LITERATHE APAL INTERNATIONAL FRINGEFEST is a series of readings up to, including, and beyond the Austin International Poetry Festival (April 1-5). The Fringefest began Mar 14 and continues to April 11 in venues from Temple (where the Central Texas Live Poets Society sponsors the events) to Austin and through to San Antonio and Houston. I'll give you the events a week or so at a time. Call the number at the end of this listing to volunteer to help the AIPF or to find out more specifics. Venie Holmgren is at Barry's Coffee House, 517 N. 3rd in Temple Thu, Mar 19, 7pm ($5 cover); at Quackenbush's Sat, Mar 21, 7pm. There's an Austin Poetry Convoy to Houston Fri, Mar 20. Jay Woodman of Rustic Rub will be at Barry's in Temple Thu, Mar 26, 7pm($5 cover); Quack's Sat, Mar 28, 7pm. There's an International Poets BBQ Welcome featuring cowboy poets, gunslingers, Texas BBQ and added attractions for $10 in San Antonio Sun, Mar 29, 1pm. British poets invade Ruta Maya Tue, Mar 31, 6:30pm. 416-7435.
POESIA Y SUR 1998 at Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress, features selections from Jorge Luis Borges and the children's songs of Maria Elena Walsh. The selections will be read in Spanish by Dr. Miriam Balboa de Echeverria and read in English translation by Thom the World Poet and Sue Littleton. Introduction by Dr. Miriam Balboa de Echeverria. Hosted by Sue Littleton. Thu, Mar 19, 7pm. 416-7435.
VENIE HOLMGREN is the special guest environmentalist/poet on tour promoting her CD on the Australian rain forest at the poetry potluck benefit for the visiting poets appearing at this year's Austin International Poetry Festival. This event will be held at 13217 Adonis Dr. Bring a plate of grub and/or liquids and yer poems and a $10 suggested donation. Call for directions if you need to. Sun, Mar 22, 2pm. 258-0966.
SUCCULENT SISTERS, a production of the Ripe `N' Ready poetry theatre troupe, features Patricia Fiske and Susanne Vance, as well as Venie Holmgren of Australia and Jay Woodman of Yorkshire, England. This is a one night only performance to be held in the Hyde Park Theater. $5 advance tix available now. Tue, Mar 24, 7pm. 469-0584.
THE AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL will be held in Austin Wed, Apr 1 through Sun, Apr 5 at several venues. Hundreds of poets are expected to attend this premiere poetic festival. Headlining are Michael Blumenthal, Frederick Turner, Kathleen Pierce, Dorothy Randall Gray, and Hal Sirowitz. Poets from Australia, England, Canada, and Mexico will be present. Volunteers and housing for the visiting poets are still needed. Tickets are available at the usual poetry venues. E-mail aipf98@aol.com
JACK MICHELINE, obscure but influential Beat poet and painter (Franz Kline was a patron), died February 27 on a BART train between San Francisco and Orinda. (O, the Beats, even in dying they are on the move.) Micheline, pals to Kerouac (who wrote the introduction to Micheline's first book of poetry, 1957's River of Red Wine) and (sort of) Bukowski and Ginsburg, never made it big simply because he didn't care to. He made more money at the race track than with poetry (who doesn't?) and as a painter of "people's psyches," saying about his primitive style of painting that "I ain't no fucking camera." Micheline was in Austin in the fall of1992 at Chicago House with John Landry and Vince Balestri, whose Kerouac: The Essence of Jack was playing an extended run at the time. A true wild child, Micheline's spirit will be missed. This was his last poem written two days before his death and I couldn't agree more with his sentiments: "To capture the feeling/To feel its pulse/To see the stream has been muddied/I am reshaping the start/I cannot be bothered with your/Earthly pleasures/All these rantings and ravings/Have nothing to do with poetry/Have nothing to do with magic/Only the ears of butterflies/And birds/And the delicate moths/Matter./Let the Angels in/Let them into this Market/Now/Feel, see and breathe." See ya around, Jack.
THE DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER is offering a "Spirituality and Art" class. $70/8 weeks. Thursdays, Mar 26-May 14, 6:30-9:30pm. 397-1458.
Seminars & ClassesAUSTIN POETS AT LARGE sponsors a free weekly poetry workshop at Quackenbush Coffee House, 2120 Guadalupe. Hosted by John Hutton. Bring 10 copies of your poem. Sun, 2pm. jhutton@mail.utexas.edu
AS IS, a new zine scheduled for release in March, is looking for contributing writers to script an intelligent, original mix of words, laughs, and music. They want laughter and thought but no poetry. (Everybody has their own exclusionary cross to bear.) Column ideas are welcome. Payment is two issues. 912-8231 or imzadizz@rocketmail.com
Call for EntriesLOOKING FOR UTTER READERS: If you've ever read Utter, they want to hear from you. They are publishing a new literary journal and the first issue is highlighting any and all past Utter readers. Send poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to: Utter, 3214 Funston St, Austin, TX 78703. 371-1910.
BOOK PEOPLE, 603 N. Lamar, has many writers signing and/or reading this month, so go to Book People and check their schedule or get on their mailing list. Book People's Book Group schedule: Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, Apr 1; The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields, Apr 15; Obasan by Joy Kogawa, Apr 29. All discussions take place 7pm-8:30pm. Sign up at customer service for a 10% discount on all featured titles. Rena Korb leads the book discussion group. 459-8081.
Ongoing ReadingsTHE ELECTRIC LOUNGE, 302 Bowie, will be increasing their slams from monthly to bi-monthly to weekly in the next few months in anticipation of the rapture (the Austin Superslam in May). Readers and slammers are encouraged to come as early as 8pm to sign up. Slam winners receive $50 and a slot in the Superslam. Mar 24 and 31: Van Cleve. Tue, 8:30pm. 476-FUSE.
A WRITERS' GROUP in San Marcos welcomes beginning to professional writers. Call Nettie for their continuing schedule at 512/396-1636.
WORDS NIGHT AT THE BLUE PEARL, 129 E. Hopkins on the Square in San Marcos, is an every other Sunday poetry/prose reading with featured readers and an open-mike session following the featured reader. Hosted by John Parm, produced by Robin A. Blackburn-Jenkins, and sponsored by the Blue Pearl, the Austin Writers' League, and the Texas State Commission for the Arts. Sun, March 22, 7-9pm. 396-1689.
WRITING FROM THE HEART meets from 10am to noon every other Saturday at the North Loop Library, 2210 Hancock. (Note the new address.) Free. Sat, March 21, 10am-noon. 474-4399.
* Weekly *SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE POETRY at Quackenbush's, 2120 Guadalupe, is another Austin Poets at Large venue. Mar 21 features Venie Holmgren; Mar 28 features Jay Woodman. Hosted by John Hawk and Sara Sutterfield Winn. Sat, 7pm. 452-3332.
BLAST YOUR OWN BREATH is a BYOB spoken word session held every Wednesday at Movements Gallery, 211 E. 6th (across from Babes). And since the venue doesn't have a liquor license yet, ya gotta BYOBeverages but regardless Tammy Gomez says to "bring your own expressive exhalations. Yeah, breathe." Next event is a Poet's Panel. HOT HOT HOT. Be there, y'all. Wed, Mar 25, 9pm- 10:30pm. 441-POET.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE POETRY at Quackenbush's, 2120 Guadalupe, is another Austin Poets at Large venue. Sat, 7pm. 452-3332.
TEXAS NAFAS, the very wonderful poetry show produced by Farid Mohammadi and friends, is running strong on Cable Channel 10. The next show is a review of the AIPF. Farid asks that you write letters to him telling how you like it so he can make use of said accolades to apply for a grant. Send your kudos to: Farid Mohammadi, 1221 Algarita, Apt 224, Austin, TX 78704. Farid also needs volunteers: interviewers, promoters, camera people, editors, etc. 326-4071 or e-mail to poetry10@juno.com Sun, 9pm.
THE AUSTIN TOASTMASTERS meet on the 21st floor of One Hundred Congress Avenue to promote and improve public speaking skills. Tue, 5:45pm. President Byron Marsales 458-9427.
LAUGHING AT THE SUN ART GALLERY, 2209 S 1st St., invites artists, poets, writers, and musicians to create, perform, and meet one another. Sun, noon-5pm. 326-4410.
BORDERS, 10225 Research, hosts literary discussion groups every Wednesday. The Good Life Book Club discusses The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy on Mar 25; Texana Book Group has David Baskin of the Texas State Library leading a discussion of Lon Tinkle's 13 Days to Glory, the Siege of the Alamo on Apr 1. There is a special Tue night reading of Chapters: A Young Girl's Reading Group with Carmen Scott leading a discussion of Mary Downing Hahn's Daphne's Book on Mar 24.Wed, 7:30pm. 795-8410. Borders-on-the-Word is the free poetry reading held at Borders Books and Music, 10225 Research (near Home Depot). Hosted by Barbara Carr. A round robin open mike follows the featured readers. Wed, Mar 25, 7:30pm. 795-9553 (Borders) or 343-7940 (Carr).
RUTA MAYA, 218 W. 4th (the corner of 4th and Lavaca), voted best place to hear poetry in the Chronicle's Best of Austin readers poll, presents APAL open readings with Laura Moliter hosting every Tues. Tue, 6:30-7:30pm.
* Monthly **AUSTIN POETRY SOCIETY invites visitors and guests to their meeting in the Howson Branch Library, 2500 Exposition, the third Saturday of the month through May. Sat, Mar 21, 10pm. 458-1485.
*THE CORNERSTONE GAY & LESBIAN CENTER, 1117 Red River, hosts a Poetry Reading Series the fourth Wednesday of each month through May. Sharon Bridgforth, recipient of the New Forms Initiative grant, is the second reader. Open mike follows the 45-minute feature reading. Sign-up at 6:45. Wed, Mar 25, 7-9pm. 708-1515.
*BARNES & NOBLE at the Arboretum sponsors poetry with host Herman Nelson. Guests are Kay Abikhaled and Ken Fontenot. A round robin open mike follows. Thu, Mar 12th 7:30-10pm. 928-0619 or 837-8693. The Poetry Workshop at the B&N shop at the Arboretum is led by Jill Timmons. Bring 10 or more copies of any one-page original poem. Thu, Mar 19, 7:30-10pm. 335-7078. OTHER EVENTS: Bradley Denton presents One Day Closer to Death, his new collection of short stories Thu, Mar 19, 7:30pm; Claude Stanush, author of hot item The Newton Boys as well as being a former editor for Life magazine and a winner of numerous literary awards, will speak Mon, Mar 30, 7:30pm. Their Children's Storytimes features Nancy Lee Charlton's Derek's Dog Days Wed, Mar 25, 10:30am; Mr. Fine, Porcupine by Fanny Joly Sat, Mar 21, 10am; Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens Sat, Mar 28, 10am. There is a special pajama party story time benefiting First Book!, an organization that donates books to East Austin schools, featuring Nancy White Carlstrom's Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? and Better Not Get Wet, Jesse Bear! Fri, Mar 20, 7pm. The Fiction Book Discussion Group meets the last Monday of the month at 7:30pm. We think the book is After Moondog by Jane Shapiro but call to make sure. 418-8985. The Women's Book Discussion Group meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm. The March selection is Kate Atkinson's Behind the Scenes at the Museum. 418-8985. The Film Discussion Group meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30pm. The March selection is Oscar and Lucinda. 418-8985.
*BARNES & NOBLE at Westlake Texana Book Group reads Crow in the House, Wolf at the Door by Frances Nail who joins the group to discuss her book, Wed Mar 25, 7pm. Children's book readings are: Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott, Fri, Mar 20, 7pm; Sunflower Sal by Janet S. Anderson, Sat, Mar 21, 11am; Green Wilma by Tedd Arnold, Wed, Mar 25, 11am. 328-3155.
More poetry! Love is unpredictable. It can last after pursuit or it can wither away to complacent or contemptuous familiarity. The nature of love always depends on the space between the lovers and how well they play that space. It's an energy exchange. Too close and the gaps fill and there's no life, no movement; too far and there is no connection, so the lovers, their memories and desire faded, drift off into other realms searching for someone or some thing that can dance with them in a configuration that stays alive, interesting, erotic, and challenging. It's in the play between the spaces of their longing hearts charged by their desires and their passion to connect, to explore, to breathe in each other's essence and breathe out their own. Love that plays is never filled, for every fulfillment opens the heart to more love. It's dangerous and nothing can ever approach its numinous power. Vaya con dios.
Poem of the Weekdown to where the crawdads crawl
in the city muck...
silently doing what they do,
ignoring everything else,
simply seeking a dish to eat or a rock to plunder -
down under the surface
in the silence of the deep.
- Rohan Phipps "Barton Springs" (an excerpt) from PatchWork Poems, February 1998 available for $12 a year thru New Moon Publishing, 1528 W. Contour Dr. #103, San Antonio 78212