April may be national poetry month, but the Vineyard seems to be kicking things off early with an unofficial poetry season of our own. Whether you’re interested in hearing local poets read, learning more about internationally celebrated poets, or writing your own verse, there are plenty of events going on during the final weeks of winter and into the spring.
Poetry Cafe
Award-winning writer, producer, and performer Arnie Reisman is hosting a monthly series of readings by local poets at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse’s lobby lounge. Since November Mr. Reisman, the current Martha’s Vineyard poet laureate, has been inviting poets (three per event) to read their poetry. In between each 15-minute set, Mr. Reisman offers one of his own witty, humorous verses.
“I’ve really always thought of myself as a writer mainly and a poet secondarily,” says Mr. Reisman. “My poetry has appeared from time to time embedded in my columns, and I’ve been published in small journals.”
Still, the longtime summer visitor and current year-round Islander has thrown himself into his new role as poet laureate — reading his own work and hosting poetry readings at various venues.
“I think of myself as sort of an ambassador as much as anything,” says Mr. Reisman, “I want to show people that poetry is not harmful to your health.”
To date, the playhouse has hosted three Poetry Cafe evenings. The events have been well attended. The next Poetry Cafe event, on Feb. 17, will feature Rose Styron, Brooks Robards, and Annette Sandrock. The March 3rd poets will be Laura Roosevelt, Don McLagan, and Judith Neeld. On April 7, Michael West, Steve Ewing, and Valerie Sonnenthal will read.
The Poetry Cafe is held one Tuesday each month (dates vary) at 7:30 pm in the Marilyn Meyerhoff Lobby. Admission price of $10 includes beverages and baked goodies, often a slice of Pie Chicks pie.
“Six Contemporary Poets and Their Poetry”
Acclaimed Island poet Jill Jupen will be hosting a six-week educational and participatory poetry series at the West Tisbury library beginning Monday, Feb. 23. Ms. Jupen will be focusing on contemporary poets, one at each session. She wants to introduce people to some of the important 20th and 21st century poets who may not be as well known to everyone. “They’re all very different poets that I would encourage other people to read,” she said.
Her format is a unique and interactive one. “I’ll talk a bit about them and their various styles, and read a couple of their poems. Then people will be encouraged to write a poem in their style.” Ms. Jupen stresses that it’s not a requirement for people to do any writing.
Many of the poets who will be covered are people whom Ms. Jupen has met over the years. Others are people whom she has included in the interest of variety.
“[The late] Hayden Carruth was my best friend,” says Ms. Jupen; “I was his first student.” She remained friends with the award-winning poet and editor of a number of prestigious journals, even after he had moved from Vermont to upstate New York to teach at Syracuse University.
Through Mr. Carruth, Ms. Jupen was introduced to many other influential poets, including a few whose work she will be examining at the West Tisbury library workshops. The six poets whose work will be featured are: Stephen Dobyns (Feb. 23), Thomas Lux (March 2), Hayden Carruth (March 9), Mary Oliver (March 16), Dobby Gibson (March 23), and Tony Hoagland (March 30).
Ms. Jupen wants to keep the discussion groups relatively small. People are encouraged to sign up online at westtisburylibrary.org or in person at the library. It is not necessary to attend all of the sessions.
“Uncommon Threads”
A writing and study group covering a very different range of poets will take place throughout the next few months at the Vineyard Haven library. Former Martha’s Vineyard poet laureate Lee H. McCormack will be focusing on a globally diverse group of poets whose timeline spans the centuries from the ancient world to the 20th century.
Mr. McCormack explains the idea behind the series. “I’m going to focus on non-American poets — mostly Eastern European and South American poets — who have profoundly affected American poets since the 1960s, when they started getting translated into English. The idea is to open people up to other realms of poetry, imagery, and metaphor that are very dynamic and don’t happen in American poetry,” said Mr. McCormack.
The sessions will offer both a reading and writing experience. “It will be a study group to open up new dimensions to people,” says Mr. McCormack. “I hope people will find new ways to approach imagery and metaphor that they can then apply to their own writing.”
The sessions will be relatively informal: “Every other week we’ll look at two or three poems by a few of the poets, then look at writing done by people in the group during that time frame. I look at my role in this as as much of a student as anybody else in the group. I want it to be a thoroughly open discussion, so we can all learn together.” Because of the structure of the group, Mr. McCormack encourages people to attend on a regular basis, but is open to drop-in attendees and does not require that participants come to every session. He requests that people contact him ahead of time at 508-560-5071 or mydawgbeans@gmail.com, so that he can give them an idea of the scope of the group.
Other upcoming poetry events
Pathways at the Chilmark Tavern hosts weekly Tuesday-night open poetry and writing readings. Some will be themed. Check pathwaysmv.org for additional information.
The Edgartown Council on Aging, better known as the Anchors, hosts a weekly poetry workshop with Jill Jupen on Thursday mornings, which introduces new poets and encourages participants to write and share their own work.
The Tisbury Senior Center hosts a series of poetry readings every second Thursday of the month at 1:30 pm until June.
On April 1, the Vineyard Haven library will sponsor a group reading with Rose Styron, Arnie Reisman, and Lee McCormack. Check vhlibrary.org for details as the event gets closer.
Arnie Reisman will read from his work and host a poetry open mic at the West Tisbury library on April 21 at 4:30 pm.