> by heather cook

Having a sense of community is warm and inspiring. If you’re a local poet looking to meet like-minded poets, to exchange good conversation, ideas, feedback and encouragement, you’re in luck—the poetry scene is on the rise in Buffalo. Come out in the cold for one of this week’s warm circles, readings or workshops, to expand your mind and networks:

On Thursday (2/18), Rachel L. Johnson will host Spring Poetry, Hop Poetry Circle at the North Tonawanda Public Library (505 Meadow Dr.), from 7pm to 8:45pm. Come sit in a circle to listen and bring your poetry to read. Hop in or out anytime.

On Friday (2/19), Paul Stevens will explore one-word poetry, at The Poetry Collection (4th floor of Capen Hall, University at Buffalo), at 3:30pm. Drawing on University at Buffalo’s unique archived collections, Stephens’ discussion will present the one-word poem and the many forms it holds. Stephens will introduce pieces he refers to as serial one-word poems: that is, one-word poems which repeat a single word, or serial poems that use only one word per page. Examples to be drawn from Natalie Czech, Mary Ellen Solt, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Norman Pritchard, Robert Grenier, and bpNichol.

Paul Stephens is the author of The Poetics of Information Overload: From Gertrude Stein to Conceptual Writing (Minnesota 2015) and the editor of the journal Convolution. He teaches in the Pard Prison Initiative.

On Sunday (2/21), Rust Belt Books (415 Grant Street) is presenting John Roche from Rochester, and Buffalonian Nava Fader. The reading to begin at 3pm has a $3 admission and no open reading segment.

Roche has published three poetry collections available from Foothills Publishing: The Joe Poems, Topicalities, and On Conesus. He also published a poetic memoir of the 60’s—Road Ghosts—published by theenk Books. His works have also appeared in literary magazines including Malpais Review, House Organ, Big Bridge, and Woodstock Journal. He has edited a book of further manifestations by himself and others of the “Joe Poem” form he invented– Mo’ Joe: The Anthology (Beatlick Press). Roche studied with Robert Creeley and John Clarke while earning his PhD from UB. And he is currently an Associate Professor of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Nava Fader is the author of All the Jawing Jackdaw (BlazeVox) and several chapbooks. Her newest book—Hitching Post—riffs off poet Michael Basinski. Recent projects include a manuscript of fake translations from Dante’s Inferno, poems from Garcia Lorca, and work bouncing off Wikipedia. Fader received her Masters’ from the UB Poetics Program, writing her thesis on Adrienne Rich, and works as a school librarian.

On Monday (2/22), and every Monday at 6:30pm, the Allentown Poets’ Workshops (APW) meets at Café 59 (62 Allen St.). The exchange creativity, ideas, constructive criticism and encouragement among some of the most talented poets residing in Buffalo. Come out to give and take feedback as you nibble on a delicious treat from the Café!

On Wednesday (2/24), at Daemen College Research and Information Commons, Room 101 (4380 Main Street), Perry Nicholas and Peter Ramos will be the featured poets. There is no admission. Refreshments, creativity, and memorable lines will be served at 7:30pm.