Countering Conspicuous Consumption: A Poetry Event Reminder from the CPS (Shelburne Falls, MA)

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. . .HOW CAN YOU FORGET WHEN YOU SEE THREE
—NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE—
FABULOUS POETS READ?

On Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 pm, we are hosting the amazing Dzvinia Orlowsky, prizewinning poet, translator, and author of four poetry collections including her most recent, Convertible Night, Flurry of Stones; the award winning poet, translator and author of four books of poems, most recently, Black Threads, the out-standing-in-his-field Jeff Friedman; and the terrific poet Alice B. Fogel whose most recent book of poetry is Be That Empty.

Free at Mocha Maya's, 47 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, 413-625-6292. Wheelchair accessible. See www.collectedpoets.com for additional biographical information about each poet~

Red and Gold Tinsel Thursday—a reprieve from Black Friday and a Way to Soothe Yourself before the Hordes of the Holidays Hit.

A little taste of what’s to come:

Be broken in bright light,/ a drain in your back, your body/ releasing its deepest red,/ a cardinal opening a wing/ within. —from “Nude Descending” by Dzvinia Orlowsky

I hope my daughter doesn’t grow up thinking her body’s/ childlike/ except for one obscene brushstroke,/ but that she’ll pull that first tongue that enters her/ deeper – her head falling slowly back,/ eyes closed, and will let stars be stars, unnamed,/ above their parked car. —from “I Hope My Daughter Doesn’t” by Dzvinia Orlowsky

Say a blessing for the/ body with its narrow caves,/ for the clattering cups, the noisy/ prayers, for the heat of the eyes,/ the wild burning, the sweet/ smell of flesh, the rain/ ripping up the rusty river. —from “Blessing for the Hats” by Jeff Friedman

Up here, it is a vibrant repose./ This room, that is not a room,/ never echoes the sound of living wood splitting./ Awash with wind, it blows open every door. —from “The Lightning Tree” by Alice B. Fogel