Monday, October 26, 2009

Jack McCarthy at Bridge Street Cafe

SLAM FREE OR DIE presents the 2nd annual DEAD AUTHORS SLAM and HALLOWEEN OPEN MIC

Special feature by performance poetry legend JACK McCARTHY


Slam Free or Die at the Bridge Cafe in Manchester, NH , will present a special evening of poetry on Friday, Oct. 30 to celebrate Halloween.

The festivities will include a Spooky Halloween Open Mic, the second annual Dead Author's Slam, and a special feature by performance poetry legend, Jack McCarthy. Doors open at 6pm. There will be a $5 cover for this evening.

The sign-up sheet for the open mic goes on the counter around 6pm and the open mic itself will begin as soon as the list is full. As this is one of our most popular events all year, it is recommended that people arrive early.



About the Dead Authors Slam
The "Dead Authors Slam" will be a be a standard 4x4 team competition, in which competing teams of four members each will face off. Unlike a typical slam, however, this one will have a special 'Halloween' them.

Costumes and originality rules will be relaxed, so that participating poets can slam as their favorite dead authors. The field of material will not be limited to poets -- authors of any kind and musicians can also serve as inspiration.

Teams for this slam are organized by cause of death: Suicide, Murder, Tragic Mishap, and Natural Causes. Just to give a taste of what's on deck, some of the authors already signed up to slam are: Sylvia Plath, Jim Carroll, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Allen Ginsberg and a number of other deceased authors. This is the ultimate showdown to decide who is the baddest scribe in the boneyard!.

About Jack McCarthy
Jack McCarthy (www.standuppoet.net) was a member of the Boston team at the 1996 National Poetry Slam, and was an engaging minor character in the feature film "Slamnation," which documented those proceedings. He was a member of the Worcester team at the 2000 National Poetry Slam, where he finished as the 10th ranked individual in the country. The Boston Phoenix has named him "Best Standup Poet," the Boston Poetry Awards "Best Love Poet," and the Cambridge Poetry Awards "Best Spoken Word" and "Best Humorous Poet ."

The Boston Globe says, "In the poetry world, he's (Jack McCarthy) a rock star." McCarthy has published "Grace Notes," two chapbooks ("Actual Grace Notes" and "Too Old to Make Excuses (But Still Young Enough to Make Love)"), a 60-minute cassette tape (Poems for Hannah), and a CD (Breaking Down Outside a Gas Station). A major book, "Say Goodnight, Grace Notes", was released in 2003 by EM Press. His work has appeared in a number of anthologies, including The Spoken Word Revolution.

Pointillist's Vision (or What's the Point?)

one

Beautiful landscapes
snow capped majesties, valleys,
glowing horizons,
windblown, thundering,
rolling, silent tide seascapes;
flora, fauna dance,
unseen, unfelt, breeze,
whispering, frozen moments.
Dazzling sunlit wood,
glittering rivers & brooks,
life roaming clear, pure, rapids.
Exquisite murals,
hawks soars, amber waves of grain,
unbounded freedom.

two

Beautiful urbscape
wind blown, feathered, moused, permed locks,
capon, wolf, & sod,
snow capped 'stache & beard.
Queens, kings, mix mingle, waltz, trick,
flora swing arranged;
whispering, forward movements.
Glittering steel knights,
dazzling men & college boys,
clean, pure, wine & martinis.
Life roams exquisite,
lads mince around disco with
unbounded queerness.

three

Beautiful artscapes
from distance, take steps closer,
to nose length from piece,
scenes rearrange, move,
colours entwine, blend, blur, blob,
thick layers revealed.
Prime, second, third, pure,
jumbled pigments, confuzzed shades,
brush-tip dots, splashes,
dribbles, & swaths of horsehair.
Discordant cacophony
& fey harmony
work together creating
pointillist's vision.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Kerouac's Word Music

NPR just published a treat for poetry and indie music fans. If you know/love Jack Kerouac's poetry, you can now listen to his work set to music before the album release, October 20.

Listen to Jack Kerouac's words set to music by Jay Farrar of Sun Volt and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

New Hampshire Poetry This Week

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Beat Night
Press Room-Upstairs
77 Daniel St.
Portsmouth, NH
6:30pm - 9pm, $3.00

Hosted by Larry Simon

Friday, October 16, 2009

Slam Free or Die
Open Mic Poetry @ the Bridge
1117 Elm St.
Manchester, NH
6pm, $3.00

Hosted by the Colonel & Roller Girl

Summer Comes Grudgingly to a Close

Fern like fingers trace window pane
curling around, fanning, obscures view
street below shimmers in dawn
asphalt's whitish-grey veneer
due to reason of rime.
Breath catches on cold
hangs in air smokelike
chill breeze sneaks down neck
bundle-zip up tighter
& scurry to frosty auto.
Leaves crunch underfoot
crystals breaking, shattering,
abandoned spiderweb sparkles,
frozen dewdrops catching rays
& transforms light to rainbows.
Frost coats the windshield
grudgingly scrape icy film away
motor pumps exhaust into air
inhale deeply a big nosefull
& cough it back to nature.
Auto warms along dark streets
glimmering in early day
horizon brightens with pink-orange
reflecting on shiny puddles
miniature skating rinks.
Frigid temps signals summers end
as autumn pushes heavily through door
demanding entry into New England,
time's ripe to unpack warmer clothes
& reluctantly pack away shorts, tees, & trunks.
Goodbye season of fun in the sun,
hello season of fun in the leaves,
soon to be season of fun in the snow,
followed by seaon of fun in the flowers;
four seasons in which to rejoice & be glad.

Halleluiah!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Call for Entry: Astrophil Press Poetry Prize

Astrophil Press is launching "The Astrophil Press Poetry Prize for First or Second Book of Poetry," to be judged by Eleni Sikelianos.

From their announcement: "The purpose of this prize is to make available a book of poetry from a new and exciting writer. We encourage all manner of poetry, but have particular interest in work that is adventurous, playful, insightful, and pushes boundaries of convention."

Entries will be accepted until January 1, 2010.

To enter or for information please visit http://astrophilpress.com/index.php?id=14

Call for Entry: Cider Press Review 2009 Book Award

Cider Press Review (CPR) is now accepting manuscripts for the 2009 Annual Book Award.

The CPR Book Award offers $1000 and publication for a full-length book of poetry. The judge for the 2009 award is David St. John. Manuscripts must be postmarked or date-stamped between September 1 and November 30. Entry fee $25. All entrants will receive a copy of the winning book and a one-issue subscription to Cider Press Review.

Visit http://ciderpressreview.com/bookaward for information.

But first, a word from our new sponsor;

by D A Boucher

Doctor Banner, where
do you get cash to purchase
John Doe plain new duds?

Query, Mister Kent,
when you change in booth or door,
what happens to suit?

Dianna, my dear,
seeking gown to match lasso,
or special one, p'raps?
Billy, Robin, Under-Dog,
Aqua-Man, Tarzan, Shazzaam!

On Patrol or Town,
Milt the Taylor, Clothier
of Super Heros.

Milt Berg, the Taylor,
Gotham Center Square; for all
Casual, Formal,
Work, needs, Milt the Taylor, thee
Super Hero Clothier.

What's in a Name?

In a time so querious,
what's in a name? asked one...

David, so serious.
Dave, so silly fun.
Davey, so boyishly delerious.
D, so on the run.

Alan, so serious.
Al, so mannishly won.
Alley, so gayley cheerious.
A, so tail of a pun.

David Alan, sooo serious.

D. A. so well undone.
soo well undone.

Cheers!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Ode for Mrs. Hippy

by DA Boucher

Saran Wrap cocoon,
Violin bowed by a spoon,
lyrical movements,
body blends with instruments,
singing from dark side of moon.

Singing from dark side
of moon tales, wrapped in black hide,
cotton & oil,
feed back soundtrack with foil;
grey day roller coaster ride.

Grey day roller coast...
er, ride the hill, eggs & toast,
beautiful offspring
playing, dancing, frolicking,
chowing down at big pig roast.

Chowing down at big
pig roast, smoked slow on hot rig,
chill breeze embraces
whooping children run races;
of life, taking long, deep swig.

Of life, taking long,
deep swig, feeling inner song
bursting out, off notes,
on, opposing, floating motes,
sweet melodic tune voiced strong.

Sweet melodic tune
voiced strong, sung to Earth, Stars, & Moon
pulls tides of oceans,
conjured up from emotions
ripping Saran Wrap cocoon.

- FINI -

Poetry Corner (Nashua, NH)

Upcoming Poetry Corner 2009 Features

Oct. 9, Melanie Chicoine & Marshall Harvey

Nov. 13, Juliana Weile & Friends

Dec. 11, Doc Cote & TBA

2010 Poetry Corner

Poetry Corner is now taking feature bookings for 2010. For Booking 411, contact D. A. Boucher, 978-975-4438, EMAIL dabsasp (at) gmail.com

Jan. 8; Beau Williams & TBA

Feb. 12; Donald Wellman & TBA

Mar. 12;

Ap. 9; Rene Schwiesow & Louisa Clerici

May 14; Valerie Raudonis & TBA

Jun. 11;

Jul. 9;

Aug. 13; Peddlar & Friends?

Sept. 10;

Oct. 8; D. A. Boucher & TBA

Nov. 12;

Dec. 10; Doc Cote & TBA

Performance: One Man Play by Tom Daley

Tom Daley will be performing a one-man version of his play “Every Broom and Bridget—Emily Dickinson and Her Servants” on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 2:30 pm at The Chelmsford Public Library, Main Branch, 5 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824. There is no admission charge. The library’s telephone number is (978) 256-5521.

For directions, visit the Chelmsford, MA library website.

The show is co-sponsored by the Lowell Poetry Network