St. Lawrence Area Poets

Well, it's been a busy time for active poets in the north country.  Last Wednesday, November 5th, was the Poetry for Peace reading at St. Lawrence University.  The theme was the Politics of Hunger, suggested at the previous reading by JeanMarie Martello.  JeanMarie & I both read, representing SLAP.  I try to stay away from political material & read two poems about hungry cats.  The only student who read was Eric Luc.  Those poets who participated & are affiliated w/ SLU were John Collins, Steven White, & of course the series organizer Marina Llorente.  Becky Harblin & John Trombley also read, as well as Mallory Craig-Kuhn, an SLU graduate of a couple of years ago who's now living in I believe Argentina.  The next reading will be on December 3rd in the Winston Room at the student center @ 4:30.  Everyone is invited.  The theme is Gratitude, suggested by moi.

And we held a great reading at the Partridge Cafe last Saturday night, November 8th.  Veteran SLAPPERS were myself, Nancy, JeanMarie, & Neal Zirn, who read from his new chapbook Manhattan Cream, published by BoneWorld Publishing.  Steven White joined us for the first time, taking advantage of the open-mike.   Special guest was Janice Brabaw, a Hermon native & 2001 SLU graduate, who has lived in NYC for seven years.  Her new poetry book is Universe, Disturbed, published by Tangled Up In Blue Publications.  I really got worked up to a high energy level during the performance, & after, coming down a little bit now.

But I expect that energy level to rise again, cuz there's another reading coming up, this time at the Creative Spirit Arts Center in Potsdam, this Saturday, November 15th, @ 5:00.  Featured Poet will be Neal Zirn, reading again from Manhattan Cream.  Special guest is Beth Konkoski, another SLU graduate, driving up from Virginia.  I expect a pretty good crowd.  This is our first reading at Creative Spirit--I hope it's a success.  Again, this is an open-mike event so bring a favorite poem or two, bring a friend or two, & come join us.