This week, the Commonwealth Reading Series continues at Forbes Library (Wednesday, April 24, 2013, 7 PM, 20 West Street, Northampton, MA).
The series features Mass Cultural Council Artist Fellows/Finalists in literature. This event, like all events in the series, is free and open to the public.
A brief sampling of work by Wednesday’s featured writers and poets…
The beginning is blue. Waves surge and pitch, sloshing, neither cold nor warm. There is no before, no anticipation of after. Now is blue.
From Jellyfish Dreaming by DK McCutchen
Write a poem that holds its breath
until it gets its way. Spoiled poem,
poem with no conscience, poem
turning blue.
Make the poem sorry.
From Write a Poem That Fits by Amy Dryansky
In July of 2010, my mother died and left me twenty-five thousand dollars of BP stock, her master’s thesis, and scabies.
From Inheritance by Patricia Stacey
These leaves insist
that the price of falling is to be mine.
From Heliotropism Is Not My Concern by James Heflin
My journey began when the Americans bombed us, in 1943, because it was during the bombings that I met the girl.
From The Third Son by Julie Wu
Image (L to R): DK McCutchen, cover art for GRASS WHISTLE by Amy Dryansky (Salmon Poetry, 2013), James Heflin, cover art for THE BOY WHO LOVED WINDOWS by Patricia Stacey (De Capo Press, 2003), Julie Wu.
Leave a Reply