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Poetry and Short Story Salon

The great salon of 2016.
(Actually pretty small)(Great..I'm just saying, in my opinion)
I hosted a small poetry and short story reading last weekend.
I only invited a small number of poets, writers and poetry fans due to my own nervousness and because of my small house.
My parents were invited and as always, brought their A game.

This blog post is mostly to record the readings for my own posterity or any attendee that could not hear.
We started the salon with a reading of Jack Helbig's play "Mildly Depressed Man". Many of the good natured guests were hired on the spot by my dad to play roles from his good friends peice.

Giamila Fantuzzi read a poem in Italian by Gabriele D'annunzio entitled "The rain in the pinewood"
http://www.lifeinabruzzo.com/the-rain-in-the-pinewood-la-pioggia-nel-pineto/ 
She gave us the English translation to read while she read.

My mom told a story about an old friend Irene Keller and then read a few of her poems. Here is one:





Cynthia Gessele shared her writing, Entitled Tory's Dilemma



Jean Sotos read a few of her poems Www.lmtpoet.blogspot.com

Grace Quinn read from her blog

Barbara Ballinger read 3 Hopkins poems
Inversnaid http://www.bartleby.com/122/33.html
The Windhover  http://www.bartleby.com/122/12.html
and  As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame. http://www.bartleby.com/122/34.html

Linda Stolz read a memoir

John Platt read some of his own poems:
1970
Welcome party:

no curses,
no spit
or baby-killer cries;
and no jobs either. ….

Mundane tragedy
and war is all.

Kill-zone shadows spreading

to bleak apartments.

Welcome back boys.

BYOB …. a quart jar

of Black Beauties :

“... war trophy,” he laughed.

He cradled it the whole time.


 Nobody knew anybody,

 not really

 not anymore.

 Music too loud --- strange; words
 too empty.  Awkward. all
 split, and scattered early.

John Platt
 2009


    Trump Tells

The Hair: Mini-serious candied foxcox comb over
ghost-spray weave of playboy prick past
--- the crown at last!

The Eyes: Squint blue windows
to the sole consumer
of whys and wherefores
weighed in glaring error
scorn-constricted stares
the mirror's mirror. It shows.

The Lips: Smoochie sucky spitting self kissing
repulsed plosive punch line perseverators
pooh-poohing prehensile prevaricators.
Sly smilers.
The Hands: -Index (sometimes middle) fingers touched to thumbs.
Remaining fingers held like curtains beside the face.
(This is NOT the “OK” sign)
but: “Here's a special treat I
offer to a captive pet.
Beg for it.”
- Palms flat forward wrists bent back
arms extended: “STOP !
NO ENTRY BEYOND THIS
WALL (facade).”
- Index fingers pointing up
-or at you - hands closed tight: “Wait !
Just Be Quiet (and maybe
I'll give you a treat).”
- thumbs up from closed fists
aimed backward.
( This is also NOT an “OK” sign) ---
but: “ME. ME. ME.
All attention
belongs to Me.”

The Deal: The slogan the sell the slur repeat
invert subvert beat resistance beat
beat competition pound table slam
door bang babe the deal repeat
until submission. Sale.
Then cheat.
Repeat.

The Skin: Thin: a thing
made out of lampshades.
                                                                     
                                                                         John Platt 2016

Linda Platt's blog is here http://lindiart2.blogspot.com/http://lindiart2.blogspot.com/

I read a poem which is more of an explanation of my last several years than anything else.

Rhyme of an ancient Marrier
When I am caught in the snarl of a net
My m.o. is to take on a rescue pet

It all started with my creation, a fish pond
instead of facing my marriage was a flawed bond

the next year brought results of infertile
but wouldn't the pond be better with a turtle

another hard year, anxiety depression, fog
I looked across facebook lines and fell for a dog

The marriage got worse we resorted to all but kickin
 then we agreed, we would like to raise chicken

relationship over, I was in deep muck
first thing I did was babysit a duck

Now I'm banned from every pet shop
but I love critters and I'm not going to stop.

I also read "Envy of Other peoples poems" By Robert Hass
http://www.poemsbypost.com/?p=308



 




 








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