Adam Chiles & Moira Egan for the Joaquin Miller Poetry Series

Yesterday afternoon, June 16, we were again graced by a stellar performance for the Joaquin Miller Poetry Series. First up was Adam Chiles who read several "Landscape Variations" inspired by the work of  English painter David Hockney. He also reflected, to much delight, on the importance of the English pub.

After Adam, Moira Egan, an American poet based in Rome, took the floor. Moira admitted to altering her set for the "young and tender ears" in the audience! She ended her reading with several poems from her collection of Hot Flash Sonnets.

During the Q&A, issues of language and translation - specifically Moira's experience as an English-speaking poet living in Rome - and regionalism - specifically Adam's experience as a UK-North American transplant - were discussed. The featured poets were followed by a lovely open mic; many of the readers took time to reflect on Fathers' Day and a few touched on the subject with their performances!

                           

As always, we invite you to join us for the next program in the Miller series, which will feature Niki Herd and Carol Quinn, June 23rd at 3:00 PM at the Rock Creek Nature Center!

A Successful Miller Cabin Series Wraps Up

Tuesday was the final night of the 2010 Joaquin Miller Cabin Summer Poetry Series, and a great time was had by all! There were several new faces amongst the regular crowd, and we hope to see these young faces return in the coming years.

Our featured readers were Dan Albergotti and Jona Colson. Dan kicked the night off with poems rich in literary references, including a poem directed toward his nonexistent daughter, inspired by a Yeats poem. Curiously, amongst Jona's litany of poems was a p

oem called "Daughter", written about an (also nonexistent) daughter of his. The readers complemented each other wonderfully, and really made for a compelling night for the listeners!

The evening also saw the return of the Scooter girl from two weeks ago! We are glad to see that she made it out of the storm to safety, and even returned for another reading! Also in attendance was Charles Jensen who read earlier in the summer!

It is so great to have our past readers grace the audience with their presence!A big Thank You to everyone who made this series possible, from the organizers, the readers, those who donated funds, and of course, the all-important listeners. This 35th season has been a great one, and we hope to see you back in Rock Creek Park for the 36th!

Last night at Miller Cabin

Miller Cabin

Tuesday evenings at 7:30 at the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area #6, Beach Drive at Military Road Overpass. Sign up for opening reading at 7:15 pm. For more information and rain location, call Kathi Morrison-Taylor at 703-820-8113.

It threatened to storm last night, but the threat was not realized, and the reading was allowed to go as planned, outside under the stars at the Joaquin Miller Cabin!

A lively crowd gathered to hear poets Don Illich and Marie-Elizabeth Mali read.

Next week is our final installment of the Miller Cabin series for the summer! Don't miss poets Dan Albergotti and Jona Colson!

Last Night at Miller Cabin: Thunderstorm Edition

Miller Cabin

Tuesday evenings at 7:30 at the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area #6, Beach Drive at Military Road Overpass. Sign up for opening reading at 7:15 pm. For more information and rain location, call Kathi Morrison-Taylor at 703-820-8113.

Just before the rain started to fall, nearly twenty people congregated beneath the roofed area at Picnic grove #6 to hear the poetic ministrations of Cliff Bernier and Judith Valente. The rain began to fall lightly at first, and the sky was dark, but the environment felt apt for Cliff's nature-inspired poems.

By the time Judith's reading was beginning, a flashlight was required just to read the poems, and by the time for her second poem, the storm had completely drowned her out. The executive decision to relocate was made, and a mad dash was made for the safety of cars - except for one young lady who, unperturbed by the storm, set off on her scooter (we hope she got home alright!) - and headed off to the American City Diner to finish up the reading. We lost very few people, and had a full room of brave, soggy listeners for the rest of Judith's readings, and for the open mic. An altogether exciting evening! Thanks to everyone who braved the elements!

Last night at Miller Cabin

24 people braved the 100 degree heat and vicious bugs to listen to the lovely poetry of Christina Beasley and Erin Murphy.

Christina gave such a fun variety of poetry, ending her reading with a quirky poem about a hedgehog. Each and every one of her poems is infused with incredible and creative uses of language.

Erin traveled from western central Pennsylvania, bringing her whole family along. She had a great sense of humor, providing fun commentary about her life and family between incredibly strong and truthful poems.

Tomorrow at Miller Cabin

Miller Cabin

Tuesday evenings at 7:30 at the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area #6, Beach Drive at Military Road Overpass. Sign up for opening reading at 7:15 pm. For more information and rain location, call Kathi Morrison-Taylor at 703-820-8113.

Our first July meeting at the Miller Cabin will be tomorrow, July 6. On the docket for the evening are poets Christina Beasley and Erin Murphy. The weather is promising to be hot hot hot, but we hope to see a big crowd anyway!

Christina Beasley

Erin Murphy

Miller Cabin

Last week at Miller Cabin, I inconveniently forgot my camera battery, but fortunately, Janelle Fernandez was able to send along this great picture of our readers and hosts!

This Week at Miller Cabin

Miller Cabin

Tuesday evenings at 7:30 at the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area #6, Beach Drive at Military Road Overpass. Sign up for opening reading at 7:15 pm. For more information and rain location, call Kathi Morrison-Taylor at 703-820-8113.

Join us this Tuesday for another night out at the Miller Cabin! Featured readers for Tuesday, June 29th are:

Traci Brimhall, author of the forthcoming book Rookery, has published poems in New England Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Missouri Review, Kenyon Review Online, FIELD, Gettysburg Review, Indiana Review and Southern Review, among others. She teaches creative writing at Western Michigan University beginning this fall.

Charles Jensen is the author of three chapbooks and one full-length book of poetry, The First Risk. In addition to writing poetry, he is the founding editor of a poetry magazine, and is pursuing a second master's degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.

Last night at Miller Cabin

Thunderstorms were on the forecast, so last night's Miller Cabin reading was relocated from Rock Creek Park to the American City Diner on Connecticut Avenue. Despite less-than-ideal conditions, the readings went on! Alex Chertok kicked off the night, and Perry Epes followed with readings from his recent publication, Nothing Happened. Hopefully we'll be back at the Cabin with more comfortable weather next week! In case of inclement weather, the location change will be announced via the Word Works ENews Group, and the Word Works Facebook page. Please join these groups to make sure you're informed!

Tomorrow at Miller Cabin

Tomorrow at Miller Cabin, the featured readers will be Alex Chertok and The Word Works' own W. Perry Epes, who recently published his collection, Nothing Happened. The past two weeks have seen Perry introducing the 2010 Young Poets; this week, he steps behind the mic to read his own work. We hope to see another big group this week!

Last night at Miller Cabin

Twenty-six people braved the weather forecast, and were rewarded with a mercifully dry few hours for the second meeting of the 2010 Miller Cabin series.

Our second Jacklyn Potter Young Poet, Julia Holemans, gave a reading, and was followed by some truly funny, touching, and truthful poems by featured reader, Sue Ellen Thompson. A lively crowd migrated to the American City Diner to continue the conversation.

Former Young Poet, Baobao Zhang, returned to read her recent poem. We encourage any other former Young Poets to return to the Cabin to read at our open mic!

This week at Miller Cabin

This Tuesday at Miller Cabin, poet Sue Ellen Thompson, author of four books, including her most recent, The Leaving: New & Selected Poems, will be reading along with Jacklyn Potter Young Poet Julia Holemans. Our other Young Poet winner, Will Frazier, gave an excellent reading last week, and we look forward to hearing from Julia!

Unfortunately, the weather report does not look as perfect as last week. In case of inclement weather, we will be meeting at the American City Diner, located at 5532 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Don't let the rain, heat or storms keep you away!

Weather Report from Accuweather.com

Miller Cabin Report

The weather was perfect, and the turnout was large for the first Miller Cabin poetry reading of the summer! You might want to bring your own lawn chair next time, because it was standing room only after our picnic tables filled up with the more than 45 eager listeners.

The night opened with a reading of Columbus by Joaquin Miller, read by Mel Belin (with members of the audience chiming in with the "Sail On!") After this, featured readings began with Julie Enszer.

Next came two-time Jacklyn Potter Young Poet Will Frazier. Following him was Jericho Brown's intense performance.

Former Young Poet Laura Fletcher (2005) was the first in a long line of open mic-ers clamoring to recite their own pieces.

Only the setting of the sun could bring an end to it. Lively conversation continued well into the evening in a funky little room at the American City Diner, where 22 people gathered. Check out the Word Works Facebook Page for more pictures from the event! We hope to see you all again next week, and throughout the summer!