Bob Moore  has sent along the latest  announcement. He references Emily Dickinson. Here are Emily’s words penned in 1862.

335

 

‘Tis not that Dying hurts us so —

‘Tis Living — hurts us more —

But Dying — is a different way —

A Kind behind the Door —

 

The Southern Custom — of the Bird —

That ere the Frosts are due —

Accepts a better Latitude —

We — are the Birds — that stay.

 

The Shrivers round Farmers’ doors —

For whose reluctant Crumb —

We stipulate — till pitying Snows

Persuade our Feathers Home.

 

From Bob Moore

Poets, musicians, birds that can fly, birds that can’t fly, birds that can’t fly but can fly in their mind:

I hope you’re making the best of a bad situation called more snow (and maybe you’ve taken up snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, and maybe you’ve decided that if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.). Or maybe you’ve flown south for the Winter in your mind, but are one of the many of Emily’s D.’s “we are the birds that stay”.

As Jeff Foxworthy says, you know you’re a New Englander if you celebrate 4 seasons of the year: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.

We have a fine poet featured this coming Friday named John Simon. John has been attending our First Friday coffeehouses for the last year and has been offering his performance poetry in a plaintiff, quiet, and dignified style.

John has the uncanny ability to memorize verse and present it with unassuming clarity. His poetry selections (samples from traditional poet masters to contemporary poets an original poetry) are thought-provoking and top-rate. We’re also featuring a mystery music guest (or guests) and will leave the musical guests as a mystery for now. A quick biography of John Simon follows:

Freelance editor John Simon’s on-again, off-again relationship with poetry has been mostly on for the past several years. Introduced to the open mic venue at Portsmouth’s  Café Espresso two years ago, he now signs up regularly to recite at Mel Flanagan’s Irish Pub in Rochester (at which he was the featured presenter in September 2010), the coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Church and Water Street Bookstore (at which he was the featured presenter in February) in Exeter, and The Press Room in Portsmouth. The UNH alum and author of d’Arc, a chapbook of his poetry available at the River Run Bookstore in Portsmouth, has resided in that city since the 1980s.

His poem,“Disposition,” was discussed in the “Poems from the Hoot” column in the May 27, 2010 Spotlight. Simon’s poetry was described in the Rochester News as “romantic and reflective, steeped in the moods and colors of the many-faceted stages of love and loss. His work involves the listener intellectually and emotionally, moving from a simple vantage point to the complications and complexities of the human condition with surprising clarity. His words will bring you in, hold you close, and leave you enthralled.” Simon hosts an open mic at The Serenity Café at Foyes Corner in Rye on the third Monday of every month. For more information on the Serenity Café open mic, you can e-mail John at: <mailto:john@wordpraxis.com>john@wordpraxis.com.

The First Friday Coffeehouse featuring  poet John Simon

The First Unitarian-Universalist Society of Exeter

12 Elm Street (Parish Hall), Exeter, NH

Friday, March 4th 7:30 PM  Sign-up for performers starts at 6:30 PM.

Musicians, poets, families, performing art enthusiasts encouraged to attend.

Bring a dessert. Coffee and tea will be provided. Donations gratefully accepted.

Tell a friend and see you on Friday, March 4th

For more information, e-mail bmoore628@comcast.net or phone: 642-4648.