If you missed the recent poetry extravaganza in Erie, you missed a real treat.
The stage was set bare, Heidi Blakeslee came upon the stage to set the mood
with incense. Then Chuck Joy entered, with a brilliant performance reminiscent of John Cage, chopping a small notebook in his hand like a pack of cigs and jotted down a few notes. He exited as we listened to Sweet Jane.
The oh so easy on the eyes professor from Mercyhurst, Brown wearing brown, hands in beige pants pockets, poet Greg Brown opened the reading with such superb poems, one about him slipping into the shower with his woman and steam rising from her neck that was “holy smoke” made me quite unsure if I could stay to listen to anyone else or rush home for a cold shower.
Next up was Kurt Sahlmann who read from his “crumb catcher” notebook. His poems were quite entertaining along with his songs, “Everybody is a Star,” not Sly and the Family Stone, but just as catchy and “Radio SOS” with some Mama’s and Papa’s overtones. Kurt is a quick wit and extremely talented as his final song proved. Kurt is a one man band playing keyboard and harmonica. He also accompanied a few of the poets while they read, which gave an amazing effect to the readings.
Then the amazing Tom Forsthoefel took the stage. Erie County’s Poet Laureate opened with a poem entitled “Year of Living Dangerously.” Tom looks as though he never lived dangerously but absolutely amazingly. His poems “Molly Brannigan's” and “25 Years” held us in our seats and completely focused.
Just before we could take a short break from these incredible performances we were held in the most pleasurable captivity by the absolutely gorgeous Dawn Shepler Shimp. The audience was transfixed on her every word as she spoke her poems which included the exquisite, “These Small Things” and “How to Grow Tomatoes.” The latter creating spontaneous applause.
After the short break, which included to the delight of this blogger, a cash bar, the audience was delighted with the fabulous storyteller Darryl M. Brown, accompanied by the delightful, Nicola Lutz. Darryl told a story using cards that the audience filled in prior to his performance. Loud gafaws were heard from me and the rest of the audience.
Then the barefoot and incredibly hot poet by the name of Geoff Peterson entered the stage with a presence that can only be described as exceptional. He read one poem regarding succubae and it still resonates in my mind, oh, oh, oh Geoff!
After Geoff’s powerful reading, the audience was given over to the...
Sexy Cee Williams. Need I say more? Not really, but I will. In his knit cap he gave a commanding reading of several memorized poems regarding faucets, Ronald Reagan, a television beauty/trophy wife and Freudian slips of “Cotton panties” (oops) that should be “candy.” Cee never disappoints his audience.
Then Chuck Joy returned, opening with “an opener”. Chuck read a pharmacological poem, which is incredible in itself. He also read “Hail Mary” about football and the classic “Cherry Street.”
The finalé was a group poem written by Chuck Joy and performed by the majority of the cast of poets, narrated by Greg Brown. A rare poetry performance that I, for one, hope will be the start of many, many more performances to come.
And just to mention performances to come. Our Erie County Poet Laureate, Tom Forsthoefel, has arranged an amazing feature at Walker Recital Hall at Mercyhurst for March 27 at 8:00 PM. David Whyte will be reading. This is a great opportunity to see this fabulous talent! Really! I said, David Whyte!!! Yes, it's true, DAVID WHYTE!
