9/11 at the Literary Cafe (Metres, Sparks and Poetic Fire)
It's been a long time. A friend pointed out the other day that my blog has been "languishing" lately. Since October 5th's Karma Souptra (poem), I've written only one quality blog. And even that blog - What Happened at the 806 Lix and Kix Tuesday? - felt unfinished when I posted it. After my recent resolution to post a quality blog every day, our four grandchildren (ages 6, 5, 4 and 3) and their mother had to move in with us for at least a month, and I've been struggling to find not only writing time but a clear undistracted mind when I do have writing time. I've at least found time and mind to continue adding quality writing to the Crisis Chronicles Online Library daily and to leave a few terse comments here and there - but that's about it.
One intended blog entry that's been languishing in my tired, distracted brain is an account of September 11th's very cool poetry event at the Literary Cafe in Cleveland. The featured readers that night were two of Cleveland's finest poets, Amy Bracken Sparks and Philip Metres. Though I'd befriended them both on Facebook in advance - and very much liked what I'd read of their poetry - this was my first time actually meeting them. And I was not disappointed. I feel confident saying that Amy and Phil are not only excellent poets, but excellent people - and I came away from the Lit that night with even greater respect for both.
The Literary Cafe's Steve Goldberg chats with Philip Metres [photo by JC]
Because I don't know how much time I'll have before the children arise, I won't attempt to do the night justice in this blog; but I'll share a few reflections and photos.
Though Amy Bracken Sparks has been a highly esteemed poet for many years, I (being a relative newbie to the scene) only discovered her work early this year in Cleveland Poetry Scenes: A Panorama & Anthology (Bottom Dog Press, 2008). Since then, I've read and enjoyed a lot more of her work and become a faithful reader of her very good blog. For possessing such a powerful literary "voice," Amy seemed surprisingly bashful in person (though I've met her only this once). Her poetry is anything but bashful, however. On the page or on the stage, her words prove not only that strength and sensitivity are not mutually exclusive concepts, but also that together they are greater than the sum of their parts.
Here's a video of Amy's 9/11 performance (filmed by Literary Cafe proprietor Andy Timithy):
Anyone who's read the four Philip Metres pieces I've included so far in the Crisis Chronicles Online Library knows he's one of my current favorites. (He maintains a very good blog as well.) I love Philip's recent collection To See the Earth (Cleveland State University Press, 2008), but was especially pleased that during his performance at the Literary Cafe he didn't just stick to his new book but shared a wide variety of work, including some experimental poetry that I found quite intriguing and effective. One was a collaborative piece that Geri, another guy named John and I helped Philip read. During another, based on a Russian poem by Lev Rubinstein, Philip let music and cue cards (in a bit of an homage to Bob Dylan) do most of the talking.
Here's a video of Philip's 9/11 performance (filmed by Literary Cafe proprietor Andy Timithy):
Of course the open mic session that followed Amy and Phil was awesome. But isn't it always, at the Literary Cafe? I can't remember what I ended up reading besides my Rapists, which seemed appropriate in the context of 9/11. Here are some photos (by me, except where otherwise noted):
Jesus Crisis [photo by Geri]
Emcee Nick Traenkner
Amy Bracken Sparks
Philip Metres
Toledo's Michael Grover
Sara Holbrook
Lester Allen
Steve Thomas (he'll be a featured reader at the Literary Cafe on 13 November)
Lit Cafe neon art by Jeff Chiplis (please correct me if I'm wrong)
Dianne Borsenik
Loren Weiss (right) with two gentlemen whose names I don't know
Toledo's John Dorsey
Carmen Tracey
Miles Budimir
Mike McMahon
Steve Goldberg
C. Allen Rearick
Dorsey, Rearick (facing papers), Grover and more
Eric Alleman
Russ Vidrick
Geri and her swan
Michael Salinger
Loren Weiss
Dianne Borsenik and Geri Burroughs
Jesus Crisis [photo by Anita Herczog - thanks!]
Find Amy Bracken Sparks at http://amybrackensparks.blogspot.com.
Find Philip Metres at www.philipmetres.com and http://behindthelinespoetry.blogspot.com.
Poems by Philip Metres in the Crisis Chronicles Online Library include The Ash Tree, Patronymic, Creation Story on Magnolia Drive, Cleveland; and The Idle Childless. I hope to eventually include some by Amy Bracken Sparks as well - I guess I've been a bit bashful about asking her.
I recommend these volumes for more poetry by Amy Bracken Sparks:
And I recommend these volumes for more by Philip Metres:
Please don't forget to Imagine Peace!
sigh.... as ever the thing I miss most about Cleveland is its poetry scene, especially the Lit & Mac's Backs. Pictures of people I care for almost too painful to see. A bit homesick.
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Thanks, Lady! I filmed the three featured readers at Mac's last week and plan to post the video here when I can get a couple of hours of undistracted time.
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eye found this at my fabel site a good poem endorsed by this bloggers eye
YAY Cleveland
http://poetrypoem.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?poemnumber=921943&sitename=charlax3&password=&poemoffset=0&displaypoem=t&item=poetry
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CharlaXTitles26
John Burroughs
AllofusarenotfromClevelandOh.
Eye first met Jesus Crisis online in 2008 just recently eye bonded with this man and even when eye found out that he was married eye never got jealous of his wife. For my devotion is not sexual in nature but just professional. He is the underdog no doubt the fact that he was arrested made me feel this adoration. And the man is picture perfect as a JESUS freak there is no doubt of his religion. He saws adages apart and makes the poems into quarks a light is shining as he reads them in his dark familiar places in the Ohio area.
This POEM is finished how can eye write a lifetime of knoeledge of a man who is still living it and HE at least has a real life a family and a poet inside of him GOD has indeed blessed this John Burroughs one.
Eye can only hide and watch and blog and hang on.
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I'm an x-ray man! Thanks, Charles.
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I loved it when everyone got up to read the cell phone poem. I can't wait until I get to go to the literary cafe for the first time. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Thank you, Jen! I probably should have let folks know that the Literary Cafe holds such a poetry night (albeit with different featured readers) the second Thursday of each month. The bar opens at 8:30, with poetry at 9:30. It's located on Literary Avenue in the Tremont neighborhood, right down the street from the 806 Martini and Wine Bar.
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Well.. even if this was long over due by your own standards I'm glad you were able to finally post this.
Your commentary on these events is always priceless.. an insider's view on who's who in the Cleveland poetry scene.. so thank you.
It always makes me fill in a mental check box in my brain of people I'd like to take the time to hear in the future if I can ever make a particular event.... so thanks.
I imagine it has not been easy with your change of life currently.. but that you try to take the time to do this (post these event blogs) is appreciated by us all.. your faithful readers..
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Thank you, Chris. I very much appreciate your friendship, patience, reading, appreciating and responding.
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I really enjoy your poetry reading blogs. The pictures are wonderful. I like to see what the people look like, what the location looks like. Your blogs provide the total experience. I have another friend who is an author and he commented that he seriously considers the authors facial expressions when he chooses a book. So it's neat to be a fly on the wall, welcomed into your group. Reading your blogs gives me a renewed appreciation for poetry and poets.
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Thank you very much, Tara!
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Thanks so much for the kind words, John, and I'm sorry I missed what looks like a great open mike. I've had many late night at The Lit, but can't stay out late anymore...also thanks for posting the Amazon link to my book. I think $0.46 is a bit expensive though...;-]
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I'm surpised anyone would sell it for such a low price - it's fantastic book. But the .46 is somewhat deceiving - you end up pay 2.99 or 3.99 for "postage and handling" when it probably only costs a dollar to mail it. So the seller makes more than you think. [For folks who don't know, I'm not the seller - I just make a 6% referral fee - in this case 6% of $0.46.] Even with the postage and handing charge, this book is a steal!
Thanks for your comment, Amy, and especially for sharing your poetry with us! Would you be interested in having a sampling of your work featured in the Crisis Chronicles Online Library? Pretty please?....
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