Equinox at the Loft
The poets came out of the woodwork for a Spring Equinox reading at the Black Water Loft coffee house in downtown Floyd Saturday night. Poems about daffodils and wild strawberries were mixed with readings of Hemingway, Jane Hirschfield, and Shakespeare.
There was a leftover love poem from February’s Spoken Word that was cancelled because of wintry weather and Jayn Avery’s poem began: Dear Winter.
Steve Saft read a moving tribute to a past professor who inspired his love of literature and writing and a poem with the intriguing title “ Thoughts on Bette Midler While Washing the Dishes at Night.”
Under the surreal spell of Acourt Bason’s hanging art, fifteen readers took their turn on stage. “I feel like a worm making a chrysalis. It can be painful,” Heather Kappy Keoppe,” said before breaking out her rhyme.
Gloria Gerritz read a poem about missing her mother’s ashes after finally scattering them. “Why didn’t I leave them in the trunk of my car where I could visit them?” she asked. Coriander Woodruff, in Dharma Punk black, sat with the reader’s chair turned around. “Teenage angst. I’m good at that,” she said.
Haden Polseno-Hensley read a couple of chapters from his novel, a work-in-progress, and Kyla Robbins and Caroline Romano graced the stage with song. There was at least one new reader and some new faces in the audience, cappuccino sipping, listening, and clapping.
Did I mention that my computer crashed again? 
Unable to access my storehouse of poetry or to print it out, my choice of reading was narrowed to the one sheet of paper of poems that I had recently brought to a writer’s workshop. Besides being number 13 on the sign-up list, which causes me hold my breath from 1 –12, and missing my therapeutic pre-reading mug of beer (that always calmed my nerves at our previous Café del Sol venue), I enjoyed the fare and fellowship and am heartened that the spoken word lives on in Floyd.
Thanks to Rose and the rest of the Loft crew for the warm welcome.
Photos: Heather listening to a reader. Steve Saft. Jayn Avery reading. Colleen finally letting her breath out.
March 23rd, 2010 6:49 am
I love how there are many people who’s first and last names begin with the same letter..GG and HH, etc…Very Euphonious abd poetic, too…..lol!
I’m happy that your NEW Venue worked out so well, my dear….!
March 23rd, 2010 11:04 am
Another great post. Our computer crashed too!! I am using a really OLD one. xo
March 23rd, 2010 11:28 am
hope the computer issues are not severe. nice to see you all enjoying your continued fellowship in a new location.
i love the photo below of the group in the alley. floyd rocks! 🙂
March 23rd, 2010 1:05 pm
I hadn’t noticed that, Naomi. You’re right. Mara said on Facebook where I posted the whole batch of photos that they were so fabulous they were posed. Now it seems that even the names of the readers sound made up for poetry’s sake!
Here is a link to the other photos that I think the public can access: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158633&id=713101641&l=0b14b97eff
March 23rd, 2010 2:33 pm
Sounds like a very wonderful evening. i wonder if we have anything like this near us.
PS: Walmart sells lovely flasks in their camping section – you know, for therapeutic libations.
Tales on Tuesday – Lost in Space
March 24th, 2010 3:46 pm
I’m glad that it worked out so well in your new location. I looked at the pictures on facebook, and they really are perfect. What a great spot!
March 25th, 2010 1:59 pm
Collen Your enthusiasm and smiles weren’t out done by the flashing of your crafty camra
March 26th, 2010 1:35 pm
I’m smiling now. Thanks, Heather.
December 31st, 2010 1:03 pm
[…] March: The poets came out of the woodwork for a Spring Equinox reading at the Black Water Loft coffee house in downtown Floyd Saturday night. Poems about daffodils and wild strawberries were mixed with readings of Hemingway, Jane Hirschfield, and Shakespeare. There was a leftover love poem from February’s Spoken Word that was cancelled because of wintry weather and Jayn Avery’s poem began: Dear Winter. […]