Remembering Ron Goba

 

Like most people in the Boston poetry scene who have been around long enough, my first experience with Ron Goba was seeing him perform at the end of the open mic at the Cantab Lounge for Wednesday's Boston Poetry Slam. 

A Decade of Patron Emeritus

Last Sunday marked the first day my first ever full-length collection was made available from FootHills Publishing online. It is a book that would never have been created if not for a series of wonderful events that took almost a decade to bring me to the moment I never thought I would see as a poet. 

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.

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.

Happy Belated Birthday Keith Nystrom

Back with Ron

Yesterday I was able to workshop from Ron Goba and friends after months of missing out due to travelling and moving.

Happy Birthday, Keith Nystrom

The Year of Goba Continues

Got back last night after Ron Goba's amazing reading at The Cantab (his second in as many months). They already put up a nice write up about it. I sneaked some pictures on my iPhone not only to document my friend but to let  you all in on something Keith Nystrom and I brainstormed.

At first, you see an image of Ron Reading, but pan back and...

I made that "Hope" homage via an online feature on Facebook some years ago. This is the first time it's been done as a poster.

At Keith's suggestion (and it was a good one), the poster was left behind for Slammaster Simone Beaubien. But given that Ron has a reading coming up at Stone Soup on June 29, I can safely guarantee that this won't be the last time you see this image pop up.

Happy Birthday, Keith Nystrom

Happy (somewhat belated) Birthday, Keith Nystrom

It's been a rough day, country-wise.  Marking your day of birth is the day's high point.