it is nasty and unsigned, of course, I will ditch it.

Barbara