The Mad Poets Blog

Yeah yeah yeah, I know. It’s almost March… well, we’re poets over here & we don’t necessarily subscribe to you’re “calendar.” We don’t feel a need to follow linear time in order to make meaning of our lives. We prefer chaos to order…

…okay we may not prefer it, but chaos seems to prevail much of the time.

However, with hard work, dedication & support groups (we call them poetry readings) we are working through our perpetual procrastination and behind-the-eight-ball-ness.

And speaking of poetry readings (nice segue, right?), we’ve finally gotten around to updating the reading series pages on the main site. Word. There are still a lot of holes, but we’re fleshing it out. Literally, we’re lining up all the warm bodies we can find to give featured readings at the Big Blue Marble in Mt. Airy, Milkboy in Bryn Mawr, Churchill in Pottstown, and the Madness series.

Check it out. And hope to see you at a reading soon.

…Elliot Levy, senior at Harriton High School (yes, you read that right: high school), has won the open mic contest at Milkboy Acoustic Cafe in Bryn Mawr.

Elliot Levy, winner of the Milkboy open mic contest

Elliot is a senior at Harriton High School.  He has been writing poetry since his Junior year and started performing at open mics during the beginning of this year.  He co-founded the Harriton Poetry Club and hopes to compete in the Brave New Voices national competition this summer.  Besides writing poetry, Elliot plays football and wrestles for his high school team.  He has two supportive parents and a cat named Winston who inspires him daily.

Elliot will be featured in the November reading, next week, alongside Milkboy regular Joe Roarty. In the end, it was a close contest. Our runners up were Betti Kahn and, just one vote behind, Howard Lieberman. I expect we’ll be hearing more from these poets in next years open mics!

Congratulations to Elliot! And thanks to everyone who came out & read in the Milkboy open mic this year. It is because of you that this series is so awesome each and every month. I can’t wait to see everyone next week for our last reading of the year: Thursday November 11, 7pm. Be there!!

Sorry for the late notice, but the reading schedule for tonight at Churchill’s in Pottstown has been postponed until next week, October 16th. So, don’t go to Churchill’s tonight — at least not for poetry. If you’re in the area & you’re looking for some tasty pastries, Churchill’s is your place. But if you’re looking for poetry, featuring Aaren Perry and Therese Halscheid, you’ve got to come back next Saturday October 16th at 7pm. Turns out both of these poets are involved in the Dodge Poetry Festival (which is happening as I type in Newark, NJ) and we all failed to notice the conflict until earlier this week.

So, at the risk of being exceedingly redundant: that’s next Saturday, October 16th, Otherwise Poetry at Churchill, featuring the amazing poets Aaren Perry & Therese Halscheid. Not only that, this reading is the last chance to participate in the Mad Poets Open Mic Contest at Churchill.

In case you need some more convincing, here are the readers’ bios:

Aaren Perry, poet

Aaren Perry has performed his work at venues from the Nuyorican to the Kimmel Center to the World Cafe. He has taught writing workshops at schools and colleges on the East Coast and in the Midwest for over 20 years. Perry is published in local and national literary journals and has appeared on National Public Radio and on regional television broadcasts. He produced and directed a long-running cable poetry show on DUTV. Bilingual and holding an MFA from Vermont College, he received a PA Council on the Arts Grant. Aaren is an Organizational Development consultant with Team Builders Plus. His books OPEN FIRE (Whirlwind Press, 2004), POETRY ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: An Action Guide for Elementary Teachers (Pearson, 1997), as well as his spokenword CD, MERCURY CALLING (MelodyVision, 2000) are available at bookstores and by emailing ayperry [at] aol [dot] com.

Therese Halscheid, poet

Therése Halscheid is author of three poetry collections: Powertalk (1995), Without Home (Kells, 2001) and Uncommon Geography (Carpenter Gothic, 2006). Uncommon Geography received a 2007 Finalist Award from the Paterson Poetry Book Prize. She also won a chapbook award by Pudding House Publications, as part of their 2007 Greatest Hits series. Like record albums, Greatest Hits is a collection of twelve poems spanning the writing life of the poet, prefaced with a narrative that weaves the poet’s life with the body of work. She was awarded a 2003 Fellowship for poetry from NJ State Council on the Arts, and has received awards from literary journals, as well as a Geraldine R. Dodge Fellowship to Vermont Studio Center. Her writings, both poetry and prose, have appeared in numerous magazines. Since 1998, she has been a visiting writer in schools for NJ State Council on the Arts and teaches writing courses in varied settings, including Atlantic Cape Community College and Rutgers University in NJ. As well as writing experiences in the States, she has taught in England and Russia. In 1998, she led a group of women writers to South Africa to meet South African writers. 1995, she was an Artist in Residence at Acadia National Park, ME. For the past decade, the author has been house-sitting, while traveling widely to write. This mobility, along with simple living, has helped her to sustain her writing life. Many poems chronicle travels across varied terrain. She photographs her travels, and her one woman exhibition of poetry and photography, Visual Diaries, has shown in galleries. See her website: ThereseHalscheid.com to view features, reviews of her books, resume, contact information, photography, poems.

Downer of the week:

Tonight’s Mad Poets Critique Circle, facilitated by the illustrious Amy Laub, at the Coffee Club in Media, PA is cancelled. Boo!

We’ll see you next month (Wed, Oct 13th). Bring 10 copies of your poems and a supportive, creative spirit open to sharing, learning and growing as a poet.

Though we took a little blogging hiatus over the summer, the Mad Poets reading action didn’t rest. At least not at Milkboy. Though we encountered some unexpected audio challenges, we powered through them — seriously you people can project & I’m very proud of you — and we’re looking forward to another great mixed-genre reading this week.

Of course we’ve had wonderful & accomplished featured readers at Milkboy, but the real heat this summer was in our Open Mic Contest — which continues to prove that in poetry nothing is predictable!

After 6 months of readings, here’s how it stands:

In 3rd place, with 9 votes a piece, we have a tie between long-time Mad Poets and Milkboy diehards Steve Delia & Betti Kahn.

In 2nd place, with 10 votes, is Howard Lieberman, who was new to this series at the beginning of 2010, but quickly became a devoted regular.

And finally, Elliot “the kid” Levy (as he was affectionately dubbed by one of his fans last month) sits comfortably in 1st place with 15 total votes. Here’s the kicker: Elliot has amassed this substantial lead with only two appearances in our open mic. TWO. That’s it. Both times he stole the show, or at least he stole all the votes. The trouble is I don’t have a slightest idea how to find this prodigy. Not a phone number, not an email. Perhaps there’s a bat signal I can shine into the night sky. But if there is, I don’t know it. So Elliot, if you’re out there googling yourself & you’ve come across this desperate plea, please get in touch because there’s a very good chance you’ll be winning a featured reading.

Then again, as the Elliot story proves, anything can happen with a good poem and a microphone. We’ve still got 2 more months of readings before this thing is locked up. So those of you who still want your shot, persevere. Bring it. We’ll see ya Thursday.

Thursday’s reading at Milkboy was another great one. Poets Katherine Bode-Lang and Cliff Lynn along with essayist Krista Eastman brought diverse and complementary styles that highlighted the surprising connections that arise from individuality.

Even more surprising was the dynamic open mic — which included a whopping 19 readers with talent a-plenty!!! And for the 3rd month in a row, the game has changed, and we have new leader in the open mic contest. The real shocker is that May’s winner — and now contest leader — actually made his Milkboy debut just this month. What’s still more mind blowing, he’s a high school student! That’s right, with just one poem, newcomer Elliot Levy, of Harrison High School, over took both Steve Delia & Howard Lieberman, to regulars who have been mounting votes for the past three months! But I wouldn’t count either of them out so quickly, since they’re still holding firm in 2nd & 3rd. It’s also important to note that there are alot of other regulars who keep on accumulating. Sure, it’s a cliche, but it’s still anybody’s game.

*Open Mic Contest Rankings*
as of May 13, 2010

1.  Elliot Levy (total votes: 9)
2.  Stephen Delia (7)
3.  Howard Lieberman (6)
3.  Betti Kahn (6)
4.  Linda Fischer (5)
4.  Jess Bouchard (5)
5.  Karen Stern (4)

The way this thing is going, I can’t wait to see what happens next month!!!

Last month, we celebrated National Poetry Month at Milkboy Acoustic Cafe with great readings by John Yamrus and Minna Duchovnay, and a small but satisfying open mic. Those who participated may have been wondering who won, hitting refresh on the blog and wondering if I lied when I said I’d post the results. Well…

I apologize for the delay. As a poet and Aries in a family of Aries, April is a busy month — between trying to write lots of poems and celebrate lots of birthdays!! But as they say, better late…

After two months of open mic competition, here’s how things stand:

1. Stephen Delia leads the pack with 6 total votes.
2. Howard Lieberman runs a close second with 5 votes.
3. And newcomer Karen Stern holds the third place spot with 4 total votes.

With so many more readings, that featured reading slot in November is still anyone’s to nab! So come out this Thursday, 7pm, to Milkboy Acoustic Cafe for a great mixed-genre reading — featuring poets Katherine Bode-Lang and Cliff Lynn and creative nonfiction writer Krista Eastman — and bring your own work to take a shot in the contest.

Snow — boooo!!!

Looks like the Delaware Valley is going to be deluged with snow – again. Twice in one week. Thrice in one winter. This is some historic stuff here, people. Unfortunately, this historic stuff is forcing us to cancel the MPS Critique Circle at the Coffee Club in Media, planned for tomorrow, Wednesday 2/10 @ 7 pm.

As for Thursday’s reading at Milkboy in Bryn Mawr, we’re playing it by ear. Check the blog & website for updates. And of course, we’ll be tweeting our updates as well, so follow us if you aren’t.

p.s. Considering the sheer volume of snow, not to mention its aforementioned historic nature, we expect inches and inches of snow poems whenever we meet again.

There’s some wet weather in the forecast, but the Mad Poets Bonfire this weekend is definitely on!

The Bonfire event officially starts Saturday afternoon/evening, lets say dusk-ish, though there will be folks out there as early as 3 p.m. setting up and picnicing.

You may have heard that a few Mad Poets were planning to head out Friday night for some pre-bonfire camping action… unfortunately, that’s OFF!  With the weather people calling for thunderstorms tonight, we’re not setting up camp until tomorrow afternoon.  But we will definitely be there, with drums & treats & fire & poems, poems, poems. You can go to the Bonfire page on the website for more info & directions.

We hope you’ll come out and play!

It’s one thing to talk about starving artists… but there are some way too many people who are seriously starving.  So, this weekend, the Mad Poets are asking anyone reading or dropping by our Annual Festival to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to CityTeam Ministries.

The Festival is scheduled for this Sunday, from 12p-5p, in the Mansion Parlor at the Media Borough Hall, at 3rd & Jackson Streets in Media, Pa. (Get directions)

The Festival features about 40 locally & nationally known poets reading their original work. Some of the featured poets include Alison Hicks, Leonard Gontarek, Amy Laub, Steve Delia, Missy Grotz, and Ed Krizek, among many other talented writers.

The Mad Poets Festival is held in conjunction with the Media Food & Crafts Festival, which takes place on State Street. It is a great opportunity to hear a multiplicity of eclectic poetic voices in a casual, friendly environment. Grab some great snacks on State Street, come hear some poetry, go back for more grub, come back for more poems. Or just hang out, nosh on our light refreshments, listen to the amazing poetry, and chat with the local poets.

Admission is free, but this year, we’re asking all the poets and attendees to bring a canned or non-perishable item to be donated to CityTeam Ministries.  Based in Chester, Pa., CityTeam helps the poor and disadvantaged throughout the Delaware Valley by providing hot meals, safe shelter, decent clothing, and recovery programs.  In addition to the food drive, a representative from CityTeam will be dishing up warm & delicious chicken chili for a $1.00/cup donation.

It’s going to be a great afternoon with of good food and “food for thought.”