The Mad Poets Blog

Tomorrow night, the Mad Poets is super excited to present a special poetry reading and art show of multi-talented local artist — and long-time Mad Poet – PETER BAROTH.  This event will take place in the Community Art Center, 414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford , PA 19086. The featured reading & show will start at 7pm, with an open mic to follow. Light refreshments will also be provided.

"Self Portrait," by Peter Baroth

Peter Baroth is a writer, artist, and musician based in Philadelphia. He was born in Chicago, raised in Norman, Oklahoma, and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and Temple Law School. He has published a novel, Long Green, with iUniverse; and his most recent chapbook is Ski Oklahoma, published with Wordrunner Chapbooks. His poetry has appeared in Mad Poets Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Philadelphia Poets, Legal Studies Forum, The Awakenings Review, E Pluribus Unum – An Anthology of Diverse Voices, Apiary, and elsewhere. He was the 2009 recipient of the Amy Tritsch Needle Award in poetry. He is also on the editorial board of Philadelphia Stories magazine.

You can read some of Peter’s poems here, here & here.

And you can check out Peter’s facebook album to view more of his exciting artwork.

For those who haven’t heard yet, tomorrow 25 poetry organizations from throughout the Philly area are getting together at the Central Library in Philadelphia to mix, mingle, and make merriment & mayhem at the Philadelphia Poetry Festival.

Philadelphia Poetry Festival
April 23, 2011
12pm-4pm
Free Library of Phila., Central Branch
Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street, Phila., PA 19103 [get directions]

The Fest is going down from 12p-4p in the Montgomery Auditorium (that’s downstairs) and will include representatives from an eclectic mix of Philly poetry orgs, talking about their work and spotlighting one of their favorite poets. The Mad Poets Society is one of those organizations. (In fact, Eileen & I have been part of the organizing committee, along with Joanne Leva, Tamara Oakman & Leonard Gontarek). Eileen will do the talking for MPS & John Timpane will be our representative poet. We’ll hit the stage in the 3rd set, early in the 2 o’clock hour. Right after featured poet Nathalie Anderson. Come check us out, throw us some love & hang out with about a bazillion other hardworking poets and organizers.

If you’ve ever kicked yourself for not getting to this reading or that reading, now is the time to get a taste of what all the city’s various poetry orgs have to offer. No kidding. Check out the FULL SCHEDULE for more info. See ya there!!

If you haven’t already heard, it’s National Poetry Month… and if you haven’t heard, you probably live in a remote village, with limited access to the internet & only this website enabled. Because it’s everywhere! And of course we couldn’t be happier!!!!

We’re celebrating all month long, but tonight we’ve got an extra special event at Swarthmore Public Library, featuring nationally acclaimed poet Gregory Djanikian. The reading, which will be hosted by loyal Mad Poet Linda Fischer, will begin promptly at 7 pm. Refreshments will be served.

Gregory Djanikian, poet

Gregory Djanikian is the Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published five collections of poetry, The Man in the Middle, Falling Deeply into America, About Distance, Years Later, and most recently, So I Will Till the Ground, all with Carnegie Mellon University Press. His awards include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Eunice Tietjens Prize from Poetry magazine, and the Anahid Literary Award from the Armenian Center of Columbia University. You can read about him and preview some of his amazing poems here, here, and here.

Host Linda Fischer says: I heard Gregory Djanikian read some years ago under the auspices of the Mad Poets, and I became an immediate fan!  His poetry is completely accessible and always very moving, whether somber or humorous.  This is an evening you will really enjoy!”

On Saturday night, December 4, 2010 at 7:30 p.m., a benefit concert and special fundraiser, Arts Against Abuse IV, will feature singer songwriters Craig Bickhardt, Lizanne Knott and JD Malone, at the Delaware County Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square, in Media. The exciting concert will benefit the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County (DAP).

Craig Bickhardt has written songs that have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, B. B. King, Alison Krauss and dozens of other artists. His voice and songs can also be heard in the Academy Award winning film “Tender Mercies”. As a recording artist he is the winner of the 2007 International Acoustic Music Awards and his new CD “Brother to the Wind” has received critical acclaim and airplay around the world.

A long standing member of the music scene in Philadelphia and an award winning singer-songwriter, Lizanne Knott has been captivating audiences throughout the US and garnering attention from industry peers across the globe. Well known locally for her understated music, floating vocals and lyrical juxtapositions, she moves easily through dark poetic ballads to soul infused folk and roots driven folk rock. Ever making her way into the hearts of her audience, she will be sure to find you catching a tear, tapping your feet and smiling like there’s no tomorrow.

Born under a bright blue sky in the Green Mountain State of the USA, J.D Malone writes and sings songs about love and hate, angels and demons and the universal struggle to feel safe under the stars.

Hot off the press, a new collection of poems will be launched and available for sale: “Unbreakable and Other Poems on Domestic Abuse.” The volume includes poetry from locally and nationally known poets including Stephanie Morris, Autumn Konopka, Lisa Lutwyche, Tamara G. Oakman, Joanne Leva, Missy Grotz, Joyce Meyers, Barbara Wagner, Camille Norvaisis, susan h. robbins, Joan Huffman, Donald LaBranche, James O’Neil, Eileen D’Angelo, and others. All proceeds from book sales will benefit Domestic Abuse Project.

In addition to the concert, there will be an auction, door prizes, and refreshments will be served, courtesy of local businesses including On a Roll Restaurant and Professional Duplicating in Media, The Philadelphia Phillies, Media Theatre, Village Art Shoppe, Salon DeSante in Springfield, the Philadelphia Writers Conference, and the Philadelphia Liars Club, among other area organizations and businesses.

Admission is $15; $25 for two, pay at the door. For further details and info, contact Arts Against Abuse founder, Eileen D’Angelo,  madpoets [at] comcast [dot] net.

It’s been a while… thanks to budget cuts and general financial yuck, it’s been a lot longer than any of us would have liked. But this weekend, we are thrilled to finally release Volume 23 of the Mad Poets Review!!!! We’ll be celebrating on Saturday, starting at 11am, at the Delaware County Institute of Science.

Mad Poets Review, Vol 23

Volume 23 is definitely worth the wait! Bigger than your average MPR, this is an extra-stuffed, stunning issue — 272 pages, perfect bound, and filled with incredible poetry from local favorites, like Joe Roarty and Dan Maguire, as well as nationally renowned poets, like Therese Halscheid and Paul Martin. Sneak a peek at the Table of Contest below the jump.

For those who haven’t been to a book party before, it’s a read-till-you-drop extravaganza, where we go through the issue cover to cover and any published poet who’s there gets to read his/her work. Come for all or part. Come for great poetry. (I also have it on good authority that there will be some scrumptious munchies!) The party starts at 11am at the Delaware County Institute of Science.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Tomorrow night, the Delaware County Institute of Science will host Bill Wunder, Tracy MacNish, and special guest, open mic contest winner, Margaret Robinson. The featured reading, which is hosted by Brian Sammond, starts at 7pm and is followed by an open mic!

Poet Bill Wunder

Bill Wunder is the author of Pointing at the Moon (WordTech Editions, 2008) and a chapbook, A Season of Storms (Via Dolorosa Press, 2002.) In 2004, he was named Poet Laureate of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His poems have been widely published, and he has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in poetry. Bill has been a finalist numerous times in The T. S. Eliot Prize, and the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards. In 2010, he was nominated for a Pew Fellowship in the Arts. He has read and lectured in local schools, colleges, festivals, book stores, libraries, and on public television. Bill serves as Poetry Editor of The Schuylkill Valley Journal, and lives with his two black labs in Bucks County.

Novelist Tracy MacNish

Tracy MacNish has published four historical novels for Kensington Publishing, has written short, experimental fiction, and is working on a contemporary novel as well as another historical novel.

Finally, we are delighted to present Margaret A. Robinson as the Institute’s open mic contest winner. Robinson earned her reading by impressing audiences at the Science Institute time and again with powerful open mic performances. Robinson’s work has appeared recently in Prairie Schooner, and she is the author of several volumes of poetry including Sparks (Pudding House Press). She is an adjunct professor of Creative Writing at Widener University.

Margaret Robinson is the first of three audience-chosen readers the Mad Poets will feature this fall. Votes are still being tallied for the series at Churchill in Pottstown and Milkboy in Bryn Mawr. Stay tuned.

It’s a busy week, so I’ll skip all the witty preamble and get straight to the particulars. I’ll post more on each reading throughout the week. Be sure to follow us on twitter (@MadPoetsSociety) so you’re in the know.

Tues., Oct. 5th, 7-10pm: Open mic for poets & musicians at Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville, hosted by Stu O’Connor and Mary Kathryn Morgeneier. Sign up at 6:30pm.

Wed., Oct. 6th, 7pm: Potpourri of Poetry, a new MPS series at the Park House Cafe in Ridley Park. The debut reading will feature Dave Worrell, followed by an open mic. This reading is free & open to the public. Hosted by Camelia Nocella.

Thurs., Oct. 7th, 7pm: Book party for Bill Van Buskirk, winner of the Mad Poets’ Joie DeVivre Book Award. Van Buskirk will read and sign copies of his winning book, This Wild Joy that Thrills Outside the Law, selected by renowned Philadelphia poet and editor Louis McKee. This free event will be held at the Delaware County Institute of Science.

Sat., Oct. 9th, 2-5pm: The Business of Words Workshop, led by Tamara Oakman, at the Blue Grotto in West Philadelphia.

Sat., Oct. 9th, 7pm: Therese Halscheid & Aaren Perry read for the Otherwise – Poetry at Churchill series in Pottstown.

Today’s the day — the 23rd annual Mad Poets Festival happens this afternoon from noon – 5p (????) at Medial Borough Hall, 3rd & Jackson Streets in Media, Pa.

And you know how there are usually 40+ poets?  This year its 59!!! (With 8 more on “standby”). We’re really excited to have former U.S. poet laureate Daniel Hoffman making a special guest appearance to read our last poem of the day.

Each poet will read for 5 minutes — just check out the incredible line up.

First Set
Host: RICHARD MOYER

12p – ROCKY MARCELLUS
12:05 – SHARON RITROVATO
12:10 – CHERYL FILIPPONE
12:15 – RON FISCHMAN
12:20 – RACHEL VOHRA
12:25 – BARBARA TORODE
12:30 – CAROL CLARK
12:35  – BRIAN SAMMOND
12:40  – MEL BRAKE
12:45  – MICHELLE DOUGHERTY
12:50 –  JANET SADLER
12:55  – DONALD LaBRANCHE
1:00  – MISSY GROTZ
1:05 –  PRABHA NAYAK PRABHU

Second Set
Host: MEL BRAKE

1:10 – RICHARD MOYER
1:15 – DAVE WORRELL
1:20 – BETTI KAHN
1:25 – CONNIE BERESIN
1:30 – AWILDA CASTRO
1:35 – BILL DANKS
1:40 – ALICE WOOTSON
1:45 – JOYCE MEYERS
1:50 –  JANET MASON
1:55 – J. MASE III
2:00 -  JOE ROARTY
2:05 – MUSIC from SILVER WIND

Third Set
Host:  EMILIANO MARTIN

2:10 – KENNETH WOLMAN
2:15  – KARL WENCLAS
2:20 – ED KRIZEK
2:25 – KASIA NEWCOMER
2:30 – NICK LUTWYCHE
2:35 – LISA LUTWYCHE
2:40 – CAROL CLARK WILLIAMS
2:45 – BILL HOLMES
2:50 –  RUTH ROUFF
2:55 – CHARLES CARR
3:00 – SUSAN H. ROBBINS
3:05 – TAMARA OAKMAN

Fourth Set
Host:  TAMARA OAKMAN

3:10 -  STU O’CONNOR
3:15 – STEVE DELIA
3:20 – DEVIN COHEN
3:25 – AMY SMALL Mc-KINNEY
3:30 –  AZIZA KINTEH
3:35 –  JANET SPANGLER
3:40 – JOANNE LEVA
3:45 – EMILIANO MARTIN
3:50 – LIZ CHANG
3:55 – MICHELE BELLUOMINI
4:00 – LEONARD GONTAREK
4:05 -  MUSIC from SILVER WIND

Fifth Set
Host: LEONARD GONTAREK

4:10 –PHILADELPHIA’S VOICES OF A DIFFERENT DREAM, SUSAN WINDLE & ELLEN MASON
4:15 – AMY LAUB
4:20 – GABRIELLE BC “PLUMDRAGONESS”
4:25 – LISA BARON
4:30 – MARY LOU STREZNEWSKI
4:35 –  RAY GREENBLATT
4:40 – ANN RUSSEK
4:45 – PETER BAROTH
4:50-  BILL VAN BUSKIRK
4:55 – DANIEL ABDAL-HAYY MOORE
5:00 – DANIEL HOFFMAN.

The Mad Poets Society is honored to be hosting so many talented poets in one venue in afternoon. See you there!

The crisp air and falling leaves means its time again for another Mad Poets Bonfire. This Saturday, devoted scout master & bonfire leader, Richard Bank, will keep the fire going and lead us in channelling our inner wild things. Come one, come all.

We’ve got the campsite at Ridley Creek Park from around 4p this Saturday Sept 18th till around midday Sunday. It’s free. You can stay for a little while or camp overnight. Bring your own rations, your own accommodations, your instruments and your poems — and be prepared to howl at the moon. This is an all ages kinda thing, but be warned its also uncensored. If you don’t want your little ones being influenced by the forces of untamed poets, leave them at home. For full details & directions, check out the Bonfire page.

It’s almost that time again. The annual Mad Poets Festival is mere weeks away, so mark you’re calendars and get yourself signed up ASAP if you’d like to participate in this 5 hour extravaganza of poetry!

The particulars:

The Mad Poets Festival
Sunday, October 3rd
12p – 5p
Media Borough Hall
3rd and Jackson Streets
Media, PA

Every year, the Mad Poets Festival takes place in conjunction with the Media Food & Crafts Festival, which features bands in the streets, unique crafts, all types of art — and every kind of food you can imagine. So head down to State Street for some great eats & then head over to Media Borough hall to get some fine poetry to go with it. The Festival will spotlight more than 40 poets and musicians. If you’d like to be one of them, contact Eileen D’Angelo ASAP, make sure to “FESTIVAL” in the subject line of your email.

This year, the Mad Poets Festival will again be a fundraiser for CityTeam Ministries of Chester. We ask readers and attendees to bring nonperishable food items and/or to purchase a cup of the delicious chili that CityTeam will be selling for just $1 a cup at the event.