Only in today’s post-COVID world could you just walk into a virtual space that just starting existing and yet (one feels) you have always belonged to. This is how I felt last Wednesday, Sep 30, when I logged into the Speak Up at Walnut Street Cafe Zoom meeting room broadcast out of West Lynn, MA. Except I was lounging on my deck in Bellingham, WA.
Featured reader Eliz McKim shares a connection with my father, founder and late publisher of Igneus Press. He always told me I needed to ‘get with’ Eliz, and so when I saw her feature and book release advertised on Facebook, I ‘got with’ Eliz. She moved me, made me cry, laugh; transported me to a place in my soul where I hadn’t been since sitting on the porch with my Dad back in June before he died. THE ORAL TRADITION!!! The SPOKEN WORD!!!
David Somerset, who hosted the reading graciously and Zoom-ed effortlessly, asked all who showed up whether they’d like to read. So I joined in, honour of honours, to read poetry in the presence of Eliz. Peter Urkowitz did a live action sketch of features and open mic readers.
I chatted privately with other readers, such as Robert Whelan and Susan Demarest; Susan sent me her poem, ‘Golden Plover,’ and we traded emails. I mean, getting this much action in month eight of stay-at-home quarantine is really a boon! I want to say a big thank you to the Speak Up crowd, and I really look forward to getting over to West Lynn, MA, one day for a cup of coffee and bit of the Vincent Ferrini aura still floatin’ around that neck of the United States…
Nancy Bulger and Elizabeth Gordon Mckim were cofeatures at the Wed 9/30/2020 Speakup! Eliz released her new book from Leapfrog Press, Lovers in the Free Fall. Speak Up is a spoken word open mic a the Walnut Street Cafe in West Lynn. They welcome poets, storytellers, comedians, activist, artists, musicians and others who want to be heard in a supportive community environment. Each Wednesday they welcome a featured performer at approximately 8:30. Before and after the main feature they have five minute slots available for sign up.