The Dancing (by Gerald Stern) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umZIiLYnfzs

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Gerald Stern reads his poem “The Dancing” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Gerald Stern, see http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/gerald-stern.

The Floral Apron (by Marilyn Chin) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CAjQvDtTYs

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Marilyn Chin reads her poem “The Floral Apron” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Marilyn Chin, see http://www.marilynchin.org.

Blackbottom (by Toi Derricotte) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NtmK_FPF6o

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Toi Derricotte reads her poem “Blackbottom” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Toi Derricotte, see http://toiderricotte.com.

Mother’s Day (by Daisy Zamora) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VRwq0EQf0

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Daisy Zamora reads her poem “Mother’s Day” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Daisy Zamora, see http://www.universeofpoetry.org/nicaragua.shtml.

Tornado Child (by Kwame Dawes) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-guTTBeivg

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Kwame Dawes reads his poem “Tornado Child” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Kwame Dawes, see http://www.kwamedawes.com.

 

Note #31 (by Heather Ann Schmidt)

Note #31

by Heather Ann Schmidt

if the world is
s p in    ni         ng
and i am walking &
am away                       from the sun
am i (up)  side
down?
 
if we are all different
and everyone sees different striations
in the sidewalk
and the hand of god
mixes those ideas together
is that perfect?
 
or my perception of what is perfect?
 
how long do i need to rain dance
around the capital, the t.v. stations, the jails?
its like this:
 
the last shall be                                                                            first
 
&
 
thefirstshallbelast
 
it takes  more
it takes    more
it takes      more
 
than broken records and skipping needles
 
it takes holding the hands of heroin prisoners and walking down with them the hall to the end where the door is and opening the door and walking them through and sitting with them at that bare table, that empty table and looking in maps of their eyes and being the cartographer that know where to dig the well.
 
dig
dig
dig
dig this
 
the world is (up) side (down)
 
and we need someone to shake the change loose.
   

 

* * * * *
Heather Ann Schmidt has taught writing at Mott Community College, ITT Technical Institute in Michigan and Southern New Hampshire University’s online program. Her poetry collection On Recalling Life Through the Eye of the Needle was released in January 2011 by Village Green Press and her latest book, Transient Angels, was published by Crisis Chronicles Press in May. Heather’s forthcoming collections include Red Hibiscus and Field Notes.  Find her at http://heatherannschmidt.yolasite.com.

On becoming a friend (by Kevin Eberhardt)

On becoming a friend

Casing yesterday’s dream
Like a cello on a rainy day
Scraping the pavement for
A bit of inspiration a foot
Print left undisturbed in the
Cement duly initialed and
Paraphrased of sentiment
Hopefully heading in the
Right direction asking the
Right question of a stranger
You just met for the first
Time & will never meet
Under that guise again 

KE

* * * * *

“On becoming a friend” (c)2011 by Kevin Eberhardt, used with the poet’s permission

Kevin Eberhardt is a northern Ohio poet whose work has appeared in ArtCrimes, The City Poetry, the Deep Cleveland Junkmail Oracle, Fuck Poetry and accompanied images by London photographer Richard Byerley. He is a featured artist at www.agentofchaos.com.  His chapbook, Burnin’ Shadows, was published in 2011 by Crisis Chronicles Press.  You may contact KE at ke767@hotmail.com.

She Fills Her Bucket (by Jolynne Hudnell)

 Jolynne M Hudnell

she fills her bucket
but it’s full of holes
she holds it up
so everyone else
gets a drink
but she’s left
with an empty wish 



* * *

Jolynne M Hudnell writes cryptic poetry and flow poetry, draws with oil pastels, crochets doilies and creates sculptures with recycled materials.  Originally from Elyria and now based in Athens, Ohio, Jolynne is a freelance writer and the author of Beyond the Sun: The Collection.



  

Slow Dance (by Matthew Dickman) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG0F2a3sw14

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Matthew Dickman reads his poem “Slow Dance” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Matthew Dickman, check out these:

   

American Smooth (by Rita Dove) – video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKJKWYQyB0M

Video courtesy of PoetryEverywherePTV

Rita Dove reads her poem “American Smooth” as part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television — produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.  For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/poetryeverywhere.

For more Rita Dove, visit http://people.virginia.edu/~rfd4b/ or check out these: