your ripe autumn annogram

Happy September.  I love the gold quality of the light through the trees, and the blue skies.  Good news:  My poem, “Trinity,” based on Shakespearian Sonnet 34, appears in Out of Sequence: The Sonnets Remixed.  Editor D. Gilson is posting about the project, and the Parlor Press book arrives this fall.  Main Street Rag Press has accepted “At the County Airport, 1964,” for its car anthology; and best of all, my interview with translator and poet J. Chester Johnson will appear in Illuminations in June.

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn - photo by Mike Virsinger

Little Games, a band featuring my husband Michael Cefola, made its debut at the Eastchester Inn on September 6.  The band plays a riveting mix of 1960s British blues-rock, from Yardbirds, Animals and Who to later artists such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and Gary Moore.  From left to right: keyboardist Anthony Nisi, guitarist Michael Cefola, drummer Tommy Vinton, and bassist Larry Schwartzman.  Be sure to catch Little Games at Foley’s in Pleasantville on November 8 at 10pm.  See you there for more amazing music!
  

Bookbinder Malcolm Summers

Traditional English Bookbinder

What a pleasure to discover the joys of bookbinding from Malcolm Summers, whose sunlit studio above the Chester Bookworm is filled with quality acid-free paper, Scottish leathers, space-age glue and old-fashioned presses.  He binds everything from antique books and dissertations to wedding albums, and his clients span the globe.  You can even take a workshop with him to learn this noble trade.  Aren’t you relieved to know that someone like Malcom is still crafting books?

Linda Simone and new book

Linda Simone and Archeology

Poet Linda Simone is pleased to announce the publication of Archeology (Flutter Press, 2014). Linda’s long-time fascination with archeology led to this collection, which juxtaposes poems about real archeological finds with poems about modern experiences that serve to reconnect people--both living and dead.  I love Linda’s work, and encourage you to purchase this distinctive collection.

Kevin Pilkington Master Poetry Class

National Book Award poet and novelist Kevin Pilkington is holding a Poetry Master Class for five sessions this fall at the Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute for students with an MFA or MA in Writing who would like to get back into a workshop atmosphere, Tuesdays, November 11 - December 16, 6pm-8pm. Here are all of the details.  Kevin's novel, Summer Shares, is now available as a paperback on Amazon.

Ferguson in view of Elaine Race Massacres

J. Chester Johnson

The Task Force Against Racism at Trinity Wall Street will host a symposium on the Elaine Race Massacre today at 2 pm, at St. Paul’s Chapel.  The Elaine Race Massacre, perhaps the deadliest racial conflagration in US history, led to the Supreme Court’s Moore v Dempsey ruling toward equal protection and eventually to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.  Civil rights activist, historian and poet J. Chester Johnson will speak on this tragic event.  If you miss it, be sure to read his essay.

OSilas Gallery Celebrates Local History

Hotel Gramatan in Bronxville, NY

Legacies, Landmarks & Achievements: Celebrating 350 Years – Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville celebrates  30+ local historical figures as well as the legacies of the Tuckahoe marble quarry and the famed Hotel Gramatan.  Discover surprising history in your own backyard!  At the OSilas Gallery through November 9; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 12-5pm; Thursday: 12-7pm; Saturday & Sunday: 2-5pm. 

Quick Draw returns

John Lehr as Sherriff John Henry Hoyle

Ever wonder whatever happened to the Geico caveman?  John Lehr stars in Quick Draw, a western comedy on Hulu that has just returned for a second season.  Archeologist John McCray inspires the program’s historical authenticity, going as far as Fort Smith, Arkansas to research the notorious Belle Starr for an episode or two.  Bravo to Lehr and McCray for creating a hilarious and authentic comedy!

Calls for Work

Highland Park Poetry wants poems and photos about grandparents or great-grandparents. Send poems (30 lines max) and jpegs by September 23 to jennifer@
highlandparkpoetry.org.

Vida looking for essays on intersections between gender, race, sexuality, class, physical abilities; misogyny in workshops/publishing/readings/theater/film that illuminate larger social issues; feminist literary successes/innovations; making gender privilege visible in the literary and larger world. 

Evie Shockley

Poetry Readings / Talks

Fall ushers in poetry readings and talks to keep you round and sweet as a Gala apple: 

September 23 – Eleni Sikelianos on mixing genres, Poets House, 7pm

September 28 – Ellen Bass, Katonah Library, 4pm

October 4 – Richard Forman, Tracie Morris; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 7 – Octavio Paz Centennial Celebration, Poets House, 7:00pm

October 9 – Evie Shockley, St. Francis College, 4:30 p.m.

October 11 – Kate Berlant, Tony Torn, Ubu Sings Ubu; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 12 – Jim Daniels, Katonah Library, 4pm

October 18 – Jomar Statkun, Christopher Stackhouse, Maria Damon; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 25 – Malik Gaines, Alex Segade; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

The Frank O'Hara Chocolate Shake

Frank O'Hara (1926-1966), a premier New York School poet, loved having a daily cheeseburger and chocolate shake for lunch, his favorite meal.  He'd walk around midtown, get some inspiration and type up a poem before starting on his afternoon work.  Those poems ultimately became Lunch Poems (City Lights, 1964).  I love his poetry as much as a good shake, and this one is good for you.  

2 cups almond milk*

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon or more raw cacao powder

1 half of a ripe avocado

1 heaping teaspoon of almond butter

1 tablespoon or more of raw coconut nectar

a dash of cinnamon

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend on high for a few minutes.  Taste to see if the shake is sweet and chocolaty enough, and adjust if you need stronger flavor.  Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

*To make your own, soak one-half cup raw slivered almonds in filtered water overnight.  Pour water and almonds in blender with teaspoon of vanilla, two cups or more water, and blend on high for three minutes.  Strain almond milk through a tea-strainer into a container with a lid.  Keeps three to four days.

'Round the Net

One of Powell's 25

Cindy Hochman, editor of First Literary Review East, for the latest issue

ALTA list-serve for this article on British readers gobbling up foreign translations, a new bio on Proust translator Scott Moncrief, a French portrait of literary translators, and how to translate an untranslatable book

Francis Battista, Best Friends cofounder, on “Four-Footed Citizens”

Guy Bennett, editor, for publishing Portia Elan’s Ghazals for the Body (Mindmade Books, 2014)

Another Powell's 25

Christopher Brisson, writer, for this wonderful upbeat video for dog lovers

Terry Dugan, poet and filmmaker, for Powell's 25 Books to Read Before You Die

Cindy Dunne, Lakota Kids Enrichment, for beautiful poetry by Lakota children

Dennis Dybeck, translator, on Jerome the patron saint of translators

Gary Glauber, poet, for poems in jmww and 3 Elements Review (page 47)

Ruth Handel, Dos Madres Press poet, on her recent Warner Library reading

Cindy Hochman, editor of First Literary Review East, for the latest issue

And one more

Mary McCray, poet, for this take-off on net neutrality and fabulous fall Big Bang Poetry newsletter

Christina Rau, Dancing Girl Press poet, for "Notes From Her Suicidal Bed" selected by Goodreads in July

Sam and Liz, editors of Circumference, for bringing back this great translation journal

Jay Shulman, music archivist, for this Zombies band documentary and revelation on Jim Morrison's death; and for celebrating the lives of Bob Crewe, Charlie Haden and Johnny Winter.

Tourism Santa Fe, for the Burning of Zozobra (feel sorry for Zozo—what did he do?)

Frank Vitale, filmmaker, for his “Car Driving” and “Traffic Signaling in the Mediated City” videos

Wishing you the ripe creativity of fall,

Ann

your sizzling summer annogram

Thank you for looking for your July annogram.  Annogram was away for the holiday weekend, so I am back to see what’s of interest this month to my uber-creative subscribers.  Hmmm…looks like artists may take over!

Lilly Ledbetter with President Obama

Women poets in the work space

Are poets “the unacknowledged legislators of the world?”  Mais oui, say Carolyne Wright, Mary Baylor, and Eugenia Toledo, editors of Raising Lilly Ledbetter: Women Poets Occupy the Workspace, to be published by Lost Horse Press this fall.  I am thrilled my poem, “First Job,” will appear in this anthology.  Despite the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, women still earn only 77 cents to a dollar earned by men.  Harrumph.

Theater Diva

Finally, a blog about cultural events in and around New York City!  Arts columnist Debra Banerjee, who interviewed me recently, does us all a favor by reviewing concerts, plays and art exhibits.  I particularly loved her profile of Marilyn Maye, a cabaret singer still going strong at age 86.  Brava, Debra!

Brooklyn Bridge by Linda Simone

(Sub) Urban:  Watercolors by Linda Simone

Linda Simone’s extraordinary watercolors grace the Madeleine Gutman Gallery at Greenburgh Town Hall.  The opening reception drew a SRO-crowd and well-wishers filled Linda’s arms with roses.  Her exquisite paintings run from brooding Manhattan scenes to open seasonal landscapes.   See this fine exhibit, curated by Sarah Bracey White, through August 27.

Photo by Michael Cefola

Feast of St. Anthony in Little Italy

Oh, the joys of the Bronx, aka daBronx!  Bronxites refer to nonresidents as “the unfortunate.”   My husband Michael, our good friend Elaine Nole, and I headed to Arthur Avenue one Sunday for pastry and espresso at DeLillo’s.  Little did we know it was the Feast of St. Anthony, the Franciscan saint known for finding lost things, and Michael snapped this great photo.

Deborah Coulter collage

Deborah Coulter will display her outstanding collages and drawings, with work by artist Lake Charles, in an exhibit, “Dreams and Memories,” at the Oresman Gallery at the Larchmont Public Library.  An opening reception, this Thursday, July 10, from 6-8 pm, is free and open to the public.  Exhibit runs through August 29.

Danielle Jackson photography

Photographer Danielle Jackson’s exhibit, “Lighthouses & Landscapes,” will be on display in the gallery at Ossining Public Library throughout the month of July—I can’t think of a better way to cool off than to take in Dani’s serene seascapes!

Creamy Summer Vegetable Soup

Here’s a savory vegetarian soup I created.  Add other vegetables as you like—but don’t cheat on the curry leaves which give the soup its needed bass note.  This delicious soup also requires a countertop electric grill with a lid, such as you would use for hamburgers or grilled cheese sandwiches; and a hand blender. 

Vegetable oil spray

1 yellow zucchini, sliced thin lengthwise

1 green zucchini, sliced thin lengthwise

1 carrot, sliced thin lengthwise

1 red pepper, cored, seeded, sliced into strips

A handful of curry leaves

Salt

Plain yogurt (optional)

Spray grill with vegetable oil and heat grill according to its instructions.  When grill is hot, place vegetables on grill perpendicular to grooved surface.  Close lid and cook 10 minutes.  Open lid, turn vegetables over, and cook another 10 minutes.  The vegetables should be soft with brown or black grill marks.  Some may need to cook longer than others; remove cooked vegetables to a plate. 

Combine vegetables in saucepan with water to cover.  Bring to a boil.  Remove saucepan from heat.  Purée vegetables with your hand-held blender.  Add curry leaves and blend until completely smooth.  If soup is too thick, add water.  Salt to taste.  You may add a dollop of yogurt to make it creamier, or to decorate soup once ladled.   Serves two.

You can find fresh curry leaves at an Indian or Pakistani grocery.  Do not substitute curry powder—it’s overpowering and a completely different flavor.

Photo by Carol Booth

Round the net

Congratulations and/or thanks to:

T J Banks’ blog on the Best American Poetry website

Carol Booth for taking these great photos from the Mermaid Parade

Steve Brannon for latest downloadable issue of Small Print Magazine

Terry Dugan for this article on France’s anti-Amazon stance

Photo by Carol Booth

Beth Gersh-Nesic for Tatjana Bergelt’s exhibit at the Serbian Consulate through July 27

Gary Glauber for poems in Stone Voices and The Citron Review

Claudia Hammon for this poetic rant by William Logan

Cindy Hochman for her review of Alison Stone’s Dangerous Enough (Presa Press, 2014)

Janet Kaplan for recommending this writing workshop on film and poetry

Photo by Carol Booth

Robert McDowell for his new website

Laura Morelli for 10 Reasons to Love Limoncello

Poets House for its annual poetry book showcase, on view through August 16

Jay Shulman on noting the passing of Gerry Goffin and Ultra Violet

Photo by Carol Booth

Linda Simone for her poem, “The Incredible Shrinking Woman,” in Carnival Magic

Linda again for this piece on solitude

The Small Town Theater for its summer concert series

Frank Vitale for chapter six of The Metropolis Organism

Keep cool, keep creative!

Until next time,

Ann

your june annogram

We begin June with this wondrous photo taken by a friend at a wedding in Australia.  If ever I needed an image of muses, it would be these young women in sparkles fluttering against a strong offshore breeze.  May your muses move with the wind too!

Our winged Dodge and a sweet donkey

Do you remember cars with push-button gears, plaid-fabric bench seats and chrome fins?  My poem, “At the County Airport,” recalls such space-age designs.  To my delight, Main Street Rag has accepted it for a car-themed anthology.  I’m also thrilled that issue 46 of Sugar Mule features two of my poems.  Thanks again to guest editor Alyse Knorr.

Karin Miller

Anthology awards / readings

Congratulations to editor Karin Miller, whose Cancer Poetry Project 2 (Tasora Books, 2013) was named Best Poetry Book of 2013 at the Midwest Book Awards Gala on May 15 and is a National Indie Excellence Award finalist.

A Slant of Light (Codhill Press, 2013) has won First Prize in the 2014 USA Book Awards for Anthology and the 2014 da Vinci Eye Eric Hoffer Book (Cover) Award; and is a finalist in the 2014 Beverly Hills International Book Awards for Anthology, 2014 NextGeneration Indie Book Awards in Women’s Issues, and 2014 International Book Awards in Chick Lit/Women’s Literature.

Martin Espada

Hear fantastic poets from St. Peter’s B-List (Ave Maria Press, 2014) on Wednesday, June 11, 6-8:30 pm, read at Poets House, 10 River Terrace, NYC, across from Battery Park.  Poets include Kate Daniels, Martin Espada, Brett Foster, Gerry LaFemina, Jamison Lee, Susan L. Miller, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, Susanna Rich, Nicholas Samara, and Lauren Schmidt.

The Widow’s Handbook (Kent State University Press, 2014) continues readings: June 5, 7 pm, Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St NW, Washington, DC;  June 7, 2 pm, Swarthmore College, Trotter Hall 301; June 8, 7 pm, Stonehenge Studios, 3508 SW Corbett Ave., Portland, OR; June 10, 2 pm, East Castle Place, 2505 E. Bradford Place, Milwaukee, WI; June 26, 7 pm, Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main Street, Concord, NH,  and July 9, 11 am, Shorewood Senior Resource Center, 3920 N. Murray Ave, Shorewood, WI.

Petra Lewis

Petra Lewis at WORD

WORD - A Caribbean Book Fest will celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month on Sunday, June 8, 2 – 8 pm, at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, in Brooklyn.  Petra Lewis, author of The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I, A Requiem, will join 35 writers from 18 countries celebrating the storyteller in all of us.

Dianalee Velie Poetry Workshop

Dianalee Velie

If you’re in southwest New Hampshire this summer, you can join the Monday Night Poetry Group the second Monday of the month at 7 pm, at the Newbury Library .  Poet Dianalee Velie encourages everyone to come, listen, or read.  Next session Monday, June 9.  All levels welcome. 



Paul Harding

Canaan Meetinghouse Reading Series

In the same NH neighborhood, stop by these readings which feature nonfiction writer Douglas Bauer and author Sue Miller on July 10, poet Jeffrey Harrison and novelist Deb Harkness on July 17, natural historian Bernd Heinrich and novelist Rachel Urquhart on July 24, author Abigail Carroll and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Paul Harding on July 31. Readings start at 7:30 pm at the Meetinghouse, Canaan Street, Canaan, NH.

New books

Tanya Chernov is delighted that her anthology, The Burden of Light (Smashwords, 2014), is live on Amazon.

Dancing Girl Press announces a new chapbook, Borrowed Logic, by Alison Stone.

Petra Lewis announces that the EBook version of her novel, The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I, A Requiem, is live on Amazon.

James Dean

Mindmade Books has published Bernat Manciet’s Ode to James Dean in a bilingual edition translated by Pierre Joris and Nicole Peyrafitte.  This 1958 hallucinatory meditation on the actor’s death, captures “brutal, sharp, abrasive, wily, loutish, irascible, burning, rash, fighting, aggressive” qualities that Manciet (1923-2005) prized as a major latter 20^th-century Occitan writer.

Red Glass Books is beside itself with joy to announce the publication of Café between wars, a chapbook by Karen Garthe and designed by Janet Kaplan.  Available from the author—please email her at macminch2@gmx.com for details.

Calls for work

Red Booth Review is accepting poems on celebrity and art and photos on isolation through June 30.  Include 4-10 poems within an email and/or 3-5 digital images no greater than 720px.   See current issue for editorial preferences in poetry.

Watercolor by Isabelle Fuller

Beatrix Potter Redux

Thanks to artist Isabelle Fuller for sharing this delightful spring watercolor which pays homage to classic Beatrix Potter illustrations.

Racoco on the go-go

SOAK: A torrent of AcTS and Training molded by LEIMAY at CAVE will take place June 19 at 8 pm. Racoco Productions will show a new collaboration with visual artist Stephanie Beck and composer Lynn Wright, Paper Work, which charts ideas of "progress," territorial expansion, discipline, and disorder.

Beck and Racoco will follow up this premiere with an installation and series of performances at Harlem’s Chashama Performance Space, 1351 Amsterdam Avenue. The installation will be open to the public Saturday, June 21, from 3 - 9 pm, Sunday from noon - 8 pm, and Monday from 10 am - 9 pm.

Benefit Harp Concert

On Sunday, June 15, at 4 pm, harpist David Holton and flutist Pamela Sklar will perform, accompanied by tenors Michael Hull and Robert Puleo at Trinity St. Paul’s Church in New Rochelle.  This benefit will raise funds to send David Holton to the Philippines as part of the Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps. Reception to follow concert.  Suggested Donation:  $15.

Send Sam to Ghana

Sam Russell, a recent Trinity College graduate with an economics degree, is going to volunteer in Ghana where he will help WomensTrust improve their operations, focus on micro lending to women to eliminate poverty, and raise awareness how scholarships can improve life for girls.  Help Sam get to Ghana by contributing to his IndieGoGo campaign.

Cool Ginger Limeade

When the heat rises, I thirst for something delicious.  I created this recipe as an alternative to chemical- and high fructose-sugar-laden ginger ale. Ginger has an astringent quality that cleanses the digestive system, and lime is alkaline to counteract acidity.  Great after a big meal!

1 cup bottled natural spring water

1 quarter-size quarter-inch slice of ginger root, peeled

1/2 lime

2 Tablespoons (more or less to taste) organic raw honey

This refreshing drink calls for a strong blender.  Combine water and ginger root in blender and process on the highest setting about a half minute.  Using a tea strainer over a tall glass, strain the ginger water into the glass.  Rinse out the blender to make sure it is free of any ginger. 

Return the ginger water to the blender and squeeze the juice of one-half lime into blender.  Add two tablespoons of raw honey.  Blend again on high.  Pour back into glass.  The drink will be a lovely cream color and develop a foamy head.  Drink right away.  Serves one.

Round the Net

American Literary Translators Association list-serve for this article on publishers fighting Amazon

Translator Jeffrey Angles for sharing this article by the great Persian translator Dick Davis on translating Hafez. 

Contemporary poets discuss  poetry
hosted by UPenn Prof Al Filreis

Professor Al Filreis for sharing this early greeting from his celebrated teaching assistants preparing for September’s ModPo class

Belated birthday wishes to Gary Glauber, whose poems “Anthem” and “Refrain” appear in The Citron Review; and has three more poems in The Blue Hour, and two in East Jasmine Review, purchasable at the East Jasmine Review Store.

Writing mentor Robert McDowell for letting us know about his new workshop, Flash Writing for Fantastic Exploration, starting June 11—to register, email rmcdowell@mind.net 

Congratulations to Laura Morelli on winning a silver IPPY Award for Best Adult Fiction Ebook for her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, also been shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Award, the da Vinci Eye Prize, and the National Indie Excellence Award

The Offbeats

Congratulations to Jay Shulman (second, right) of the Offbeats, especially guitarist Michael Cefola (far left), on another tremendous Night of Rock benefit for the Scarsdale Teen Center

Thanks to Linda Simone for alerting us to the passing of the beloved civil rights activist and poet, Maya Angelou

Congratulations to Ellen Steinbaum on her guest entry on The Best American Poetry Blog

Thanks to filmmaker Frank Vitale for sharing Episode 5 of the Metropolis Organism and this fascinating look back at his role in the PBS children’s program, Shining Time Station

Maya Angelou

We close this annogram with a Maya Angelou quote, “All great achievements require time.”  Angelou overcame racism, poverty, and sexual assault, only to find a higher purpose in civil rights activism and powerful poetry and prose.  All it took was time.  Eighty-six years of extraordinary courage—which annogram celebrates today.

Until next time,

Ann