From Page to Stage
A workshop on performing your poetry

On Saturday, March 29, 2008, PoemAlley sponsored a two-hour workshop for poetry with the support of a grant from Stamford’s CAPP. (Community Arts Partnership Program)

Published poet Faith Vicinanza was the presenter, focusing on the art of performing one’s work in public.

The event was a huge success. Faith invited 16 poets who attended to interact and participate in feedback for every poem that was presented. This was a highpoint and made for a very stimulating learning experience.

A surprise visit by Faith’s friend Zork (he runs the open mikes in Westchester County) got the adrenalin going even more. His humor and insight in performing one’s work was special.

Following the workshop, Faith conducted a two-hour one-on-one coaching session for attendees who were interested in a critique of their poems and information on getting published.

The event could never have happened without the generosity of the Unitarian Universalist Society. Thanks are due to Rev. Ron Sala, the Board, and the Congregation. Thanks also to Bonnie Currie for always being there with suggestions, refreshments and a helping hand; and to Bill Latham for setting up and cleaning up as always when needed; and to Catherine Ednie for creating yet another beautiful poster for the event and posting information on the web. Even though Catherine was under the weather she managed to cook a lentil soup for us. It was appreciated by all.

And lastly, special thanks to our angel Tara Fleck, who handled so many administrative details with admirable patience. Poets who enrolled by phone asked us who that nice lady was who spoke to them and helped them.

Unfortunately, Ralph Nazareth was not able to participate at this workshop because of family illness. Ralph, everyone’s thoughts are with you and all members of your family.

From Page to Stage was a truly wonderful event.

Sincerely,

Eva-Maria, Coordinator of PoemAlley

Last Wednesday at Curley’s
A poetry series in downtown Stamford

Featured poet - John Sakson

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Curley’s Diner

Open Mic at 8:30 p.m.

All are welcome

This project has been partially funded by a Community Arts Partnership Program Grant from the City of Stamford. Thank you for supporting the arts!

From Page to Stage:
A Workshop on Performing Your Poetry
Presented by Faith Vicinanza

Saturday, March 29
Unitarian Universalist Society
20 Forest Street, Stamford
11 am to 3:30pm

11 am - 1 pm	Workshop Presentation
1 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch Break
1:30 - 3:30 pm	One-on-one Coaching

Poet Faith Vicinanza will present a two hour workshop on the art of presenting your work, be it poetry or prose, in an engaging manner. Presentation skills can be as simple as ensuring your audience can hear you, that your pace lets your audience take in the poem, that your audience can enjoy each word of your delivery to the geography of a poem when presented live including dramatization of your work. What is enough? What is too much? Learn some simple rules for taking your work to a small audience, an open mike, or a large audience.

The workshop will be followed by one-on-one coaching sessions where a poet can sign up for a time slot as allotted by the sponsors and can ask Ms. Vicinanza questions about getting published, performance, or a one-on-one critique of a poem.

Each poet is encouraged to bring a poem up to 3 minutes reading time. Poets can choose to participate in the workshop without presenting a poem. There is a learning opportunity from participating in the presentation workshop and watching others in the workshop coached on performance skills, but consider the opportunity to get your own work choreographed during the workshop and bring a poem.

You can submit your poems ahead of time by mailing by March 21 to PoemAlley c/o UUSIS, 20 Forest Street, Stamford CT 06901 or email workshop@stamfordwrites.org.

Faith Vicinanza is a published poet, photographer, workshop facilitator, visiting artist in grade schools and on college campuses. She is currently working on a memoir along with her fourth and fifth collections of poetry.

Free! No fee to attend. Reservations are not required, but space is limited.
Brown bag or purchase lunch in town; light refreshments will be available at the workshop.

Email workshop@stamfordwrites.org or call 203-348-0708 to sign up especially if you are interested in one-on-one coaching!

This event is sponsored by PoemAlley with support from the City of Stamford Community Arts Partnership Grants Program.

Link to poster (pdf - legal size)

Monday, January 14th at 7.15pm
Barnes & Noble
Stamford Town Center

Monday Night Poetry

FEATURING

RALPH NAZARETH

PLUS:

OPEN MIC

Ralph Nazareth was born, raised and educated in India and moved to the United States in 1968. He is a multidimensional poet and scholar. Currently a Professor of English at Nassau Community College and the Managing Editor of Yuganta Press, he lives with his wife Linda in Stamford, CT. He is a ferocious critic of war, and volunteers his time to teach poetry to prison inmates.

We will meet the second Monday of each month at Barnes & Noble Bookstore / Stamford Town Center.

Please come and listen to local poets, bring a favorite poem, read your own poems too..

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Stamford Town Center
100 Greyrock Place Suite H009
Stamford, CT 06901
203-323-1248

Dear Stamford Writes Readers,

As I announced some weeks ago, Eleni Begetis Anastos came out with her own book of poetry Big Mama, published by Turn of River Press.

Eleni has volunteered to sell her book and give 25% of each sale to support PoemAlley’s efforts to promote poetry and other forms of writing in the community. Yours and Eleni’s generosity would be put to good use. The book price is $19.95. There are three ways to obtain a copy.

• Sundays, at the social room of the Unitarian church.


• If you want it mailed to your house, call Eva-Maria (203) 862-9837 with address, etc.


• You could also pay Curley’s diner a visit and pick your copy up directly from the author, Eleni. Saturdays and Sundays she will be there to welcome you and sign your copy.

Please, make checks out to: PoemAlley.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Your friend Eva-Maria from PoemAlley

Dear poets and friends of PoemAlley@Curley's,

When you start making a list of lasting gifts for this holiday season, it would be wonderful to include some copies of the book Wednesdays@Curley's. Five copies, more or less, would be so appreciated. It would help PoemAlley's fund for special programs greatly. The book is $9.95.

Come to Curley's to pick up the books and bring your check, made out to PoemAlley, or cash. If you can't come to Curley's, please call Ralph Nazareth: (203-322-5438) or email him at ralphnazareth@mac.com. We'll mail them to you.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank the PoemAlley's poets who already bought their copies.

PoemAlley would like to continue serving the Stamford community as it has done for so many years.

Sincerely,

Eva-Maria

This is to announce that on Wednesday, October 31, 2007, (Halloween night!), we celebrated the introduction of Eleni’s own book “Big Mama” at Curley’s. It was a special night for all attending. As she so fittingly says: “My root in Sparta, my branches in Stamford, I am Eleni Begetis Anastos, a child of the universe”….

The book is published by the Turn of River Press. The book design is by Catherine Ednie.

Eleni is a member of UUSIS and is the cornerstone of the foundation for Curley’s poets.

Your friend Eva-Maria











PS Here is a poem by Eleni, which she would like to share with you.

THE TROUBADOUR OF LOVE

Some day I will die
I can’t hold back time
But the few yellow pages I leave behind
if anyone bothers to read their lines
I hope he can see through the words
That I am a troubadour of love

People that groan like a pine
Carrying the weight of the snow
in bucolic land or high plateau
in city or by the sea
Any race or color or creed
I feel their fatigue. I’m spent in my soul,
For I am their troubadour of love

I know I can’t find cover against death
One cannot lock the door against fate
We must go whither our road goes
Insignificant amongst other forgotten souls
I will lie in a simple grave
under a simple stone engraved
The Troubadour of Love

On Saturday, August 22, 2007, the Peace Vigil group commemorated the 100th week of its ongoing anti–war protest in front of the Ferguson Library.

In association with this event a reading for peace took place at the Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford from 1:00 pm till 3:00pm.

David Vita, the leader and organizer of the vigil, together with other supporters came to the reading at UUSIS, which was organized by Ralph Nazareth.

The readers were:

Pat Cassidy
Eleni Begetis Anastos
Bill Buschel
Pamela Passaretta
Janet Krauss
Herb Davison
Richard Duffee
Jim Janke
Eva-Maria Palevich
Kimberly Bryan
Jean Aloe
Ralph Nazareth

Eva-Maria of PoemAlley @ Curley’s

Guss Stepp's memorial service

Sunday, September 30 @ 2:00pm
The Unitarian Church
10 Lyons Plains Road
Westport, CT 06830

To make the service truly meaningful, Gwen asks that we reach out
to Reverend Frank Hall with any stories we would like to share about
our interactions and experiences with Guss. We can send
Reverend Hall a letter to the Unitarian Church , or perhaps
give him a call at (203) 227-7205 if more convenient.

I am just the messenger, folks---here in CT for only one day!
Guss changed my poetry; Guss changed my life.
He was a patient, kind, intelligent soul who encouraged me.
I will miss him forever. Rose Drew

In July Rona Schenkerman was the featured poet of Last Wednesday @ Curley's. Because of the lazy hazy summer plus traveling, the article is written just now. As expected, Rona's reading was a huge success with lots of poets and friends attending. She would like to share one of her poems with the readers of the website.

Thank you Rona.

Eva-Maria and friends from
PoemAlley & Wednesdays @ Curley’s

Staircase Embrace

On the staircase

Our shadows embrace

As we silently pass each other.

They cling together

Longer than the sun expects

Then reluctantly fade away

While we don’t even glance

One another’s way.

On the staircase

Held by a ray of sun

Dust mites dance. 

Rona D. Schenkerman

Oct 2006