Summer Sunday Reading, August 5, 2007
Unitarian Universalist Society In Stamford
Dedicated to the memory of Guss Stepp, Jr.

I am very saddened to inform you that one of the performing poets of that day, Guss Stepp, Jr., passed away a few days after our reading. I am certain everyone involved - poets, audience and friends - will agree that the reading of August 5 should be dedicated to the memory of Guss. We all will celebrate his life in our own individual way. We are glad to have known someone very special. Guss will be greatly missed.

Here are the names of the participants in that reading:

Eleni Begetis Anastos
Guss Stepp, Jr.
John Sakson
Robin Kurtz
Jim Janke
Herb Davison
Rolf Maurer
Eva-Maria Palevich
Dale Shaw
David Fredette
Robert Sanders
Ralph Nazareth

We thank the Unitarian Universalist Society for the invitation to read at their church.

Sincerely,

Eva-Maria and
))PoemAlley @ Curley’s((

Richard Duffee was the featured poet of Last Wednesday @ Curley’s on June 27.

He read Slow News of Need, expansion of prologue’s Section 12.

Its genre is an inverted Menippean satire.

It was a marvelous reading; all moods, characters, situations etc., impersonated by Richard. If any of the readers would like to converse with Richard about his work of art I suggest to get in touch with him via email.

That evening over twenty poets and friends were treated to a very special performance. Thank you, Richard.

As always, after the featured poet there was open mike and discussions of the poet’s works that were read.

Eva-Maria
and PoemAlley @ Curley’s

Janet Krauss of PoemAlley and Curley’s just came out with her second book of poems “Through the Trees of Autumn.”

If any of the readers would like to purchase Janet’s book, please send your name and mailing address with a check made out to Janet Krauss for $12. Price includes handling, delivery and taxes. Send to:

Janet Krauss
c/o Saritna Press
585 Gilman Street
Bridgeport,CT 06605

Basil College gave Janet Krauss a grant to help publish her book.

Last Wednesday at Curley’s, Janet read us some poems from her lovely new book and gave me the permission to share one with you, the reader.

The First Stage

by Janet Krauss

In the depth of winter fish swim

  beneath a lid of ice

wearing that orange-gold glitter

  that threads the lightest of saris,

and the minute globules clinging to their fins,

  a nascent stage between water and pearl.

They are patient tadpoles of shimmer,

  waiting for you to put your ear

close to the ice. Listen first to their woosh

  bumping into your cheek, falling back,

until they are ready to whisper

  heartbeats for poems.

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

On March 28 Eleni was our featured poet at “Last Wednesdays at Curley’s". Eleni read about five of her poems. I would like to share the first verse from Eleni’s poem "The Troubadour of Love" with readers. It somehow hit home with all the poets present. Deep down in our hearts, don’t we all want our yellowed pages read when we are gone, to be remembered a little longer?


First verse of "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.


All fifteen or more poets and guests couldn’t agree more, Eleni.

Thank you for a great evening.

Eva-Maria
and PoemAlley @ Curley’s

Jim was the featured poet of Last Wednesdays at Curley’s on February 28. He presented his epic-like poem “Comes The Seeker”. After Jim’s reading, all the poets present participated in an enthusiastic discussion of the work.

Following this event, all the poets were invited to read from their own work.

It was a beautiful evening. We thank Jim for sharing with us his striking poem Last Wednesday at Curley’s.

Eva-Maria
and PoemAlley @ Curley’s and Friends

PS On March 28, Last Wednesdays at Curley’s will feature the poet Eleni Begetis Anastos.

What a special two hours the poets, their relatives and friends had at the church’s social room on Sunday. Poets read from the new anthology “Wednesdays at Curley’s”, edited by Ralph Nazareth and Catherine Ednie. The afternoon brought forth a warm fellowship all around.

It started with Herb Davison remembering the soldiers who gave their lives in Iraq. Later, Herb continued as a splendid MC. Thank you Herb.

For the afternoon Bonnie Currie put on her hospitality hat (one of so many).

We thank her and her husband Don for offering so many goodies, some of which were contributed by Pat Kane. Thank you Pat.

And a thank you to Catherine Ednie for putting out on very short notice a beautiful flyer and program for us.

PoemAlley and Curley’s expressed their gratitude and honored Ralph Nazareth for his tireless generosity in sharing so much of his knowledge, time and advice.

Lastly, it should be remembered that without the CAPP grants, (Community Arts Partnership Program), none of the workshops PoemAlley is offering Stamford would be possible.

Sincerely,

Eva-Maria from PoemAlley and Curley’s

PS For all those quiet selfless clean up helpers a big hip, hip hurray, and a halo over everyone’s head.

Last Wednesdays at Curley's
February 28, 2007
Featured Poet - Jim Janke

I am writing this invitation with the agreement of Ralph Nazareth, in great hope that all who read this announcement will come to the reading to celebrate our new and beautiful anthology "Wednesdays at Curley's." The special event will be on Sunday, February 25, from 2 PM till 4 PM at the Social Room of the UUSIS church, 20 Forest St. in downtown Stamford.

There will be books available for sale and signing by poets (and snacks of course).

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 25th.

Sincerely,

Eva-Maria your PoemAlley@Curley’s friend

Last Wednesdays at Curley's
January 31, 2007
Featured Poet - Mike Nixon

Last Wednesdays at Curley’s -

A new series of readings by featured poets followed by an open mic

A unique feature of these readings will be a rare form of audience participation.

This participation will depart radically from the fiercely competitive and judgmental model of much Slam poetry which subjects poets to highly polarized and biased reactions from partisans among the listeners who shower their favorites with raucous praise while booing those they don’t know or dislike.

At the Curley’s readings, the audience will be invited to respond after the poet’s reading. The listeners, not necessarily poets themselves, will convey their appreciation and voice how the reading affected them, which of the poems moved them (or not), how well the poems were projected and what changes the poet may consider making to improve the effectiveness of his or her performance.

The following poets will be featured in the first half of 2007:

January 31	Michael Nixon
February 28	Jim Janke
March 28	Eleni Begetis Anastos
April 25	Rona Schenkerman
May 30	Herb Davison
June 27	Richard Duffee

We look forward to seeing you at these readings with your friends.

For more information, please call Ralph Nazareth at 322-5438 or, better, e-mail him at ralphnazareth@mac.com.