From Picture to Page: Sit and Spin

Walked by the old Doyle's building on Saturday. Still miss going there to meet my writing workshop. Wanted to take a photo and write about it. It's not much this week, but it's a start.

 

Sit and Spin

Circles 

tighten and

move faster

This is Sad

So many people wanting to save Doyle's even though that chance passed one liquor license sale ago.

Doyle's holds many memories for me. Though my friend and mentor Ron Goba, we hosted a fundraiser, a reading, and the anniversary party for him and his since departed beloved Sue. Not to mention all the workshops the last couple of years. I don't know what place is going to fill the void now. Maybe nothing.

Another Workshop Sunday

Ron on the word "Fecund." Sounds like fuckin'.

Now that we got the choice quote, here's some quick moments at the workshop from yesterday.

Ronday is My Favorie Day of the Week

Prabakar and Ron, mid-workshop.

Another productive day at Doyle's yesterday with Ron, Prabakar and the gang.

I would share choice quotes, but I'm pressed for time, and I want to use the best ones for a future poem.

I will be sharing an edited poem. One that frequent visitors of this blog are actually familiar with.

I made a rank amateur mistake and am appropriately embarrassed by it. I'll share as soon as I can.
 

Scenes from Yesterday's Workshop With Ron Goba

Ron at the helm.

Too many "Ron-isms" to report. We had seven people total at the Doyle's table. That has to be a new record. I have to try and put them into a poem.

Another Workshop With Ron Goba

Ron Noir

It's the beginning of the month. Time for another writing workshop with friends. The best part of all these meetings is trying to fit in as many joikes as possible in between careful loving critiques.

Scenes and Words from Sunday's Workshop

For me, the last high point of National Poetry Month was Sunday's workshop at Doyle's with Ron Goba and the group I've come to call The Usual Gang. Here are some pictures I secretly took and quotes I recorded from yesterday's get-together. 

Another Workshop Day

Looking Forward to meeting up with Team Goba again

A Moment With Ron

From our monthly gathering at Doyle's in Jamaica Plain.

Going over Ron's latest "DWS" poem, Prabakar brought out these (likely to be removed) lines.

this old man walks three miles to

buy the Mega Millions Powerballs tickets

doesnt own a car  (sic)

Prabakar thought the lines seemed too "self-pitying."

Ron shot back, "That's because you're not a walker!"

As a fellow walker, I roared with laughter and respect.

You keep walking, Ron. It helps keep us both alive.

People I Should Have Seen More of in 2018: Ron Goba and Keith Nystrom

Ron and Keith reviewing a poem from a September workshop.

I miss working with Ron and Keith as closely as I did back when Ron still lived near the red line. Thanks to regular gatherings at Doyle's in Jamaica Plain, there were several opportunities to benefit from Ron and Keith's wisdom regarding my poetry. Sadly, between moving and other projects, I did not take as many chances as I could have. Resolutions are cliche, but if I have any, it's to spend more time with these two the first chance I get.

History Achieved

A couple of weekends ago, I got to see Ron at Doyle's read his poems written for a photograph by his longtime friend Chetty. I wrote about the event already but almost forgot this photo of Ron and Chetty together.

I had only heard stories about Chetty, who leads a busy life and seemed to miss every get-together he was invited to over the last half-decade. I doubted I would ever meet the man. So of course, when I finally got a chance to take a picture of both him and my mentor, I couldn't wait and had to snap it just after Ron had eaten a potato skin.

Portrait of the Artists...One with sour cream on his lips.

That's my timing for you.

I Need to Take Down More Quotes

Best exchange before the post-reading Q&A/discussion/argument session at Doyle's Cafe​ featuring Ron Goba.

Me (to Prabakar Thyagarajan​): "You're gonna start a fight over syntax?"

Prabakar: "Poets have died for less."

Ron and Cheti

I've heard of the man known as Cheti before, but after years of near-misses at events where he was scheduled to appear then had to cancel the man is practically an urban legend. All I knew is that this former schoolmate of Prabakar T. Rajan is a longtime supporter of both Prabakar and Ron Goba as well as the Friends of Poetry and late lamented Goba Salon. Yesterday, I finally got to meet the man/myth/legend.

Cheti is a photographer who commissioned Ron to write a poem based on a photograph he took of a dancer, which Cheti called "Salome."

I wish you could see this. It was quite amazing to look at.

After a beer and some conversation, Ron was ready to give it a go...

with a quick introduction from Prabakar, who also moderated the event as a whole.

It started with the poem below and then moved on to several other poems that touched on Salome,  John the Baptist, and his late wife Sue.

After the reading, there was some discussion of the poem and Ron's writing process, which led to debate, which Ron enjoyed. Here's just a small sample of that discussion.