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IN CYBERSPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM
Before jumping into what's hot in Florida in and around National Poetry Month, I'll begin with a caveat emptor:
Beware iUniverse.com. For $99 they'll publish anyone's book, much like any vanity press except that they use print-on-demand technology. I didn't realize until after I tried sending a file, an attachment of a chapbook, that a) you need to download their PDF template, and b) you must send them at least 107 pages. So much for a chapbook. I scrapped the chap and took time gathering something more full-length. About two months later, I received a phone call from my iUniverse.com rep telling me I had to send my manuscript -- that day. I scoffed. He agreed to give me another week. You're only allowed to make 25 corrections. I made 42 and sent it in, & I screwed up again: I forgot to attach the damn thing! I received a message saying “no soup for you.” And no book either. The tone of the email message was quite condescending. They canceled my book. Not a word about returning my $99. I answered in shock, & my rep replied, saying that it sounded like I wanted to be a good boy and that he “believes in giving all authors a second chance.” I said “no thanks, I smell a rat.” I wonder how many $99 fees they keep without producing a book? My advice: stay away from iUniverse.com.
MIAMI: THE RUSH-INS ARE COMING!
I met Igor Satanovsky at Henry Logan's poetry reading at Warehaus 57 in February. He handed me his card, which read: “Poet, Visual Artist, Publisher, Graphic Designer, Art Director.” On the back he scribbled: go.to/rushins. Then I remembered hearing something about a crazy group of young iconoclastic poets in Miami. Satanovsky was born in Ukraine in 1969 when it was still a part of Russia, hence the name, “Rush-ins.” I recently found the card Igor gave me and looked up the Web site. And so should you. The Rush-ins are poets Stanley Gemmell, Janus, Ric Leach, Nathan Levine, Lauren Rathvon, Igor Satanovsky and Mathew Tabin. I just browsed through the site quickly because it's after 1 am & I'm exhausted after a furious day at the newspaper where I work, an almost apocalyptic afternoon rushing with my friend Richard to pick up Lyn Lifshin at the airport, and finishing up this latest version of the Museletter. But you should not rush so quickly through the Rush-ins Web site. I read one poem by Lauren Rathvon, which was not bad. Lots of angst, lots of blood and she uses the word “fuck” once or twice. Nothing new, but she's got attitude. Now you read the rest of this, while I go to bed. I have to get up early and bring Lyn's books with me to her workshop in Hollywood; then she wants to go site seeing. She wants to see alligators, flamingos and pelicans. I'll let Richard drive and do all the talking. Lyn can get a quick tour of SoFlo and I'll take a nap in the back seat of the car.
POETS & POLITICS
Poet Andrew Glaze won the 96 Inc Bruce P. Rossley Literary Award. Well, Andy actually split the award with poet & essayist Susan Gubernat. They were among more than 450 nominations from 40 states. Founded in 1992, the award is intended to recognize the work of writers and the work of arts commissioners (Rossley was Boston's first commissioner of cultural affairs) and to connect the literary world with politics. (Seems to me that can be found on any university campus).
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY, STING LIKE LIGHTNING
Steve Donachie is doing a great job hosting Butterfly Lightning, a truly creative invitational reading at Tobacco Road in Miami. Lightning struck when visitors from Boston, P.B. O'Sullivan and Mary Campbell, read at Butterfly Lightning in February. It was a special honor for the series to have writers come all this way, and in some cases drag friends and family members along with them, just to read for us. You can check out their vital stats at Butterflylightning.com.
Also appearing in February at Butterfly Lightning were poet Tere Starr with fiction writer Tony Thomas: quite a combo. Other recent readers include Leonardo DellaRocca (that's me!), Barbra Nightingale and Steve Donachie (“stalking” Jack Kerouac).
STICK THIS IN YOUR LIP, TONGUE & EAR
Lip, Tongue & Ear Poetry Productions has open mic readings at Borders Books & Music, 3390 Mary Street (in the Mayfair Plaza, 1/2 block from Coco Walk). Come out and read some spoken words or simply enjoy listening. Host Shamele Jenkins issues this Warning: “This is not your ordinary 'hum drum boring reading.' Oh No! We are very much alive with emotions and splendor! Catch the fire and experience and share with us! It's all absolutely free.” 7:45 pm sharp. Email Shamele Jenkins at Jenkinss@gtlaw.com.
THE ALL NEW, IMPROVED BOOKS AND BOOKS
Books and Books is a cornerstone for literary events in South Florida. It has moved to 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables (across the street from its old location), but continues with some of the best readings in SoFlo.
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Earlier this year, Denise gave a workshop with her friend & collaborator, poet Maureen Seaton. Coral Springs poet Richard Ryal reports:
The Maureen Seaton/Denise Duhamel workshop went well. We did exquisite corpse poems, in a round with all 6 or 7 attendees, as well as an abecedarian exquisite corpse with a partner... then we did a mutual back-and-forth writing exercise from which partners culled the best lines and pasted those together in a collage... Maureen and Denise were very enthusiastic and keenly attentive workshop leaders, which was great because for most of us it takes a lot of practice to get past the apparent preciousness of personal authorship and into a situation where we can let our work be fodder for the intents of other authors... though the emphasis was on collaborative improvisation, Denise and Maureen both had very astute comments about specific points in people's work.
Books and Books also had a discussion series for National Poetry Month: Campbell McGrath discussed “Poetry and Comedy” on April 19. (He read his famous Bob Hope poem and I heard it was great.) Diane Thiel talked about “Writing Your Rhythm” on April 16, Michael Hettich spoke on “Writing Poetry: The Daily Process” on April 9, & Nick Carbo discussed “The Chi of Poetry: Putting Energy Into Your Poems” on April 5.
FROM JONATHAN ROSE'S CULTURAL NEWSLETTER
Rose, past president of the Hannah Kahn Poetry Foundation, just doesn't stop. Wanna know Miami? Ask Jon.
- Poetry Jam (Lip, Tongue & Ear)
At Borders Books & Music every 4th Tuesday, 3390 Mary Street, Coconut Grove, 305.474.0078. The Grand Slam was Sunday April 29th at 6:30 pm. Tickets entitle you not only to a great evening of in-your-face poetry, but food, and a complimentary ticket for Lip, Tongue & Ear's poetry cruise on Saturday night/Sunday morning May 19th.
- Books & Books Bilingual Poetry Reading
Each third Friday evening, email poetfred@bellsouth.net (Fred Wolven), phone 305.665.4979.
- The Florida International University Poetry Club
Also at Books & Books, second Fridays, around 8 pm. Call Chris at 305.554.0479.
- Famous Last Friday Poetry Reading at Books & Books
Next scheduled reading is on May 25, at 7:30 pm, in the new Coral Gables store, 265 Aragon, moderated by Jonathan Rose. Call 305.442.4408 for information. Read your own poem (or two), read one by another poet.
- Society of Poets
This group meets in Fort Lauderdale for readings on the 4th Saturday of each month at the home of Michael Earle Carlton between E. Sunrise & Oakland Park Blvds., from 3 to 5:30 pm. Call Michael Earle first at 954.561.2774 or email her at poetsite@aol.com.
- National Writers Association, South Florida Chapter
Has a monthly meeting at the Holiday Inn on Dixie Highway across from the University of Miami on the first Saturday of every month at 9:30 am.
GRAB YOUR JACK
Part-time Miami resident & poet Michael Rothenberg is editor (along with Mary Sands) of Jack magazine. Issue 3 is out now, featuring an online reprinting of Gregory Corso's 1974 rice-paper chapbook, Way Out: A Poem in Discord (Bardo Matrix) & a special tribute to Corso from contributors John Aiello, Eugene Anthony Barbieri, Adrien Begrand, Ronnie Burk, Lawrence Carradini, Ira Cohen, Steve Dalachinsky, Paul Grillo, Hammond Guthrie, Louise Landes Levi, Michael McClure, Mary Sands, skye, Laki Vazakas, and Roberto Valenza. Jack also includes regular sections of art, essays, “Eco-Watch,” reviews, “Renaissance,” road journals, politics, “The Path,” “Tea Party,” fiction & of course poetry.
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Things Richard Ryal and I learned about Lyn at dinner: She “tripped” on nutmeg (yes, nutmeg) with Ken Kesey, her cat is 20 years old, she once was stalked by one of her students, she was first published in 1967, she read with Bukowski, she read with everyone else, too, she is very down to earth, gracious and loves conversation. She is currently working on a third book for Black Sparrow, she can take a joke, she has so many poems scattered all over her home, she can't find the one she's looking for, she has some really great stories about poets we can't print here, she doesn't take naps.
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I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN
Performance poet, art historian & curator Bruce Weber, and fiction writer Joanne Weber, were down from Manhattan for a bar mitzvah and sat in on the Richard Jones panel discussion. They joined us for coffee and double death by chocolate cake afterwards at a coffee shop in Wilton Manors. Bruce leads the No Chance Ensemble in NYC and is a frequent reader at the ABC No Rio poetry series there. Weber, along with his ex, Jan “Princess-at-Large” McLaughlin, were founders of Poets of the Palm Beaches when they lived in SoFlo and were editors of the now defunct reVerse. Bruce is currently editor of the New York-based Stained Sheets.
QUARTETTO POETICA
The Hannah Kahn Poetry Foundation's Quartetto Poetica series (April and October) presented some of SoFlos best poets on April 5. Poets Josephine Posti, Norman Minnick, David Spielberg and Rochell Theo Pienn read to a small but voracious crowd. I remembered later why the turn-out was poor -- everyone was at Broward Community College, north campus in Coconut Creek, for the reading by Martin Espada. I hate when that happens.
Hannah Kahn Poetry Foundation is talking with Albert Goldbarth. We may bring him to South Florida later this year. Same with Long Island Poetry Quarterly and Poetrybay.com editor George Wallace.
FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY
Will Susan Mitchell ever make nice? I was really disappointed that Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton did not tell a soul about two readings in March: Jorie Graham and Derek Walcott. I've asked Susan Mitchell, who sets up most of the readings there, to keep me informed of FAU poetry events, but nooooooooo....
Hypoluxo poet Stacie Kiner attended the Walcott reading and had this to say:
It was super short, 25 minutes, and he wasn't feeling too well. The work was very, very good, but I wrote nothing on it as it was so short, and the presentation was so poor as he wasn't well.Well, that's all she wrote. Kiner was the recipient of a Palm Beach County Cultural Affairs Call for Artists Award. Her poem “Venice, A Love Poem,” was used by the group as art and hung on a huge poster board (matted and framed) in the main terminal of Palm Beach Airport until the end of April. I did hear from a source at FAU that the Graham reading was packed wall to wall. No doubt.
FROM POETS OF THE PALM BEACHES
Poets of the Palm Beaches has long been the staple for poetry in Palm Beach County. President John Palozzi works tirelessly to bring poetry events all around the county. Poetry readings are taking place at Jonathan Dickinson State Park from 7 to 8 pm every Wednesday (call John Palozzi, 561.588.9829). Poets of the Palm Beaches also holds poetry readings at the American Polish Club, 4725 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth at 2 pm on the third Sunday of every month. Slam Poets of the Palm Beaches has slams at 7:30 pm on Fridays at Borders, 525 N. Congress Avenue, in Boynton Beach with $10 and $20 gift certificates as prizes. Poetry comes alive at O'Shea's Pub, 531-1/2 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach every Tuesday at 8:30 pm (call Charles Scheitler at 561.833.2981).
FROM THE SEXY SLAM MISTRESS OF DELRAY
Marya Summers continues to bring on the buzz.whether at Dada in Delray or at Underground Coffee Works in West Palm Beach. Here is something from her Slam Family Newsletter:
I'm proposing May 15 as the date for the slam-off for the regionals/nationals team. Any real conflicts like scheduled open heart surgery, weddings, etc. from eligible poets will be taken into consideration as reason to reschedule. Let me know if this date is a problem by the end of the week. Criteria for the slam-off follow.
How the Team is Determined:
All I can say is “Lap poetry, Omigod.” Last night was such a success that I think I may have a future auctioning human flesh. We pulled the red, sexy couch in front of the fireplace and there the poets slithered, bounced, whipped, and gyrated on their purchasers. The highest bid was $40 and all together we raised $210 to help send the team to Nationals in Seattle.
Anyone who meets these criteria is eligible to participate in the slam-off in May for the team's 4 member and 2 alternate spots.
The night of the slam-off, each poet will perform 2 poems. The top four scorers become team members. The next two top scorers become alternates.
Poets, you did a fantastic job! Your outfits were inspired: Richard in his construction-worker clothes complete with tool belt. Andrew in his leopard thong. Mary in her fishnet everything. Tanya in her red fuzzy pants. Nicole in her supergirl halter top. Gretta in her platinum wig, gloves, and evening gown. Susan in her red satin negligee. And the performances... You guys dabomb (or is that dabombs?)! You guys developed a whole new fetish: poetry voyeurism. I've never seen so many people in Florida transfixed by verse! Just imagine the stories at workplaces across Palm Beach County. Especially that “shirt” Tanya did her poem for. I can hear the stories now: “So this black dyke in fuzzy red pants straddled me and told me to show her what she's been missing...” Last night will live in infamy!
Just imagine last night x200 and that's what Nationals will be like. The place is insane -- folks just like us, who just don't know when to quit. The only bad news is that the camera was knocked to the floor and the batteries fell out so we may have lost all the photos of the evening. Figures. But we'll always have memories.
Want to join Marya's SlamFam? Email her at msflambe@earthlink.net.
POETRY AT THE SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM
From Michael Chasar in St. Petersburg: The Salvador Dali Museum -- it's gotta be a blast to read/listen to poetry here.
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A Surreal Sonnet Writing Workshop was presented in March. Designed for the novice, weekend or budding poet -- or just the curious onlooker -- the workshop explored the poetic chaos that happens when Surrealist techniques like Exquisite Corpse come face to face with Shakespeare's classic sonnet form. University of Tampa poet and professor Richard Mathews introduced ideas of whimsy, chance, experimentation and collaboration as the ghost of the bard himself looked on in amazement.
NOKTURNAL ESCAPE BREAKING DOWN WALLS UP IN JAX
From Tiffany in Jacksonville:
On April 9 spoken word poetry and coffee came alive on the theater stage in celebration of National Poetry Month. After a successful opening in March at Alfie’s Center For The Performing Arts on the Northside, Nokturnal Escape Entertainment Urban Soul Theater production of How Black Is Your Coffee? A Poetic Play had another showing on Friday, April 20 at University of North Florida’s Andrew Robinson Theater. The production brought the coffeehouse spoken word environment to life on stage, by chronicling the experiences and events affecting 20- and 30-somethings. The play explored themes such as relationships, race relations, parenthood, crime and spirituality, & each character was shown as a symbol of triumph or survival, asking critical questions about society.
Nokturnal Escape's vision is to create a greater appreciation for the art form, which already includes poetry readings at The Ritz Theater, Lavilla Grill, The Abyss Urban Jazz Lounge, Blue Nights Poetry and Lyrical Fusion at Club Dimensions on the Westside. For information, contact Emanuel at 904.764.6446,.Tiffany at 904.233.1098, or email us at nokturnalescape@hotmail.com. If you weren't able to experience the Souls On Ice Cafe, check out these pictures and get a sneak picture of what's in store:
On April 19 Nokturnal Escape presented “Poetry Is Our Second Language,” a panel discussion and reading at Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Atlantic Blvd. And every Thursday, Lyrical Fusion, “The Ultimate Night of Spoken Word Poetry, Urban Theater, Live Music and More” is at Club Dimensions, 3325 Plymouth Street. Doors open at 9 pm. $5 before 10 pm, $7 afterwards. Jamaican food and drinks served. Presented by Nokturnal Escape Entertainment, Positive Third Entertainment and The Man In Black. For more information, email lyricalfusion2001@yahoo.com.Ciao,
