SEP 28 | Poetry | Donald Sidney-Fryer | The Atlantis Fragments

poems-for-all presents


Sunday, September 28, 4:30pm
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DONALD SIDNEY-FRYER : The Atlantis Fragments
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The Book Collector
1008 24th Street
Between J and K Streets
in midtown Sacramento
916.442.9295
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We're pleased to welcome Donald Sidney-Fryer back to Sacramento for a Sunday afternoon poetry reading where Donald will present his omnibus edition of the trilogy SONGS AND SONNETS ATLANTEAN.
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"Mr. Fryer is a profound student of Clark Ashton Smith, and the influence shows, but he is very much his own poet, and he structures and plays with a surety and deftness which is remarkable."
-- Gahan Wilson

"Sidney-Fryer has created, in his fictional Atlantis, an entire civilization and a body of absorbing literature. The book should appeal to lovers of poetry, to devotees of science fiction, and to those who admire writers who can fashion a realistic world from the materials of mythology and speculation."
-- Earl J. Dias

"These poems are of an unearthly beauty. They celebrate love, beauty, and humanity; and yet throughout many of them is a consciousness of impending apocalypse. The imagery, lush, exotic, full of colors and magic names, is a welcome relief from the sterile, prosaic poetry of today. If you enjoy tripping on language, this book is for you. Whether the poems really are from the Atlantean or whether they are the creations of poet Sidney-Fryer, they deserve to be read and experienced."
-- Charles K. Wolfe

"Sidney-Fryer is, in a very strong sense, a traditionalist; his creations, superlatively original as they are, yet give us a powerful feeling of continuity with our own past and culture; they make us see ... the ideals that moved us when we were less “secure” and more human: adventure, love of life, and above all, the intricate beauty of a world long vanished – yet not vanished, if only we had eyes to see."
-- Richard L. Tierney


"A delightful book of verse – purportedly fragments of poetry from the lost Empire of Atlantis – that is very much in the tradition of Spenser’s Faerie Queene. A work that reflects a glittering imagination and no mean talent."
-- James Gorski

Donald Sidney-Fryer’s massive, 550-page poetry omnibus is the most elaborate book ever published by Hippocampus Press. Its color frontispiece, printed end papers, profusion of interior illustrations, Smythe sewn signatures and illustrated dust wrapper destine it to be a collector’s item. This hardcover omnibus presents the collected edition of the trilogy SONGS AND SONNETS ATLANTEAN in a limited edition of 300 copies.

JUN 26 | Chicano Film Festival

JUN 27 | Film | Artaud | The Invisible Forest

JUN 13 | Media That Matters Film Festival

JUN 21 | Pablo Neruda Reading

Saturday, June 21, 7:30 p.m.
Poems-For-All presents
WILLIAM O'DALY READING PABLO NERUDA
The Hands of Day: at long last translated into English in its entirety

The Book Collector

1008 24th Street

Between J & K Streets

Sacramento

916.442.9295

William O’Daly is the best-selling translator of six of Pablo
Neruda’s books, including “The Book of Questions” and “The Sea and
the Bells.” This reading will be the first celebrating the release
of “The Hands of Day,” (Copper Canyon, 2008) and will feature
readings from that book as well as excerpts from the forthcoming
translation of “World’s End” (Copper Canyon, 2009). O’Daly may toss
in a few poems of his own, but this will be primarily a reading of
translations from “Hands.” Copies of the book will be available for
sale at the reading.

Pablo Neruda is one of the world’s great poets, and Copper Canyon
Press has long been dedicated to publishing translations of his work
in bilingual editions.

"The Hands of Day" -- at long last translated into English in its
entirety -- pronounces Neruda’s desire to take part in the great
human making of the day. Moved by the guilt of never having worked
with his hands, Neruda opens with the despairing confession, "Why did
I not make a broom? / Why was I given hands at all?" The themes of
hands and work grow in significance as Neruda celebrates the
carpenters, longshoremen, blacksmiths, and bakers-those laborers he
admires most-and shares his exuberant adoration for the earth and the
people upon it.

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Price: Free.
Ages: All ages
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For more information about this activity, contact
Richard Hansen at
Phone: (916) 442-9295
E-mail: richard@poems-for-all.com
Web site: http://www.poems-for-all.com

MAY 2 | Poetry | William Wantling

APR 26 | Booksigning | Arthur Winfield Knight

APR 18 | Poetry | Charles Curtis Blackwell

Friday, April 18th, 7:30pm
Poems-For-All presents
CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL
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The Book Collector. 1008 24th Street, between J & K Streets, midtown Sacramento. 916.442.9295. www.poems-for-all.com
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Poems-For-All is pleased to welcome Charles Curtis Blackwell back to Sacramento. Presently a poet and performer in the Bay Area, Charles once graced the Sacramento scene with his exceptional readings. He comes with a new book of poems, or rather, two vignettes of poetry in one book: "Is, The Color of Mississippi Mud and Lou Next Door." The book's publisher/editor Vincent Kobelt has also been invited to read.
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BIO
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Playwright, poet, performing artist et al Charles Curtis Blackwell has written such plays as "Is, The Color of Mississippi Mud," which was produced in both Washington D.C. and Sacramento, and "Im a Boxer, a love story" , has been published both nationally and internationally. His first book, "The Fiery Response To Love's Callings", was published in 1999. He's been published in Eugene Redmond's "Drum Voices Revue" and has produced three spoken word CDs--featuring Jazz drummer Billy Toliver. He was also affiliated with The William James Assocciation's Arts in Prison Program. Currently he resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where he has organized Writer's workshops and community Cultural Arts events ath the Faithful Fools Agency in the San Francisco Tenderloin.
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ABOUT THE BOOK
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"Otis Redding says, 'Try a little tenderness.' Charles Curtis Blackwell's "Is, the Color of Mississippi Mud" is tenderness laid across the page. It gives us a glimpse of the segregated South tucked next to the banks of the Mississippi ... It is as if he ran his fingers across the welts of American history." -- Vincent Kobelt.
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POEM
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The big-get-tree confronted
by Charles Curtis Blackwell

The moon is stiff, enough to journey up river
In light; the way into the river's
Meeting place
Golden leaves of Harper's Ferry fall smooth
To the touch of fear
So, so well it sits with the April song
Sung in memory of pain
Ropes twine, so; so well, it sits with thee
Prejudice overlapping the days
Venture out west Exodus
Starving the freedom of a new narrative
Sung in submission, to the grave
A wind-wing bird flies under ground
Over the call of gush and ghostly cries
Years in passing comes this haunting
Echo of a tune

"John Brown's ah body
lay ah buried in the grave
John Brown's ah body lay ah buried in dee grave"

The arched over ropes twine,
Gun powder spilled upon railroad tracks
For the asking, it's history to remind
The flutter of whirlwind war; so civil
Tears in crossing so cruel
"Bye-bye, I don't know you," speaks the
colored girl, handed down futuristic thought
We were once referred to as cheap labor/free labor/
even slaves
Drag the river bottom for your SELF;
Seeking historical fact so matter.
For in the eye you behold an illusion
It's so different now
The way the rope untwines
Love lace groans, as the slave of the daughter
Calls out, "Abolishment."
Ignored. Resurrection now in crusade of...
Lover come hither and ease this burden
Running through lily grass in the future.
"Speak to me," whispers the stiff moon,
In the Dark blue, echo/Blue ridge mountain
Escapes...all these words voice,
RUN
RETALIATE
FIGHT
FLEE
BATTLE
REALIZE
Words that rip across trusted barbed wire
Bloody and jaded too.

Poetry Month | Snapshot of events

Friends & poets,

Below is a quick snapshot of poetry & lit events this month in the area. By no means comprehensive, but an outline of possibilities.


APRIL 2008
POETRY MONTH EVENTS
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TUE 1 6pm The Bonefolders: Poems-For-All Building Party Book Collector
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WED 2 5pm Laureates Reading CA Poets Laureate Gathering State Library
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THU 3 9am Al Young CA Poets Laureate Gathering State Library
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THU 3 1pm Public Reading CA Poets Laureate Gathering Capitol
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FRI 4 7:30p Lisa Dominguez Abraham, Denise Lichtig, Catherine French UU Church, Davis
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FRI 4 6pm Jane Hirshfield, Camille Norton, Joshua McKinney SPC Conference
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SAT 5 4:30p Al Young, Quinton Duval, Ellen Bass SPC Conference
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SAT 5 7:30p Cornered: Five Years of SN&R's Poet's Corner Book Collector
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WED 9 7pm Ann Menebroker, Ted Finn RATTLESNAKE Book Collector
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SAT 12 2-4 Shanine Abercrombie, Yoke Breaker, vocalist Sidney Nicholas Culture Collection
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SAT 12 6pm The Bonefolders: Poems-For-All Building Party Book Collector
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MON 14 7:30p High School Poetry Contest Winners Sac. Poetry Center
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WED 16 9pm John Boe, Storyteller Bistro 33, Davis
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THU 17 10-6 POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY Book Collector/citywide
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THU 17 7:30p R.D. Armstong Center for the Arts
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FRI 18 7:30p Charles Curtis Blackwell Book Collector
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FRI 18 7:30p Art Mantecón, James DenBoer Galleria Posada
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SAT 19 11am Cache Creek Nature Preserve's Day for the Arts
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SAT 19 7pm Brigit Truex, Lori Jean Robinson, Sidney Singleton, Sean King Underground Books
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SAT 19 7:30p John Amen, Brad Anderson Sac. Poetry Center
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MON 21 7:30p Sac City Ethnic Theater! Sac.Poetry Center
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SAT 26 2pm Arthur Winfield Knight Book Collector
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SAT 26 7pm Brigit Truex, Sean King , 3rd place Sac Idol vocalist Jessica Teddington The Show
MON 28 7:30p William O'Daly Sacramento Poetry Center


VENUES
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In Sacramento, unless indicated otherwise
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Bistro 33 -- 226 F Street, Davis -- 530.756.4556
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The Book Collector -- 1008 24th St -- 916.442.9295
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Center for the Arts -- 314 W. Main St., Grass Valley -- 530.432.8196
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Culture Collection -- 6391 Riverside Blvd in Greenhaven -- 916.208.POET
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Sacramento Poetry Center -- 1719 25th St. -- www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org
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The Show -- 2863 35 St. (off 35th & Broadway) -- 916.208.POET
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Underground Books -- 2814 35th St. (off 35th & Broadway) -- 916.208.POET

APRIL | Poetry Month events at the Book Collector | Updated

Some changes to the line-up. The SN&R event has moved to the 5th; the first bonefolder building party has moved to April 1st. -- Richard


APRIL 2008
POETRY MONTH EVENTS AT THE BOOK COLLECTOR
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1008 24th Street
Sacramento, CA
Between J & K Streets
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916.442.9295
richard@poems-for-all.com
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Tuesday, April 1st, 6 - 8pm
THE BONEFOLDERS: POEMS-FOR-ALL BUILDING PARTY
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Help us build the hundreds of poem booklets we want to put on the street for Poetry Month.
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Each little booklet made as part of the Poems-For-All (PFA) Series goes through the same ritual: Cut. Fold. Staple. Bonefolders are the small tools used to make a neat fold in paper. The Bonefolders are those kind souls willing to come out and help PFA build little booklets to be given away for free. Care to be a bonefolder? Join us anytime between 6 and 9 pm in the relaxed atmosphere of the bookstore. Come to fold poems or just hang out and enjoy the light refreshments. There are jobs for any skill level. Building little poem books is theraputic and you're welcome to take some with you!


Saturday, April 5th, 7:30pm
CORNERED: FIVE YEARS OF SN&R'S POET'S CORNER
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A celebration of five years of poetry in the Sacramento News & Review. Poetry Editor Kel Munger is putting together a line-up of poets from among those who've been published in the papers' weekly Poet's Corner.


Wednesday, April 9th, 7pm
RATTLESNAKE PRESS: FOURTH ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH
featuring ANN MENEBROKER, TED FINN
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From Rattlesnake publisher Kathy Kieth: "We will mark the Snake's fourth birthday by throwing the Fourth Annual Birthday Bash at The Book Collector on Wednesday, April 9, including a buffet at 7 PM, followed by a reading at 7:30 PM. That night, there will be three history-making releases: Ann Menebroker's new chapbook (Small Crimes); Ted Finn re-emerges with a new SnakeRings SpiralChap of his poetry and art (Damn the Eternal War); and Katy Brown inaugurates her blank (well, not really) journal series for our HandyStuff department with her MUSINGS: Photos and Prompts For Capturing Creative Thought. Please join us to celebrate four years of [your] poetry with fangs!"


Saturday, April 12th, 6 - 9pm
THE BONEFOLDERS: POEMS-FOR-ALL BUILDING PARTY
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Come out for Midtown's Second Saturday Art Walk and drop by the bookstore!
- - -
Each little booklet made as part of the Poems-For-All (PFA) Series goes through the same ritual: Cut. Fold. Staple. Bonefolders are the small tools used to make a neat fold in paper. The Bonefolders are those kind souls willing to come out and help PFA build little booklets to be given away for free. Care to be a bonefolder? Join us anytime between 6 and 9 pm in the relaxed atmosphere of the bookstore. Come to fold poems or just hang out and enjoy the light refreshments. There are jobs for any skill level. Building little poem books is theraputic and you're welcome to take some with you!


Thursday, April 17th, All Day
POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY
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The Academy of American Poets launches the first annual national "Poem in your Pocket Day" The idea is simple: select a poem and carry it with you (poem in your pocket) and unfold it with family friends and co-workers throughout the day. More details are available at their website: poets.org/pocket
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Throughout the day the largest selection of Poems-For-All booklets ever made available for distribution will at the bookstore for people to take and use as part of "Poem in your Pocket Day" Other activities during the day at the bookstore are in the works to help celebrate and promote this new national tradition.


Friday, April 18th, 7:30pm
CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL
VINCENT KOBELT (Invited)
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Poems-For-All is pleased to welcome Charles Curtis Blackwell back to Sacramento. Presently a poet and performer in the Bay Area, Charles once graced the Sacramento scene with his exceptional readings. He comes with a new book of poems, or rather, two vignettes of poetry in one book: "Is, The Color of Mississippi Mud and Lou Next Door." The book's publisher/editor Vincent Kobelt has also been invited to read.


Saturday, April 26th, 6pm
ARTHUR WINFIELD KNIGHT
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Poet, writer and editor of UNSPEAKABLE VISIONS, a literary journal of Beat Generation writing, Arthur celebrates the release of his latest Novel MISFITS COUNTRY.

AND INTO MAY...

Friday, May 2nd, 7:30pm
WILLIAM WANTLING IS DEAD
featuring
KEVIN JONES
GENE BLOOM
RICHARD HANSEN
Others
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May 2nd marks the anniversary of the death of mimeo era poet William
Wantling. Poet and Wantling Scholar Kevin Jones and others will read
their favorite Wantling poems and discuss his importance and impact as
a poet.