Although Cleveland is the “Rock and Roll Capital of the World,” there is another title that it is worthy of as well and that is “Poetry Capital of the World.” On any given month you can find poetry jams, open mics and readings by prominent authors right in our own back yard. April is National Poetry Month, in which we pay tribute to those champions of rhyme and reason. Check out a few of the free local poetry goings-ons and for even more listings for each month go to clevelandpoetics.blogspot.com
Lyrical Rhythm Open Mike Poetry
B-Side Liquor Lounge
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
(216) 932-1966
www.bsideliquorlounge.com
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Stop in on April 2 for the last Lyrical Rhythm Open Mike Poetry Slam scheduled before the renovation that will turn B-Side Liquor Lounge into the B-Side Liquor Lounge and Arcade (grand re-opening will be in late April of 2013). This is THE place to be for local poetry talent in the Coventry area. Weekly Lyrical Rhythms will resume on the first Tuesday in May and will be held every Tuesday following. Admission is for those 21 and older only.
(photo credit: Mark Horning)
Catherine Wagner Poetry Reading
Guilford House Parlor
Case Western Reserve University
11112 Bellflower Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 368-1508
www.case.edu
Dates: April 4 – 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Catherine Wagner’s collection of poems includes: “Nervous Device,” “My New Job,” “Macular Hole and Miss America.” She has performed widely in the U.S., England and Ireland. Her poems have also appeared in a variety of magazines. She is currently an associate professor of English at Miami University in Ohio. She will be performing some of her works in the Guilford House Parlor located on the Case Western Reserve University Campus as part of the Spring Poets of Ohio reading series at Case Western Reserve University.
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(photo credit: Mark Horning)
Eastside Writers Workshop
Euclid Public Library
631 E. 222nd St.
Euclid, OH 44123
(216) 261-5300
www.euclidlibrary.org
Dates: April 6 – 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
This workshop is open to all adult writers writing in all genres. Participants are asked to bring eight to 12 copies of their poem or up to three pages of prose for a “Gentle Critique”. Following a break, all are welcomed to stay for the writing portion of the program.
(photo credit: Mark Horning)
Poetry At The Museum
The Reid Gallery
Cleveland Museum of Art
11150 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44130
(216) 421-7350
www.clevelandart.org
Dates: April 7 – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Professor Forest Gander was born in the Mojave Desert and grew up in Virginia. He has degrees in geology, the subject of many of his poems. He currently resides in Providence, RI, where he is Professor of Literary Arts and Comparative Literatures at Brown University in Rhode Island. After his performance, Gander will present the winners of the 2013 Poetry in the Museum contest who will be invited to read their works. This program is supported by the Helen Buchman Shamoff Endowed Fund foe Poetry at Case Western Reserve.
(photo credit: Mark Horning)
Poetry Reading
Mac’s Backs-Books On Coventry
1820 Coventry Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 321-2665
Dates: April 10 – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mac’s Backs-Books has been holding poetry readings for over twenty-five years and it is the place to get a read or to search out new poetic talent. On April 10, Brad Ricca and Lee Chilcote will be the featured poets. Ricca is a teacher at CWRU as well as a poet and author of the book “Super Boys” The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Segel and Joe Shuster the creators of “Superman” (due out in June 2013) as well as “American Mastodon,” his book of poetry and winner of the St. Lawrence Book Award. Chilcote is a journalist, freelance writer, editor, poet and guitar player. Chilcote is currently the Development News Editor of Fresh Water Cleveland, a weekly e-magazine that covers Cleveland’s renaissance. He has had his writings appear in “Cleveland Scene Magazine”, “Crain’s Cleveland Business” and “Cleveland Magazine” among other publications. This dynamic duo will be together for one evening at Mac’s Backs-Books on Coventry to perform their poetic works to an enthusiastic throng of poetry likers. It is rumored that Lee may bring his guitar in order to provide a musical interlude between poems and to kill time.
Mark Horning is a freelance writer covering all things Cleveland. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
