Heads up: Poetic Palate Experience in Zionsville, Wednesday, June 2.

Hear poets who wrote about their culinary experiences in Zionsville restaurants for a $400 Top Chef Award. Judge: Terry Kirts. The readings begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, in the garden of Serenity, 135 S. Main St., Zionsville. Participating restaurants include Eagle Creek Coffee Company, Serenity, Cobblestone Grill, Plum's Upper Room Cafe and Wine Bar, Dairy Queen, Noah Grant's Grillhouse & Raw Bar, G. Simone's Cafe, the Friendly Tavern. Free to listen. Dinner available for purchase. 317-328-0545. http://www.brickstreetpoetry.org/.

Calendar of events: Format change

Because several of you have complained to me about the monthly rolling calendar listings, I've decided to make it a little more easy. Just click here.

Then bookmark it. It won't change from month to month. You won't have to scroll down a lot of old listings to get to the current date. And I'll periodically delete old listings.

Or just go the upper right-hand corner of this blog and click on the hyperlink.

Poetry for the Mind's Joy

Poetry for the Mind's Joy is U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan's project that includes a community college poetry contest. One winner was selected for each participating school. Locally, the winning entry is Shannon Naomi Smith, of Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis (pictured left). Her poem "Echoes" was selected by Indiana Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf, former laureate Joyce Brinkman, and Shari Wagner.

Other winners in the state include:

J. Scott Conyer from Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington, for “The Shawl, in the Land of Furies.”

Keneth Griffin from Ivy Tech Community College, Evansville, for "The Dog Park.”

For more information about the Poetry for the Mind's Joy project, click here.

Writers' Center of Indiana on Nuvo's Art Blog

Nuvo arts blogger Chi Sherman, the hardest-working writer about the literary scene in Indianapolis, has written a feature on the Writers' Center of Indiana, its mission during hard financial times, and its outreach programs of classes and workshops. To read more (and view a ginormous photo of Barb Shoup), click here.

New slam series

Seen on Facebook, posted by slammaster Erin Livingston:

Attention touring poets and Indianapolis artists! Adam 'Henzbo' Henze, Corey Ewing and I will be hosting a new weekly SLAM and open mic every Monday starting in July. Contact us for feature spots! Every Monday at LOCALS ONLY...art and music pub

NOTE: Locals Only is at 2449 E. 56th St., Indianapolis. 317-255-4013.

Humpback Barn poets

From Jeff Pearson:

The Humpback Barn poets will meet this Saturday, May 29, at Vecinos Coffee Gallery, 201 S. Walnut St., Muncie, Ind.. We meet 2-5 PM but likely will start a little late this week. Art and Soul by Phoebe Gallery will be closed over the Memorial Day weekend. Next week will resume meeting there. For more information, contact Jeff Pearson at jjopcelia@comcast.net

Review: Write On: The Poetry Spot (update)

Nuvo arts blogger Chi Sherman reviews Write On: The Poetry Spot, a weekly Friday event:

http://www.nuvo.net/ArtsBlog/archives/2010/05/23/thats-my-spot

UPDATE: Jessica Williams-Gibson of the Indianapolis Recorder writes about Write On: The Poetry Spot:

http://indianapolisrecorder.com/articles/2010/05/07/around_town/doc4be2d87f265b7315856195.txt

Bob Dylan's birthday

Today (May 24) is Bob Dylan's birthday. Revisiting the debate on whether Dylan is a poet is Edward Byrne: Bob Dylan on Poets and Poets on Bob Dylan

By the way, Bob is 69 today!

Erin Livingston featured in Indianapolis Star

Indianapolis SlamMaster Erin Livingston is featured in a Sunday Indianapolis Star article written by Amy Bartner. In the article, Erin is asked to define slam poetry:

"A slam poem has traditionally become known as a 3-minute poem intended for performance. At its best, slam poetry takes into account the experience of the listening audience and is therefore often memorized, highly animated, emotionally charged and/or expertly delivered.Over time, slam poetry has come to draw from all the spoken performance arts -- from storytelling to rap, comedy to dramatic monologue."

To read more, click here: Q&A: Erin Livingston

New poetry reading at Westfield gallery

The following item was added to the calendar of events.

6 p.m.-9 p.m. Poetry in Motion at Gallery One 36, 136 E. Main St., Westfield. On the patio, weather permitting. Bring a beverage of your choice, a chair, and a blanket. Host: Gregg DeBoor. $3 if reading poetry; $5 to listen only. Every Friday through Aug. 27. 317-531-2953.

Change of format at open mic

"In the Company of Shakespeare," the long-running Thursday night open mic at Lazy Daze Coffehouse, 10 Johnson Ave., Indianaplis, is now named "Bards and Balladeers," to refelct the fact that musicians are now welcome at the mic.

Indianapolis Poetry Slam: Change in schedule

Erin Livingston, organizer of the Indianapolis Poetry Slam at the Elbow Room, reports that the monthly slam is going on hiatus during the summer. However, the Grand Slam Finals will be 8 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at  the Elbow Room, 605 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis. The lineup: Top ten scoring poets of the season with Robbie Q. Telfer as the feature. Tickets: $8 at the door.

Karen Kovacik in 'Booth'

Latest edition of Booth features the Top 5 Kissing Spots in Warsaw, Poland, by Karen Kovacik.

Songwriting: Poetry with constraints

Nuvo arts blogger Chi Sherman interviews Gabriel Harley, who says songwriting is like writing poetry, with constraints. To read more, click here Acceptable poetry.

Here is his Web site: http://www.gabrielharley.com

The return of Indy Underground

Bryan Furuness writes in his literary blog Book Choy that the Indy Underground reading series will return, this time at the Irving Theatre on the east side of Indianapolis:

Indy Underground, the loose and wild and beery reading series that this city so badly needs, is returning this summer. I have it on good authority that Donald Ray Pollock (Knockemstiff) will be reading along with BookChoy pal Andrew Scott. Here are the details:

WHAT: Indy Underground
WHEN: Wednesday, June 30
WHERE: Irving Theater

There will also be a band and beer. Possibly togas. A man might smash a guitar in a stairwell. That man might be me, I don't know. We will see. We. Will. See.

I believe the festivities will begin primetime at 8 p.m. The theater's address is 5505 E. Washington St., just around the corner from Lazy Daze Coffeehouse and Bookmamas.

Review: Truth Is at Lazy Daze Coffeehouse, May 13

Chi Sherman reports on Toronto poet Truth Is and the happenings at the weekly In the Company of Shakespeare open reading at Lazy Daze Coffeehouse:

http://www.nuvo.net/ArtsBlog/archives/2010/05/13/truth-is-you-missed-some-damn-fine-poetry

Wanted: Bricks

If you have any unbroken bricks lying around, I can use some for a poetry project. Just shoot me an e-mail (address is at the top of this blog). And, please, don't go taking them from construction sites or abandoned properties without permission.

Duotrope's interview with publisher of Tipton Poetry Journal

Duotrope's Digest posted online this interview with Barry Harris, editor of the Tipton Poetry Journal.

Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

A: shared sense of humanity

—Barry Harris, Editor on 10 May 2010
 
To read more, go to http://www.duotrope.com/interview.aspx?id=1530.

Photos: Indiana Dead Poets Celebration, May 4

I had a small ephiphany during the Indiana Dead Poets Celebration, a tribute to Indiana poets buried at Crown Hill Cemetery. And it involved the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley, whose poems spanned from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. His popularity has often been compared to that of a rock star. (You can see Henry Ryder portraying the Hoosier Poet below). Today, however, Riley is seldom mentioned among the icons of American poetry. His poems are considered mawkish (he was fond of poems about dead children). But in Indiana, he still reigns. I remember learning "Little Orphan Annie" in third grade.

Now here's the thing: I absolutely detest reading Riley's poems. I hate trying to decipher the antiquated rural dialects of his characters. I groan at his transparent attempts at manipulating readers with false sentimentality that really is a cynical formula mocking the intelligence of his admirers.

With that said, I must admit I was enthralled with Ryder's portrayal of Riley. He demonstrated the charm that Riley himself must have perfected in countless performances.

So, when I tried to explain to myself the cause of this disconnect, I found it in so-called spoken word or performance poetry. I love hearing the vocal gymnastics, emotional resonances, and cadences of the best of spoken-word poetry and pop music lyrics. But when I read them on the page, I am frequently appalled by cliches, contorted syntax, a disastrous reliance on rhyme rather than the most effective word, and the predictability of lament.

So, like spoken word or pop music, Riley's rock star description is apt. His poems are meant to be read aloud. More importantly, they're meant to be performed.

I do believe that a great poet's words are great on the page as well as on the stage, but few poets can claim this accomplishment. So, that makes Riley's works conducive to great performances, but not-so-great silent readings. That disqualifies him as a great poet, in my book, but at least my estimation of him has been raised to give him his due as an early spoken-word artist.

Above: Henry Ryder brings James Whitcomb Riley to life.

Above: Dan Carpenter portrayed Meredith Nicholson; Shari Wagner channeled Sarah T. Bolton.

Above: Khabir Shareef, a professional storyteller, re-created Etheridge Knight.

Above: The performances took place in the Gothic Chapel at Crown Hill Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in the United States.

'Twin Muses: Art and Poetry'

Twenty Indiana writers have written 29 poems for the book Twin Muses: Art and Poetry. Artist Amy Kindred invited poets to submit works that would go along with her paintings. The writers are:

Terry Ballenger, Mary Couch, Marlene Million, David Warner Stocking, Alice B. Couch (Noblesville).

Neil Cain, John Domont, Devon Ginn (Indianapolis).

W. Beauford Carper, Zann Carter, Sophia Hussey, Andrea D. Stevens, Bob Cundiff (Terre Haute).

Lisbeth Scott (Fort Wayne).

Kathryn Ruth Schuth (South Bend),.

Glenna Glee (Anderson).

Jan Haffley (Westfield).

Barry Harris (Zionsville).

Debra Gindhart Dragoo (Muncie).

Emily Kennedy (Danville).

To order a copy of Twin Muses: Art and Poetry, send $30 ($26 plus tax and handling charges) to Dharma Peace Center, P.O. Box 30047, Indianapolis, IN 46230.
You may also call: 317-956-2126 or send a request to the email below.
Book info and info about the artist may be located at www.akindredart.com.

Heads-up: Kelsea Habecker at An Evening With the Muse on May 9

I know it's Mother's Day, and it might be difficult to get away to listen to some poetry. I know I might not be able to attend Kelsea Habecker's reading at the Writer's Center of Indiana, 812 E. 67th St., Indianapolis. The award-winning poet recently moved to Indianapolis, and Indiana Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf has been singing her praises (indeed, he'll be introducing her tonight at 7).

For a sample of her poetry, visit her blog: http://hollowoutpoems.blogspot.com/

Heads-up: Tuesday, May 4

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Indiana Dead Poets Celebration will honor the work of five Indiana poets -- Sarah T. Bolton, James Whitcomb Riley, Meredith Nicholson, Etheridge Knight and Ruth Lilly -- who are buried at Crown Hill, Indianapolis. Costumed re-enactors will read the works of these poets. Finger foods from the lifetime of each poet will be served. Those attending this event should go to the cemetery's 34th Street and Boulevard Place entrance. For more information, go to http://www.brickstreetpoetry.org, or call Susan Miller at 317-219-9337.

Review: Dan Carpenter and open mic at The Strand, Shebyville

Terrance Aldridge writes this enthusiastic review of Poetry Night at The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville, which featured Dan Carpenter and an open mic on April 28.

http://www.strand-theatre-shelbyville.org/poetry-review/
And yeah, I know my name is misspelled.

Personal update

I received notice earlier this week from Noriko Mizusaki that my poem "Festival of Dolls" will be included in The World Asiatic Poetry Anthology. Ms. Mizusaki translated the poem into Japanese and had it published in a literary journal in 2009.

Free download: Patrick Kanouse

Patrick Kanouse offers a free download of his PDF book Portrait of a Woman Brushing Her Hair and Other Poems:

http://patrickkanouse.blogspot.com/2010/04/shameless-plug-again.html

Do it. It's a shame that he's giving it away, but it's a good deal for you.