Words and Senses

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but poets can paint a picture, convey a feeling and/or touch the senses with just a few words.

So let's explore our senses:

Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 5 pm Tropical Skoops 11635 Red Rd, Miramar, FL (954) 440-8736

Paradise Live Seminole HardRock  5715 Seminole Way, Hollywood FL, 33314 (954) 585-5091

Gulfstream Writers Presents Autumn Poetry Workshop Saturday, September 27, 2014 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hallandale Beach Branch Community Room 2 300 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale, FL 33009, 954-357-6380 Contact Tasha Watson 954-357-6380

Join us at Cinema Paradiso for Poetry in the Courtyard with sign up starting at 5:30 pm on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Reading begins at 6:00 pm so bring some poems to read or just sit back, relax and listen to the words flow in the Courtyard. Hosted by Suzzette Dawes Cinema Paradiso is located at 503 SE 6th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Tell a friend! Bring a friend!

A review of "The Collection"

Yesterday, I had a poetry reading event. In addition, I received a review of The Collection from Meryl Stratword (author of The Magician's Daughter) and will share the review with you.

Here are some of the poems that especially appealed to me and my thoughts thereon:Fairy Tale:  I'm currently reading anthologies of fairy tale poems.  Anne Sexton's Transformations remains one of my favorite books on the subject.
Running From Love:  I like the way the chorus repeats itself like a song.Loaded Gun:  It brings to mind Emily Dickinson's famous poem, My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun.  Susan Howe wrote an entire book about that one Dickinson poem, My Emily Dickinson.The Heart of Man:  I like the use of metaphor.The Ugly Girl:  This is really interesting in its use of alter ego.  You could do more with this.  And I notice Cinema Paradiso has just opened a film on this theme, The Double.Wolf:  I'm just now reading a beautiful novel with a wolf man theme, Alice Hoffman's Second Nature.A Visit to Brighton:  This is my favorite, and, in my opinion, your best work.  It excels in its narrative drive and in its use of specific detail.  Or, as they say, showing, not telling.Neolithic's Best: I've also been to Stonehenge!No Title:  I like the repetition of shoot me.  This is a good one for poetry readings!Everywhere:  Surreal.  I like the mysteriousness of this one, its dream-like quality.
Many thanks for your book!  It's now on my bookshelf, alphabetically,  between Lucille Clifton and Emily Dickinson.
Love, Meryl

Have you read The Collection? If yes, share your comments with me below.

The Rain Never Bothered Me Anyway

It's July! Yes, midsummer where dreams of sonnets have often invaded my nights after the humidity of the day and the afternoon thunderstorms. The afternoon thunderstorms don't deter me from going out after work. Less people when I take the classes, maybe the rain stops them. I like to do activities after work even if it is raining (Rain or no rain, I have to leave work when my work is done). But if I am already home, I may not want to leave as I like listening to the sound of the rain beating down on the roof.

If at home, why not write! Here's a topic: Miami Heat is losing LeBron and if you're into writing haiku, there's a contest for that go to https://t.co/WQO59s4f69
and you can say your goodbyes to LeBron.

I don't mind driving in the rain to get to poetry events so here are a few  for July:

• Sea Glass Poetry (reading by Sea Glass Project participants) July 24, 2014 starting at 6 pm. Studio 18. 1101 Poinciana Dr, Pembroke Pines, FL 33025. (954) 961-6067.
• Poetry Reading in the Courtyard. July 26, 2014 at 6 pm. Cinema Paradiso. 503 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. (I'm hosting).
• Open Mic Poetry Nite. July 27, 2014 at 5 pm. Hosted by Anastasia Clark. Tropical Skoops. 11635 Red Rd, Miramar, FL 33025.

If you know of any other poetry events for July, let me know in the comments below.

Zapped

Somewhere between the sky crying down on the earth, somewhere between the sound of thunder and frightful light show called lightening, these afternoon thunderstorms have made my once browning grass green and lush and tall. So tall I grabbed the mower one evening after work and mowed but stopped when the rain drops started trickling down because before long it will turn to a downpour with a swimming pool right at my door.

Then comes Saturday and I had promised myself to do some reading at least once a week. At least once a week to search through the venues of mostly Broward and read at some poetry event. However the rain beating down on the roof has me transfixed and I can't even move. My energy has been zapped!

So here's a snapshot of poetry event for next week (courtesy of http://poetry.openmikes.org/calendar/)

Maybe I'll see you there (or here next week).  Until we meet again, here's a poem where rain can't get in our way:

What's next?

Yesterday evening, I hosted my first poetry reading in 2014 at Cinema Paradiso. It was a small group but a great start for the year.  Here’s one of the poems that I shared:

Hopefully next month, I will have more readers and listeners. So what to do in the meantime? Here are some other poetry events going on around town this week:

June 15th	6 pm -	Poetry & Spoken Word Downtown Hollywood	Goddess Studio 2017 Harrison St, Hollywood, FL
June 17th	6:30 – 7:30 pm	Poetry Club	South Regional Library 7300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
June 18th	7 – 11 pm	Conundrum Stages Year 6 Open Mic Tour	Gigi’s Music Café 4385 NW 88th Ave, Sunrise, FL 33351

If you know of any other events this week, let me know in the comments below

It's So Hot!

Weather.com said it is 91 degrees without a breeze. It's so hot! Already! And it's not even the official start of Summer (which is June 21st). So what to do? Go to poetry events!

Check out Anastasia today as she hosts poetry event this evening at TROPICAL SKOOPS in Miramar. 

Congratulations to Meryl for her feature with POETRY BUƒƒET PARTY  

Monday, June 16, 2014, 7-9 pm at CrepeMaker Cafe. Following Meryl's reading, join in round-robin open mic reading with own selection. If interested, RSVP at dclocicero@gmail.com and include your phone number. 

Then it's the return of  the poet at Cinema Paradiso (Fort Lauderdale) on Saturday, June 14th at 6 pm. I will be hosting so I hope to hear you read!

The Return of the Poet

Poetry soothes the soul;

once you enter, you can not go.

Into the darkest night I roam

To hear the prose burns

From the lips of men

And women -

And the rhymes

Like church bells chimes.

From The Collection, copyrighted by Suzzette Dawes

Well, I've been roaming and reading these last several weeks. Now I'll be hosting and a toasting at CP-Lauderdale (that is)! Join me on June 14, 2014 at Cinema Paradiso Courtyard where you can read some poems or just sit back and listen to the words flow.

Cinema Paradiso is located behind the SE 3rd avenue courthouse at 503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.

Sign up begins at 5:30 pm.

Free parking available!

Join us....