POETRY NEWS: May 2008
NEW RELEASES
Miguel de Cervantes, The Dialogue of the Dogs, trans. David Kipen (Melville House) http://www.mhpbooks.com/Buck Downs, 5 from Black Peppermint (tinyside, Big Game Books) http://www.reenhead.com/biggame/biggame.html
Cornelius Eady, Hardhearted Weather: New and Selected Poems (Putnam Books) http://us.penguingroup.comBarbara Goldberg, The Royal Baker's Daughter (Univ. of Wisconsin Press) http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/4468.htm
Valzhyna Mort, Factory of Tears (Copper Canyon) http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/
Eric Pankey, The Pear As One Example: New and Selected Poems (Ausable Press) http://www.ausablepress.org
Stanley Plumly, Posthumous Keats (biography; W.W. Norton) http://www.wwnorton.com
Charles Simic, That Little Something (Harcourt Books) http://www.harcourtbooks.com
Pia Taavila, Moon on the Meadow: Collected Poems (Gallaudet University Press) http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/
Mark Wallace, Felonies of Illusion (Edge Books) http://aerialedge.com/
The Amistad, Ars Poetica Issue, Spring 2008. Includes interviews with A. Van Jordan and Kim Roberts, and poetry by Erich Hintze, Carolyn C. Joyner, Jacqueline Jules, John Murillo, and Dan Vera. http://www.coas.howard.edu/english/Amistad/Spring08/index2.html
Chesapeake Reader, Spring 2008. Contributors include: Vonnie Winslow Crist, Anne Hasselbrack, Kirsten Keppel, Margaret S. Mullins, Jeffrey O'Dell, and Davi Walders. http://www.chesapeakereader.com.
JMWW, Spring 2008. Includes reviews, flash fiction, fiction, and poetry. Contributors include Martin Willitts and Ellen Rittberg. http://JMWW.150m.com.
Phoebe, Vol. 37, No. 1, Spring 2008. Contributors include: Reginald Dwayne Betts, K. Lorraine Graham, Joe Hall, Brandon Lewis, and Miriam Stewart. http://www.gmu.edu/pubs/phoebe.
COMPETITIONS, GRANTS and CALLS FOR ENTRY
Urbancode Magazine seeks a Literature Editor and Literary Bloggers. Urbancode is an online pdf magazine, website, and blog network. Literature editor is a non-paid, but very visible, position in the arts community. Duties include the procurement of high-quality short literature, essays, etc. for inclusion into the pdf magazine and website. This is a unique opportunity to put your "stamp" on this section of our publication. Other duties include the collection of our poetry submissions. Each issue of the magazine features 3 poets chosen by the poets from the previous issue of the magazine, but our website accepts submissions from the public. The literature editor would select work for publication on the website and manage the poetry in the magazine. Urbancode publishes 6-8 times a year. Urbancode also seeks bloggers for its national network of arts bloggers. Bloggers are needed in the areas of book news, talk and reviews, poetry, and fiction/non-fiction. Any other creative endeavor will also be considered--pitch us something! Bloggers blog under the Urbancode banner and receive the benefit of an ever-growing, heavy traffic, networked, online community of readers.Contact: urbancodemag@gmail.com."The Great Gatsby Essay Contest: Secrets, Goals and Dreams," open to all high school students in grades 10-12 in public or public charter schools. Sponsored by the PEN/Paulker Writers in Schools program and presented in conjunction with The Big Read DC. Students may submit a 1,000 word essay or produce a three-minute video. Winners receive $300 prize; runners-up in each format get $100. Entries must answer one of two questions: 1) Dishonesty is an underlying theme in Gatsby: Many characters in the novel have secrets about who they really are, where they come from, who they really love, even about crimes and misdeeds they have committed. Think about secrets that you or people in your life have had. These don't have to be terrible or upsetting secrets, just things that are kept private for whatever reason. Write about the way one secret or personal fact has changed you in some way--either forced you to learn a lesson, helped you grow to become a better person,, or helped you see the world in a different light. 2) Although Jay Gatsby's life comes to a tragic end, many of his goals and dreams seem genuine and true. Look at Gatsby's "Schedule, in Chapter IX. Then write about self-improvement goals you have set for yourself--the goals themselves and the changes you hope will come from acting on the goals. Are there certain "resolves" or "rules" you try to live by? What are they, and how have they changes as you grow older? Be sure to write briefly about what one or some of these goals are and then how they have (or will hopefully) change you. Deadline: May 12. Mail or hand deliver entries to: PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Writers in Schools Program, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003. Attn: Jamilla Coleman, Coordinator. Questions: (202) 898-9061. http://www.penfaulkner.org.
Letters To the Children, an anthology to be published by the 2008 Capital BookFest, seeks previously unpublished letters of up to 1,000 words. Edited by Karyn Langhorne Folan, the anthology will be published in October. Submit up to two letters "written by parents to children, as a voice of an elder to the next generation or as a member of the community to those who will be its next leaders" by May 15. Guidelines: http://capitalbookfest.org/CBF%20Book.html.
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA. Artist residencies. Open to writers, visual artists, new genres (video, film, installation, performance, conceptual art, interactive multi-media, and related work), and composers. Studios are available for all disciplines, and include a darkroom. Admission is determined by professional achievement or promise of achievement. Residency periods run two weeks to two months in length. Actual residency cost is $125 per week. Participants are asked to contribute according to their ability. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but the next scheduling deadline is May 15, 2008, for the residency period running Oct. 2008-Jan. 2009. Application fee: $25. VCCA, 154 San Angelo Dr., Amherst, VA 24521; Phone: (434) 946-7236 http://www.vcca.com.
"What You Did for Love" Adult Short Fiction Competition, sponsored by the DC Public Library, in conjunction with The Big Read. Seeking original stories written in English, inspired by the character Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, of 2,000 words or less. May be based on a true story or a fictional one. Entries will be judged by a committee of local writers. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. The best story will be published on the Library's web site and the winner will receive a gift certificate to a local restaurant. Entries must be emailed as an attached Word file or PDF, and must include author's name, address, phone, and email. Deadline: May 16. Mail to: whatyoudidforlove@dc.gov. Full information at: http://dclibrary.org/dcpl/cwp/view.asp?a=11&q=569159.
4th Annual Gival Press Novel Award. Submissions of a previously unpublished original (not a translation) novel in English must be approximately 30,000 to 100,000 words of high literary quality, typed, double-spaced on one side of the paper only, with word count in the upper left hand side of the first page, along with the title. Please make sure the ms is bound in some way (a clip, rubber band, etc.). The author's name should not appear on the numbered pages of the ms. Author should keep a copy of the submission as it will not be returned. Submit name, address, telephone number, email address on a separate page, along with the title of the novel submitted.
A short bio should also be included. Reading fee: $50. Winner receives $3,000 and publication. Postmark deadline: May 30. Robert L. Giron, Editor, Gival Press Novel Award, Gival Press, PO Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203. http://www.givalpress.com.Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award. For best unpublished original poem in English on GLBT life by a poet aged 18 or older. Submit poems in blind format, with separate cover page that includes contact information and short bio, and SASE for notification (no poems returned). Winner receives $100 and web publication. Fee: $5 per poem. Deadline: June 27 (postmark). Gival Press, PO Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.http://www.givalpress.com.
ABZ Poetry Prize for a first full-length book of poems, judged by Heather McHugh. Send mss. of 48-80 pages, bound only with a binder clip with a table of contents, acknowledgments, and two title pages (one with contact info. and the other with title only). No mss. returned. Fee: $25, which entitles entrant to one copy of winning book. Include 7x10 envelope with $2.15 in postage for winning book. Mss. must have a May or June postmark. ABZ Press, PO Box 2746, Huntington, WV 25727. http://www.abzpress.com/prize.aspx.
The Chesapeake Reader, an online journal of writers in the Chesapeake Bay region, seeks poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for the Fall 2008 issue. Also taking student work for the "Words from the Bay" section. Submit between May 1 and July 31. Guidelines: http://www.chesapeakereader.com.
WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS
DC Parks and Recreation offers free, ongoing programs for youth. Clubs include a Poetry Club for children aged 6-12 at Kenilworth Parkside and Watkins Community Centers (through June 8), and the Teen Book Club for youth from 12-19 at Hearst Community Center (through June 18). http://www.dpr.dc.gov."Yoga & Poetry: Tools for Trying Times," workshop led by Yael Flusberg, sponsored by Sol y Soul, Saturday, May 10, noon to 3:00 pm. "Yoga is a lifelong study of both the small, individual self, and the broader self that inspires many to sustain activist and creative practices, especially in troubling times. Like poetry, yoga uses description, metaphor and other figurative vehicles to discover dormant parts of ourselves. Both yoga and poetry can illuminate pathways to feelings, memories, images an stories embedded within our tissues and help us reflect, heal and build community. In this experiential workshop designed for all levels of yoga and writing practice, expect periods of yoga interspersed with brief readings and writing prompts. Please dress accordingly and bring a mat, your favorite notebook and pen, and an open attitude." $20 suggested donation. Flashpoint Dance Studio, Metro Center, DC. Register and information: (202) 315-1320.
Walking Tour: "Three Cultures Meet in Downtown's Chinatown," Monday, May 12, 6:30-8:00 pm. Meet at the Goethe-Institut, 812 7th St. NW. Free admission. Tour includes exhibit, “Interior Views: Photographic Explorations of the European Parliament.” From there, local historian and guide Alice Stewart will conduct a tour visiting the poetry displays of Time Shadows. Along the way, she will offer insights into German, Chinese and American history and about some of the individuals who contributed to this very cosmopolitan neighborhood. Poets will read aloud May’s German, Chinese and American poems in their native languages and accompanying translations. http://www.goethe.de/washington.
The Big Read 2008: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. April 24 through May 24. Approximately 50 events, including book discussions, readings, dance lessons, performances, films. Sponsored by the Humanities Council of Washington. Kim Roberts offers a guided walking tour of the Dupont/Kalorama neighborhoods in "Jazz Age Stories of the Rich and Scandalous" on May 10 at 10:30 am (free; but reservations required). Self-guided tour brochures also available on the web. Other tours include a bus tour of area art deco architecture, May 4 at 12:30 ($25 Admission). http://www.wdchumanities.org/bigread.
Friends Wilderness Center, free, annual Open House May 17th. Quaker retreat place, east of Charles Town WV and two hours west of downtown DC, offers year-round events, cabin stays, hikes, retreats, camping and a serene comfortable space and beautiful forest for artists wanting to inspire their creativity through nature or just to escape and relax. Open house activities include guided hikes or rambles, art activities using natural materials found on the land, lunch ($5-7), or bring your own picnic. Details at http://www.friendswilderness.org.
Writing the Body, a poetry workshop led by Anne Becker. Sundays from 3 to 6 pm, 5 sessions (5/18, 6/8, 6/22, 7/13, 7/27). Limited to 10 participants. $200 fee. "For those who have experience with life threatening illnesses or chronic conditions, as patients, care-givers, or family members." (301) 270-8037. http://www.bodywriting.org.
"Flashplays: Spoken Word Theater Master Class," a ten-week workshop beginning in May and culminating in a public performance as part of the Hip Hop Theater Festival in July. Led by Regie Cabico. Enrollment by invitation or interview only; please inquire if interested by May 19. Participants paid a small stipend. "We will explore the role of poetry in theater by examining the two-minute plays of the Chicago and NY Neo-futurists, Suzan Lori Parks's 365 & the poetic monologues of Jose Rivera, Def Poetry Jam on Broadway & the work in Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café. Imagery and rhythm are the catalyst to finding the poem not just as ink on the page but a three-dimensional world of possibility from the open mic to a black box. Attention to craft and performance skills will be addressed in a supportive environment. This workshop is designed for the poet who has never been in the spotlight and for the performer who has been struggling to find her/his literary voice, within a diverse ensemble." Sponsored by Sol y Soul. Query at (202) 315-1320 or missbamboo@aol.com.
The Big Read DC ongoing exhibitions through May 24: Fitzgerald Exhibit, Martin Luther King Jr. DC Public Library, 901 G Street NW, Great Hall, DC. Free Admission. Also: Woodrow Wilson House Museum, 2340 S St. NW, DC recreates Wilson's life in the 1920s. $7.50 Admission. http://www.wdchumanities.org/bigread.
The Big Read DC film screenings. May 1, 6pm: "Tender is the Night," MLK Library. May 8, 6pm: "The Last Tycoon," MLK Library. May 13, 6pm: "Tender is the Night," Cleveland Park Branch Library. May 15, 6pm: "G," MLK Library. May 22, 6pm: "The Great Gatsby," MLK Library. May 29, 6pm: "The Last Tycoon," Cleveland Park Branch Library. Also: Lecture by David Kipen, Director of Literature of the NEA, "Fitzgerald in Hollywood," May 13, 7pm, Barnes and Noble Books, 555 12th St. NW, DC. Free Admission for all events. http://www.wdchumanities.org/bigread.
"Nature Journaling: Seeing with Native Eyes." May 3, 10am to 3 pm, Friends Wilderness Center, outside Harper's Ferry, WV. "Many of us are looking for ways to connect better with nature -- to learn it patterns, to help protect its inhabitants, to gain an understanding of what makes our own lives tick. Nature journaling can be that journey of discovery, connection, understanding with just a little magic tossed in. Join us in this personal exploration into the natural world." Meet at the Niles Cabin (contact Sheila Bach at the center for directions). Lunch is available for $7. A $10 donation supports the upkeep and program of FWC. Pre-registration requested. http://www.friendswilderness.org/.
Artomatic 2008, 1200 M St. NE, New York Avenue Metro (red line), May 9 - June 15. Exhibits, readings, films, music, dance. Poets and Prose Writers Wanted for Artomatic's poetry lounge, The Speakeasy. Artomatic is DC's non-juried multimedia arts event, with 9 floors of art and performances. Seeking additional local writers and writing groups for individual performances, group performances, themed readings, daytime classes for children, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and more. The show is nonjuried, but readers do have to register, and there is a five-hour volunteer commitment. Authors are welcome to sell their books, CDs, etc. at their reading. Scheduling is first-come, first-served. All events are free admission. Questions to Andrea Collins: andreapoetryaom@gmail.com. Register at http://www.artomatic.org.
Symposium: "A Tribute to Octavio Paz," Friday, May 23, 4-7pm, Library of Congress, Mumford Room, Madison Building, 6th floor, 101 Independence Ave. SE, DC. Free Admission. Sponsored by the Library’s Hispanic Division and the Poetry Office, in cooperation with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington. Featured speakers: Enrico Mario Santí (University of Kentucky), Yvon Grenier (St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia), and Consuelo Hernández (American University). The first hour will feature a reading of Paz's work, then the second two hours will be devoted to presentations on his literary style, politics, vision, and imagery. Info: (202) 707-4298.
"Writing a Village," a series of community poetry workshops led by Poet Laureate of Takoma Park Anne Becker, for beginners and experienced writers. Each workshop consists of 3 90-minute meetings. Takoma Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD. Free, but registration is required. Workshops for Adult Spanish Speakers, Tuesdays May 27, June 3 & 10. Workshop for general Adults, Tuesdays June 17, 24, and July 14. Call Sara Daines at (301) 891-7224 or email SaraD@takomagov.org.
AREA READINGS and PERFORMANCES
May 1
WPFW Sterling A. Brown Active Culture Series. Hosted by Askia Muhammad and Elise Bryant, the series will showcase art as a vehicle for political and social transformation. Featuring music by the DC Labor Chorus, Opus Akoben, and In Process, and poetry by Fred Joiner, Sarah Browning, and others.
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Free, but donations to WPFW will be collected. Carnegie Building (formerly the City Museum), 801 K St. NW, Mt. Vernon Square neighborhood, DC. (202) 588-0999.May 1
Washington Storyteller's Theater: "The Party's Over: stories about old money, loose morals, and the blues," presented in conjunction with The Big Read DC
Tuesday, 8:00 pm
Free . Busboys & Poets, 14th and V Sts. NW, DC.(240) 888-9751.May 2
HearArts: Sibbie O'Sullivan with the Columbia Recorder Quartet
Friday, 7:30 pm
Free. VisArts, 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center, Rockville, MD (301) 315-8200.May 2
DC Poets Against the War reading, featuring Naomi Ayala, Reginald Dwayne Betts, and Melissa Tuckey. Part of the church's Arts and Spirit Festival.
Friday, 8:00 pm
Free. Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. (southeast corner of US 50 and George Mason Drive), Arlington, VA. (703) 892-5912.May 5
Cafe Muse: Dan Kaplan and Bryan Penberthy plus classical guitar by Michael Davis and open mic.
Monday, 7:00 pm
Free. Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. (301) 581-9439.May 6
"Flirting with the Masters: Fiction Writers on F. Scott Fitzgerald," featuring Leslie Pietrzyk and Matthew Klam, presented in conjunction with The Big Read DC
Tuesday, 7:00 pm
Free. The Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, DC. (202) 387-8391.May 6
Mothertongue: Celebrating the release of the anthology Just Like a Girl, plus a partial screening of the new film Girls Rock! The Movie. Also featuring Tristan Silverman and music by Nadine Zahr. Followed by open mic.
Tuesday, 9:00 pm
Admission $8. Must be age 18 or over. The Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, DC.May 7
Intersections series: readings by Naomi Ayala and Lisa Pegram, plus discussion, live music, and open mic. Hosted by Fred Joiner.
Wednesday, 8:00 pm
$2 suggested donation. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE, DC. (202) 889-5000 x141.May 8
Lecture on the Fitzgeralds by Jackson Bryer and Cathy Barks, coeditors of Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Presented in conjunction with The Big Read DC
Thursday, 6:30
Free. Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC. (202) 387-8391.May 8
Charles Simic on "The Difficult Art of Translation"
Thursday, 6:45 pm
Free. Library of Congress, Madison Building, Montpelier Room, 101 Independence Ave. SE, 6th floor, DC. (202) 707-5394.May 8
Bathroom Poetry Project Reading, featuring Ken Moss, John Harms, Cynthia Tootle, and Martin FitzPatrick
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Free. Women's Bathroom, Takoma Park Library, 101 Philadelphia Ave., Takoma Park, MD. (301) 891-7259.May 9
DC Poets Against the War reading, featuring Sarah Browning, Heather Davis, and Jose Padua
Thursday, 8:00 pm
Free. Artomatic, 1200 First St. NE, DC. (202) 787-5210.May 9
Sandra Beasley and Bernadette Geyer, plus live Caribbean music, sponsored by 32 Poems
Friday, 8:00 pm
Free. The Writers Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD. (301) 654-8664.May 9
Nine on the Ninth Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Derrick Weston Brown.
Friday, 9:00 pm
$3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET.May 9
11th Hour Slam, featuring Sonya Renee
Friday, 11:00 pm
$5 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET.May 10
Memorial reading for Ann Darr, featuring Linda Pastan, Myra Sklarew, Jean Nordhaus, Rod Jellema, Barbara Goldberg, and others
Saturday, 4:00 pm
Free. The Writers Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664.May 11
Iota Series: Sandra Beasley and Susan Settlemyre Williams
Sunday, 6:00 pm
Free. Iota Club and Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 256-9275.May 12
Katherine Young and Alex Chertok, followed by open mic
Monday, 8:00 pm
Free. Busboys and Poets, 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Shirlington neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 379-9757.May 13
Lucille Clifton
Monday, 7:30 pm
$12 Admission. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, DC. (202) 544-7077.May 13
Washington Storyteller's Theater open mic: "Parallel Universe: stories about alternate lives, what ifs, and flip sides"
Tuesday, 8:00 pm
$10 Admission. Station 9, 1438 U St. NW, DC. (240) 888-9751.May 14
Slide Lecture by Caroline Preston, author of Gatsby's Girl on Fitzgerald's inspiration for Daisy Buchanan, Ginevra King. Presented in conjunction with The Big Read DC.
Wednesday, 6:30 pm
Free. National Press Club, 549 14h St. NW, Zenger Room, 13th floor, DC. (202) 387.8391.May 14
Brookland Reading Series: Lorettapalooza, celebrating the poetry of past US Poets Laureate
Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Free. Brookland Visitor's Center, 3420 9th St. NE, DC. (202) 526-1632.May 15
Jazzpoetry: Jonathan Vaile and Cliff Bernier, with music by Shep Williams, Rocky Jones, Aretha Aretha and Deeme Katson
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Free. Caboose Cafe, 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA. (703) 566-1283.May 15
Readers TBA
Thursday, 7:00 pm
Free. Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD. (301) 891-7224.May 18
Publication reading: Innisfree Poetry Journal
Sunday, 2:00 pm
Free. The Writers Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD. (301) 654-8664.May 18
Shanna Compton, Wade Fletcher, and Jennifer Knox
Sunday, 3:00 pm
$3 Admission. DCAC, 2438 18th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC. (202) 462-7833.May 18
Sunday Kind of Love: readers TBA. Followed by open mic. Hosted by Sarah Browning.
Sunday, 4:00 pm
Free, but donations collected. Busboys and Poets, Langston Room, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET.May 21
Poesis Series, featuring Barbara DeCesare, Verneice Turner, and Brian Gilmore, with live music by Shep Williams and friends. Hosted by Cliff Bernier.
Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Free. Pentagon City Borders Books, 1201 S. Hayes St., Arlington, VA (703) 418-0166.May 21
Intersections series: readings, discussion, live music, and open mic. Hosted by Fred Joiner.
Wednesday, 8:00 pm
$2 suggested donation. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE, DC. (202) 889-5000 x141.May 21
Mothertongue
Wednesday, 9:00 pm
$5 Admission. The Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, DC. (202) 726-1821.May 28
A Space Inside: Ellen Cole and Judy Neri
Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Free. Riverby Books, 417 E. Capitol St. SE, DC. (202) 543-4342.May 28
Kensington Reading Series: Jean Nordhaus and John Surowiecki
Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Free. Kensington Row Books, 3786 Howard Ave., Kensington, MD. (301) 949-9416.May 29
Cheryl's Gone Series: poet, fiction writer, playwright, genre-blurrer Bernard Welt with music by JS Adams (BLK w/BEAR) and a collaboration between the two. Hosted by Wade Fletcher.
Thursday, 8:00 pm
Free. Big Bear Cafe, 1st and R Streets NW, DC. (202) 470-5543.
***PLEASE NOTE: Open mic events are not listed on this page. Please see our full listing of Reading Series for more information***
Information subject to change. Please call in advance to confirm events.
To get your event listed, send complete information during the month prior to beltway.poetry@juno.com.