The night began with a dinner at the Middle East Café. Boston Editor, Doug
Holder, greeted me at the entrance. This was our first time seeing each
other in over four years. He showed me to the table where poets of all
nature were there to celebrate with us twenty issues of hard work. As I
looked around the table and began meeting everybody, I had a connection with them one way or another. Most were published in the issue, some were
published in the past, but poetry was the undertone common link between us
that branched into getting to know one another personally.
April 18, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
Out of the Blue Gallery, Cambridge, MA
After diner and cake, we set out to the Out of the Blue Gallery a few blocks away. On the way I got a chance to catch up with Ian Thal, the Boston
Marketing Director, who had proposed the idea of an issue twenty reading a
year and a half ago. He seemed high in spirits and expressed a devotion to
dedicate his life to the arts.
I walked in and immediately felt a strong poetic aura and a sense that these walls had absorbed the most talented voices of the Boston area. I felt a notion that the poetry read tonight would endure in the essence and cling to the walls like permanent silent fixtures in the narrow space between the paintings. The energy in this room was overwhelming as we began.
I was introduced to say a few words by the chosen M.C. for tonight, Ian
Thal. It was all I could do to brace myself to begin explaining my deep
appreciation and honor that this idea became a reality. Poesy became a
magazine in all aesthetic and creative aspects with longevity of twenty
issues, definitely worth celebrating during a time when small press
publications often fold within two years due to economic strains and lack of support. I could not begin to show how much I have appreciated Doug staying in contact during my transition to the West Coast. It was good to hear him tell me to hang in there when times got tough and made sure Poesy still maintained a presence on the east coast. I tried to tell Ian how much I appreciated him getting Poesy into the hands of Edward Sanders, Herschel Silverman and many great poets over the past two years, but the words just did not come out right.
After I read my introduction and a few poems, Jack Powers delivered an
energetic performance reminiscent of what I have seen in the work of many
good San Francisco poets who welcome the power of words with open arms to
feed on the frenzy of the creative minds. He is a fixture of Boston poetry who has worked hard to produce the high caliber of poetry defined tonight.
Susan Landon read eloquently and captured her audience with her love poems in retrospect of what I have selected from her work over the time she has been submitting to Poesy. Her images toyed with past relationships from unique and interesting perspectives that tickle your spine and tap at your heart.
Anne Elizabeth Tom read her poem, "Dancing With Walter," that I ran in the issue and it was most interesting to her say the words that speak to me so clearly. It jerked a notion in me to produce a CD of issue twenty poetry.
Deborah Priestly, manager of the gallery and poet, read four or five poems. She commented on my selection for the issue was one of her darker poems, but I wanted to stand up and explain to the audience that the imagery of her poem, The Gambler, is painfully moving in the most sincere way. The emotion within provoked me include it as one of the best poems I read in the pile of submissions I had received. I could see on the faces of the audience, I was not alone.
Marc D. Goldfinger and I talked some over dinner about my hometown,
Littleton, New Hampshire, and I could tell then that he and I share the same
views on the beauty of New England life. He read about his relation to his surroundings and then strayed toward reflecting upon empowerment over fatal addiction. His poetry is a welcoming presence into his world.
I have not seen my co-editor Doug read since the Harvest reading in Cambridge years ago. Doug's reserved approach to the poem is admirable. He is the man lighting fuses behind the curtain during this circus of life showcased before us when sparks fly and the muse reveals itself and sinks its teeth into his subjects. I have learned a lot from Doug over the years and look forward to many more. I have never seen anyone work as hard as he does to bring poetry into the media. Due to his efforts, the reading was listed in the Boston Globe.
Ian Thal read last and performed They All Fell to Pieces and other poems we
have published of his. I have always heard about his theatrical performances, but to see it with my own eyes was alone worth the venture
out. Ian has a unique style that is refreshing to see in poetry that breaks away from the podium and allows him to move with the poem's rhythm.
The featured readers were followed with the musical performance of Jennifer Mathews. She began with beautifully written folk songs that danced along with the soothing melodies she sang. She then spiced up the calm air and strummed out some blues/rock songs. Her lyrics were on the bridge of raw emotion and daydreams into the future minds of meaningful temptations.
The Open Mic followed with many talented readers bringing the night into the late hours. Robbie Gamble was among the names on the list that has been published in Poesy twice. All seemed to have a distinctive style and capture their own unique light.
After witnessing so much West Coast poetry over the years, it was refreshing to be back in Boston. It only enhanced my urge to bridge the gap between east and west coast poets to become one strong voice working together and accomplishing the recognition by mainstream media as a voice in the arts taking our dreams to the limit. It was a night to remember in all regards.
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