Last Week's Highlight

This shot of Laurel Lambert in the Boston Common with the cokes I bought for her. 

Stone Soup Croutons, 2-22-23: Destiny Can't Wait

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.

Welcome back, Black Byrd! I m sorry the YouTube video isn't up yet. I'm going to see what I can do about fixing the fact that it's out of sync. Until then, here's another poem for a quiet intimate feature with friends. Thanks for reading.

Destiny Can't Wait

 

Even as we manifest,

the trains derail

SAFE DISTANCE EDITION - Stone Soup Croutons, 12-8-21: The Christmas Wars

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked 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 out now collecting the best of my first year of poems. Click here to purchase it.

Stone Soup was back this Wednesday. I know there won't be features for the rest of the month, but I'm not so sure there'll be open mics leading up to the end of the year. A lot is happening, and anything I do could be cancelled at the last minute. I'm taking it one day at a time.

Might as well get my holiday poem in while I can.

I put out the call for submissions for The Christmas Wars at Oddball Magazine yesterday, right after what's being called Pine Eleven. Even though I created the Christmas Wars segment, I don't think I have a poem with that title. Let's change that. 

There were fewer holiday references on Wednesday, but I can do a lot with a little. Thanks for reading. Please submit your work to Oddball!

The Christmas Wars

 

At the end of Die Hard,

Christmas won't be saved

for another year.
Still haven't the chance 

of a steel mill in Pittsburg,

a Romeo do-over,

SAFE DISTANCE EDITION - Stone Soup Croutons, 9-29-21: Before You Leave School

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked 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 out now collecting the best of my first year of poems. Click here to purchase it.

 

Thank you, Denise Washington, for a wonderful feature. The open mic was teeming. I present this poem that hopefully reflects the positivity of the night. It would be about time for that to happen. 

 

The title was inspired by Denise's opening for her feature, a recitation of "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks. Thanks for reading.

Before You Leave School

Not moving is the most

powerful act you can achieve,

if only. 

 

Mother only wanted you

to stop,

take a moment to eat.

SAFE DISTANCE EDITION - Stone Soup Croutons, 7-28-21: Dating 101

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked 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 out now collecting the best of my first year of poems. Click here to purchase it.

Thank you, Laura Kiesel, for a fine feature. You've come a long way since you first Stone Soup feature ten years ago. I'm buying your book today and rooting for you to find a new home in Boston. 

This week's poem won't do Laura's poems justice, so you should listen to that if you haven't already. It's funny how I even incoporated some imagetry from her opening monologue before she even read a poem. Lot of memories brought up. Thanks for reading. 

Dating 101

The default message 

from substitute therapist

is to kill your dog. 

Can't toss pebble anywhere

without hitting siren. 

time for bigger rocks.

SAFE DISTANCE EDITION - Stone Soup Croutons, 7-14-21: Emergency Dispatch to the Archivist

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked 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 an award nominated book out now collecting the best of my first year of poems. Click here to purchase it.

Andrew K. Peterson went the distance on Wednesday. Due to mass technical difficulties, we had our shortest open mic roster. Not that you would have noticed as Andrew read for a very receptive audience of friends and new listeners. A performance worthy of a larger live audience. I wish I had worn something a little more formal than my Massachusetts Poetry Festival tee shirt. Should have written a more upbeat poem too, but it's summer I have chaos on the brain. I appreciate Andrew's voice and imagery taking me out of it by the end (yes, Andrew, people do look wonderful together). Thanks for reading.

Emergency Dispatch to the Archivist

CIA could never crack

subliminal messages

in Mr. Rogers' lyrics. 

Time devoured so much

needless labor meant

to destroy another mentor.

Stone Soup Croutons, 6-13-19, He buys her smokes and she burns him new eyes,

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday morning.

Gloria Monaghan had a great feature last night. You can see video from last night here. I got there late due to work just as Laurel Lambert kicked off the open mic and hit the ground writing. This is what I have on a day where I have to be in multiple places at once.

The title ends in a comma. That is intentional. Last Sunday at our regular workshop, Ron was mulling over a poem of mine and wondered if I should put a comma in the title of another poem, adding that he had never seen it done before. I didn't do that in the workshop poem, but I'm trying it here just for the challenge. Thanks for reading. 


He buys her smokes
and she burns him new eyes,

the poor balloon boy,
pushover now pushed
right into the gutter.

Stone Soup Croutons, 3-28-19, Zero's Journey

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday morning.

Laurel Lambert's featured last night to close out March at Stone Soup. I'm looking forward to National Poetry Month and feeling very optimistic .  Take that into consideration when you get to this week's poem. Thanks for reading.


Zero's Journey

We delude selves
as meteors do.

Document plummet
and call it a rise.

New Laurel Lambert Flyer

We're Back On: Laurel Lambert Featuring at Stone Soup

Laurel Lambet's feature was scheduled for the beginning of March. It was cancelled due to illness. She's back and ready to help us close out March and slide in to National Poetry Month. Join us this coming Thursday, March 28. And keep a watch out for even more news for National Poetry Month and Stone Soup's 48th anniversary month.

Stone Soup Croutons, 3-14-19, Underground

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday morning.

Liza Zayas was last night's feature. It was a fun night with new audience members. With Liza's impressive online catalog enabling me to go back and read over the poem she recited last night, I tried to give this poem more cohesion than usual.  Of course, it turned into a tribute for her. How could it not? Thanks for reading.


Underground

For Liza Zayas

Subway bodies stand like castles.

If they could, they would take the snow

from outside, build moats to separate

any grass that might come between soles.

Stone Soup Croutons, 3-7-19, Midlife Graffiti

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday morning.

Laurel Lambert had to cancel last night's feature due to illness. I informed those who were coming specifically for her. A sad and short open mic was the aftermath of that news. Ergo, it's a sad little poem day. It happens.

Not much else to say. I actually like the poem, but I'm looking forward to better news and better poems in March. Thanks for reading.


Midlife Graffiti

Spill your alphabet
over her perfect language.

This Thursday Night

Stone Soup Croutons, 2-14-19, Prelude to Travel

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday morning.

Last night was our open mic. Given that there was no Valentines related theme, there were a surprising amount of love (or loveish) poems. Not that you'll see that in the work below. I'm taking a trip tomorrow, so that got into my poem, of course. Yes, it's a little silly. Shut up. I have to pack. Thanks for reading.


Prelude to Travel

All rich liberals vacationing on islands
have nightmares of dying in the cold
with the homeless they used to tsk tsk by.

Stone Soup Croutons, 8-30-18, Salesman Talks to You Until He Can Find a Rock

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday morning.

Last night's Stone Soup was quiet. Chalk it up to fatigue from the hot days and the fact that it's the night before the Labor Day weekend. It was still a good night, and I got to see Laurel Lambert's new chapbook, The Sun Exploded In My Mind, which has an intro by Atlantic Monthly writer James Parker! I was still very politically-minded in my writing, but I was able to add a little levity and nonsense this week. Thanks for reading.


A Salesman Talks to You Until He Can Find a Rock

It's not the economy.
It's the stupidity, genius!

Do you have money?
Have you listened to anything I've said?
Answer the second question first!

Stone Soup Croutons, 6-7-18, Random Acts of Penitence

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes up because it's Friday afternoon (which is probably going to be the regular time from now on, as mornings are becoming impossible).

Last night was another open mic. I am heading out this afternoon for the graduation of my friend's son (also known as my de facto nephew), so here's what I have. It makes no sense, and it even has a line about John Wilkes Booth that made more sense when I wrote that half-asleep. Thanks for reading.


Random Acts of Penitence

Getting rid of obscenity
is a nine step program,
more than George Carlin's

forbidden words,
less than all swears
in one language.

Stone's Throw #6 is Out

The last issue of Stone's Throw is out today. It's only been a month since the last one, but I wanted to have a sixth issue to close out the year. I thank everyone who contributed work throughout this past year. It's been fantastic publishing all of you.

“I Keep on Going, Guess I’ll Never Know Why” is the title/theme for Stone's Throw #6. You can download it here.

Big kudos to Adric Giles for going through with my idea for the cover. It's definitely a great follow-up to the #TrumpDump cover to Stone's Throw #4.

I have a poem to kick things off. Then you can get to the work by Elizabeth Hanson, Deta Galloway, Zachary Bos, Abagail Petersen, Liza Zayas, Melissa Silva, Laurel Lambert, Rene Schwiesow and Ron Goba.

If this is your first time hearing about Stone's Throw, I recommend clicking this page to download the rest.

Stone Soup Croutons, 10-2-17, Free Fall

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions butchered picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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. To paraphrase Lorne Michaels, this poem doesn't go up because it's ready, it goes on because it's Tuesday morning.

Some new faces during last night's all-open mic. Some returning familiar faces as well (hi, Laurel Lambert). Thanks to James Van Looy for reading from The Mechanical Bride by Marshall McLuhan and Niamh Faherty for her reading of Irish folklore. Those things, along with the events of the last day or so, added to the poem, along with the title.


Freefall

The Church of the Wannabe
makes their temple altar
under the doorway to a party
they weren't invited to,

Stone Soup Croutons, 3-27-17, Mother Says

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup'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.

Dexter Roberts had his reading yesterday. A nice opening for his upcoming gallery show. Friends reuniting, poems being read, and me trying to make sense of it, as usual. Here's what I came up with.


Mother Says

God looks for something
to make something.

Those who are too thin-skinned
can slip through the lock.

A Blast from The Past

Laurel Lambert receiving the Jack Powers Stone Soup Savor Poetry Prize from Gordon Marshal (tonight's feature) six years ago.