Karen Friedland's Birthday

Facebook dropped this graphic of a reading back in March 2020 that got cancelled due to COVID. We later assembled online for the feature in May of that year. It was my first online feature and still one of my favorites of that time. When Karen passed away, I think I was numb to it after losing so many loved ones to cancer. I miss Karen and am glad I was able to get her to Stone Soup in a life where I'm always too late.

 

Happy Birthday, Karen Friedland

 

Stone Soup Croutons, 4-5-23: You Call it Bachelor Life for Dignity's Sake

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions selected from Stone Soup Poetry's open mic readers and features. I figure out a title (and sometimes the rest of the poem) later. You can read the other ones I've done since 2015 here.

 

I also have a book collecting the best of my first year of poems. Click here to purchase it.

 

Karen Friedland featured on Wednesday. It was a unique experience. You don't think of setting much with Zoom, but due to an accident preventing my girlfriend and I from getting home, we at at The Real Deal at in Jamaica Plain before walking over to JP Licks.

Whoever thought an ice cream shop/café would get rowdy after dark? That's why the video of the event gets garbled with background noise whenever I speak. I appreciate everyone's patience. I am grateful to Robert Fleming for introducing Karen, and I am doubly grateful to Karen for living up to everyone's high expectations.

This week's poem appears to be a sequel to the more-than-slightly autobiographical poem from last week. Maybe it's because I was smack dab in the middle of Jamaica Plain Centre Street, the setting for some of my most difficult and rewarding years (also related to cancer, having lost my father, grandfather not longer after I moved there). I appreciate Karen's work for giving me the perspective to end the poem properly.

Thanks for reading.

 

You Call it Bachelor Life for Dignity's Sake

 

Another midday morning

when you deduce the value

of your life by taking the age

of your antique one bedroom

Karen Friedland Features at Stone Soup Poetry, 4-5-23

Recording from Parts Unknown! Thanks to Karen Friedland for giving us one of the mos.t anticipated readings of the year and delivering. Support Karen and her publishers by buy her books Places That Are Gone and Tales from the Teacup Palace.

 

 

A Wave from Parts Unknown

 

 

It was rough going at first, recording in a new location that wasn't my home, but with your help, we did it! Thanks to everyone who came out last night, and a very special thank you to Karen Friedland. Please support the poet and her publishers by purchasing her two books, Places That Are Gone and Tales from the Teacup Palace. Stay tuned for more Stone Soup news.

Day's Pretty Much Over

Not enough gets done in a day anymore. The one good thing about this Wednesday ending too soon is that now I get to go home and host Stone Soup online tonight. Karen Friedland features tonight. I hope you join me. 

It's Happening Tonight!

Karen Friedland at Stone Soup Poetry.

Wednesday

Stone Soup celebrates National Poetry Month with special feature Karen Friedland.

Stone Soup's April Starts Here

Karen Friedland kicks off Stone Soup's National Poetry Month.

April 5: Stone Soup Proves Nothing Slows Down Karen Friedland

 

 

I first got acquainted with Karen Friedland's work when I featured "alongside" her for an online feature in 2021. She's been an unstoppable force ever since, and I admire her relentless ability to work in spite of everything life throws at her. She has agreed to feature this Wednesday, April 5. You need to be a part of this.

Join us on April 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link. 

The meeting ID is 814 4713 1214

Password: stonesoup

 

Happy Birthday, Karen Friedland

Stick around a while longer. Please.

This Life Will Soon Be Past

The latest issue of Nixes Mate Review focuses on climate change. Click here to read work from Tom Daley, Karen Friedland, Crystal Karlberg and a host of others.

Happy Birthday, Karen Friedland

 Ridiculously alive indeed. Aren't we all?

Taking a Mental Victory Lap

 

 Thanks to Erik Gehring, Linda CArney Goodrich and Isabelle Goodrich for putting together my feature alongside Karen Friedland for the Menino Arts Center. I got to perform for friends like Toni Bee, Mignon Ariel King and several others. One of my better features. Hopefully, there will be more. 

Tonight

Karen Friedland and I finally get our feature tonight. I'll share a live link on social media if I can.

Tomorrow

Karen Friedland and I finally get our feature tomorrow night. Click here to register before The show.

May 13: My Menino Arts Center Reading with Karen Friedland

Karen and I are reading for the Menino Arts Center this Thursday. Click here to register before Thursday.

My Menino Arts Center 2nd Thursday Poetry Reading with Karen Friedland

 

A year ago, I was scheduled to read alongside Karen Friedland. COVID-19 happened, and then our feature was pulled. A year later, Karen and I are coming back. Thanks to the Menino Arts Center for making this happen. Click here to register before next week.

My Hyde Park Reading with Karen Friedland on March 12

Thanks to Linda Carney-Goodrich, I'll be reading at the Menino Arts Center for the Hyde Park Art Association's 2nd Thursday Poetry Reading alongside fellow poet Karen Friedland. There's a link to the Facebook event page here for more information. I appreciate the opportunity, and I hope to bring a surprise or two with me to the reading. I hope both Karen and I see you there.