Rain won't dampen the conclusion of the annual Paterson Poetry Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21.I just heard that due to the inclement weather, the venue has been moved from the steps of Court House Plaza to International High School, at 200 Grand St. in Paterson... where there will still be vendors and food trucks and poetry from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It's a resilient bunch, and Allen Ginsberg would be proud.
You can read more about the festival by following Word Seed Inc. on social media. It's a great organization, led by Talena Lachelle Queen, Paterson's Poet Laureate since 2018.
At last year's event, I met some wonderful people, including poet Dimitri Reyes, representing CavanKerry Press. Since January, I've been trying -- "trying" being the operative word -- to write poems following weekly prompts from him.
Dimitri is encouraging and supportive. I love the music in his poetry and his readings, and I look forward to hearing and meeting more poets on Saturday.
The past two prompts from Dimitri this October have been:
1. "Spend some time thinking about 2 poems and 1 song that you really enjoy. Read the three of them together and see what conversation they're creating. Try your hand and putting these different lines together into one poem."
2. "Read this wonderful essay by Franchesca Melendez about Sami Miranda. Listen to his poem as well. Write a poem about any of the faces illustrated by Miranda."
See my attempts below. Anyone can be a poet!
Kinda. 🙂
See you in Paterson on Saturday?
---------
Annabel Brightside Alone
From childhood’s hour,
I have never been as others were.
I never, I never
understood the destiny
calling me.
This mystery that binds me still.
The sick lullabies
I intoned, reciting the poetry of Poe
to our children.
As if I were a child too.
My all-consuming jealousy,
this demon in my view,
has taken control.
Even now, as I approach my tomb.
Eyes open, seeing the price I paid,
I covet the angels.
They remind me of you.
My darling, my life, my bride.
It started out as a kiss.
How did it end up like this?
---------
 |
| Illustration by Sami Miranda |
Greetings From Budd Lake
It’s Taco Tuesday at Buccaboo’s Burritos,
where poetry isn’t for sale.
It must be prompted,
summoned from the ordinary.
It must be earned.
So I consider your face:
Your eyes closed,
allowing me to see your pain.
The fluorescent highlights in your golden hair
mocking this red October.
Your exasperated expression
trivializing my attempt at transcendence.
Forgive me, Senora.
Forgive these lunatic scribblings,
freezing time on the margins of this receipt,
conjuring your apotheosis.
