POETSWEDNESDAY & More

Prayer by Tom Obrzut

There's no telephone in this swimming pool

I'd like to die but I haven't prayed yet

Fuck you, my shoes are on

So I'll die again

If I didn't have all this emptiness

I'd pull the bubbles out of my mouth

I'm not in the water

Forget all these

Forget

Instead I'm laying down

Someone say a prayer for me

Out loud.

Susanna Rich & Joel Allegretti in Teaneck on Saturday, May 30 at 8 PM

North Jersey Literary Series:
JOEL ALLEGRETTI & SUSANNA RICH in Teaneck

Saturday, May 30 @ 8 PM
Special Events Dining Room of The Classic Quiche Cafe
330 Queen Anne Road
Teaneck, NJ

Free

Contact: 201-692-0150 / cedarsap@yahoo.com
www.joelallegretti.com

http://www.susannarich.com

March 15, 1997 by Dave Roskos

Noon

with Ayler

at Manasquan Inlet

a clam boat

slowly approaching

Jersey shore towns

are ghost towns

in winter

a brief respite

from the tourists

of summer

boat in inlet now

raising its hoists

one lone worker on deck

in orange hip waders

spackle  buckets

overflowing

with clams

Dave Roskos

Dave Roskos is an unsung hero on the New Jersey poetry scene. For many years, he has labored tirelessly at his own expense to champion writers-- both known and new. Roskos' published Hal Sirowtiz in two chap books before Hal became nationally known. Dave also formed a friendship with the noted American Splendor and graphic novel/jazz expert, Harvey Pekar. Roskos' own work is often placed second to those he helps, which is a shame, because he is a fine poet: quirky, various, and capable of both lyrical and comic power. He has edited Big Hammer Magazine and published chapbooks under the Iniquity Press/Vendetta Books imprint since 1988 without help from public funding, the academy, or any gauntlet of official readers. He reads and selects all the work himself, and pays for his magazine out of his own pocket. No one has a greater knowledge concerning the history of under ground magazines. He co-founded The Proletkult Poetry Circus with Chris Aubry in New Brunswick in 1987. He has been published in around 100 different publications. He is represented in the seminal anthology "The Out Law Bible of American Poetry" and rightfully so.  No one refuses to kiss ass or fights more diligently the struggle against the slick, the academic and the precious.

[email protected]

http://outlawpoetry.com/

 

Tom Obrzut

 

Tom Obrzut is a poet, editor and social worker. He is editor of Arbella Magazine which he founded with Anthony Chianese nearly 20 years ago. Obrzut is also founder and editor of a magazine of writings by street people called, "The Travelers Hotel Literary Review." Obrzut writes and publishes both experimental and narrative poetry.  He has written extensively about the homeless and bereft. Obrzut's work is consistently interesting and inventive. It treats life's sadness, life's happiness and the mundane with irony, humor, and honesty. His style ranges from lyrical to narrative. He has been published widely in poetry journals and magazines such as Big Hammer, Long Shot, Black Swan Review, and Anti-Lawn. His publcations are archived at the State University of New York, Buffalo."
Obrzut has featured throughout NY & NJ including such venues as the Proletkult Poetry Circus, Melody Bar, Marc's Coffee House, and PoetsWednesday at Barron Arts Center. He lives in Maplewood with his family.

 

[email protected]

 

Special Poetry Event at BAC Featuring Frank Finale on June 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Shore Poetry by Frank Finale

Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 8 pm

Frank Finale, author of To the Shore Once More Volumes One and Two and A Gull's Story, captures the sights and sounds of the Jersey shore's well-loved landmarks as well as its lesser-known treasures. His essays and poetry elicit the essence of the Jersey shore while exploring universal themes of life and nature. Finale will discuss the creative process and read selections from each book. Reservations are suggested. Limited Seating. Refreshments will be served.

Jersey Shore Notes

Barron Arts Center

582 Rahway Avenue

Woodbridge, NJ 07095

732 634-0413

Directions: http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=N7IO%2fdmPCXU%3d&tabid=251&mid=1434

Humanities Seminars for NJ Teachers

HUMANITIES SEMINARS FOR NJ TEACHERS @ Stockton

Four tuition-free six-day seminars are offered by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities for teachers of the state. Activities include lectures, discussions, field trips, films, writing workshops, curriculum planning, and opportunities to network with scholars and teaching colleagues.

Teachers can earn 45 professional development hours, graduate credit and a $250 stipend.

2009 TOPICS & DATES:
• The 20th Century & the African American Experience, July 5 - 10
• Washington and Lincoln: Presidents and Slavery, July 12 - 17
• Coming of Age Literature, July 19 - 24
• Literature & Democracy, July 26 - 31

$100 registration fee (Which includes five nights accommodation in an apartment at Stockton, meals, snacks, books, field trips and all other costs) due upon acceptance.

Download an application form at http://www.njch.org/teacher_seminars.html

Contact: Mary Grace Whealan, mwhealan@njch.org / 888-FYI-NJCH (394-6524)
http://www.njch.org/teacher_seminars.html

__._,_.___

Pina Pipino & Maryanne Seibert at Watchung Booksellers, Thursday, May 21, 7:30 PM

PINA PIPINO & MARYANN SEIBERT in Montclair

Thursday, May 21, 7:30 PM
Watchung Booksellers
54 Fairfield St.
Montclair, NJ

Free. Open Reading.

Contact: Marina Cramer, 973-744-7177

Ma'am by Elizabeth Richmond

Ma'am

As a dominatrix, I hate the word.
It always commands a swift kick to
the unsuspecting balls of my clients.
What am I?  Old?  THWACK!  Are we in the South?  THWACK!!
No, ma'am.  AH!  MISTRESS! THWACK! MISTRESS!! THWACK THWACK!!!

But as L. said, "getting kicked in the balls is definitely a luxury item,"
and during the recession I find fewer men
who give me reason to put on my black patent leather boots
with red soles
to maul genitalia and egos that offended my feminist sensibilities.

At the Indian cafe, the word ma'am is made new,
uttered by women with heavy red lipstick and long black braids:
    What can I get for you today, ma'am?
    Anything to drink, ma'am?
    Here is your roti, ma'am.

Ma'am becomes slightly English, plump, almost a mum,
maternal, a big blue mug, a knobby
woolen afghan.

Then I'm lost in my days of India,
hot chili pancakes, sandalwood soap,
ubiquitous curry, burning trash,
wandering cows, vendors who spoke seven languages,
the three pairs of jeweled shoes I bought.

Ma'am becomes a comforting place.
Madame, mademoiselle, senora, senorita.

I draw a line of upside down u's that remind me of elephant toe nails,
and think how I never understood hills like white elephants.

Ma'am, ma'am.

What I keep coming back to is that
I am young.
Later, I will deserve it,
from some young man,
no doubt in a grocery store aisle, of all things,
and I am complaining about my mediocrity
when mystery hears
  Can I make you more comfortable, ma'am?
  Can I help you to the bathroom, ma'am?

Ma'am, you have run out of room.

John Petrolino III, Mark Brunetti, Donald Burke, Eva Mahoney, Steve McNamara & Kathy Polenberg at Expresso Joe's in Keyport on Sunday, May 17, 3:00 PM

Beat And Blues Sunday
TRAVELLING POETS in Keyport

Featuring MARK BRUNETTI, DONALD BURKE, EVA MAHONEY, STEVE MCNAMARA, JOHN PETROLINO III, KATHY POLENBERG.

Sunday, May 17, 3:00-5:00 P.M.
Espresso Joe's
50 West Front Street
Keyport, NJ

Free. Open Mic to follow

Contact: 732-203-9499