Free Ferry half-price!

Upper Hand Press has a sweetheart of a deal for you: Free Ferry is half price now through February 14. Order now and you'll receive it in April, which is right around the corner. Thanks to cultural pundit Natasha Nesic for the first online review of Free Ferry, and to everyone who has preordered my book to date. I can’t wait to sign it for you.

Matters of the Heart

Thanks again toDr. George Kraus for convening an extraordinary poets last month for Sundays at the J with George and Friends at the JCC on the Hudson. In addition to Michael Carman, Susanna Case, Ruth Handel, Ann Lauinger, Natalie Safir, and Meredith Trede, I loved the science-inspired poetry of Loretta Oleck, co-owner of the Muddy Waters Cafe; and lyrical work of Michelle Seaman, whose husband Benjamin Dauer provided tasty bass rendering as part of their musical duo, the Dwindlers.

Sarah Bracey White

February is African American History Month

Annogram celebrates great African American poets such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Countee Cullen, Audre Lorde, June Jordan, Langston Hughes, Phillis Wheatley, and two fabulous writers I am privileged to know—Sarah Bracey White and Petra E. Lewis. Sarah, recently interviewed in the Journal News, is author of the award-winning folk tale The Wanderlust; and Petra wrote a scarily prescient novel on gun violence, The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I: A Requiem. While exploring, be sure to seeBlavity's young black poets you should know.

Feeling Blue and Lonesome

If you've been following annogram, you know the blues hit me like lightning last year. About the same time, the Rolling Stones, feeling stuck in a recording session, decided to "cleanse the palate" by returning to their musical roots.

Little Walter Jacobs

The result is Blue and Lonesome, an album whose soulful purity honors originators of the American blues canon, such as Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf and Lightnin’ Slim. In the classic shuffle, "Just Your Fool,"Jaggerskillfully executes traditional blues harmonica, once performed in a simpler fashion by Brian Jones in the band's early days. Jagger’s harmonica can only be matched by his vocals, which excel in this leaner blues forum—especially in the Chicago-oriented "I Gotta Go."

Willie Dixon

The band also pays homage to Delta blues, with "Hate to See You Go,""Little Rain" and the Willie Dixon standard, "I Can't Quit You Baby," widely performed by everyone from Jeff Beck to Zeppelin. Recording next door, Eric Clapton was invited in and performs slide on "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" and guitar on “I Can’t Quit You Baby.” If you love authentic blues, this album is a keeper.

Thanks to my favorite blues rock guitarist Michael Cefola for his input on this review.

Herbert Hadad: Jewish and Arabic

Writers Terry Dugan, Herb Hadad and
Ann celebrate Herb's theater debut

The Jewish Women's Theatre in Los Angeles, which "celebrates truths that connect all people," plans to dramatize a piece Herbert Hadad wrote for the New York Times. The original op-ed, "Both Jewish and Arabic," concerns Herb's efforts to keep Arabic heritage alive for his three children in a Christian-Judeo household. A freelance writer, Herb authored Finding Immortality: The Making of One American Family and teaches at the Hudson Valley Writers Center. The play will debut in March.

Ruby Sketchley as
Mary E. Gregory of
Old Sacramento

My Great-Great Grandmother on Facebook

Imagine my shock to find my great-great grandmother on Facebook! There she is, talking about life in Sacramento during the Gold Rush. Mary E. Gregory is none other than Ruby Sketchley of the Old Sacramento Underground Tours. Ruby, an accomplished actor, filmmaker and director, is a tour guide for the Sacramento History Museum.

Mary emigrated from England and loves the international flavor provided by her diverse neighbors. Later she would become a real estate magnate, successful business woman and close associate of Leland Stanford. Her son would become mayor of Sacramento, and grandson a master architect. I would tell her that immigrants still make America great!

Brunch at Fork Food Labs

Outdoor community event at Fork

Wish I was in Maine for the Fork Food Labs brunch February 25! I know how good their food is—as a Kickstarter donor, I received melt-in-your mouth toffee from Rosanna's Ice Cream, Whoopie Pies from Cape Whoopies, and a Brown Butter Brownie from Fat Pants Bakery. Congratulations to Eric Holstein and Neil Spillane for creating commercial kitchens where entrepreneurs can fulfill their gourmet dreams. If in Portland, you can sample their fine culinary products in the Fork Food Labs Tasting Room.

Gluten-free Amaretti di Roma

A long time ago, as newlyweds, Michael and I enjoyed a meal al fresco in Rome. The waiter, enchanted by young love, kept bringing little cookies and plenty of Frangelico on the house. He got a big tip, and we returned to our pensioneto sleep for hours until the sound of revelers at the Piazza Navona woke us up. And this recipe, like Proust's madeleine, reminds me of that magical night.

3 cups of finely ground blanched slivered almonds

1 1/4 cup of sugar, finely ground in a blender or food processor

3 egg whites

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using blender, food processor or handheld beater, mix almond grounds and sugar. Add extracts and egg whites, and mix until smooth. Place teaspoons of dough on papered baking trays and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 24-30 minutes or golden grown.

Calls for work / creative opportunities

J. L. Witterick, keynote,
Unicorn Writers Conference

First Literary Review – Eastwelcomes poetry submissions year-round

Learn to translate literature from Intralingo

Lines + Stars requests your poetry of resistance and dissent

Lines + Stars seeks chapbook manuscripts

Readings at AWP

AWP Offsite Readings, February 7-11

Diana Bolton

Busboys and Poets, February 9, 10pm, Cindy Hochman, Alexandra van de Kamp, Lissa Kiernan, Kim Peter Kovac

Poets House at AWP, February 9, 4:30pm, J. Mae Barizo, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Monica Youn, Kevin Young

Bossa Bistro, February 10, 6pm, Lines + Stars’ Diana Bolton, Megan Atwood, Beth Konkoski-Bates

Dos Madres Press, February 11, 12pm, Owen Lewis, Nancy Kassell, Geoffrey Woolf, Daniel Shapiro, Anne Whitehouse

Readings

Maryam Mortaz

HVWC, February 3, 7:30pm, Mike Lala, Cynthia Manick ($10)

KGB Bar, February 7, 7pm, David Katz, Nemo Hill, Rick Mullin

Poets House, February 18, 3pm, Brad Gooch, Maryam Mortaz on Rumi ($10)

The New School, Wednesday, February 22, 7pm, C.K. Williams Tribute, Jonathan Galassi, Edward Hirsch, Yusef Komunyakaa, Paul Muldoon, James Richardson, Alan Shapiro, Chase Twichell, Susan Wheeler, Adam Zagajewski

Mónica de la Torre

Cornelia Street Café, February 23, 6pm, and HVWC, February 24, 7:30pm, Spree MacDonald ($10)

Poets House, February 25, 3pm, Timothy Donnelly, Margo Jefferson, Mónica de la Torre on legacy of African American poetry ($10)

Zinc Bar, Saturdays at 4:30pm – Feb. 4, Cecilia Corrigan, Wendy Trevino; Feb. 11, Maryam MonalisaGharavi, JenniferScappettone; Feb 18, Ryan Dobran, Wendy Lotterman; Feb. 25,Christian Hawkey, Himanshu Suri ($5)

’Round the Net

Thanks and/or congratulations to the following:

William Shakespeare

Poets and Writers for “Muslim Americans Take the Mic”

Poets and Writers Daily News for new information on Shakespeare, that social climber!

Faculty advisor Hugh Behm-Steinberg on issue #23 of eleven-eleven, his final as advisor

Writer and arts educator Sarah Bracey White on her innovative writing workshops for kids

Suzanne Cleary

Poet Suzanne Cleary on her Fierce Friday interview and poem featured in Poetry Daily

Editor Cindy Hochman on the latest issue ofFirst Literary Review-East

Lines + Starson its newest issue, Low Tide, High Tide

Poet Linda Simone on her poem "The Transformation" and interview in The Phoenix Soul

The annogramblog has surpassed 30,000 views! Shouldn’t I win an Amana freezer? Thank you for being part of a vibrant global artistic community. People are now sending me blurbs, which I appreciate. Alert me if you have an upcoming book, reading or performance. If you know anyone who would enjoy annograms, send me that person’s email address.

Until next time,

Ann

Free Ferry on the way

Welcome to March, and countdown to the debut of Free Ferry, my second book! I am thrilled Upper Hand Press is inaugurating its Booktree Poetry Series with my work, especially during April—National Poetry Month. Sincerest thanks to everyone who preordered Free Ferry. If you’re Texas way, I will be reading with poet Linda Simone in San Antonio on April 4, 7pm, at Señor Veggie (perfect for a vegetarian like me).

Ann at Dos Madres reading

Ruth Handel, Maxine Silverman and I will celebrate Dos Madres’ Realms of the Mothers with a reading March 19 at 1:30pm at the JCC on the Hudson. Realms, an anthology edited by Richard Hague, celebrates the press’s first decade. Dos Madres published my first book, Face Painting in the Dark, so I am deeply grateful and congratulate publisher Robert Murphy on this milestone!

Pranav Vaish at JCC Alexander Art Gallery

Long before coloring reduced adult stress, a young Pranav Vaish discovered painting at the end of each day calmed his mind. Pranav, a 15-year-old student at the Manhattan Children’s Center, is exhibiting his extraordinary abstracts, whimsical drawings, and collage through March.

Artwork by Pranav Vaish

Pranav intuitively combines complementary colors, from vivid primary shades to subtle earth tones. Transparent horizontal strokes, layered with solid blocks and unexpected bursts, suggest dream-like landscapes—such as a pure sky-like stream in the middle of what might be red rock. Expert use of brush, roller and fingers explore watercolor, acrylic, tempera, and pasted paper.

Great abstracts challenge viewers to trace the familiar in complex terrain. This is their pleasure: finding oneself lost in a reminiscent world. Pranav’s confident and pure compositions deliver this journey. Congratulations to Pranav on this amazing exhibit, and thanks to his teacher, Deborah Coulter, for inviting me to it.

Rare screening of Montreal Main

Steve Lack in Montreal Main

Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave (2nd St.), NY 10003 will show the 1974 underground classic, Montreal Main on Friday, March 10, at 7pm and Sunday, March 12, at 8pm. The award-winning docufiction explores ambiguity and stereotypes around gay friendship. Filmmaker-screenwriter-actor Frank Vitale and screenwriter-actor Steve Lack will be on hand for a post-film Q&A.

Art Above the Sofa

The New York Arts Exchange, now New York Arts Etc., LLC, is sponsoring: Art Above the Sofa: Next Generation, a juried show for students in accredited art programs and academies worldwide. Art Above the Sofa, a poke at a much maligned phantom category of art, seeks edgy, confrontational, uncomfortable, decidedly spiritual, or intelligent witty art, by March 17. Exhibit to take place at 171 Elizabeth Street, between Spring and Kenmare, April 27-30, 2017.

Mars or Bust

Westchester Amateur Astronomers (WAA) will host Al Witzgall discussing travel to the Red Planet. Witzgall, senior optician at ESCO Optics, is a frequent speaker on astronomy.The event will take place March 3, 7:30pm, at Lienhard Hall at Pace University in Pleasantville. WAA’s first 2017 star party will be March 18 (rain-cloud date March 25) in the Meadow Parking Lot at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

New releases

Laurence Carr, Threnodies: Poems in Remembrance(Codhill Press, 2016)

Pamela Laskin, Ronit and Jamil (Katherine Tegen Books, 2017)

Estha Weiner

Creative workshops / lectures

The Practice of Creativity with Gerry Grubs, March 4, $75

Sarah Lawrence College, March 7, 2pm, Charles Baxter on craft

Unicorn Writers Conference featuring Thomas Moore, March 25, $325

Sarah Lawrence College, March 29, 2pm, Teddy Wayne on craft

Let’s Lose the Muse Workshop with Estha Weiner, April 22, 10-3pm, $200

Kevin Pilkington

Readings / events

Sarah Lawrence College, March 2, 6pm, A. Van Jordan

Berl's Brooklyn Poetry Shop, March 2, 7pm, Ocean Vuong

Poets House, March 4, 4pm, Pam Laskin, Rick Mullin, Owen Lewis, Gwen Sonnenberg, Kip Zegers

Asian American Writers Workshop, March 6, 7pm, Sonya Chung, Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, Annie Kim, Jyothi Natarajan on family trauma, $5

Word Bookstore, March 7, 7pm, Tiffany Jackson, David Levithan, Suzanne Weyn read Ronit and Jamil

Sarah Lawrence College, March 8, 6pm, Charles Baxter

Pénélope Bagieu

Fordham Poetry Out Loud Series, March 8, 7pm, Sandra Esteves, Kevin Pilkington

NYU Lillian Vernon House, March 9, 7pm, Kevin Young, Laurin Macios

Astoria Bookshop, March 11, 3pm, Pénélope Bagieu on her newest graphic novel with Jon Hogan

Irvington Library, March 12, 3pm, Poetry in the Round reads excerpts from The Iliad

Community Bookstore, March 14, 7pm, Ronit and Jamil launch with Lisa Selin Davis

Kimiko Hahn

JCC on the Hudson, March 19, 1:30pm, Ann Cefola, Ruth Handel, Maxine Silverman, $5

Katonah Library, March 26, 4pm, Kimiko Hahn, $10

Bowery Poetry Club, March 27, 6pm, Stephen Massimilla, Myra Kornfeld onCooking with the Muse (live music, bar, organic treats), $30

Word of Mouth/MOTR Pub, March 28, 7pm, Ralph LaCharity, Robert Murphy, Bea Opengart, Nathan Swartzendruber

Candied Ginger, Coconut and Quinoa Granola

Admittedly, this sounds more like dessert but a hearty breakfast for winter’s last chill via artist and poet Linda Simone, courtesy Food and Wine:

3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup sliced almonds

1/3 cup sweet shredded coconut

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp each cinnamon, ginger, salt
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup halved dried cherries
1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
Fresh ricotta or plain Greek yogurt, mixed berries

Preheat oven to 325º. In medium bowl, combine oats, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, almonds, coconut, brown sugar, and spices. In small bowl, whisk applesauce, honey and coconut oil. Add applesauce mix to dry ingredients; toss to coat. Scatter granola in even layer on parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp. Let cool completely. Transfer to a bowl and stir in dried cranberries, cherries and crystallized ginger. Serve with ricotta and mixed berries.

ʼRound the Net

Congratulations and thanks to the following on sharing good news and/or links:

Racoco Director Rachel Cohen on her March residency in Myanmar, followed by her
workshop and performance in Vietnam

D. H. Lawrence

Blogger Adam J. Calhoun on punctuation in novels as art

Poet Michael Holstein on reading his poetry at Out by Ten

Poet Mary Ladd McCray for writing me all about Mark Doty’s lecture on D.H. Lawrence

Editor Lise Menn for this video reading by several The Widows’ Handbook poets

Art historian Laura Morelli on the history of the Venetian gondola

Photo by Greg Mohr

Poet Arthur Russell on his debut reading this week at the Williams Center in Rutherford, NJ

Music archivist Jay Shulman for letting us know Aretha is retiring at yearend

Slate on the new need for sensitivity readers

Poets and Writers on its newly refreshed website

WCBS 2 New York Newsfor profiling Iris Scott, an artist who uses finger paints

Writerly for this podcast on literary agents, and if you need one

The path of a poet

If you want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or even a plumber or electrician, degree and union programs like a conveyor belt will take you there. If you discover you’re a poet, you will find people’s eyes glaze over; after you share a poem, loved ones say, “I’m not sure I get it,” or strangers wave an arm, “I never got poetry.” There’s no path, no official program to fulfill one’s destiny. You’re on your own, possibly unsure of your ability, and wondering what century you were born into, and why.

Thomas Lux

If someone responds, “You’re a poet? Fantastic!” and shows you the heritage of greats before you, and invites you into a commonwealth that encourages attentive reading, lively poetry events, taking risks in writing, sharing one’s work with like-minded others, learning not only to seek out but love critique, and standing up a little taller because the calling has its own timeless nobility and mystery—well, it would be a miracle.

That miracle, dear annogramreaders, was Thomas Lux. When he died February 5, a Camelot of poets stood breathless, devastated, heartbroken. More than 25 years ago, he taught me to thoughtfully choose words and ruthlessly revise; later he solicited my work, wrote recommendations, and emailed congrats (“Yay!”). A cross between Robert Plant and Will Rogers—wild energy under New England restraint—a regular guy who loved baseball and read the Daily News yet whose outsized passion for poetry generated an extraordinary canon and whose equal commitment to teaching raised up generations of poets. Someone on Amazon asks—“Is this guy’s name really Lux? I mean, light?” We who loved him can say an unequivocal yes. To Tom, ever shining, sometimes irascible, deepest gratitude:

Ode to the Joyful Ones

"Shield your joyful ones."– from an Anglican prayer

That they walk, even stumble, among us, is reason

to praise them, or protect them—even the sound

of a lead slug dropped on a lead plate, even that, for them,

is music. Because they bring laughter's

brief amnesia. Because they stand,

talking, taking pleasure in others,

with their hands on the shoulders of strangers

and the shoulders of each other.

Because you don't have to tell them to walk towards the light.

Because if there are two pork chops

they will give you the better one.

Because they will give you the crutch off their backs.

Because when there are two of them together

their shining fills the room.

Because you don't have to tell them to walk towards the light.

– Thomas Lux

Until next time,

Ann

Maxine Silverman, Ann, George
Kraus and Ruth Handel

Dos Madres Reading

What a great time Sunday, reading at the JCC on the Hudsonfrom Dos Madres’ Realms of the Mothers. As always, Dr. George Kraus was a wonderful host. Maxine Silverman’s new book is Shiva Moon (Ben Yehuda Press), a lyrical elegy to her father; and Ruth Handel’s is Momentary Stays (Dos Madres), poems about leading writing workshops inside a psych ward.

National Poetry Month San Antonio

So happy to take part in National Poetry Month San Antonio! My dear friend, poet Linda Simone, and I will be guest readers on April 4 at 7pm at Señor Veggie. And then Free Ferry will debut later in April. Be sure to “like” my Free Ferry page on Facebook, and take a look at the amazing cover designed by Dave Provolo with gorgeous art by Linda Gall.

Emily at the Morgan

Emily Dickinson

Bringing together nearly one hundred rarely seen items, I’m Nobody! Who are you?, an ambitious exhibition on Emily Dickinson (1830–1886), examines twenty-four poems in draft, supplemented with hand-cut silhouettes, photographs and daguerreotypes. Hear a selection of her poems read by Lee Ann Brown or watch the NPR review. Through May 28 at the Morgan Library.

DJ Jeanette Briggs

Congratulations to Jeanette Briggs on having five fabulous songs selected by Kenny O’Boyle for The Friday Drive on WFDU (89.1 FM). Jeanette did a bang-up job, featuring “Up Around the Bend” by Creedence, “Going Up the Country”by Canned Heat, “Long Train Running” by Doobies, “California Dreaming” by the Mamas and the Papas, and “Chelsea Morning” by Joni Mitchell.

Translated works at Centre Pompidou

Hélène Sanguinetti

Hélène Sanguinetti read with poets from Germany and her native France at the Centre Pompidou this month. Twice over two years, Hélène, Claude Andy, Gérard Cartier, and Valérie Rouzeau, met with German poets Caroline Callies, Marion Poschmann, Silke Scheuermann, and Jan Wagner to translate one another’s work. Congrats to all on an inspired project and impressive performance venue!

Kisses on Both Cheeks

Last weekend, the Jewish Women’s Theater of Los Angeles debuted “Exile: Kisses on Both Cheeks,” a play based on a New York Times piece by Herb Hadad, with material from seven other writers. The show, billed a “Jewish immigration story like you’ve never seen,” will have 10 performances in and around Los Angeles. Congrats to our beloved Herb! Purchase tickets here.

Creative opportunities

Announcing country dark, a platform for genre fiction—sf, fantasy, horror, and everything in-between. country dark, a Codhill Press imprint, is accepting novel, novella, and short-story-length manuscripts. Writers from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to submit.

New releases

Laura Moriatry, Verne and Lemurian Objects (Mindmade Books, 2017)

Jo Pitkin, Rendering (Salmon Poetry, 2017)

Readings

Mark Doty

Katonah Library, March 26, 4pm, Kimiko Hahn, $10

Bowery Poetry Club, March 27, 6pm, Stephen Massimilla, Myra Kornfeld on Cooking with the Muse (live music, bar, organic treats), $30

Word of Mouth/MOTR Pub, March 28, 7pm, Ralph LaCharity, Robert Murphy, Bea Opengart, Nathan Swartzendruber

Señor Veggie, April 4, 7pm, Ann Cefola, Linda Simone

Kamilah Aisha Moon

The Masters School - Estherwood, April 8, 12:30-5pm, Mark Doty (keynote), Joshua Bennett, Kamilah Aisha Moon, Emilia Phillips, Max Ritvo (via Ariella Ritvo-Slifka), Terese Svoboda

Mount Saint Mary College, April 11, 4pm, Jo Pitkin

Chai Smoothie

Banishing the chill of early spring is this smoothie with its warm spices and thirst-quenching almond milk.

6 pitted dates

1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place dates and almond milk in a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup and chill for 2 hours to soften dates. Put dates, almond milk, cocoa powder, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

ʼRound the Net

James Baldwin

Admirers of James Baldwin who are trying to save his home in Provence

Poet Joel Allegretti for NYQ’s donation to City Harvest in honor of Rabbit Earscontributors

Filmmaker Jennifer Crandall for asking unsuspecting strangers to read from Whitman's "Song of Myself”—see this awesome clip that evokes James Agee and Walker Evans at their best

Poet-performance artist Cornelius Eady on the debut of his trio’s new CD

Author Herb Hadad for this special op-ed on Arab courtesy that appeared in LoHud

Katonah Poetry Series on its IndieaGoGo campaign to fund a book of conversations with 21 poets

The Kiev Metro System for allowing people to ride free if they could recite a poem by Taras Shevchenko, the national poet

Marcel Proust

Actor Celia Pilkington on casting the May production of BiggerThanYou, BiggerThan Me

Music archivist Jay Shulman for duly noting the passing of Chuck Berry

Poet Linda Simone on how her new hometown loves poetry and can prove it too; and how one debut novelist got the job done

Canadian Professor Jean-Pierre Sirois-Trahan who has found the only film clip of Proust

Filmmaker Frank Vitale for sharing episodes 36-40 of the Metropolis Organism

Activist Claire Wasserman on launching Ladies Get Paid, a nationwide effort to raise women’s wages

I gave several people near-heart failure when I finally joined Facebook two weeks ago. Yes, it's me. Late to the party. So c'mon on by and friend me, like my Free Ferry page, and let me know how you use Facebook to expand your world as an artist.

Until next time,
Ann

Ann and Linda at the Alamo

Your lone star annogram

What a pleasure to kick off National Poetry Month in Texas! First I had the pleasure of reading to my cousin Katherine's Independent Living Community—next stop, San Antonio to visit dear friends Linda and Joe Simone. And this week my long-awaited second book, Free Ferry, comes out! That means you'll get your copy soon if preordered. Buckaroos, it's a good month indeed.

A fun reading in Fort Worth

Reading in Fort Worth

While visiting my 93-year-old cousin Katherine, I noticed an announcement in the elevator that there would be a "special guest" giving a reading the next day! My clever cousin determined a practice run would benefit me—and everyone at her residence. I could not have had a more intelligent, attentive audience. Who would know that Michael Baldwin, president of the historic Fort Worth Poetry Society, was in attendance? Afterwards, he invited me to return to read in his group's poetry series.

National Poetry Month San Antonio

Jim, Natalia, Linda, me, and Bryce

Thanks to Linda Simone, I read with Jim LaVilla-Havelin, Bryce Milligan, Natalia Treviño and Linda as part of National Poetry Month San Antonio. We enjoyed an intimate audience at Señor Veggie, a superb vegetarian restaurant reminiscent of places in the Village long ago. Dear writer pals Terry Dugan and Sarah Bracey White, also on hand, took these great shots. I love San Antonio—from its River Walk to its stately homes and lush parks. It invests in poetry, and always has creative events involving poets.

Barney reciting Kipling

Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum

You have not seen San Antonio unless you've visited Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum. The 95-year-old has collected hundreds of seats decorated with tributes to sororities/fraternities, universities, police/fire departments, military, and every state in the nation.

Terry Dugan, me, Linda Simone
with the NYS "overflow" seat

Among the more astonishing, one with a piece from the Challenger found floating off Florida, and another, part of the toilet used by Saddam Hussein in hiding. So many New Yorkers have visited we had to sign an "overflow" seat. Barney tops every tour with a magnificent recital of Kipling's "When Earth's Last Picture is Painted," and you can't help feeling...er, uh...moved.

The Letter by Mary Cassatt

French Moderns at

the McNay

Wouldn't you know, I had to travel to Texas to see Monet to Matisse: A Century of French Moderns from the Brooklyn Museum? The exhibit features work by Bonnard, Caillebotte, Cézanne, Chagall, Degas, Léger, Matisse, Monet, Redon, Renoir, Rodin, Tanguy, and Vuillard. More traditional artists, such as Corot, Courbet, Manet, and Millet, contrast the modernist flow. A beautiful series of Japanese-inspired prints by Mary Cassatt takes up one wall, and there is additional work by Berthe Morisot. A fantastic immersion into French Modernism in one room!

Yay! for poets we know and love

Kevin Pilkington has won an IPPY Award for his book, Where You Want To Be: New and Selected Poems (Black Lawrence Press, 2015), had "Pomegranate" featured on Poem-a-Day (Academy of American Poets), "Long as a Quart of Milk" critiqued on Sarah Morin's Being Critical blog, and this review of his Poetry Out Loud reading. Garrison Keillor read Natalie Safir's poem, "Road Trip West", on the April 21st The Writer's Almanac. And NEA recipient Pamela Hart has won the inaugural Brian Turner Literary Arts Prize for Poetry. Congratulations to Kevin, Natalie, and Pamela for well-deserved recognition!

Exposure by Wa Liu

Art Above the Sofa

Thanks to the New York Arts Exchange Director Beth Gersh-Nesic for giving art students a chance to shine in an art competition! On display in Art Above the Sofa: The Exhibition and Conversations, opening April 27, 6-8 pm, and running through April 30, the winning Exposure by Wa Liu, Blossom by Vicci Weixi Zhang, and Complexity II byPriscila Schott. See jurors’ and others' work, and join in important conversations. Beth also recommends the rare Sisley retrospective at the Bruce Museum, through May 21.

New releases

AMP Issue 2 edited by Janet Kaplan

Illusion of an Overwhelm (New York Quarterly Books) by John Amen

Opossum 17 edited by J. Edgar and Jon Ross

Momentary Stays (Dos Madres Press) by Ruth D. Handel

Presence, a Journal of Catholic Poetry edited by Mary Ann Miller

Take to the Highway (West End Press) by Bryce Milligan

The Will of the Magi (AOIS21 Publishing) by Paul Dickinson Russell

Worth the Candle (Five Oaks Press) by Gary Glauber

Creative opportunities

Jimmy Santiago Baca

Arthur Vogelsang One-on-One Poetry Workshop, May 15-July 7. Apply by April 26.

Jimmy Santiago Baca Live Webinar Series, four sessions in May.

Donna Zucker Family History 101, HVWC, Sunday, June 11, 12:30-4:30pm

Poetry / literary events

Sarah Lawrence Poetry Festival, April 21-23

Jean-Christophe Rufin

Université de Toulon, Medicine and Writing, April 25, 10am-6pm; April 26, 9am-3pm; keynote Dr. Jean-Christophe Rufin, hosted by Christophe Lamiot Enos

Bright Hill Press, April 27, 7pm, Janet Kaplan and Elizabeth Cohen

ZieherSmith Gallery, NYC Independent Publishers Book Party, April 28, 6-8pm

Cincinnati Public Main Library, April 29, 3pm, Robert Murphy, Richard Hague, Pauletta Hansel, Karen George

Harvey School Walker Center for the Arts, May 13, 4pm; Billy Collins, Mark Doty, Marie Howe, Vijay Seshadri, $40

BonBonerie, Dos Madres Spring Dinner Fundraiser, May 19, 7pm, tickets $60 individual, $100 couple

Creamy Tortilla Soup

This recipe celebrates extraordinary Tex-Mex cuisine enjoyed earlier this month. Sighing just thinking of it....

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp each salt, chili powder, oregano

dash of cayenne
1/2 cup organic strained tomatoes

3 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
4 corn tortillas torn into small pieces
1/2 cup goat or whatever milk you like
2 avocados, diced
shredded cheese, to taste

In a large pot over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add diced onion and red pepper, and cook until soft, about five minutes. Add garlic cloves and spices (cumin, salt, chili powder, oregano, cayenne) and sauté another few minutes. Add tomatoes, broth and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add tortilla pieces. Let soup cook and reduce for an hour, stirring occasionally. Add milk if desired and adjust seasonings. Ladle into bowls and top with half an avocado and shredded cheese.

ʼRound the Net

Kathe Gregory and her amazing art

Essayist Jeanette Briggs for discovering the Grammar Vigilante

Poet and filmmaker Terry Dugan for alerting us that we can rent the bedroom where Emily Dickinson wrote her oeuvre

Artist Kathe Gregory on participating in the May 6-7 Somerville Open Studios, and on her new website featuring her work

Playwright Herb Hadad for rave reviews on "Exile: Kisses on Both Cheeks" in the Jewish Journal and J News

Poet Ruth Handel on the book launch of Momentary Stays (Dos Madres Press) this month at Scarsdale Public Library

Poet Janet Kaplan on having "Night" appear in the Tupelo Quarterly

Guitarist John Moses for this defense of Dylan's Nobel

Producer/Actor Celia Pilkington for making tickets available to Bigger Than You, Bigger Than Mee May 10-13

Publisher Chad Post for the 2017 Best Translated Books

Jacqueline Kimmelstiel whose
story will be told in Witness Theater

Poet Linda Simone for good news of Kevin Young becoming the New Yorker poetry editor

The New York Times for matching readers with books in this column

The UJA Federation NY for teaming Holocaust survivors and students to tell their stories in Witness Theater this month

Entrepreneurs Claire Wasserman and Eric Holstein on being featured in the Minimums

Sarah Bracey White, Linda Simone,
Terry Dugan, and yours truly

My trip to Texas reminded me there’s nothing like spending time with friends and family in person—over a leisurely cup of tea or exploring a new adventure like San Antonio. I am grateful to connect with you, dear friends in the annogram community, amidst our busy and contented lives. Be well, be adventuresome, and above all, create!

Until next time,

Ann

Free Ferry arrives

Free Ferry, my latest book, debuted last month, and I thank everyone who bought it and shared reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Facebook. Many of you say that you could not put it down, reading it two and three times. I invite you to write reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Facebook. Congratulations to my publisher, Ann Starr, on the first book in her Booktree Poetry Series!

Howard Mandel on Astrud Gilberto and the Bossa Nova

To celebrate Free Ferry’s debut, I am interviewing artists who

Astrud Gilberto

contributed to it. First was with cover designer extraordinaire Dave Provolo, and second, a fantastic interview with jazz critic Howard Mandel on Gilberto and the Bossa Nova. I learned much from Howard, and you will too—looking back to a time in US history not unlike our own. Rio resident George Kraus informs us that “The Girl From Ipanema” was written by poet Vinicius de Moraes, and recommends the cool bossa nova sounds of João Bosco.

Eddie Van Halen

Driving around listening to the radio

Amazing things happen when I’m driving in my car—from comprehending the blues for the first time, to hearing author Brad Watson on The Write Stufflast month. Watson read from Miss Jane(WW Norton, 2016), so compelling a book that I immediately got it from the library. Miss Janeis one of the most beautiful and tender books I’ve read in a long time. And to counter that, I went wild over the Van Halen solo that leads up to “You Really Got Me,” which unleashed my best Beavis and Butt-head imitation at a stoplight.

Brooklyn Performance Combine

This Saturday, June 3, at 7pm, you can see Rachel Cohen, director of the Racoco Productions, perform in Norte Maar's spectacular Brooklyn Performance Combine. The unlikely production unites all art forms in a cohesive 120-minute event featuring a dozen painters and performers with poets Bob Holmanand Dara Mandel with special guest, meteorologist Amy Freeze. Click hereto purchase tickets ($15, $20, $40) and for directions to the venue.

New releases

Avowed by Julie R. Enszer (Sibling Rivalry Press)

Barren Island by Carol Zoref (New Issues Poetry + Prose)

lllusion of an Overwhelm by John Amen (New York Quarterly Books)

Shiva Moon by Maxine Silverman (Ben Yehuda Press)

Creative opportunities

Lose the Muse Poetry Workshop with Estha Weiner, June 10, 10am-3pm, $200

Donna Zucker

Family History 101 with Donna Zucker, June 11, 12:30-4:30pm, $124

One-Day Literary Translation Institute, June 16, 10-4:30pm, free; by June 9,

email sample translated poem or prose to BKLN-creativewriting@LIU.edu

Turning Your Obsession into a Book with Pamela Hart, June 24, 12:30-4:30pm, $124

Writing Institute Publish and Promote Your Book Conference, June 24, $425

Poetry / literary events

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

Poets House, June 1, 7pm, Cheryl Clark on Gwendolyn Brooks

HVWC, June 2, 7:30pm, Alex Dimitrov, Alan Felsenthal

Poets House, June 7, 7pm, emerging poets

HVWC, June 9, 7:30pm, Mervyn Taylor, Maeve Kinkead

HVWC, June 21, Rebecca Shiff, Rumaan Alam

Poets House, June 22, 6pm reception, 7pm reading, annual book showcase

Vermont-inspired Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Just back from Vermont where, among other delights, I enjoyed a jewel-like slice of strawberry rhubarb pie. In honor of that state’s lilac-filled spring air, and the visual profusion of green, I offer this delicious-looking recipe from Simply Recipes:

3 1/2 cups rhubarb stalks cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 cups strawberries, stemmed and sliced

3/4 cup to 1 cup sugar (sweeten to taste)

4 tablespoons quick cooking ("minute") tapioca

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon orange zest

1 double crust pie dough recipe* for a 9-inch pie

(If 10-inch pie, use 4 cups rhubarb, 2 1/2 cups strawberries, 1 1/4 cup of sugar)

*In large bowl whisk 2 cups flour, teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons sugar. Add 2 sticks butter cut into cubes. Use hands to mush until it forms a coarse meal. With fork, add 1/2 cup sour cream; form large ball, and cut into two pieces. Form each into a disk, wrap with plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat 400°F oven. In large bowl, gently combine rhubarb and strawberries with sugar, tapioca, salt, and orange zest. Let sit 10 minutes. Roll pastry dough and line pie dish. Trim 1/2 inch from edge. Place filling in pastry lined dish. Roll second dough and place over pie. Trim edges an inch from edge. Tuck and crimp top crust over bottom. Cut slits in top, place pie on oven middle rack, with baking sheet on lower rack to catch juice. Bake 20 minutes, then reduce oven to 350°F, bake 40-50 minutes longer (50-60 minutes if 10-inch). When browned and filling bubbles, remove from oven and let cool on rack.

ʼRound the Net

Margaret Fuller, second from left,
accepts La Plume d'Ore

Poets and Writers for the "Books are Magic" video

Writer Jim Barry for this hilarious SNL skit about Alexa for seniors

Memoirist Sarah Bracey White for this new podcast about her popular book, Primary Lessons

French teacher Margaret Fuller on winning La Plume d'Or from the French government

C. M. Mayo

Editor Louis Hoffman PhD, for accepting my poem, “Trying to Be Alcoholic,” forSilent Screams: Poetic Journeys Through Addiction and Recovery (University Professors Press)

Lakota Children's Enrichment for announcing the young poets and writers who won its annual writing challenge

Poet/novelist/translator C. M. Mayo on being selected artist-in-residence at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Ted Hughes (1930-1998) and
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)

Art historian Laura Morelli on the history of the Venetian carnival mask

Poet/artist Linda Simone for this great opening paragraph and article and discovery of new Plath poems

The Telegraph's list of best poetry books of all time

Summer’s right around the corner! Wishing you delights of the season and creative productivity as profuse as the green all around us.

Until next time,

Ann

Free Ferry launch at Fordham

Fordham Universityhosted a fantastic book launch for Free Ferry! We had more than 40 attendees at the Westchester campus, a beautiful building tucked in the woods off Westchester Avenue.

Dr. Larry Faltz and I read Free Ferry

For the reading, our good friend Dr. Larry Faltz agreed to read the bottom, more scientific, narrative while I covered the top more domestic poems—and our audience loved the blend of our two distinct voices.

Afterwards, our reception featured music from Getz/Gilbertoas well as a buffet from Patisserie Salzburg. Alas, I never made it to the exquisite butter cookies because I was signing books—Face Painting in the Dark and Free Ferry!

Elyse Faltz, Helen Honig, yours truly,
Michael Cefola and Ruth Handel

A problem every author should have, and I am grateful to everyone who purchased my work. Thanks to Deborah Coulter, Michael Holstein, and Sarah Bracey Whitefor taking great photos, and please keep those comments coming on Amazonand Goodreads.

Suzanne Cleary on Risk-Taking in Poetry

Suzanne Cleary

I have long admired Suzanne’s poetry, and was thrilled when she wrote a blurb for Free Ferry. Now I turn the tables to discover how she gets away with rule-breaking in “Elm Street,” which appeared this year in Poetry Daily.

The interview, which includes the poem,features quotes such as “I feel no need to demystify poetry. A good poem is mysterious, most especially to poets. Being mystified by a poem is a great first step in reading it, but since our society values mastery, not mystery, what is a teacher to do?” Read our conversation to find out!

More good news

Deepest thanks to poet Mary McCray for the outstanding review of Free Ferry on Big Bang Poetry. In addition, my poem, “Trackside Commissary,” had been selected for the Main Street Rag Pressanthology, Of Burgers & Barrooms; and my translation of chapter 9 from Hélène Sanguinetti’s Le Héros(Flammarion, 2008) will debut shortly in St. Petersburg Review.

Sounds of Summer at Jacob Burns

Patsy Cline (1932-1963)

Jacob Burns Film Center has assembled top music documentaries for its Sounds of Summer festival through August 17. Classics like Stop Making Sense and newer releases such as Two Trains Runnin’showcase performances by Patsy Cline, The Band, Otis Redding, Talking Heads, The Beatles, Eagles of Death Metal, and more! Groove to the trailer here.

Stuck in driveway listening to the car radio

Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) and
Brian May

Waiting for Brian May’s guitar to erupt in Queen’s “We will rock you.” After Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) repeats the chorus three times, May rips into a lush electric solo, ably dismantling the stark if hypnotic beat. The Mirror (UK) crowned May guitarist in a fantasy super group surveywith Paul McCartney (bass), Phil Collins (drums), and Adele (vocalist). Hmm. Now how about that US super group?

Creative opportunities

Barrow Street Book Prize– submit by June 30

MassMOCA one-to-eight week residencies – apply by July 6

Presence, a Journal of Catholic Poetry call for book reviewers

New releases

The Pedestal– June issue edited by John Amen

AMP – Issue 2edited by Janet Kaplan

Heraldby Roberta P. Feins (Autumn House Press)

The Sports Bucket List by Rob Fleder, Steve Hoffman (Harper Collins)

The Bottle Diggers by Andrea Fry (Turning Point)

The Third Voice: Notes on the Art of Poetic Collaboration by Eric Greinke(Presa Press)

Big Bang Poetry Summer Newsletter edited by Mary McCray

Thank You for Listening by Sean Pessin (Mindmade Books)

Poetry / literary events

Idra Novey

Canaan Meetinghouse, 7:30pm, July 6, Cynthia Huntington, Rick Moody; July 13, James Wright, Megan Abbott; July 20, April Ossmann, Victoria Redel; July 27: Major Jackson, Alexander Chee

Bowery Poetry Club, July 3, 6pm, Taran Singh, free

Dixon Place, July 3, 7:30pm, variety show featuring Rachel Cohen, $10 donation

Bowery Poetry Club, July 9, 3:30pm, Thylia Moss

Bryant Park Reading Room,July 11, 7pm, Cheryl Boyce Taylor, Reggie Cabico, Elana Bell, Duy Doan; July 18, Dan Magers, Monica McClure, Niina Polari, Sampson Starweather; July 25, John Andrews, Kazim Ali, Kaveh Akbar, Kazumi Chin, Michelle Lin

HVWC, July 12, 7:30pm, Idra Novey, Alex Mar, $10

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Here's what's in my lunch box—fresh, simple, delicious!

8 oz organic baby spinach leaves, stems removed

8 organic strawberries, sliced

handful of walnuts, chopped

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp sunflower oil

Layer spinach, walnuts and strawberries. Add vinegar and oil, and toss salad. You can also switch out the strawberries for a tart apple like Pink Lady, and the walnuts for pistachios.

ʼRound the Net

Bowery Poetry Club for alerting us to Taran’s Free Jazz Hour, radio program out of France

Readers from Whitman, Alabama

Deaf Community activist Florence Camace for sharing Minnie and Mickey’s use of sign language with a child

Filmmaker Jennifer Crandallfor recording Alabamians reading Whitman—a new video each week

Poet Terry Dugan for this piece featuring three translators responding to the film “Arrival”

Poet Eric Greinke on debut of The Third Voice: Notes on the Art of Poetic Collaboration (Presa Press)

Former NYS poet laureate Marie Howe for pairing poets with commuters to write their stories

Freddie King (1934-1976)

Art Historian Laura Morellifor revealing the history of maiolica from Umbria

Bassist and blues expert Larry Schwartzmanfor this amazing Freddie King clip

Program host Toni Quest for doing a great interview with curator and art historian Beth Gersh-Nesic

Closing June with gratitude for the annogramcommunity and your overwhelming support for Free Ferry. Many are gifting it to the scientists, mathematicians, and astrophysicists in their lives! I am honored and encourage you to purchase the book directly from Upper Hand Press to support its first foray into poetry.

Until next time,

Ann

Free Ferry gains momentum

Thanks to everyone who continues to purchase, read, and gift Free Ferrywith such enthusiasm. I am excited to be reading at events this fall at CUNY and Fordhamcelebrating the 75th anniversary of the isolation of plutonium—a largely unknown history and the bottom narrative in Free Ferry.

Imagine my shock when I walked into this Vermont scene that matched the cover of the book!

More good news

Select translations from Hélène Sanguinetti’s Et voici la chanson (Editions de L’Amandier, 2012) and Le Héros (Flammarion, 2008) will appear respectively in Transference and St. Petersburg Review. I can’t wait to read Hélène’s latest, Domain des englués (Lettre Volee). In addition, Main Street Rag Press will publish “Trackside Commissary” in its anthology Of Burgers and Barrooms.

Stamford Arts Festival

I will be reading Saturday, July 29, at 2pm at the Stamford Arts Festival. Poets include Edward Ahern, Alison McBain, Lisa Pierce Flores, and Roberta Strom. In the morning, stop by and a poet will write a poem just for you! Or lend your voice in a group reading of well-known poems. Thanks to Jerry T. Johnson for organizing the 10am – 5pm event at Harbor Point, which repeats with more poets Sunday.

Ron Tanner in the Middle of the Pacific

Ron Tanner’s youth in the Marshall Islands led to his wry, politically complex novel, Missile Paradise(Ig Publishing, 2016). In my interview with him, he reveals the surprising advice he gives new writers. The long-time professor and former AWP head also weighs in if his multiple interests limit or advance his creativity. I’ve learned from this generous writer and so will you!

Touring Vermont backroads

Rustic Vermont farm

My amazing girlfriends surprised me with a backroads adventure! In a comfortable mini-bus, we enjoyed views of Mt. Equinox and one or two of Manchester’s multimillion-dollar homes. Our guide, Sharon, shared demographics on today’s Vermonters—everyone from former CEOs and the Chief of the Abenaki Tribe, to artisans, telecommuters, and farmers.

Communing with alpaca

A downpour prevented a hike into the Merck Forest, so we headed to a gift shop to sample three grades of maple syrup. At an alpaca farm, the camel-like beasts stared at us with their otherworldly black eyes. Finally, we passed the Cephas Kent house, considered the birthplace of Vermont, 14^th state to join the union.

Such fun—and thanks to Sharon who epitomizes a Yankee welcome.

Linda Simone

Simone and Smith at the Tobin

Watercolorist Linda Simone is excited to be exhibiting artwork at the Tobin Library in San Antonio with her good and talented friend Vera Smith. "If you're in the neighborhood," Linda says, "please stop by and take a look!" The paintings will be up through the first week in September.

NYC Poetry Festival

The free NYC Poetry Festival takes place July 29-30, 11am - 6pm, on Governors Island.Be sure to see annogram friends Christine Beck, Susana H. Case,and Gary Glauber Saturday at 1:30pm, and Meredith Trede, Mervyn Taylor, and Estha Weiner Sunday at noon—all on the Algonquin Stage.

Mad for ModPo

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

What’s it like to take a comprehensive Ivy League poetry course? Sign up for ModPo. The University of Pennsylvania’s 10-week course in modern and contemporary US poetry, opens September 9—free, online, open to all. New poems and videos will be featured in ModPoPLUS and its Teacher Resource Center will help instructors teach the poetry. Enroll here.

The Perfect Wife and the Other Woman

I always mocked the title of this Manchester, Vermont restaurantuntil my friends and I dined there after our backroads tour—that is, in the Other Woman Tavern, on a lovely patio overlooking a wildflower garden. Wow! Was the meal extraordinary! Chef-owner Amy Chamberlain has a spectacular menu in a picturesque country setting. To celebrate this find, I offer a recipe from her baker.

Amber’s Strawberry Shortcake

2 ½ cups flour
1/3 cup sugar plus extra for dusting
1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
2 ½ sticks butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1 scant cup milk, whisked with
3 eggs

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 lb organic strawberries, sliced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Cut in chilled butter. Mix in eggs and milk (leave lumpy). Pour into greased and floured 10-inch cake pan or 12 muffin tins. Bake 25-30 minutes. Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar as they come out of the oven. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out. Serve room temp or slightly warm with fresh, local, lightly sweetened strawberries.

Creative opportunities

Action Theater Improv August workshops in Brooklyn, $15 each

Hélène Sanguinetti

New releases

How a Poem Can Happen (Red Spruce Press)

Domain des englues(Lettre Volee) by Hélène Sanguinetti

Readings / events

Ruth Irupé Sanabria

Bryant Park, August 1, 7pm, poets Ruth Irupé Sanabria, Jose B. Gonzalez, Emanuel Xavier, Yesenia Montilla

HVWC, August 6, 4:30pm, poets Theresa Senato Edwards, Howie Faerstein, Paul Richmond, Cheryl Rice, Neil Silberblatt, $10

HVWC, August 16, Liz Burk, Carla Carlson, Gillian Cummings, Anne Graue, Ruth Handel, Caroline Holme, Melissa Ragsly, $10

Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib

Poets House, Kray Hall, August 3, 7pm, Aziza Barnes, Ching-In, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib, DéLana R. A. Dameron

Prismatic Park at Madison Square Park, Joshua Bennett in The Envy of the World, August 15-20, 12-5pm

Bryant Park, August 29, 7pm,Cave Canem poetsTeri Cross Davis, Cynthia Manick, Ladan Osman, Iain Haley Pollock

ʾRound the Net

More alpaca

Backroad Discovery Tours for its fantastic sampler tour through southern Vermont

Curator and art historian Beth Gersh-Nesic for this definitive list of must-see summer art shows

Poet Gary Glauberon having two poems in Pamplemousse

Poet Cindy Hochmanfor her poemin Unbroken Journal

Novelist Petra Lewisfor her speech at A Better Chanceon artists prospering in the digital age

Lines + Stars Journal for its half-dozen Best of the Net nominees

Tracy K. Smith

The New York Public Library for its summer reading recommendations

Poet Linda Simonefor discovering the high art of the Lamp Shade Lady

Poet Tracy K. Smithon being named our new US Poet Laureate

Novelist Ron Tannerfor addressing practical questions writers have on his website

Writer’s Relief for Seven Signs a Literary Magazine is A Good Fit

Ah, midsummer! May you relax into its deep greens and oncoming August golds. As I close this annogram, I am grateful for your embrace of Free Ferry. So many say it uncannily reflects our world. If you’ve read Free Ferry, please go to Amazonand Goodreadsto review it. Thanks, and wishing you your own summer adventures!

Until next time,

Ann

Reading at Stamford Arts Festival

En plein air
photo by Carol Booth

Thanks to Jerry T. Johnson for inviting me to read from Free Ferry at the Stamford Arts Festival! Our Harbor Point amphitheater featured poets Edward Ahern, Gil Fagiani, Lisa Pierce Flores, Alison McBain Lisa Pierce Flores, John F. McMullen, Shana Melton, and Roberta Bisgyer. Jerry demonstrated on-the-spot composing skill by interviewing me and then reciting a poem that referenced Mt. Washington and the blues! Trust me, it made perfect sense.

More reviews on Free Ferry

My gratitude to Mom Egg Review’s Book Editor Bunny Goodjohn for Grace Gardiner’s work, and to Lines+Stars Editor Rachel Cloud Adams for James Lord Parker’s article. Authors can only pray for such thoughtful, in-depth reviews—they feel like manna from heaven. If you have not yet shared your feedback on Amazon, please do! Almost 20 five-star reviews, and I am grateful to everyone who took time to post.

Ann on the John Mac Show

Tune your computers on August 27, at 7pm, as I have the honor to appear on the JohnMac Radio Show. John F. McMullen, poet and broadcaster, has interviewed poets such as Aliki Barnstone, Patricia Carragon, and Amy Holman. I look forward to our conversation, and hope you can join us!

Jimmy Santiago Baca on Faith, Magic and Writing

Jimmy Santiago Baca

What does the acclaimed poet say about writing? Pretty much: just do it. But starting unleashes a host of characters, forces, turns and twists that both delight and confound. In his new webinar series, he guides writers past the obstacles—with one simple rule: get to the end. To learn more from this award-winning multi-genre author, read on.

Salty Workshop with Norwalk’s Poet Laureate

"Dredging for Oysters"
by Alexander Rummler

On Thursday, August 24, 3-5pm, Laurel Peterson, Norwalk’s Poet Laureate, will lead a Poetry Workshop inspired by "Oystering Then and Now," the current exhibit in the Mayor's Gallery. Limited to 10, participants will first meet in the gallery with curator Melissa Slattery to discuss Alexander Rummler’s WPA oystering murals before writing. A $10 donation will go to the Norwalk Historical Society Museum. Register here.

Open Mic Night at Hudson Valley Writers Center

Did you know that HVWC hosts a monthly Open Mic? All genres welcome—fiction, non-fiction, poetry...music, comedy, storytelling, Friday, August 18, at 7:30pm. Featured: Vincent Bazzano. Be on time to sign up for your five-minute slot. Suggested $5 donation.

Laurel Peterson

Creative opportunities

August 24 Poetry Workshop, 3-5pm, with Laurel Peterson, $10

August 1 – October 1, Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry, call for work

New releases

Drugstore Blue by Susanna Case(Five Oaks Press)

Calling the Names by Mark Saba (David Robert Books)

Ghost Tracks: Stories of Pittsburgh Pastby Mark Saba(Big Table Publishing)

Solar eclipse on August 21

Westchester Amateur Astronomers will host a partial (see this website for path of totality) eclipse event at the Harrison Library, Monday, August 21. Early phases start at 1:23 pm, reach maximum at 2:45pm, and end at 4pm. Use proper eye protection when viewing partial stages. If you have solar eclipse glasses, you need to verify they are not bogus.

Virginia Beach 1970
photo by Michael Cefola

NEVER look at the sun directly through binoculars or a telescope unless they are fitted with solar filters and you know what you are doing. Using polarized sunglasses and X-ray film may permanently blind your eyes. A pinhole projection is suggested in this article from Sky and Telescope.

Eclipse Cookies

So many of you are heading south or west to enjoy totality Monday, August 21. We say this rare event merits cookies, and maybe a reading of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court! At least cookies and a glass of milk . . . Twain would approve.

Thanks to Parade for the recipe

1 (16 ½ oz) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough or buy a package of sugar cookies or ginger snaps

4 cups powdered sugar, divided

1 tsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

6 Tbsp warm water, divided

Yellow food coloring

Salt

If baking cookies, bake per package directions and cool completely. In medium bowl, mix 2 cups powdered sugar and pinch of salt; stir in 3 Tbsp warm water and 1 tsp lemon juice. Ice flat sides of cookies, covering from one-eighth to almost completely. Freeze 10 minutes or until set. In medium bowl, mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp cocoa and 3 Tbsp warm water. Spread chocolate icing on un-iced portions to represent moon covering sun. Refrigerate 5 minutes or until set. Makes 2 dozen. Thanks to Parade for the recipe.

Poetry events / readings

HVWC, August 18, Vincent Bazzano, $5

Cynthia Manick

Bryant Park Reading Room, Tuesdays, 7pm; August 22: Nathan McClain, Christina Pugh, Grace Bonner, Allison Benis White; August 29, Cynthia Manick, Ladan Osman,Iain Haley Pollock,Teri Cross Davis,Oliver Baez Bendorf; September 5, Tina Kelley, Jeanne Marie Beaumont, Kevin Carey, Joseph Legaspi; September 12: Rachel B. Glaser, Emily Skillings, Geofrey Hilsabeck; September 19:Charlie Bondhus, Tony Leuzzi, Kathleen Ossip, David Groff, Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie; September 26: Danniel Schoonebeek, Jill Bialosky, Simone White, Phillip B. Williams

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, August 27, 10am, J. Chester Johnson on Auden

Prismatic Park, August 29, 30, 31; September 2, 3; 12-5pm, Donna Masini, interactive poetry exercises

Poets House Kray Hall, September 16, 4pm, Joy Passanante

'Round the Net

Shana Melton
photo by Michael Holstein

Poet Edward Ahern for poems in Longshot Island

Poet Gary Glauber for poems appearing in Tuck and The Courtship of Winds

Poet and artistShana Meltonfor her Bridgeport, CT Writers Group

The New York Public Library’s August book recommendations

Poet and bassist James Lord Parker for poems appearing in Sewer Lid

Art Historian Laura Morelli for tips on how to shop in Florence

Poet and artist Linda Simone for this TedTalk on finding your life’s purpose

May the solar eclipse hold good omens for us all! Thanks for sharing the many ways you are reading Free Ferry—top narrative first, bottom next, and then each page. It’s not unusual for people to read the book four or five times! It’s deeply rewarding to me that Free Ferry is delighting people who normally do not read poetry. Such joy!

Until next time,
Ann

Solar eclipse in the northeast

Photo by Michael Cefola

How amazing the eclipse, even at 60 percent partiality! Thanks to my astronomer husband Michael, we had great views through a solar telescope for the full four hours as the moon moved along the sun’s bottom edge.

Less high-tech, a colander spread dozens of crescent-sun disks over our deck. Wildlife seemed noisier as light slightly dimmed, and the air cooled. Get your solar sunglasses now for the next one—in seven years!

Free Ferry at Fordham University

As you may know, one of Free Ferry’s dual narratives follows one of the scientists who isolated plutonium. That scientist was a professor at Fordham, and I am delighted that I will be reading at the Rose Hill Campusas part of a STEM event recognizing the 75^th anniversary of his achievement. Come to Flom Auditorium at the Walsh Library on October 11, from 2:30-5:30pm, to hear multiple speakers and enjoy a reception. The event is free and public welcome.

JohnMac Radio Show

What a great time talking with poet and program host John F. McMullen, aka “JohnMac”! We covered writer workshops, ways writers can increase literary credits, joys of the online course ModPo, and a dose of politics. You can hear the hour-long interview in this podcast, and be sure to listen to those with Edward Ahern and Susana H. Case.

Ann Starr on Outsider Art

Ann Starr

What does it take to create a small press? A lot of gumption, and in Ann Starr’s case, a leap of faith. Discover how she relies on intuition, and how literature deepened her understanding of visual arts and music. Most needed? Not advanced degrees, extensive training, or cultural approval—only the realization that “the human heart is at the center of all.” Read on.

Deborah Coulter at the Alexander Gallery

Deborah Coulter

Deborah Coulter, an artist excelling in charcoal, drawing, and collage, will participate in a Faculty Show at the Marjorie and Norman Alexander Gallery at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. Deborah, an instructor at the Summer Arts Center, calls teaching there “a joy.” The exhibit, September 17 – October 12, is open Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-8pm; Friday, 8:30-5pm; and Sunday, 8am-4pm.

Baring Breasts in Peekskill and Bethlehem

"Bosom Bodies,” an exhibit honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will be October 7 - 29, at the SIA Gallery; opening October 7, 3-6pm, and closing performances and panel on October 29, 3-5pm. A complementary exhibit, Clarity Haynes: Bearing Witness, The Breast Portrait Project, 1998 – Present at Payne Gallery, also curated by Beth Gersh-Nesic, runs September 7-October 15 in Bethlehem, PA.

Creative opportunities

Keetje Kuipers

Beta readers needed for art historian/novelist – email laura@lauramorelli.com

Keetje Kuipers on Beyond the Precious Self: Publishing Your Failed Poem, September 26, 2pm

Loose Moose Publishing Poetry Contest by December 1

New Millennium Writing Awards by November 30

New York Encounter Poetry Contest judged by Dana Gioia – by November 7

New releases

Auden, the Psalms and Me by J. Chester Johnson (Church Publishing)

Carpeing the Diem by David Lee Garrison (Dos Madres Press)

15 Flower World Variations – revised (The Operating System) by Jerome Rothenberg

Indra's Net: An international anthology of poetry in aid of The Book Bus (Bennison Press)

The Oligarch by James Sherry (Palgrave MacMillan)

The Standing Eight by Adam Berlin (Finishing Line Press)

Technicians of the Sacred - 50^th anniversary ed. (Univ. of California Press) by Jerome Rothenberg

Curried Squash Soup

This recipe from The Perfect Wife Restaurant is probably the most delicious soup I’ve had in a long time.

1 large onion

2 ribs celery

1 T. chopped garlic

3 T. curry powder

4 c. zucchini, rough chop

4 c. summer squash, rough chop

½ c. white wine

2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1” chunks

½ gallon chicken or vegetable stock

¾ c. heavy cream

Chop onion and celery roughly. Sweat in butter with garlic. Add curry powder and toast a few minutes. Add squash and wine. Deglaze. Add stock and potatoes. Simmer till potatoes are soft. Puree using a hand blender, adding cream slowly. Season with salt and white pepper.

Poetry readings / literary events

Marianne Moore (1887-1972)

Brooklyn Book Festival, September 11-17,Kaveh Akbar, Will Brewer, Carolyn Forché, Robin Coste Lewis, Layli Long Soldier, Aja Monet, Meghan O'Rourke, Morgan Parker, Tommy Pico, Erika L. Sánchez, sam sax, Nicole Sealey, Danez Smith, Mai Der Vang, Javier Zamora

Center for Fiction, September 13, 7pm – Daniel Handler, Emma Straub

Pacific Standard, September 13, 8pm – Jerry T Johnson

Charlie Rauh

Brooklyn Public Library, September 15, 8:30pm – Marianne Moore Tribute: Heather Cass White, Patrick Breen, Eleanor Chai, Timothy Donnelly, Margo Jefferson,Maureen N. McLane, Maria Tucci

HVWC, September 15, Open Mic, 7:30pm, $5

Park Plaza Restaurant, September 16, 2:30pm– Alice B. Fogel, Howard Pflanzer, Christina M. Rau, $5

HVWC, September 17, 4:30pm – Jill Bialosky, Susana H. Case, Caroline Smith, $10

Woody Tanger Auditorium, September 18, 11am, Sandra Cisneros

Shetler Studios and Theatres, September 20-October 7, “Blood Boundary,”by Cherokee playwright Vicki Lynn Mooney

Terrance Hayes
Photo credit: MacArthur Foundation

Rockwood Music Hall,

September 21, 9pm,

Charlie Rauh new album,
Viriditas, release

Katonah Village Library, September 24, 4pm, Terrance Hayes, $10

Cave Canem, September 22, 6:30pm, Patrick Rosal

Hauser + Wirth, September 28, 7pm – Charles Bernstein, Sergio Bessa on Mira Schendel

Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, September 28, 7pm – Meghan O'Rourke

Cecilia Vicuña

Kelly Writers House, September 28, 6pm – Jerome Rothenberg, Charles Bernstein, Ron Silliman, Rochelle Owens, George Economou, Laynie Brown, Michelle Taransky, Ahmad Almallah, Julia Bloch, Ariel Resnikoff

Howl Happenings Gallery, October 1, 7pm – Jerome Rothenberg, Cecilia Vicuña

Papa Susso

Poets House, October 3, 7pm – Jerome Rothenberg, Anne Waldman, Cecilia Vicuña, Bob Holman, Papa Susso, George Quasha, Ariel Resnikoff, Stuart Cooke.

Trinity Church Wall Street,
October 8, 1pm – J. Chester Johnson on Auden

The Backroom – Local 138, October 10, 6pm – Drugstore Blue by Susanna H. Case release: Mervyn Taylor, Jennifer Franklin, Elizabeth Haukaas, Myra Malkin, Lynn McGee, Margo Taft Stever, Meredith Trede, Estha Weiner

ʼRound the Net

Jessica Helen Lopez

Professor Al Filreis for 64 indispensable Ashbery poemsand this transcribed interview

Art Historian/Curator Beth Gersh-Nesic for honoring Michael Richards in the Francis M. Naumanncatalog of the late sculptor’s current exhibit

Editor-in-chief Cindy Hochman for an amazing new issue of First Literary Review-East

Christina Rau

Professor Paul Mariani for this insightful look at the work of John Ashbery

Poet Mary McCray for this inspiring video“starring” Albuquerque Laureate Jessica Helen Lopez

Art Historian Laura Morelli for her Ted-Ed video on the difference between art and craft

Poet Christina Rau for poems published in Grasslimb and Whale Road Review

Poet/artist Linda Simone for sharing this hilarious poem that skewers “some” poetry profs

Photo by Mike Virsinger

Astrophotographer Mike Virsinger for this amazing total eclipse photo

Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman for his documentary on the New York Public Library

The New Yorkerfor the National Book Award longlist for poetry

Ode to Ashbery

John Ashbery (1927-2017)

What an eventful few weeks—eclipse, hurricanes, and loss of John Ashbery, which is its own devastation. As a teen feeling my way toward poetry, I cut this poem out of the New York Times and first pinned it on my bulletin board, then taped it into a journal. Its lyric mediated the world in an intuitive way that felt oddly comforting; I did not understand it nor did I need to. Three decades later, when I despaired over my work ever gaining traction, its author awarded me the Robert Penn Warren Award. Life changed. Something invisible had been conferred, and I received it. Maybe it emanated from the now-brown clipping preserved in my girlhood journal; maybe it was mystery, more likely desire-starched awe.

These Lacustrine Cities

These lacustrine cities grew out of loathing

Into something forgetful, although angry with history.

They are the product of an idea: that man is horrible, for instance,

Though this is only one example.

They emerged until a tower

Controlled the sky, and with artifice dipped back

Into the past for swans and tapering branches,

Burning, until all that hate was transformed into useless love.

Then you are left with an idea of yourself

And the feeling of ascending emptiness of the afternoon

Which must be charged to the embarrassment of others

Who fly by you like beacons.

The night is a sentinel.

Much of your time has been occupied by creative games

Until now, but we have all-inclusive plans for you.

We had thought, for instance, of sending you to the middle of the desert,

To a violent sea, or of having the closeness of the others be air

To you, pressing you back into a startled dream

As sea-breezes greet a child’s face.

But the past is already here, and you are nursing some private project.

The worst is not over, yet I know

You will be happy here. Because of the logic

Of your situation, which is something no climate can outsmart.

Tender and insouciant by turns, you see

You have built a mountain of something,

Thoughtfully pouring all your energy into this single monument,

Whose wind is desire starching a petal,

Whose disappointment broke into a rainbow of tears.

— John Ashbery

Until next time,

Ann

See Instagram time line

What’s all this about plutonium? The development of the first man-made element seventy-five years ago was no less than “the dream of medieval alchemists: transmuting lead into gold,” reflects the New York Times. Its little-known history forms the bottom narrative of Free Ferry, and a time line I created on Instagram which shares cringe-worthy moments—such as the unexpected spill of the world’s only plutonium.

Free FerryReading at Fordham – Rose Hill

I will read from Free Ferry Wednesday, October 11, as part of a celebration honoring a scientist who synthesized the first man-made element, plutonium. A professor of chemistry at Fordham, he will be remembered with tributes from family members, former students, and science professors. The event, which will be live-streamed, will take place 2:30-5:30pm in Flom Auditorium in the Walsh Library on the Rose Hill Campus, and a reception will follow.

Convergence of the Humanities and Sciences at CCNY

On Wednesday, October 18 at 4pm, I will be reading from Free Ferry at a Roundtable Discussion Commemorating the 75^th Anniversary of Plutonium at CCNY. Hosted by Dean of Science Tony Liss, the event will feature Philosophy Professors Elise Crull and Massimo Pigliucci, History Professor Danian Hu, and CCNY Dean of Humanities and Sciences Erec Koch. The conversation, which will take place in The Rifkind Room, NAC 6/316, at 160 Convent Avenue in Manhattan, will be followed by a reception.

Alison McBain Interview

Alison McBain

Thanks to Alison McBain who interviewed me on her blog. Alison is a widely published writer, poet, and book reviewer for Bewildering Stories, where she will review Free Ferry next month. It was a pleasure to read with Alison at the Stamford Arts Festival this past summer. You can hear Alison read flash fiction this Friday, October 13, at 7pm at the Best Video Film and Culture Center in Hamden, CT.

The Anglican Auden

Think you know Auden, eh? If you don’t know his passion for preserving his Anglican roots, then you are missing the whole picture. Poet J. Chester Johnson has filled in the gaps in Auden, the Psalms and Me (Church Publishing, 2017).

WH Auden (1907-1973) at Oxford

The Episcopal Church, updating its Book of Common Prayer in the late 60s, invited Auden to help retranslate the Psalms. When Auden had to give up this role upon his return to England, he wrote Johnson, his replacement, a memorable few letters. That’s the leaping-off point of this book which also gives a refreshing explanation of biblical poetic devices.

Johnson will discuss Auden, the Psalms and Me on Thursday, October 19, 6:30pm, at the Church of Heavenly Rest; Sunday, October 29, 2pm, at Poets House, with commentary by Cornelius Eady; and Tuesday, November 28, 6:30pm, at the Culture Center, with an introduction by Phillis Levin.

Laurel Peterson

Poets in Conversation

Join me at the Norwalk Library on November 2 at 7pm for the Poets in Conversation Series hosted by Norwalk Poet Laureate Laurel Petersen. Poet Robert Masterson and I will read, discuss the writing life, and take audience questions. Thanks to Laurel for this great opportunity!

Sunday with George at the J

Come hear me read at the Sunday with George Poetry Series at the JCC on the Hudson October 29 at 1:30pm. I am honored to join superb local poets Michael Carman, Susana Case, Ruth Handel, Ann Lauinger, Loretta Oleck, Natalie Safir, Michelle Seaman, Meredith Trede, and Estha Weiner. Our last reading together was extraordinary—so our host, poet and translator George Kraus, is putting the band back together again!

Creative opportunities

Miller Oberman

LINES + STARScall for work on the theme “Inheritance”

The Ocotillo Review seeks / pays for short fiction, poetry, flash fiction and narrative nonfiction

Jessica Hendry Nelson on Essay Associated: The Modern Lyric, October 11, 6pm, Slonim House, Sarah Lawrence

Writing Our Lives as Caregivers with Pauletta Hansel, October 14, 9am-noon, free

The Art of the Line with Carla Carlson, Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute, Tuesdays Oct. 14-Nov. 14, $450

Enjoying Poetry with Ruth Handel, Scarsdale Adult School, Tuesdays, Oct. 24-Dec.5, $180

Miller Oberman on Writing in the Ruins: The Poet as Translator, October 19, 2pm, Slonim House, Sarah Lawrence

HVWC, Submission Sundays, open to HVWC members; contact HVWC for info

New releases

Auden, the Psalms and Me(Church Publishing) by J. Chester Johnson

Palindrome (Dos Madres Press) by Pauletta Hansel

Studied Days (Dos Madres Press) by Richard Hague

Lynne's Spiced Pumpkin Soup

You may have seen this here before but this time of year demands a reprint! This delicious recipe is from The New Laurel's Kitchen, sort of a Joy of Cooking for vegetarians.

1 small pumpkin (about 10 cups diced)

3 carrots

3/4 tsp. black mustard seed

1/4 to 1/2 c. veggie broth

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. each turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, ginger

3/4 c. powdered or regular skim milk

2 tsp. honey

1 tsp. salt

Peel and chop pumpkin and carrots, and simmer in water to cover until tender. Toward end of cooking, heat nonstick skillet over medium heat. When hot, add mustard seeds. Cover pan and keep over medium-high heat until popping of seeds begins to die down, then immediately add 1/4 c. broth or more as needed, and onion; reduce heat. Cook and stir until onion is translucent. Measure spices while onion cooks; stir into the mixture and cook on low heat for a minute until fragrant. Turn into pumpkin pot, using a cup of cooking water to rinse spice pan into soup pot. Use hand-blender to puree seasoned pumpkin and carrots in their cooking liquid, adding milk, honey and salt to taste. Makes 10 cups.

Poetry readings / literary or artistic events

Pete’s, October 13, 7pm, Ben Gantcher, Karen Hildebrand, Susan Miller

Henri deToulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)

Byram Shubert Library, October 14, 3pm, "Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in Context," Beth Gersh-Nesic, register here

The Room, October 14, 7pm, Rachel Coonce, Dustin Renwick, Evyan Roberts, Michael Salcman

The Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum, October 16, 3pm, Jana Prikryl

Scarsdale Library, October 19, 7pm, Estha Weiner and other Westchester Review poets

HVWC, Open Mic, October 20, 7:30pm, Michael Collins

Joseph-Beth Booksellers, October 24, 7pm, Robert Collins, Richard Hague

National Arts Club, October 24, Billy Collins, Aracelis Girmay, Major Jackson, Ada Limón, Jim Moore, Marilyn Nelson, Katha Pollitt, Poetry in Motion benefit, $260

Graduate Center at CUNY, the Skylight Room, October 31, 6:30pm, Victor Hernández Cruz

Katonah Village Library, November 5, 4pm, Carla Funk, $10

'Round the Net

Memoirist Sarah Bracey Whiteon the big welcome she received on her hometown book tour

Art Historian Beth Gersh-Nesic for curating the Bosom Bodies Exhibit, benefiting SISTAAH

Bosom Bodies artist Clarity Haynes with curator Beth Gersh-Nesic

Poet Gary Glauber for work in The Bees Are Deadand Sheila-Na-Gig

Artist Kathe Gregoryon her first open studio, October 14 and 15, noon-6pm, at Midway Studios

Main Street Rag Press for offering an advanced sale price for Of Burgers and Barrooms

The New York Public Library for its staff picks for October

The Pedestal Magazine for its war issue

Poet and artist Linda Simone for sharing San Antonio’s “Human Library”concept

University Professors Press for my poem, “Trackside Commissary,” in the anthology Silent Screams

So excited to read Free Ferry at Fordham and City College in a few days! I am grateful to see the story work on and draw in new readers. Many of you have emailed me specific praise, and if you could share your feedback on Amazon, that would be a welcome gift in this my birthday month.

Happy autumn, everyone—leaves are just turning here in New York and we hope crisper temperatures follow.

Until next time,

Ann

Free FerryHalf-Price

Free Ferry is half-price through December 12. This book-length poem makes a great gift for the scientists and mathematicians in your life, and anyone appreciating a walk back through baby boomerhood or early nuclear history. My publisher has nominated Free Ferry as one of the Best 21 Poetry Books of the 2 1st Century. You have to admire Ann Starr’s faith in her authors!

Review in the Woven Tale Press

Poet and artist Linda Simone

For insight into Free Ferry, see its latest book review by poet Linda Simone in The Woven Tale Press. An award-winning poet, Linda vividly describes the dual narratives while expertly drilling down into the poetic craft. If you enjoy the review, read Linda’s own work—the wonderful Archeology(Flutter Press, 2014), and see her outstanding watercolors December 9 at Art on Broadway in San Antonio.

Fordham Tribute to Dr. Michael Cefola

Michael A. Cefola recalls his dad

Thanks to Fordham Associate Dean Carla Romney for arranging the tribute to Dr. Michael Cefola, professor of radiochemistry, whose groundbreaking microchemical techniques are routinely used today.

Dr. Carla Romney presents Dr. Cefola's
groundbreaking thesis to Michael and me

Assistant Chemistry Professor Robert Beer and I read from Free Ferry, and my husband, Fordham alum Michael Cefola, shared memories of Fordham and his father. Dean of the Fordham College Maura Mast, science faculty, and former students spoke, including American Chemical Society Fellow Anne O’Brien; and Chemistry Chair Jon Friedrich moderated the lively October 11^th celebration with humor and grace.

Convergence of Humanities and Sciences at CCNY

Dean Liss and I read from Free Ferry

City College of New York also honored Dr. Cefola by hosting a roundtable on plutonium’s legacy at the Rifkind Center. Dean of Science Tony Lissand I first read from Free Ferry, before Philosophy Professors Elise Crull and Massimo Pigliucci, History Professor Danian Hu, and Dean Liss recalled plutonium’s origins, unethical uses, safer nuclear sources, and scientific narrative. My gratitude goes to Dean Liss, and to Dean of Humanities and Arts Erec Koch who ably hosted this memorable event.

Walter Lure at Bowery Electric

Lure (left) backs Thunders in London
circa 1978 - photo by Gus Stewart

Walter Lure, sole survivor of Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers, performed November 29^th with an all-star lineup—Blondie’s drummer Clem Burke, Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and Social Distortion’s guitarist Mike Ness.

Lure (center) today
photo by Michael Cefola

Walter’s college bandmate, my husband Michael, said it was like “seeing the Beatles at the Cavern Club.” The SRO audience cheered iconic hits such as “Chinese Rocks”, “Born to Lose” and “All By Myself.” The band continued to sold-out performances in LA, San Diego, and San Francisco—part of a nationwide revival of the late 70s punk scene.

Poets in Conversation and at Gordon Fine Arts

Surounded by exceptional art

Norwalk Poet Laureate Laurel Peterson welcomed Robert Masterson and me to her Poets in Conversation Series in early November. Later that month, I had the pleasure of reading with Laurel at the Poets Stage at Gordon Fine Arts at the Stamford Town Center—thanks to Jerry T. Johnsonwho arranged the event.

Howard Mandel on the Big Band Sound

Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton,
Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa on drums

Which instrument was the “electric guitar” of the Big Bands? Read my interview with jazz critic Howard Mandel to find out. Mandel explores how war, race, and radio both advanced and held back the Big Band sound. Scroll to the end for Mandel’s delicious deconstruction of Count Basie’s “April in Paris.” This, most popular of my LinkedIn interviews, has more than 500 views.

Shiva Moon Book Launch

Maxine Silvermanintroduced Shiva Moon (Ben Yehuda Press) last month at the Sundays with George Poetry Series in Tarrytown. Following the author’s journey mourning her father, Shiva Mooncombines compelling imagery from nature and astronomy within the context of ancient Jewish tradition. This shimmering poetry makes a thoughtful gift to anyone recently bereaved.

New releases

Jim Daniels, Street Calligraphy (Steel Toe Books)

Elke Erb, The Up and Down of Feet: Poems 1994-2010 (Burning Deck), trans. Rosmarie Waldrop

Paol Keineg, Triste Tristan and Other Poems(Burning Deck), trans. Laura Marris and Rosmarie Waldrop

Jonathan Lewis, Babel On
(L+S Press)

Laurel Peterson, Do You Expect Your Art to Answer?(FutureCycle Press)

Ivy Pochoda, Wonder Valley (Ecco)

Hélène Sanguinetti, Domaine des Englués (La Lettre Volée)

Maxine Silverman, Shiva Moon (Ben Yehuda Press)

Moosewood No-Fault Pumpkin Pies

You’ve seen this before — but this year I discovered canned organic pumpkin, and gone are my pioneer-woman days of gutting and baking a whole pumpkin! My gratitude to Mollie Katzen of Moosewoodfame for this truly no-fault pie. Get your Vitamin A on with this delicious seasonal recipe — makes two pies.

3 cups canned organic pumpkin puree

3/4 cup honey

2 tablespoons molasses

1/4teaspoon ground cloves

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoons ginger

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 12-oz can evaporated milk

2 frozen organic pie shells

Mix in order given. Pour into pie shell and bake 10 minutes at 450°F, then 40 minutes at 350°F, or till set. For a delicious pumpkin pudding, omit pie shell. Bake filling in buttered baking dish and serve with vanilla ice cream or heavy cream.

Poetry readings

Norwalk Public Library, December 7, 7pm, Duane Esposito and Ralph Nazareth

HVWC, December 8, 7:30pm, Melissa Febos and Nick Flynn, $10

Poet Patricia Smith

PoetsHouse, December 8, Celebrating Patricia Smith, Mahogany Browne, Cornelius Eady, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Ellen Hagan, Terrance Hayes, Randall Horton, Tyehimba Jess, Rachel McKibbens, Nicole Sealey, Leslie Shipman, Parneshia Jones, $10

92^nd Street Y, December 13, 7:30pm, Memorial for John Ashbery, Elizabeth Hazan, Ann Lauterbach, Dara Wier, Trevor Winkfield

Metropolitan Pavilion, January 13, 7pm, Edward Hirsch, James Davis May

ʼRound the net

Translator Martha Collins on her article on many translations of one poem in Literary Hub

Artist Kathy Gregory

Poet Gary Glauber for his poems in In Between HangoversandThe Paragon Journal

Artist Kathe Gregory for participating in last month’s Joy Street Open Studios

J Journal for its new website

Poet J. Chester Johnson for this wonderful video précis of his new book on translating the psalms

Hip Hop artist Nas

NYPL President Tony Marx for sharing renovations plans to the iconic midtown library

Poet John McMullen on becoming the Poet Laureate of Yorktown Heightsand for reading at the Veterans Gala of Putnam County last month

Outdoor Retailer Orvis for this much-needed Moment of Chill during the holidays

Poets and Writersfor posting this interview of Hip Hop Artist Nas by Harvard Poetry Prof Elisa New

Poet Christina M. Rau on poems in Queen Mob’s TeaHouse

The Scottish Book Trust for making an audiobook of selected stories available to readers who are blind

Derek Jeter

Poet Linda Simone for letting us know about a Texas town called Poetry and on having her poem, “Things Closer Than They Appear,” read on It Matters Radio

Photographer Joe Vericker for sharing this great shot of young Derek Jeter

Photographer Elaine Whitman on her work in the Italian journal Immagine + Poesia

Poet Neal Whitman on poems in First Literary Review-East, Red Lights, and Immagine + Poesia, and on winning the Ina Coolbrith Circle Contest 3^rd Prize and Tokutomi Haiku Contest 2^nd Prize

At year-end, I want to thank you for your incredible support of Free Ferry– five-star Amazon ratings, expert book reviews; everyone who came to the June launch, purchased or gifted Free Ferry; and all the scientists who dared read the bottom narrative with me in public – I am deeply moved by your generosity. May you find the courage and confidence to fulfill your own creative destiny — and to take time to celebrate loved ones and traditions in the holidays fast approaching.

See you, dear annogrammers, in the new year!

Until next time,

Ann

Happy new year, happy news

So much to share! For starters, my poem “Trackside Commissary” appears in the new anthology, Of Burgers and Barrooms (Main Street Rag Press). Then, Wendy Galgan, editor of Assisi, wrote a lovely review of Free Ferry—alongside reviews of two other books I want to read and you may too. Many thanks to Wendy and M. Scott Douglass, publisher of Main Street Rag.

Chax Press to publish The Hero

Hélène Sanguinetti

I’m thrilled to announce that this year Chax Press will publish The Hero, my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s Le Héros (Flammarion, 2008). Publisher Charles Alexander, a dedicated poet, translator, and book artist, admires the work’s “spareness” and “what happens across gaps—a kind of fireworks between thoughts.” Yes, it’s all that and more. Stay tuned!

Presence at St. Mary’s

Equally glad to have my translation of Sanguinetti’s “From Treatise of the Robin (Reverie)” appears in the upcoming Presence. The journal will host a reading January 20 at 6pm at St. Mary’s Church featuring readers from last and this year’s issues. Editor Mary Ann Miller publishes high quality poets and I encourage you to attend. Come for Mass first at 5pm if you like!

Modernism, Media and the Middle Class

John Lennon (1940-1980)

Thanks to Dr. Beth Gersh-Nesic for inviting me to read Free Ferrylast semester at her Purchase College seminar, Modernism, Media and the Middle Class. Following a poetry exercise, students finger-snapped approval after hearing one another’s work. The element of surprise in each poem amazed me. “Did you expect John Lennon to show up?” I asked one student, and his answer was no. Delightful. Keep writing!

You Say You Want a Revolution

The New York Public Library opens its exhibit of influential cultural elements from 1960–74,You Say You Want a Revolution, on January 19. A counterculture-themed Library After Hours takes place that evening. Additionally, the Schomburg Center's Power in Printshowcases Black Power art, with key collection items on display at the Library for the Performing Arts starting January 19.

Leonard Bernstein at 100

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Leonard Bernstein at 100 celebrates the centennial of America’s greatest classical composer and conductor. Drawing from more than 150 photographs, personal items, papers, scores, letters, costumes, furniture, and films, Leonard Bernstein at 100 and associated celebratory events are at the Library for the Performing Arts through March 23.

Sarah Bracey White

Sarah Bracey White on Writing Memoir

In celebration of African American History Month, Sarah Bracey White will be giving a talk, “Memoir: Where Past and Present Collide” at the JCC of Mid-Westchester on February 6 at 10:30am, and the Harrison Public Library on February 17 at 2pm. Sarah is the author of the wildly popular memoir Primary Lessons (Cavan Kerry Press, 2013), now in its fourth printing.

More accomplished than you imagine…

If you reached yearend and felt you did not accomplish as much as you wanted, listen up. My friend and colleague Barbara Dickinson is hosting a 90-minute free webinar which will explore last year’s accomplishments as the stage for realizing your 2018 dreams. Choose between January 19, 6pm (register here) or January 20, 2pm (register here). You’ll receive more info after registering.

Easy Pear Cobbler

When my wonderful cousin Katherine in Texas sent us a box of pears, this recipe helped us eat them as dessert and often breakfast. We also enjoyed them raw over the sink—as they are aptly called “kitchen sink pears” for their juiciness!

2 cups sliced fresh pears

½ cup sugar

4 Tablespoons butter

³⁄₄cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¹⁄₄teaspoon salt

³⁄₄cup milk

1 egg

Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice pears. Put butter in 2-quart casserole and place in oven until melted. Combine dry ingredients. Mix well. Beat egg and add to milk. Slowly combine with dry ingredients. Pour over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon pears on top. Do not stir. Bake for 1 hour. Serve hot or cold.

Creative opportunities

Donna Zucker

One-on-One Poetry Workshop with Arthur Vogelsang, apply by January 23

Weekly Poetry Workshops in Upper Westchester County

Poetry Workshop, John C Hart Library, January 24/every fourth Wednesday, 6pm; limit 12; email johnmac13@gmail.com

How to Write a Family History Book Workshop with Donna Zucker, February 10, 10-3pm, $200

Spring courses at the Hudson Valley Writers Center

Poetry / literary readings

Zinc Bar, January 18, 6pm, James Sherry

Emily Wilson

92^nd Street Y, January 18, 7:30pm, Derek Walcott tribute

HVWC, January 19, 7pm, open mic night, $5

St. Mary’s Church, January 20, 6pm, Presence2017 and 2018 poets

Valley Cottage Library, January 28, 2pm, Maxine Silverman, Alison Stone

Upper Westchester County poetry readings and venues

HVWC, February 2, 7:30pm, Emily Wilson, translator of The Odyssey, $10

ʼRound the Net

Buddy Guy

Publisher John Amen on the 17th anniversary issue of the Pedestal Magazine

Poets Jacqueline Lapidus and Meredith Trede on poems in Persimmon Tree

Poet David Orr in the New York Times picks the best poetry books of 2017

Poet Gary Glauber on his Pushcart nomination and work in Stoneboat Literary Journaland Zeros

New York Public Library for its staff picks

Poet and artist Linda Simone for this list of websites and blogs for writers

Bassist Larry Schwartzman for this clip of Buddy Guy at the 1994 Newport Jazz Festival

So many of you are looking for a good book in this igloo-cold weather. Thanks to my friend Elyse Faltz, I got my hands on The Sympathizerby Viet Thanh Nguyen (Grove Press, 2016), winner of the 2016 Pulitzer in Fiction. What a complex, layered, and disturbing masterpiece! It’s nearly impossible to keep the quality consistent across a long novel but the author achieves this feat effortlessly. If you know a knock-your-socks-off book, e-mail me and maybe I’ll make a list here. In the meantime, stay warm, read a lot, and be sure to persevere in your craft or art.

Until next time,

Ann

Antikythera mechanism

The Antikythera mechanism, the world’s first computer built around 80 BCE, could track planetary and star movements, as well as predict astronomical events and dates for Olympic Games. Recovered in 1900 off Greek Isle Antikythera, its full potential remained unclear for centuries. Recent tomographic imaging allowed scientists to decode the device’s sophisticated design. Thanks to David Mestre, director of the Discovery Museum Planetarium, for presenting this intriguing tale at the January Westchester Amateur Astronomers meeting.

More good news

The Andromeda Galaxy

My poem “Dogspel” will appear in Zoomorphic and “Andromeda at Midlife” in Celestial Musings: Poems Inspired by the Night Sky this spring. Proceeds from Celestialwill benefit the Charles W. Brown Planetarium. As a Westchester Amateur Astronomer, that makes me happy!

American Writers Museum

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)

In case you didn’t know, the American Writers Museum opened last May in Chicago. As the only museum devoted to American writers and their works, AWM connects visitors with favorite authors and writings from more than five centuries, while inspiring discovery of new works – poetry, lyrics, speeches, drama, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, and more. Sounds good! Let me know if you visit….

Kids Short Story Connection

Wren Awry

Know kids who want to write? Sign ‘em up for the Kids Short Story Connection! For 25 years, Greenburgh Director of Arts and Culture Sarah Bracey White, a writer herself, has run the program for writers ages 9 – 18. Graduates include filmmaker Zach Wigon, whose “The Heart Machine” premiered at Tribeca Film Festival; off-Broadway playwright Jan Rosenberg, and University of Arizona Poetry Center’s Wren Awry. KSSC workshops recommence March 10; for info, email sarahbracey.white@gmail.com.

Remembering Thomas Lux

Thomas Lux (1947-2017)

To honor poet Thomas Lux’s passing a year ago, CUNY Elebash Recital Hall will hold a tribute February 13, at 7pm, with Billy Collins, Terrance Hayes, Edward Hirsch, Marie Howe, Mary Karr, Jeffrey McDaniel, Patrick Rosal, Amber Tamblyn, and Vijay Seshadri. It still seems impossible that Tom – passionate poet, poetry advocate, kind teacher – is no longer on the planet. We miss you, Tom!

Kathe Gregory at Bromfield Gallery

Kathe Gregory

Kathe Gregorywill have an exhibit of her PhotoDrawings at Bromfield Gallery in SoWa (South of Washington Street), Boston’s Arts and Design District, February 28 – April 1; reception, March 2, 6:30pm. Congratulations also to Kathe, my incredibly talented cousin, on winning Third Prize in photography at the Duxbury Art Association’s 2018 Winter Juried Show.

Between I and Thou Exhibit and Reading

On February 18, the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art will also pay homage to Thomas Lux in the exhibition, Between I and Thou; at 1:15pm, curator Livia Straus will lead a walk through; 2pm, Cal Lane, Leslie Pelino, Asya Reznikov and Antonio Santin will discuss their work; 4-5pm, poets for Writing the Walls: Between I and Thou will read their poems and a reception will follow 5-6pm.

New releases

Jonathan Bracken, Concerning Poetry (Upper Hand Press, 2018)

Jerry T. Johnson, Morning to Morning (Kindle, 2018)

CM Mayo, trans. Metaphysical Odyssey into the Mexican Revolution (Dancing Chiva, 2017)

Susan Miller, The Communion of Saints (Paraclete Press, 2017)

Jennifer Wallace, Almost Entirely (Paraclete Press, 2017)

Carrot Ginger Soup

An easy and flavorful soup to brighten a chilly winter day. It’s from Allison Fishman’s You Can Trust a Skinny Cook (Wiley, 2011), healthy yet indulgent recipes. Great with grilled cheese sandwiches….

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 cups carrots, peeled and chopped into ½ inch pieces

1 large onion, peeled and chopped into ½ inch pieces

1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces

½ tsp fresh thyme leaves or ¼ tsp dried thyme

½ tsp kosher salt

3 cups low sodium vegetable stock

1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley, for garnish

Melt butter in medium skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, ginger, thyme, salt, and cook, stirring, until vegetables begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Add broth to vegetables, raise heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat and puree the soup with a stick blender.

Poetry / literary readings

Sarah Bracey White

JCC of Mid-Westchester, February 6, 10:30am, Sarah Bracey White on memoir

Kelly Writers House, February 8, 5pm, Rob Sheffield, author of Dreaming the Beatles

Kelly Writers House, February 13, 6pm, Emily Wilson, translator of The Odyssey

CUNY Elebash Recital Hall, February 13, 7pm, Tribute to Thomas Lux; Billy Collins, Terrance Hayes, Edward Hirsch, Marie Howe, Mary Karr, Jeffrey McDaniel, Patrick Rosal, Amber Tamblyn, Vijay Seshadri

Paul Auster

Kelly Writers House, February 14, 6:30pm, Paul Auster, rsvp whfellow@writing.upenn.edu

Harrison Public Library, February 17, 2pm, Sarah Bracey White on memoir

HVCCA, February 18, 4pm, Writing the Walls: Between I and Thou, poets read exhibit-inspired work

Freight House Cafe, February 21, 7pm, John McMullen and open mic

Creative opportunities

How to Write a Family History Book Workshop with Donna Zucker, February 10, 10-3,

Christina Rau

$200

Yoga and writing workshopwith Christina Rau, February 11, 2-4pm, $25

Kids Short Story Connection starting March 10; email sarahbracey.white@gmail.com

Spring courses at the Hudson Valley Writers Center

Weekly Poetry Workshops in Upper Westchester County

’Round the Net

Regi Claire

Essayist Jim Barry for pointing out the first OED edition appeared this month in 1884

Short story writer Regi Claire for “We All Know About Desire” in For Books’ Sake Weekend Read

Art historian Beth Gersh-Nesic for her superbarticle on Modiglianiin Bonjour Paris

Poet Gary Glauber for work in Verse Virtualand Verse Daily

Artist Melanie Janisse-Barlow for her portraits of poets

Art historian Laura Morelli for a few of her favorite things in her Amazon Store

Donald Sosin

Pianist Donald Sosin for accompanying silentslike the 1929 Russian film “Fragment of an Empire”

Publisher Ann Starr for nominating Free Ferry for the 21^st Century’s Best Books

This seems a good way to close out your annogram. Read this poem, memorize it, live it.

Until next time,

Ann

An Horatian Notion

Thomas Lux

The thing gets made, gets built, and you’re the slave
who rolls the log beneath the block, then another,
then pushes the block, then pulls a log
from the rear back to the front
again and then again it goes beneath the block,
and so on. It’s how a thing gets made – not
because you’re sensitive, or you get genetic-lucky,
or God says: Here’s a nice family,
seven children, let’s see: this one in charge
of the village dunghill, these two die of buboes, this one
Kierkegaard, this one a drooling

nincompoop, this one clerk, this one cooper.
You need to love the thing you do – birdhouse building,
painting tulips exclusively, whatever – and then
you do it
so consciously driven
by your unconscious
that the thing becomes a wedge
that splits a stone and between the halves
the wedge then grows, i.e., the thing
is solid but with a soul,
a life of its own. Inspiration, the donnée,

the gift, the bolt of fire
down the arm that makes the art?
Grow up! Give me, please, a break!
You make the thing because you love the thing
and you love the thing because someone else loved it
enough to make you love it.
And with that your heart like a tent peg pounded
toward the earth’s core.
And with that your heart on a beam burns
through the ionosphere.
And with that you go to work.

The Operating System to publish Alparegho

The Operating System has selected Alparegho, like nothing else, my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s third book, for its Unsilenced Texts series. The OS, named among the Best of 2017 Presses by Entropy Magazine, will publish a dual-language version in 2019. Many thanks to publisher Lynne DeSilva-Johnson for making this timely and heart-wrenching quest for identity available to English readers!

Free Ferry in Transatlantic Conversation

In Transatlantic Conversation About Art and Poetry, art historian Beth Gersh-Nešić and French poet Jean-Luc Pouliquen engage in fascinating dialogue on poet and art critic Andre Salmon (1881-1969). As part of their conversation, they also discuss Free Ferry, which Pouliquen calls "A very original concept." The two talk about my workshop at Gersh-Nešić's Purchase College class last fall and the importance of getting poetry out into the world. Highly recommended if you love poetry and art!

Free Ferry Half Price for Women’s History Month

Thanks to Upper Hand Press Publisher Ann Starr, Free Ferryis half-price until April 20. So take advantage! I am also honored to have the book recommended by one of its reviewers, James Lee Lord Parker, on Facebook. Please continue to build those five-star reviews on Amazon!

Translation in Transference

Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585)

Delightful to find Ann Lauinger’s translation of Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585) in the latest Transference! Her four translated Sonnets àHélène are both contemporary and smart, as only a poet-scholar like Ann could achieve. Transference features another Hélène, my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s “Yoke 1” from her book, Et voici la chanson (Éditions de l’Amandier, 2012). Thanks to Editor Molly Lynde-Recchia, who welcomes submissions for the next issue – see Creative opportunities below.

Bowie at the Brooklyn Museum

David Bowie (1947-2016)

David Bowie is, an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, runs March 12-July 15. Straight from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the exhibit features more than 400 objects including album artwork, handwritten lyrics and original correspondence from Bowie's teen years through his death in 2016.Whaddya say? Put on your red shoes and let’s dance!

Norwalk LitCrawl Honors National Poetry Month

The fifth annual Norwalk LitCrawl will meet on April 3^rd at the Wall Street Theater at 5:30pm and move from 6:30 to 8:00pm to the restaurants Peaches,the Banc House, Fat Cat Pie Company, and Aji 10. They will provide free appetizers and cash bar. Buy a ticket online by donating $10 to Norwalk Reads. Want to participate? See Creative opportunities below.

Astrovisualization at WAA in April

Carter Emmart

Carter Emmart, Director of Astrovisualization at the Hayden Planetarium, will speak at the Westchester Amateur Astronomer (WAA) meeting, April 6 at 7:30pm. Emmart, a leading computer software expert, creates detailed video imagery from digital astronomical data. He was recently featured in the NY Times and here you can see some of his spectacular video imagery. The lecture will take place in Lienhard Hall, Pace University in Pleasantville, NY.

New releases

Patricia Carragon,The Cupcake Chronicles (Poets Wear Prada, 2017)

Patricia Carragon, Innocence (Finishing Line Press, 2017)

Jim Daniels, The Middle Ages (Red Mountain Press, 2018)

Beth Gersh-Nešić and Jean-Luc Pouliquen, Transatlantic Conversation About Art and Poetry (CreateSpace, 2018)

Transference, the translation journal of Western Michigan University, Vol. 5, Fall 2017

Leafy Greens on Baguette with Gruyère

Scrounging around the kitchen one evening, I created what could only be considered a healthy pizza. So delicious I have to share it:

1 pound organic spinach, swiss chard or kale, rinsed with stems removed

1 organic garlic clove, crushed and peeled

1 organic baguette (look for three to four ingredients – yeast, water, salt, flour)

6 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded

extra virgin olive oil

Cut baguette in half, and then slice lengthwise into thirds or halves. Arrange slices on toaster oven tray, drizzle with olive oil, broil until golden, and repeat until all are toasted. In large frying pan over medium heat, add olive oil and garlic clove. Pile in the greens, turning them until wilted; remove from heat. Arrange greens over toast, drizzle with olive oil and top with Gruyère. Return slices to broiler until cheese melts, a minute or two. Great with sautéed organic mushrooms too.

Creative opportunities

Belmont Story Review – submit fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and narrative journalism on music, publishing, creativity, collaboration, faith and culture, by April 1 to BSRsubmissions@gmail.com

Norwalk LitCrawl on April 3 – to participate in the restaurant-to-restaurant reading, identify the 3-minute work you will read, include 1-2 line bio, and email to Christine Bradley at cbradley@norwalkpubliclibrary.org by March 23

Poetry Networking and Critique Group– Fairfield Public Library, second Saturday mornings of the month, 10-12pm; discussion of poetry events and publication possibilities followed by constructive critique of work by the first eight or so persons who sign up.

Transference– submit up to four poems in translation by May 31 for 2018 issue

One-Day Graphic Novel Writing Conference– Purchase, NY on March 24; adult workshops with Paul Levitz, past president, DC Comics; youth (10+) workshops, Barbara Slate, author, You Can Do a Graphic Novel; and free talk by Colleen Doran, illustrator of Neil Gaiman's Troll Bridge; workshops $75.

Maine Media Workshops + College– August 12-18, Make Your Poems Stand Out from the Crowd of Submissions, weeklong workshop taught by award-winning poet Kevin Pilkington; info here

Poetry / literary events

Gemma Mathewson

Barnes and Noble, March 12, 7:15pm, Janet Krauss – second Monday of each month, Barnes and Noble at Stamford Town Center, featured reader/open mic; free

Scarsdale Public Library, March 14, 7pm, the Poetry Caravan Celebrates Women’s History Month; Loretta Cornell, Lisa Fleck, Ruth D. Handel, Linda Levitz, Marjorie Mir, Ann van Buren; free

The Poetry Institute Series, March 15, 7pm, Gemma Mathewson and open mic – third Thursdays each month in New Haven, CT, featured reader/open mic. Doors open 6:30pm, reading at 7pm; free

Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)

HVWC, March 16, 7:30pm, feature Bob Zaslow and open mic, $5

JCC on the Hudson, March 18, 1:30-3:30pm, Maxine Silverman, Rachel Barenblat and Jay Michaelson

CUNY Graduate Center, March 19, 4pm, Rms 9204-9205, P(l)athography: Sylvia Plath's Biographers; Heather Clark

CUNY Graduate Center, Martin E. Segal Theatre,March 20, 6:30pm, Lost and FoundVII Launch: work by Audre Lorde, June Jordan, Toni Cade Bambara, Julio Cortázar, Paul Blackburn, and Jack Forbes

Charles Alexander

University of Houston-Victoria (Texas) Center for the Arts, Book Arts Expo, March 23-24, poets Kevin Auer, Charles Alexander, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., C.J. Martin; letterpress printing, binding and artists' book workshops; readings 7pm. Reception 5 p.m. March 23 and closing exhibit 7 p.m. March 24

HVWC, March 25, 4:30pm, Martha Rhodes, Molly McCully Brown, Carol Moldaw, $10

Kelly Writers House, March 26, 6:30pm, Bernadette Mayer; RSVP whfellow@writing.upenn.edu

Katonah Public Library, April 8, 3:30pm, Mónica de la Torre, $10

ʼRound the Net

Beth Gersh-Nešić

Poet and “trouble maker” Terry Dugan on her excellent interview on the JohnMac Radio Show

Art historian and author Beth Gersh-Nešić for her Bonjour Paris article on Purim in Paris and this commentary on last month's Michelangelo exhibit at the Met

Poets Cindy Hochman and Bob Heman on their collaborative poems in Otolithsand Geocities

J Journal on its new website

Engineer Matt King, a great person I worked with at IBM, for making Facebook more accessible

Poet Mary McCray for her survey of online courses on the history of American poetry, and her poet-centric and mind-nourishing blog

Frances Mayes and Laura Morelli

Poet John McMullen on his TV interview and this article on a founding father who wrote poetry

Art historian and author Laura Morelli on her evening with best-selling novelist Frances Mayes

Poet Ralph Nazareth for sharing Amanda Gorman’s poem, “Old Jim Crow Got to clear”

The New York Public Library Staff Picks for February and March, and its book-for-every-state tour

Outdoor retailer Orvis for promoting dogs in the office in this charming video

Poet Kevin Pilkington, whose poetry collection Where You Want to Be: New and Selected Poems (Black Lawrence Press, 2015) has just gone into second printing

ScienceDaily’s article on the creative brain being wired differently

Poet and artist Linda Simone on life-changing books cited by 23 TedTalks women

Words without Borders for this list of women translators and writers pressing for progress

Memoirist Donna Zucker on her new cooking blog, full of delicious smoothie recipes

I want to express my gratitude to all the faithful annogram readers! You’re a vibrant global community of literary and visual artists, dancers, musicians, actors, and performers. Do you realize this is the 103^rdannogram to be published? I wish we could throw some virtual party. Instead, please continue to send me your news, your book releases, readings, and achievements—and that will help us all celebrate our true path in this world, our creativity with its enormous power and mystery.

Until next time,

Ann

PEN World Voices Festival

Come celebrate National Poetry Monthwith me at the PEN World Voices Festival. I will read from and sign copies of Free Ferry at the Upper Hand Press booth 4-4:30pm on April 20. The Press Fest event, sponsored by CLMP, will allow me to meet my publisher, the extraordinary Ann Starr!

National Poetry Month at Chappaqua Station

Chappaqua Station Café

You can also hear me read at Chappaqua Station Café with featured poets Laurel Peterson, Van Hartman, Jane Ormerod, Bill Buschel, and host Jerry Johnson. Join us April 13, from 7:30-9pm, or be one of 15 poets to sign up to read at the open mic from 6:45-7:30pm. Free!

St. Petersburg Review and more

Thanks to Libby Hodges for publishing my translation from The Hero by HélèneSanguinetti in St. Petersburg Review. Charles Alexander of Chax Press is preparing galleys for the book’s debut in June, and Lynne DeSilva-Johnson of The Operating System announced my translation, Alparegho, Like Nothing Else, as part of its 2019 catalog. Exciting!

Extraordinary planetary travels

Photo from the Mars Rover

Last night,Westchester Amateur Astronomersgot a treat! Carter Emmart,director of astrovisualization, American Museum of Natural History, and Dr. Alexander Bock demonstrated open-source softwarestreaming the latest, sometimes live, satellite images of planets. Emmart can zoom in at angles on mountains for an accurate if rarely seen view of planetary landscapes. We traced an Apollo mission in an astonishingly close-up way. Emmart shows these exhilarating fly-bys Sunday eves at the Hayden Planetarium.

Nile Rodgers Front and Center

Niles Rodgers

What a pleasure to hear legendary producer Nile Rodgerstalk about his creative journey on PBS’s Front and Center. I loved when he shared how his mentor challenged his view about Top 40 music—that’s worth watching the episode right there. Other reasons: stories behind his hits, “Everybody Dance,” “Good Times,” and “Le Freak.” You will find that Nile Rodgers is the one who’s chic.

The lovebird that got away

Our good friend Mary Wasacz will be a featured storyteller in the second annual Tales from the 'Dale and Beyond, April 12 at 7:30pm, at the Heathcote auditorium. Discover how she lost her lovebird Shirley, and how she got her back! You can also hear Mary at the Scarsdale Public Library Festival of Writers, April 15 at 11:00-12:30pm, and 1-2pm. Break a line, Mary!

Poetry in America

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Thanks to avid reader and Francophile Susan Seligman for telling me about this new half-hour program that focuses on hearing, reading, and interpreting a single American poem. Hosted by Harvard Professor Elisa New, Poetry in America gathers distinguished interpreters from all walks of life to explore and debate 12 unforgettable American poems. Related online Harvard coursesare available too.

New Releases

How to be a Poetby Jo Bell, Jane Commane guest writers (Nine Arches Press, 2017)

Pedestal 81

Rhino

St. Petersburg Review

Creative opportunities

Manhattanville College, The Art of The Pitch Workshop, agent Katharine Sands/editor Ron Hogan , April 21, 10am – 4pm, register here

Rhinois open for submissions through July 31

Cahaba River Literary Journal, Soap Stone Creek Literary Journal for Kids, Mothering With Imagination, and Writer’s Bi-Monthly Review invite submissions to cahabariverlitjournal2018@gmail.com

Cauliflower Kung Pao – wow!

Dear friends Linda and Joe Simone have come over to the green side as vegetarians, and they bring delicious recipes! This one is a winner, healthy and tasty all at once.

1 large cauliflower head, cut into small floret pieces

1 red organic pepper, diced

1 yellow organic pepper, diced

1 orange organic pepper, diced

1 tbsp ginger, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

5 scallions, cut 2” in lengths

1/3 cup raw cashews

1 tsp pepper flakes, optional

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lb rice noodles

Sauce

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

2 tbsp tomato ketchup

4 tbsp soy sauce, gluten free

2 tbsp unrefined sugar

1/4 cup water

3 tsp arrowroot powder, or cornstarch

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Mix sauce ingredients in small bowl; set aside. In large nonstick skillet, over medium heat, place olive oil. Add cauliflower, stirring occasionally 5 minutes until cauliflower is cooked a bit but not thoroughly. Take our cauliflower and set aside. Add diced peppers to skillet; cook 3 minutes. Add cauliflower back to skillet and cook with peppers, stirring occasionally, another 5 minutes until veggies are nearly cooked but not mushy. Add garlic, ginger, cashews; cook 2 minutes more. Add sauce to skillet and cook 1 minute over high heat or until thickened. Add onions and serve over warm noodles.

Poetry readings

Laurel Peterson

Barnes and Noble Stamford, April 9, 7:15pm, John McMullen

Curley’s Diner, April 10, 7:30pm, Van Hartman

National Arts Club, April 10, 7pm, PSA Awards, Ron Padgett, Jennifer Chang, Molly Spencer, Kevin Prufer, Brian Tierney, and Elizabeth Knapp

Janet Kaplan

Chappaqua Station Café, April 13, 7:30pm, Laurel Peterson, Van Hartman, Jane Ormerod, Bill Buschel, Ann Cefola, and host Jerry Johnson

Berl's Brooklyn Poetry Shop, April 19, 7:30pm, Steven Alvarez, Adam Deutsch, Lauren Hilger, Janet Kaplan, Joanna C. Valente

Poetry Institute, April 19, 7pm, Marilyn Nelson

Jerry Johnson

Pen World Voices Festival, Upper Hand Press, Washington Mews, April 20, 4pm, Ann Cefola

HVWC, April 20, 7:30pm, Open Mic, Featured Brandon Rumaker, $5

Masters School, Westchester Poetry Festival, April 21, 12noon, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Chris Campanioni, Andrés Cerpa, Nicole Sealy, Anya Krugovoy Silver

Alice Tully Hall, Poetry and the Creative Mind, April 25, Terrance Hayes, others $45-$75

ʼRound the Net

Ursula LeGuin

The American Literary Translators Association on being shortlisted for the London Book Fair International Excellence Award

Poet and publisher John Amen on the 17^th anniversary issue of The Pedestal Magazine

Poet Bill Buschel for his essay, “How Helen Hated the Yankees,”inWriter Advice

Poet Terry Dugan for shaing this incredible interview with author and poet Ursula LeGuin

Photo by Sarah Bracey White

Photographer Sarah Bracey White whose work made the cut into the juried Westchester County Amateur Photo Contest

Art Historian Beth Gersh-Nešić for her beautiful interview with artist Christina Thomas

Guitarist Johnny Moses on performing with Cyril and Gaynielle Neville

Poet Ralph Nazareth for this article on Poems While You Wait

The New York Public Library for sharing its top picks for April

Linda Simone

Outdoor retailer Orvisfor this video on the Art of the Mini-Adventure

Record producer Nile Rodgers on being inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame

Poet Jimmy Santiago Baca on starting his fourth year of writing workshops

Poet Linda Simonefor the acceptance of her book The River Will Save Us by Aldrich Press and for letting us know about the new poet laureate of San Antonio

Gratitude for Claire Barre

Claire Barre

In the literary world, unknown people often open doors, connect a person to a publisher, suggest a residency—and quietly help establish authors. Such a person was Claire Barre, an English-language expert who, for two decades, reviewed my translations of Hélène Sanguinetti’s books. Claire, with her eye for nuance, provided invaluable comments. In person, she was kind, generous, gracious—with a sparkling laugh. Her recent loss seems impossible, as if something as delightful as champagne had evaporated. I am grateful for her friendship and commitment to Hélène’s work—which is catching fire now in the States. In Claire’s honor, I am including a poem of mine she and Hélène translated at the beginning of our journey together. Merci, chère Claire!

Until next time,
Ann

Amphibie

Je ressemble à la grenouille des bois

qui vit sa vie, tête au-dessus de l'eau, tranquille.

Qui plonge, au passage d'un vieux camion soulevant la poussière,

dans l'humidité rassurante de la vase et de la feuille éteinte.

Je me suis souvent demandé quelle était ma vraie maison :

celle de la pluie se rassemblant au printemps en ruisseaux clairs

ou celle de l'air ensoleillé, baigné par la moiteur des pins.

La grenouille préfère l'eau et moi j'ai besoin d'air. Mais certains jours,

parfois accompagnée de sourds grondements de tonnerre

et d'éclairs pareils à un soleil artificiel,

l'eau tombe du ciel. Alors la grenouille chante,

gorge déployée, béate, et moi aussi.

Traduit par Claire Barre et Hélène Sanguinetti

Amphibious

I have been like the woodland frog

who lives life, head above water, still.

Diving, when an old truck disturbs the dirt road,

into the watery safety of silt and colorless leaf.

I have wondered where my true home is,

where the spring rain collects in clear streams

or air sun-illumined and punctuated by moist pine.

The frog preferring water as I need air. But there are days,

sometimes accompanied by low rumble of thunder

and bursts of lightning like unnatural sun,

when water falls from the sky. Then the frog sings

open-throated, amazed, and so do I.

Ann Cefola

Pen World Voices Press Fest

What an afternoon at the Pen World Voices Press Fest in Washington Mews! I met Ann Starr, publisher of Upper Hand Press, glorious in person; Elizabeth Primamore, whose Shady Women debuts next month and who read with me from Free Ferry; Louise Farmer Smithof the sleeper hit One Hundred Years of Marriage; Herta Feely of the important Saving Phoebe Murrow; and Libby Hodges, editor of The St. Petersburg Review, where one of my translations now appears. See our books at upperhandpress.com.

National Poetry Month @ Chappaqua Station

Thanks to poet Jerry T. Johnson for hosting an SRO April event! After open-mic readings by such writers as Terry Dugan, Sarah Bracey White, and John McMullen, I was thrilled to kick off featured poets Van Hartmann, Manhattanville professor; Laurel S. Peterson, Poet Laureate of Norwalk; Bill Bushel, HVWC Open Mic Night host and Jane Ormerod, Great Weather for Mediafounder. Another fine event, Jerry!

National Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith in Norwalk

Tracy K. Smith

Tracy K. Smith will read from her poetry, participate in a community conversation, book signing and reception on May 3 at 6pm in the PepsiCo Theater at Norwalk Community College. The recipient of the 2014 Academy of American Poets fellowship, she directs Princeton University’s creative writing program.

Live at the Freight House Gala

John McMullen

Yorktown Heights Poet Laureate John McMullenwill read from his new book, Live at the Freight House, May 18 at 7pm, at New York’s historic Freight House Café in Mahopac. Robert Milby, Poet Laureate of Orange County, and Ralph Nazareth, host of Tuesdays At Curley’s, will also read, joined by contributors Carole Amato, LC, Terry Dugan, John Kaprielian, Tony Pena, and Bob Zaslow. Congratulations to John whose book can be found on Amazon in both paperback and Kindleeditions.

Sundays at the J with George, Cortney Davis and Meg Lindsay

"Turtles All the Way" by Meg Lindsay

Cortney Davis and Meg Lindsay read recently at the poetry series hosted by Dr. George Kraus at the JCC on the Hudson. Cortney, a pioneer of poetry on nursing, read from Taking Care of Time (Wheelbarrow Books, 2018), while Meg read from A Painter’s Night Journal (Finishing Line Press, 2016) against a backdrop of her canvases. After excellent readings, both offered candid insight into their craft.

Sarah Bracey White photos on exhibit

Sarah Bracey White

Writer Sarah Bracey White has compiled 45 of her photos for an exhibit at Greenburgh Town Hall. The framed photos are for sale as a fundraiser for the Greenburgh Arts and Culture Committee. Sarah invites you to stop by and buy one or two that strike your fancy. Prices are affordable, and tax deductible. The exhibit will be on display through June.

Earth Day on the Hudson

What a privilege to hear the Temple Beth Shalom Choir perform “Back to the Garden.” Choir director Linda Moot features soloists of all ages, from Noa Hart chanting the Blessing of Noah to lovely Shirley Altman singing “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.” Especially appreciated: selections by Emily Dickinson and Ogden Nash, and contemporaries Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Marvin Gaye, and Joni Mitchell. Thanks to talented alto Carol Booth for inviting me each year!

New releases

Cortney Davis, Taking Care of Time (Wheelbarrow Books, 2018)

John McMullen, ed. Live at the Freight House(Kindle, 2018)

Natasha Nesic, The Miracle on 98th Street(Kindle, 2018)

Presence 2018: A Journal of Catholic Poetry

The St. Petersburg Review

Arthur Russell, Unbent Trumpet (Nutley Arts Press, 2018)

Nancy Vericker, Unchained: Our Family’s Addiction Mess is Our Message(Clear Faith Publishing, 2018)

Creative opportunities

Robert Olen Butler

2018 Amy Award applicationsfor promising women poets, age 30 and under, in the New York City metropolitan area or Long Island, through June 1

Burning Deck sale, buy one book, get another 50 percent off

Gris-Gris: An Online Journal of Literature, Culture and the Artsflash fiction contest, judged by Robert Olen Butler, $500, publication; apply May 15 - July 30; $10 submission fee

One-on-One Workshop with Arthur Vogelsang; email Arthur before May 7 for next session

Open Write, HVWC, May 11, 7:30pm, $10 nonmembers, free to members

Pedestal Magazine’s open reading period for science fiction, fantasy, supernatural horror, science, surrealism and experiment poetry goes through May 27

Presa Press, three chapbooks for $15

Monthly Submission Sunday for HVWC Members, May 6, 12:30pm

Seventh Heaven Writing Retreat, Red Mountain Resort, Utah, July 18-22, email carolyn@carolynflynn.com for details and costs

Spicy Cauliflower Rice

Thanks to poet and trouble maker Terry Dugan for this great recipe, just in time for Cinco de Mayo! You can purchase cauliflower rice in Trader Joe’s produce department.

4 cups cauliflower “rice” (grated or processed into very small pieces)

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

3/4 cup tomato sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 jalapeno, finely chopped

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and jalapenos; sauté until tender, about two to three minutes. Add garlic and cauliflower, sauté until cauliflower is tender, approximately two minutes. Add tomato sauce, cumin, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir to evenly coat the vegetables. Cook for three to four minutes, or until tender and heated through. Serves six.

Poetry readings / events

June Jordan (1936-2002)

Teatown Preserve, May 4, 7:30pm, Alex Shoumatoff, $10

Bronx Library Center in Fordham Manor, Bronx Book Fair, May 5, 11am-7pm, Willie Perdomon, Sokunthary Svay, Tiffany Pagageorge

Curley’s Diner in Stamford, May 8, 7:30pm, Robert Masterson, Doug Mathewson

Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, May 9, 7:30pm, Rachel Kushner

James Cohan Gallery, Annual New York City Independent Publishers Book Party, May 10, 6-8pm

The Jewish Museum, May 10, 6:30pm, Dorothea Lasky poetry in response to paintings by Eliza Douglas

St. Joseph's College in Clinton Hill, May 23, 7:30pm, Michael Chabon

Evie Shockley

Graduate Center Proshansky Auditorium, June Jordan Tribute, May 18, 10:30am-8pm,Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Christoph Keller, Jan Heller Levi, Jennifer Benka, Dr. Joshua Bennett, Hafizah Geter, Aracelis Girmay, Erica Hunt, Tyehimba Jess, Patricia Spears Jones, Jacqueline Jones LaMon, Joseph Legaspi, Evie Shockley, Christopher Soto, Conor Tomas Reed, Makeba Lavan, Talia Shalev, Dorothy Wang, Deborah Paredez, Donna Masini, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carey Salerno

Lockwood Matthews Mansion in Norwalk, May 27, 5pm, Stephanie Kunkel’s dancers perform in response to poems

ʼRound the Net

Gary Glauber

Poet Terry Dugan for letting us know that books by women are often priced less

Poet Gary Glauber for poems in New Verse News, Our Poetry Archive, and Whispers

Artist Kathe Gregoryfor participating again in the Somerville Open Studios, May 5-6, 12-6 pm, 76 Berkeley Street, Somerville, MA

Author Herb Hadad for his upcoming book, An Arm Around the Shoulder: Sixty Years of Essay Writing, which excerpted on the front page of the March Silurian News

Herb Hadad

Poet Cindy Hochman for reviews of Tyree Daye’s River Hymns and Beth Copeland’s Blue Honey in The Pedestal 81

Poet Janet Kaplan on her upcoming book Ecotones from Eyewear Ltd in 2019

Editor Mary Ann B. Miller for publishing my translation in the latest Presence 2018: A Journal of Catholic Poetry

Art Historian Laura Morelli for the secret behind Our Lady of the Ferry Station in Venice

Poet John McMullenfor reading at Barnes & Noble in Stamford last month

New York Public Library for its Staff Picks for May

Poet Linda Simone on her poem in the San Antonio Express-News

Ann and Ann Starr

I close with gratitude to my publisher, Ann Starr, whom I had the pleasure of meeting last month. There are so many people who contribute to the success of a poet, and much begins with a brave publisher, and continues with everyone who has purchased Free Ferry, wrote reviews on Amazon, or read with me in public. As I told Ann Starr (right), it's not a book but a journey. Thank you, dear readers and poet colleagues, for your support!

Until next time,

Ann

With Elizabeth Primamore at Press Fest

Hey now! It’s sum-sum-summertime! At least in the United States, the unofficial start. I look forward to late June when Chax Press will debut my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s The Hero, and July when Zoomorphic will publish my poem, “Dogspel.” Additional thanks to CLMP for including me in its Press Fest coverage.

Pulitzer winner Peter Balakian in Katonah

Peter Balakian, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in poetry, will read at the Katonah Village Library, June 3rd, at 4pm ($10). Balakian has authored seven volumes of poetry, four nonfiction books and two translations. What I admire also? He’s the annual judge for the Lakota Children’s Enrichment writing contest for young people on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Now that’s giving back!

French Movie Night

What a delight to discover French Movie Nights at the Emelin Theater in Mamaroneck! French translator and art historian Beth Gersh-Nešić joined me for The Royal Exchange (L’Échange des princesses). The evening included a glass of French wine, macarons, and chance to mingle afterwards with the mostly French audience. The next film is The Return of the Hero (Le Retour du Héros) on June 7 at 8pm.

Trans Fran Sisco

Fran Sisco

Writer, chanteuse and comic Fran Sisco has supported Westchester’s creative community for years by leading and filming readings. Now, as host of the Crisis Help Radio Show on WVOX 1460AM, second Tuesdays each month, 7pm-8pm, Fran and her co-hosts help callers (914-636-0110) sort through everyday crises, stresses, and financial issues. Thank you, Fran, for your continued outreach and caring!

Origins of ‘poetry voice’

Thomas Lux (1947-2017)

How do you read in public? Like Katherine Hepburn, or you’re perusing the phone book? At Sarah Lawrence, Thomas Lux read as if he held an invisible baton in his right hand to punctuate the beat, and made quote signs in the air for certain words. Thanks to Terry Dugan for this thought-provoking article, Linda Simone for this funny one, and Mary McCray for Andrew Nurkin’s “The Noise Poetry Makes.”

Poetry explosion in Westchester

The Hudson Valley Writers Center is adding a second open mic (OM) night each month. The OM has been “so successful that a second night became necessary,” explains poet and host Bill Buschel. Next ones: Fridays, June 15 and 22; July 20 and 27. Doors open at 7pm; reading starts at 7:30pm; $5.

New releases

Charles Alexander, At the Edge of the Sea: Pushing Water II(Singing Horse Press, 2018)

AMP, issue 3, the literary journal of Hostra University

Patricia Carragon, ed., Brownstone Poets 2018 Anthology(CreateSpace, 2018)

Frieda Hughes, Out of the Ashes (Bloodaxe Books, 2018)

Kristin Prevallet, Visualize Comfort: Healing and the Unconscious Mind(CreateSpace, 2018)

Elizabeth Primamore, Shady Women: Three Short Plays (Upper Hand Press, 2018)

Susan Richardson, Words the Turtle Taught Me (Cinnamon Press, 2018)

Creative opportunities

Donna Zucker

How to Write and Create a Family History Bookwith Donna Zucker, Sarah Lawrence Writers Institute, June 9, 10am-3pm, $200

Stealing from the Poet's Tool Box: A Workshop for Fiction Writers with Estha Weiner, Sarah Lawrence Writers Institute, June 16, 10am-3pm, $200

Chakra Writing with Kristin Prevallet, June 23-24, Hastings-on-Hudson, $175

OFF THE GRID Poetry Prize accepting book-length manuscripts, by poets over age 60, May 1-August 31, $25 submission fee

VerbalArt: A Global Journal Devoted to Poets & Poetry open to submissions through July 31

Burger that can’t be beet

This may be the be-all and end-all veggie burger. Thanks to The Great American Burger Book that I gifted my carnivore husband Michael, I found it. Author George Motz, like Michael, is married to a vegetarian. This recipe takes a lot of time but worth it. Halved as here, it makes about six burgers.

1 small beet, peeled for roasting

1 15-oz can of organic black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

2 cups walnuts, soaked for several hours, ideally overnight, and drained

1 medium carrot, peeled and grated fine

1 small raw beet, peeled and shredded fine

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

½ tablespoon grainy mustard

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper hot sauce

½ cup panko bread crumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon butter

3 Kaiser rolls, sliced lengthwise into quarter-slices

6 slices organic cheddar cheese

sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions (optional)

Rub beet with olive oil, wrap in two layers of foil, and roast in 400- degree oven 1 ½ hours. Cool, chop into cubes, set aside. Turn oven to 375 degrees. Coarsely chop black-eyed peas in blender or processor, and put in large bowl; repeat with walnuts and add to peas. Add carrot, roasted beet cubes, raw beet, garlic, mustard, hot sauce, bread crumbs, salt, pepper; mix by hand until thick and pasty. Form patties with hamburger mold; place on nonstick baking sheet. Roast 45 minutes. Once they’re done, melt butter in cast-iron skillet over medium heat, and brown each patty on both sides. They crumble easily; handle with care. Original recipe calls for topping each burger with sautéed mushrooms, cheddar cheese slice, and caramelized onions. The sautéed mushroom and caramelized onion recipes are yummy and I may include next month—today you’re on your own! Pre-roasted patties may be refrigerated or frozen for later use. I cut each Kaiser roll carefully to create four thin layers for two thin rolls.

ʼRound the Net

Charles Alexander

Poet Ed Ahern on poems, “Being Ignored” and “Chance Encounters,” in Sea Foam Magazine

Poet and publisher Charles Alexander on the May 15th launch of At the Edge of the Sea: Pushing Water II, at the Torn Page

The American Literary Translators Association on receiving an NEA grant of $15,000

Poet Bill Buschel on narrating ViVi Makka’s first student film, “Shadows”

Poet Llyn Clague on having his poem “Sir” appear in The Main Street Rag

Sandra Cisneros

Poet Terry Dugan for this great interview with Sandra Cisneros

Art historian Beth Gersh-Nešić on the May 22nd launch of Transatlantic Conversation About Poetry and Art at the Alliance Française of Greenwich

Poet Gary Glauber for poems in Cultural Weeklyand Outlaw Poetry

Poet John McMullen on the May 18th launch of Live at the Freight House and radio program featuring Terry Dugan and other contributors

The Rev. Al Miles

The Reverend Al Miles on receiving the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT) Loretta “Deliana” Fuddy Lifetime Achievement Award

Novelist Laura Morelli on the Honorable Mention from the Eric Hoffer Foundation for The Painter’s Apprentice

Playwright Elizabeth Primamore for urging us to vote our fav book on the PBS Great American Read

Poet Christina Rauon having “Kepler’s Laws” selected for the Visible Poetry Project– see April 5, 2018

Poet and artist Linda Simone for sharing tweets of famous poets

Poetry events

Peter Balakian

HVWC, May 30, 7pm, Deborah Paredez, BK Fischer, and Lynn Schmeidler

Bryant Park Reading Room, June 5, Kathleen Ossip, Terrance Hayes, Reginald Dwayne Betts, David Baker

HVWC, June 15 and 22, 7pm doors open, 7:30pm start, Open Mic hosted by Bill Buschel, $5

Poets House, June 28, 6pm, Annual Showcase Opening, Kaveh Akbar, Tarfia Faizullah, Brenda Hillman

Katonah Public Library, June 3, 4pm, Peter Balakian, $10

Poetry Diva Jackie Sheeler

New York’s vibrant poetry community owes much to Jackie Sheeler. In the 90s, she produced the New York Poetry Calendar, which listed nearly every poetry event—first a slender brochure, then a double-sided 8 ½ x 11 page, and finally a tiny-fonted legal sheet. Printed on bright colors, it was a deep-dive into the extraordinary opportunities our poetry-loving city afforded.

Jackie included a poem of mine in her anthology, Off the Cuffs: Poetry by and about the Police (Soft Skull Press, 2003). Her father had been a cop so the book was a brave if charged exploration. That anthology launched my publishing career. Jackie also invited me to read at her Pink Pony Series at Cornelia Street Café. The first night, I felt like an ingénue at Hollywood and Vine—awed by the beatnik-like, intimate atmosphere.

Jackie had a wry wit—when planning to read at a militant feminist bookstore, I was unsure whether to bring my husband Michael and I emailed her, “What should he do?” She shot back, “Wear a skirt.” As Pink Pony host, she would ease one poet, going on too long, off-stage by slowly chanting his name into the back-of-room mic until audience laughter overcame his ability to read.

Her own award-winning work included Earthquake Came to Harlem(NYQ Books, 2010), The Memory Factory (Buttonwood Press, 2002) and CDs of her wordrock group Talk Engine. I am deeply indebted to Jackie, who passed away recently. Jackie, thank you for passionately pursuing your poetry and bringing so many of us along with you!

Until next time,

Ann

Free Ferryfeatured in blog

Thanks to reviewer Darrell Laurant for featuring Free Ferry today on his blog, Snowflakes in a Blizzard. Discover the backstory behind Free Ferry if you’ve read it. And if not, now is the perfect time: Free Ferry is at a discounted price of $7. Read it to see astonishing similarities of our current geopolitical climate with the 1960s.

The Enchantment of the Ordinary

Mutabilis Presshas accepted my poem, “Kin”, a salute to the time I first met my lovely Texas and Oklahoma relatives, for a Texas-themed anthology, The Enchantment of the Ordinary. Big hugs to my cousin Katherine in Fort Worth who knew all the relatives named! My dear friend Linda Simone, a San Antonian, has a poem included too, and we can’t wait for the book’s debut this fall.

The Heroforthcoming from Chax

So excited my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s The Hero will debut soon from Chax Press! The publisher, Charles Alexander, a poet and book designer, takes the utmost care in producing fine books. Poet and translator Cole Swensen has also praised the book in a generous inscription. Get ready to read a seriously audacious work from one of France’s top contemporary poets!

Lydia Davis at the Albertine

Lydia Davis

How great to meet Lydia Davis at the Albertine Prize program last month! Ms. Davis, award-winning micro-fiction writer and Swann’s Way(Penguin, 2004) translator, is now translating from Dutch. She told me she read all of Proust’s correspondence for Letters to His Neighbors(New Directions, 2017), and that this edition corrects prior timeline errors. Thanks to Beth Gersh-Nešić, art historian and André Salmon translator, for inviting me to this wonderful event!

Summer reading

Rona Carr

My friend, and an excellent coach, Rona Carrlikes me to recommend summer reading. Look no further than Upper Hand Press, whose books are $7 now. Discerning readers I know were moved by 100 Years of Marriage, a sleeper classic; Saving Phoebe Murrow, winner of the 2018 Indie Novel of the Year; and Elizabeth Primamore’s Shady Women. Why not complete some holiday shopping now?

Marilyn Monroe in Stamford

Forever Marilyn by Seward Johnson
Photo Michael Cefola

Members exiting Stamford’s First Congregational Church have quite a view—the backside of a 30,000-lb, 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe. The Seward Johnson statue, in Lapham Park for the summer, captures Ms. Monroe’s iconic The Seven-Year-Itchpose, where her billowy dress blew upwards over a New York subway grate. Both awe-inspiring and creepy, it recalls Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, “Harry… Harry….”

Sarah Bracey White in Read 650

Sarah Bracey White

Congratulations to Sarah Bracey White on appearing in last month’s Read 650: A Writer's Art at the National Arts Club. This is Sarah’s second appearance in the hit series featuring 650-word readings. Agnes of God playwright John Pielmeier calls Read 650“evocative, entertaining, and moving.” Watch Sarah’s delightful “Camp Cook” here, and don’t miss her photography exhibit this summer at the Greenburgh Town Hall.

J. Chester Johnson on Auden

What a joy to hear J. Chester Johnson at St. James the Less on Auden, the Psalms and Me (Church Publishing, 2017). It’s a book you feel compelled to read in one sitting, so fascinating is the “religious” Auden never discussed in contemporary literature. Auden’s letters cast a lasting influence over Chester’s life as a poet and translator, and important considerations for the rest of us.

New releases

Dante Aligheri, trans. W. S. Merwin, Purgatorio: A New Verse Translation (Copper Canyon Press)

Michael Baldwin, Beyond Passing Strange(CreateSpace)

Karen George, A Map and One Year (Dos Madres Press)

Ivy Johnson,Born Again(The Operating System)

Jim Lavilla-Havelin, West, Poems of a Place(Wings Press, 2017)

Mostafa Nissabouri, trans. Guy Bennett, Pierre Joris, Addie Leak, Teresa Villa-Ignacio, For an Ineffable Metrics of the Desert (Otis Books-Seismicity Editions)

Erick Sáenz, Susurros a mi Padre (The Operating System)

Creative opportunities

Kevin Pilkington

Diode Editions by August 15, 2018

Nourish – poetry calls for work

Last call for Kevin Pilkington’s Maine Media Poetry Workshopin Rockport

Poetry, essay, drama, or hybrid on Simone Weil (Word, RTF, or PDF) with author info to weilanthology@gmail.com by August 1 for Orison anthology

Stupid-Easy Cole Slaw

Again, from George Motz’s The Great American Burger (Abrams, 2016): Halve ingredients if only serving two or three people, and use a bag of shredded cabbage for a stupid-fastslaw.

1 head organic white cabbage, shredded

6 organic medium-large carrots, grated

1 cup mayonnaise

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine cabbage and carrots in bowl and set aside. In large bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Add carrots and cabbage, tossing to coat. Cover and refrigerate for an hour before serving, or up to 24 hours.

And, as promised from the last annogram, toppings for the beet burger recipe:

Sautéed Mushrooms

1 tablespoon butter

2 cups sliced organic cremini mushrooms

½ cup dry white wine

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add mushrooms. Cover and cook until mushrooms release their liquid. Pour in the wine and raise the heat to high. When liquid in pan is reduced, remove from heat. Salt to taste and set aside until ready to use on your beet burgers.

Caramelized Onions

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium organic Vidalia or Walla Walla onions

3 pinches salt

¼ cup white wine

1 tablespoon salted butter

Preheat skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Slice onions into thin rings or strings and add to skillet, stirring to coat with oil and continuing to poke, pat and move around until onions become limp, about 6 minutes. Add salt and stir. Add wine and raise heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly until liquid evaporates, then return to medium heat and add butter, stirring until melted. Cook, turning onions in pan frequently for another 10 minutes or until nicely golden brown and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.

Beet Burger assemblage

See prior annogram for beet burger recipe: While burgers still brown in the pan, add spoonful of sautéed mushrooms to top of each followed by a cheddar cheese slice. Cover, cook until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Transfer beet burgers to toasted buns and top with caramelized onions.

Poetry / literary events

Joan Silber on winning the 2017
National Books Critics Circle Award
for Fiction

Bryant Park Reading Room, July 17, 7pm, Whiting Foundation Poetry Awards, Sharon Dolin, Terrance Hayes, Rickey Laurentiis, Jenny Johnson

The Meetinghouse, Canaan, NH, 7:30pm: July 19, Christopher Wren, Lauren Groff;July 26,Howard Mansfield, Robin MacArthur; August 2, Lloyd Schwartz,Joan Silber

The Merchantile Library, July 17,7pm, Richard Hague and Paulette Hansel on memoir

HVWC, July 20, 27; August 17; 7:30pm, Open Mic Night; August 19, 10am, $5

John C. Hart Library, July 21, 1pm, Book Fair and Reception with Local Authors

HVWC,, August 1, 8pm, Chen Chen and Nathan McClain, $10

̓Round the Net

Clouds Rte 84 by Meg Lindsay

Poet Llyn Clague on his poem “Kayakers in the Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene blog

Poet Terry Dugan for this interview with new Times Poetry Editor Rita Dove

Novelist Herta Feely on having Saving Phoebe Murrow profiled in Snowflakes in a Blizzard

Poet Gary Glauber for work on page 14 in Event Horizonand in Synchronized Chaos

The Katonah Poetry Series for interviews with Peter Balakian and Monica de la Torre

Duc Le for sharing the Poetry Journal in Print, a journal of Vietnamese and English poetry

Artist Meg Lindsay for participating in Upstream Gallery's PaperWorks 2018 exhibit through July 29

Blogger Rolf Maurer for this profile of Yorktown Heights Poet Laureate John McMullen

A Throw of Dice (1929)
British Silent Film shown at
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Poet John McMullen for sharing this video from a Holocaust Remembrance Day this spring

Art historian Laura Morelli on how to choose quality leather in Florence

Poet Ralph Nazareth for sharing the Times obit of poet Donald Hall

The NEA for this federal survey indicating that poetry readership is up

The New York Public Library for its July Staff Picks

Sir Paul McCartney

Bass player Larry Schwartzman for “Five Bass Lines Not Written by Paul McCartney

Poet Linda Simone on reading next month at San Antonio 300, her poem “Whisk” in the San Antonio-Express News, and essay inFar Villages: Essays for New Beginner Poets forthcoming from Black Lawrence Press

Songwriter and singer Fran Sisco on her new film, Happy Trans Girl Like Me

Pianist Donald Sosin on participating in the San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Wishing everyone a summer full of rest and recreation so necessary for creativity! See you back here in September….

Until next time,

Ann

Free Ferry and the Getz-Gilberto Connection

DougRamsey highlights Free Ferry in Rifftides, his award-winning jazz blog. His liner notes on the Getz-Gilberto reissue CD inspired Free Ferry’s opening. “In the post-Elvis Presley era,” he writes, “the track by Getz and the Gilbertos achieved something nearly unimaginable for a sensitive jazz performance; it became a hit.”

That was “The Girl from Ipanema,” sung by Astrud Gilberto, the housewife who became an unlikely diva, and an intro- ductory voice to Free Ferry. The book, Doug says, evokes “the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with 20th and 21st century realities of weapons-grade plutonium, Cold War anxieties, episodes from everyday life and, sometimes, humor.”

Many thanks to Doug, winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Journalist Association, for allowing me to use his CD notes in Free Ferry.

The Hero at translation event

Hélène Sanguinetti

On September 30 at 1:30pm, I will participate in a JCC on the Hudson event by sharing from my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s The Hero forthcoming from Chax Press. George Kraus will read his translations of Borges, Vallejo, and 16th century Spanish poets; Ann Lauinger, her translations of Italian poet Fillippo Naitana, who will also present his work; and Beth Gersh-Nešić, poems by André Salmon, close friend of Pablo Picasso during the heyday of Cubism. Please drop by for a great afternoon of translation!

Alparegho announced for September 2019

The Operating System’s 2019 catalog is now live, and I am excited to have my translation of Hélène Sanguinetti’s Alparegho, like nothing else be part of its Unsilenced Texts series. Hélène’s work is finally catching fire here in the US. When you read it, you will find it truly is “like nothing else.”

Work in Poetry Salzburg

Claude Rains (1889-1967)

Thrilled to learn my poems, “Invisible Man" and "Origins of Horror,” respective tributes to Claude Rains and Lon Chaney Jr., will appear in Poetry Salzburg Review 34. Thanks to Dr. Wolfgang Görtschacher, who encourages everyone to subscribe to the journal or explore further collections on its website. I’ll have to go to Patisserie Salzburg with my copy for a full experience!

American Sign Language Poetry at CUNY

On September 13, at 6:30pm, the CUNY Graduate Center will present Publishing American Sign Language Poetry. Poets Douglas Ridloff, Peter Cook, Kenny Lerner, and John Lee Clark will read original work in American Sign Language. An exercise in translation by Adrean Clark and discussion by Sara Nović will follow. Free. Please click here to RSVP to this event.

Kathe Gregory in Boston Voyager

Kathe Gregory

Congratulations to my cousin, artist Kathe Gregory, on her interview in Boston Voyager. Kathe reflects on her uber-creative upbringing, with her father, mid-century architect Jules Gregory, and mother Nancy, an avid horticulturist. Even I learned things about Kathe I did not know—such as a youthful art heist perpetrated by grad school friends! If you appreciate or make art, this is a must-read.

The Kindergarten Teacher

This Sara Colangelo film, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and debuting on Netflix October 12, is a suspense-filled drama around the importance of poetry. “Kaveh Akbar and Ocean Vuong wrote the movie’s poems,” says poet Linda Simone, who shared the trailer. Thanks, Linda! Looking forward to this!

New releases

Michael Flatt and Derrick Mund, Chlorosis (The Operating System)

Anne Gorrick, An Absence So Great and Spontaneous It is Evidence of Light(The Operating System)

Wally Swist, Singing for Nothing (The Operating System)

Christine Aikens Wolfe, Garlanding Green (Dos Madres Press)

Creative opportunities

Andrés Cerpa

Poetry contest on theme“Something to start with” judged by Paul Mariani – send by December 2

Poets Salonmeets second Saturdays each month at the Fairfield Library

Presence call for poems by October -- send to mmiller@caldwell.edu

Symphony Anthology – send up to three poems and brief bio by October 31 to symphonypoems@gmail.com

Writingthe Poetry You Love to Read with Andrés Cerpa, September 22, 12:30-4:30pm, $124

Writers’ Guide to Investigative Research Workshop with Donna Zucker, five sessions, September 24, $450

Cauliflower Pizza Casserole

Thanks to poet Terry Dugan for this healthy recipe which she suggests for the cooler days of fall! Serves four. Enjoy!

2 heads cauliflower, cut into florets

2/3 cup organic pizza sauce

Himalayan salt, to taste

Ground black pepper, to taste

2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided

2/3 cup grated parmesan, divided; more for garnish

1/2 cup sliced black olives

1/2 cup onions, divided

1 tablespoon oregano, divided

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, divided

Fresh parsley, for garnish

Heat oven to 350°F. Blanch cauliflower 3 minutes. In large bowl, toss cauliflower with pizza sauce until coated. Season with salt and pepper. Place half the cauliflower in baking dish; top with half of mozzarella, parmesan, olives and onions; sprinkle with oregano and red pepper. Add rest of cauliflower to dish and repeat topping process. Bake until cauliflower is tender and cheese bubbly, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly. Garnish with parsley and parmesan.

Poetry / literary events

Anne Carson

HVWC, September 14, 7pm, Erika Meitner, Blas Falconer, Nicole Cooley; September 28, 7pm, D. Nurkse, Sally Bliumis-Dunn, Alison Jarvis; October 5, 7pm, Anne Carson, Lafcadio Cass, $10

Norwalk Library, September 6, 7pm, Charles Rafferty, Jonas Zdanys; October 4, 7pm, Amy Nawrocki, Brian Clements, Poets in Conversation with Norwalk Poet Laureate Laurel Peterson

Open Door Tea, September 14, 6:30pm, SheSpeak event, writers, actors and audience collaboration

Brenda Shaughnessy

London, J. Chester Johnson on Auden, the Psalms and Me: Sept. 20: St. Philip’s Church, 6pm; Oct. 14: Grosvenor Chapel after service; Oct. 23: Southwark Cathedral, 7pm, rsvp; Oct. 25: St. Mary Magdalene Paddington, pm (check time); Oct. 28: St. Peter’s Church 11:15am; Oxford: Oct. 11, St. Giles Church, 12:30pm

Katonah Library, September 23, 4pm, Brenda Shaughnessy, $10

’Round the Net

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Translator Anne Appel for celebrating Women Translators Month

Memoirist Sarah Bracey White for a great interview on John McMullen’s radio show and on being selected for the Best of the Best 650 Reads

Poet Terry Dugan on her upcoming chapbook, I’m the Reason the Kids Are Dead (Moonstone Press)

Fast Company for “A Very Short Guide to the Most Creative Part of Your Brain”

Composer Rob Kapilow for this podcast celebrating the 100^th birthday of Leonard Bernstein

Yorktown Heights Poet Laureate John McMullen for this great article on the state of poetry

Art Historian Laura Morelli for her TedTalk on the difference between art and craft

Poets and Writers for this great interview with poet and novelist Michael Ondaatje

Astrophotographer Olivier Prache for this amazing photo of the M31 galaxy

M31 photo by Olivier Prache

Playwright Elizabeth Primamore on winning the Bernard and Shirley Handel Playwriting Award from the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Arts Colony

Poet Natalie Safir on poems in The Same, Ginosko Review, and Westchester Review; and essay, “Unveiling the Stone,” in the anthology What Remains (Gelles-Coles Literary Enterprises)

Poet and artist Linda Simone on being featured in The Chapbook Interview; having her essay, “TripTych,” also accepted in the What Remains anthology; and for sharing this hilarious video of mean reviews

My summer with Marcel

Marcel Proust (1871-1922)

How did you spend your summer? I traveled to Combray and Balbec, fictitious places in France, thanks to Marcel Proust. Yes, I plowed through all seven volumes of In Search of Lost Time, also known as Remembrance of Things Past. Reading it, I was alternatively riveted and bored, amazed and heartbroken. The voice, so personal and authentic, made me feel I knew Marcel—is that possible, across a century? That he walked Paris avenues I once did gave me a delicious frisson. And that’s why it’s a masterpiece; its complex messages around longing, aristocracy, and art are so immediate. Do you love extra- ordinary writing? Take the plunge! The beach at Balbec calls.

Until next time,

Ann

Poetry in Translation this Sunday

Hélène Sanguinetti

Not-to-be-missed on Sunday, September 30, at 1:30pm—Poetry in Translation at the JCC in Tarrytown: George Kraus will read from his translations of Vallejo, Borges and 16th century Spanish poets Gongora, Quevedo, and Sor Juana; Ann Lauinger, her translations of Filippo Naitanawho will be there to present the original Italian; Beth Gersh-Nešić, will share her translations of art critic and poet André Salmon; and I will read from HélèneSanguinetti’s The Hero, forth-
coming from Chax Press.

Toy Hall of Fame Nominees

The National Toy Hall of Fame is considering Chutes and Ladders, American Girl Dolls, tic-tac-toe, chalk, and the Magic 8 Ball. The Hall of Fame’s Chris Bensch says, "This year, the Susan Lucci of the toy world is the Magic 8 ball.” After seven tries, it has not yet been inducted. Will our favorite Magic 8 ball win? Fingers crossed “It is decidedly so” shows up as the answer in November.

Kevin Pilkington

Kevin Pilkington at Dodge Poetry Festival

Kevin Pilkington, winner of the National Book Award and four-time Pushcart nominee, will be giving two poetry readings at The Dodge Poetry Festival on October 20 at 2pm and October 21 at 12:30pm. Kevin will take his place among top poets at the four-day event, the largest poetry festival in North America. Here’s more on the festival lineup.

Mary McCray's Cowboy Meditation Primer

Poet Mary McCray’s astonishing second book, while reading like a novel, integrates highly crafted poetics. A gorgeous immersion into southwestern landscape, the Primer is as much a spiritual as external journey. Easterner Silas Cole finds camaraderie in the company of the mysterious Coyote, the quiet cook, and gambling cowboys who teach him to reel in his soul as well as the herd they drive. While Silas can “extract the holes of bullets” and “save them like buttons”, he ultimately learns "nothing but earth wants your bones.”This is a gritty and lyrical narrative I could not resist. Congratulations to Mary on another highly original and beautifully written work!

Gil Fagiani celebrated at Calandra Institute

Gil Fagiani (1945-2018)

On October 16, the Italian American Writers Association will launch
Missing Madonnas, the first posthumous poetry collection in Gil Fagiani’s Bordighera Press trilogy, which includes Chianti in Connecticut and Stone Walls, at John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, at 6pm. Thanks to Queens Poet Laureate Maria Lisella for championing her late husband’s poetry, memoirs, and translation. RSVP calandra@qc.edu and visit the IAWA website for more on IAWA second Saturdays in Manhattan.

New Releases

Pedestal 82

Robert Mitchell, Reason's Dream (Dos Madres Press)

Margaret Randell, translator; María Vázquez Valdez, Kawsay - The flame of the jungle (The Operating System)

Julia Aldrich Carter, Life Lines(Dos Madres Press)

Gil Fagiani, Missing Madonnas (Borighera Press)

Diane Lockwood, Editor. The Practicing Poet(Terrapin Books, 2018)

Mary McCray, The Cowboy Meditation Primer (Trementina Press)

Cole Swensen, translator; Hervé LeTellier, Atlas Inutilis (Black Square)

Creative Opportunities

Arthur Vogelsang 8-week One-on-One Online Poetry Workshop

Pedestal Magazinesubmit up to 5 poems before December 2

Coffee Poemssubmit poem in English or other language by 10th each month to coffeepoems@writerscenter.org

Red Quinoa Salad

My friend Elyse Faltz made this scrumptious protein-rich salad, a perfect bridge to fall eating. Enjoy!

1 cup uncooked red quinoa

1/3 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced shallots

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups 1/2-inch-diced seeded tomato

1/2 cup 1/2-inch-diced seeded cucumber

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

2 oz (1/2 cup) crumbled feta cheese

4 lemon wedges

Cook quinoa according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain, place in large bowl, and cool one hour. While quinoa cools, whisk oil and next four ingredients in small bowl. Let stand 20 minutes. Add dressing, tomato, and next four ingredients to quinoa; toss well. Serve with feta and lemon wedges.

Poetry readings / literary events

Norwalk Library, Poets in Conversation, October 4, 7pm, Amy Nawrocki, Brian Clements

Notre Dame, October 5-7, AndNow Festival of New Writing

Rae Armantrout

Zinc Bar, Saturdays, 4:30pm; October 6, Chia-Lun Chang, Zahra Patterson; October 13, Myra Al-Rahim, Myung Mi Kim; October 20, Rae Armantrout, Ariel Goldberg; October 27, Jos Charles, Simone White

Mahopac Library, October 15, 6:30pm, Mahopac Poetry Group Reading and Open Mic

Troubadour, October 15, 8pm, J. Chester Johnson, Elizabeth Powell, £7

John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, October 16, 6pm, Missing Madonnas by the late Gil Fagiani, book launch; RSVP calandra@qc.edu

McNally Jackson, October 16, 7pm, bilingual book launch,María Vázquez Valdez’sKawsay - The flame of the jungle; Margaret Randall, Urayoán Noel, Elizabeth Zuba, Mónica de la Torre, Lila Zemborain

UPenn, October 18, 10am-5pm, A New Disability Poetics, symposium on relationships between
the disabled body and contemporary poetic practices

Curley's Diner, Home of Curley's Poets

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, October 20, 3pm, book launch of Tuesday Night Live, anthology of PoemAlley/
Curley’s Poets

The Bonbonnerie Tearoom on Madison, October 25, 6pm, Poetry Dinner; Megan Henson, Susan Glassmeyer, Pauletta Hansel; RSVP $25

ʼRound the Net

Rachel Cohen
in performance

Director Rachel Cohenof Racoco Productions on spending a week at Abrons Arts Center to develop a new piece, TILT

Poet Cindy Hochman on reviewing Brett Evans's and Christopher Shipman's Keats is Not the Problem, and Lynn Schmeidler's History of Gonein Pedestal 82

Publisher Lynne DeSilva-Johnson for the 2019 Operating System Catalognow live

Poet Meg Lindsay on “Pain Scale" in the September Light; “That First Hospital Stay” in the October Months to Years, “What They Don’t Tell You,” in 2019 Pulse; and Tiferet finalist “Diagnosis”

Yorktown Heights Poet Laureate John McMullen for this list of journals that accept
reprints

Murano glass

Art Historian Laura Morelli for this look into the history of Murano glass

Guitarist Johnny Moses, via guitarist Michael Cefola, for this article on the benefits of arts in the boonies

Poets and Writers for this article about the effort to save Edna St. Vincent Millay’s home

Poet Christina Rau on winning the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association's 2018 Elgin Award for her book Liberating The Astronauts(Aqueduct Press, 2017)

Hooch with Lou and Eugenie Spirito

Poet Linda Simone for her essay appearing in The Practicing Poet(Terrapin Books, 2018) and sharing this link to free Alice Munro stories

Author and dog rescuer Louis Spirito on adopting Hooch, whom we hope inspires another book

Poet Neal Whitman for poems, “One Day at Point Pinos Lighthouse: A Docent’s Reflection and Refraction,” in Stacking Stones: An Anthology of Short Tanka Sequences (Keibooks, 2018); with Amelia Fielden, “Weather Uncertain, Conditions Unknown,” Atlas Poetica 32: A Journal ofWorld Tanka

Memoirist Sarah Bracey White for “And Then Suddenly," a podcast by Angela Santillo about Sarah’s mother, segregation and freedom; and “One on One with Vin Daquino”

Photo by Dan Bush of Missouri Skies

Thanks to old school pal Eric Schecter on Facebook, I realized tonight is the Harvest Moon. To honor this celestial event, Eric evoked the Neil Young song of the same name. On this moon I wish you the magical powers of a full heart, and inspired imagination.

Until next time,

Ann