Future Poetry Readings

March 19, 2010

Francine d'Alessandro

My poetry has appeared in Sahara, Diner, The Longfellow Society Journal, The Worcester Review and other publications. A past president of the Worcester County Poetry Association, I continue to serve on the WCPA board and manage the organization’s web site. In 2009, WCPA Annual Poetry Contest judge James Haug selected as First Prize winner “Greetings from Bryce Canyon,” one of a series of travel poems. Among my favorite themes – otherwise known as obsessions – are western travel, characters from my Brooklyn childhood, the Donner Party, and dreams in which Jack Kerouac may or may not be offering advice on writing and life accompanied by an Erik Satie soundtrack.

Travel Advisory

Never take no cutoffs and hurry along
as fast as you can.
Virginia Reed, Donner Party survivor,
in a letter sent east to her cousin.

To be named Death in the west is not enough.
Defeat. Desolation. Despair. None will deter
the curious step which loves the treacherous
crevasse as truly as the inky bog and brittle skim
along the turquoise pool. All signs warn against
straying from the path, all else is seduction.

Francine D'Alessandro

Jim Fay

My poetry has appeared in Sahara, Diner, The Longfellow Society Journal, The Worcester Review and other publications. A past president of the Worcester County Poetry Association, I continue to serve on the WCPA board and manage the organization’s web site. In 2009, WCPA Annual Poetry Contest judge James Haug selected as First Prize winner “Greetings from Bryce Canyon,” one of a series of travel poems. Among my favorite themes – otherwise known as obsessions – are western travel, characters from my Brooklyn childhood, the Donner Party, and dreams in which Jack Kerouac may or may not be offering advice on writing and life accompanied by an Erik Satie soundtrack.

Armadillo Trousers

Caveman! Caveman! Caveman!
The wretch
Screamed
Her man did it again
Grease on the stove
Grease on the counter
Grease on the side of the refrigerator
Caveman!
He would be better off
Gnawing on haunches of
Freshly-killed beasts
Caveman!
He scoops food of his plate
With his fingers
And leaves mouth-missed
Artifacts
All around the kitchen
Caveman!
He moves to the couch
Dropping items of clothing
To the ground
In a rayon trail
Until naked, he passes out
On the couch
Dreaming of mastodons.
Still,
She thinks,
He is better than
Her last man

If you are interested in becoming a future Featured Reader, please contact Doris Ann Sweet at dasweet@assumption.edu.

Page last updated: February 5, 2010