In the mood for Christmas and Poetry ...

Hi folks, if you're in the Christmas mood, I've found a couple of links for poems to read and share. Check them out (and be the literary life of the party!):

http://poets.org/page.php/prmID/403

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/tool.poem.occ.1.html?id=27

Hope you all have a fine holiday season with your family and friends. If you don't have much money to spare, remember you can always give the gift of poetry (your own or one of your favorites on some nice stationary). See you in the new year! (at our new meeting time)  

Winter meetins

Hey folks, I've finally figured out our winter schedule and we're going nocturnal! Yep, we're going to try one Monday night a month to see if attendance rises, because while I've enjoyed my time with each and every one who has attended, we could really use larger numbers- for the sake of everyone involved. So the Winter dates will be the following:

• Monday, January 5th: 7-8 p.m.
• Monday, February 2nd, 7-8 p.m.
• Monday, March 2nd, 7-8 p.m.
• Monday, April 13th, 7-8 p.m.

And don't forget about the monthly Open Mics the library will hold after hours on:

• Thursday, January 22nd: 6:30-8 p.m.
• Thursday, February 19th: 6:30- 8 p.m.
• Thursday, March 22nd: 6:30 - 8 p.m.
• and our first ever Teen and Adult Poetry Slam, on Friday, April 24th: (time TBD)

The January and March Open Mic sessions will be emceed by singer-songwriter Dave Boutette (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=27390844), a witty and fun entertainer in his own right. The February session will be emceed by singer-songwriter, John Latini (http://www.myspace.com/johnlatini).

VOLUME Youth Poetry Project

Fresh off the press, check it out if you're around.

PRESS RELEASE

The VOLUME Youth Poetry Project at the Neutral Zone presents the eight annual Poetry Night in Ann Arbor on Thursday, December 11, 2008. This year’s electric celebration of written and spoken word features nationally renowned poets Marty McConnell and Tim Seibles (See below for more information on the poets) plus a special return guest appearance by Paco, the 2003 Ann Arbor Youth Poetry Slam Champion, a former U-M Poetry Slam Champion and Ann Arbor Citywide Grand Slam Poetry Slam Champion now teaching mathematics in New York City. In addition, the night will showcase vaunted writers from the Neutral Zone’s nationally recognized VOLUME Youth Poetry Project and collegiate poets from the local spoken word troupe Ann Arbor Wordworks.

The show will take place in the Rackham Auditorium @ 915 E. Washington St. Doors open at 6:15pm. Show starts at 7pm.

Event: Poetry Ni ght in Ann Arbor VIII

Date and Time: Thursday, December 11, 2008 @ 7pm. Doors open @ 6:15.

Location: Rackham Auditorium at 915 E. Washington St.

Tickets: $5 for students of any kind in advance; $7 at door

$10 for general public in advance; $12 at door

· contact Jeff Kass @ eyelev21@aol.com or 734-223-7443

to reserve tickets at advance price.

Contact info: Jeff Kass (event organizer) 734-223-7443 or eyelev21@aol.com

December group meeting

Well, it hardly seems like it's been a month since our last poetry meeting- but that's what Thanksgiving and the holidays will do for you. We had one new member show, Gerry, and one new member from our last session, Linda, there as well. 

Linda brought one of her pieces "Considering ..." which she wrote about a former co-worker whom she doesn't see anymore. It brought up a lot of discussion about expectations for women, both self-imposed and culturally imposed, and how they can get beyond wants (what culture tells us we're supposed to have in our lives) and take a hard look at what they need (having a good, strong conversation with ourselves and identifying what-  and who!- is good for them). A lesson all of us can take something from- Thanks, Linda! 

Gerry showed off some of his storytelling skills by recounting a story of his humorous, hardscrabble, Irish grandfather. In it, he tricks the little boy (Gerry) into drinking a sip of whisky b/c the grandfather has told him that is only way he can get the "little man in the bottle" to speak. Of course, grandmother knows what's up and when little Gerry comes into the kitchen, she picks him up by the scruff and gets a whiff of the hard stuff. I can't remember what happened to grandpa after that (sorry, Gerry) but I'm guessing he made a spirited run out the front door.

Looking forward to our next sessions. I'll keep you abreast when I figure out the dates. We're going to try night sessions this time around- maybe the cool weather will force more to come in for camraderie and good conversation about poetry.