This River I Run:
There's a place I come from,
That little midwestern town by the river,
I can never escape it's call,
No matter how far I go,
Trees green,
Water near the same,
Limestone and dams,
The festivals of summer,
A glimpse of peace crosses my face as afternoon sunshine,
As the boat cruises down the Rock,
I feel at home,
Where I know in my bones,
This place has never left my blood,
In spite of pains,
In spite of travels,
In spite of gains,
This river I run is at the root of me,
These banks hallowed ground,
My childhood screams it's name,
My family's fate has long been surrounded by it,
The seeming languid waters deceptive in their power,
My grandmother and grandfather,
Mother and father,
Brothers, sisters,
Cousins, aunts, uncles,
Near all have watched this water run by,
And timeless times I remember,
As lives flow slowly by,
Their seeming languid pace deceptive in their power,
And I thank God for moments most would call me fool for,
To cherish this small, unknown, struggling town,
This place so often ridiculed,
But as they often say here,
Beloit Wisconsin calls you,
One can leave,
But in some fashion,
Everyone winds up coming back,
Even if just in memory of times loved or hated.
Happy as I am,
I miss the river I run.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 07/16/2001
Wish I could go up & help sandbag or something - it's really bad. Beloit is my home town for those who don't know, and Janesville is right next to it.
http://www.gazettextra.com/photos/galleries/gazette-staff-flooding-photos/
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/shared-content/gallery/?galleryid=1&gallery_page=0&album_page=0&albumid=1&mediaid=82
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Plainfield Live Poetry On Summer Hiatus...
...Summer is a busy time for all of us, and with the increase in prices of...well, EVERYTHING, it's time to take a break.
To be honest, attendance at this poetry reading has been few and far between for a long time. I don't have the time to do much by way of promoting it, other than online, and interest seems to be very low.
If there is any future interest in starting up poetry readings out here in the un-wild West, maybe we can try again, but for now, I'm going to focus on my writing online and let the live readings go.
To all who've come out and spent some fun time reading with me, thank you. It's been a pleasure, and I wish all of you the best.
Sincerely,
Dan
To be honest, attendance at this poetry reading has been few and far between for a long time. I don't have the time to do much by way of promoting it, other than online, and interest seems to be very low.
If there is any future interest in starting up poetry readings out here in the un-wild West, maybe we can try again, but for now, I'm going to focus on my writing online and let the live readings go.
To all who've come out and spent some fun time reading with me, thank you. It's been a pleasure, and I wish all of you the best.
Sincerely,
Dan
Friday, June 20, 2008
My New Song - Saxophone - "Pacha Mama Prayer"
It's kind of New Age Blues with a Native American beat, I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. (Of course, there's no way it could be performed live - it's all recorded in three separate tracks on the computer)
It's kind of New Age Blues with a Native American beat, I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. (Of course, there's no way it could be performed live - it's all recorded in three separate tracks on the computer) I play a 1966 Selmer Bundy. The below song was recorded using the sax and my laptop. Percussion is my hands on the table, and I'm doing vocals. The software used is Audacity & LAME MP3 encoder, both of which are free. I recorded this in three separate parts, first the saxophone, then the vocals, then the percussion. Time from melody concept to full recording was one hour. (Pacha Mama = South American equivalent to Gaia, the Earth Mother Goddess.)
http://www.whizzyrds.com/Pachamamaprayer.mp3
I call my sax "Bello".
It's kind of New Age Blues with a Native American beat, I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. (Of course, there's no way it could be performed live - it's all recorded in three separate tracks on the computer) I play a 1966 Selmer Bundy. The below song was recorded using the sax and my laptop. Percussion is my hands on the table, and I'm doing vocals. The software used is Audacity & LAME MP3 encoder, both of which are free. I recorded this in three separate parts, first the saxophone, then the vocals, then the percussion. Time from melody concept to full recording was one hour. (Pacha Mama = South American equivalent to Gaia, the Earth Mother Goddess.)
http://www.whizzyrds.com/Pachamamaprayer.mp3
I call my sax "Bello".
Sunday, May 18, 2008
My Trip To The 2008 Chicago Green Festival
My Trip To The 2008 Chicago Green Festival
For starters, I got off to a late start - one of my oldest friends was in town after a couple of years in Spain, so we were out together visiting and shooting pool until close to 1:00 am, by the time I got to bed the night before, it was close to 03:00.
At any rate, I got up late in the morning and started planning my itinerary in the festival guide.
(You can see more about the Green Festivals all over the country at www.greenfestivals.org )
Embedded here is a photo slide show from my trip to the fest. (Uses shockwave flash)
For those of you who may not be able to view the slideshow, there is a web album of the photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/AquarianM/2008ChicagoGreenFestivalAtNavyPier
A few highlights:
The main fest exhibit area - about four football fields, I'd guess.
Yours truly at the fest:
The Chicago Skyline as seen from Navy Pier:
The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel after dark - this is around 200 feet tall:
I stopped in and watched the first hour of the Patchamama Alliance's
symposium entitled "Awakening The Dreamer" first off in one of the 3rd floor lecture rooms. You can check out an electronic version on their site, I believe. It was an interesting synthesis of the bigger picture formed by sustainable economy, energy, ans society. I'd recommend it.
After wards, I roamed the booths checking things out.
I picked up some organic lime shea butter at the Trillium Organics booth for my wife Saren - she loves the stuff for skin lotion, and says there's nothing better out there.
I also got her a four ounce pump spray aluminum bottle of citrus eucalyptus spray as an organic bug repellent from Blissoma aromatherapy.
For our friend Jim, I got a note pad made out of Mr. Ellie Pooh paper. This paper is a soft, fibery, acid-free paper made from...elephant dung from Sri Lanka. Apparently, the elephants in Sri Lanka trample the farmers' crops, and so they get upset and shoot them. One way the farmers can make up the elephant damage is by making paper products out of their pooh. According to the brochure, each one produces around 500 lbs of the stuff per day, and it's all veggie and almost pre-processed perfectly for paper making.
To note, there were several other types of treeless paper at the fest; one was made from some kind of bush in Nepal that you can take most of the leaves from each year, and it grows back.
For My wife and I both, I got some red African bush tea, otherwise known as Rooibos. It is of course organic, and caffeine-free. It also tastes very nice. I'm drnking a cup as I type this for you. I got it from Eco Teas.
For myself, I picked up a set of authentic Tibetan prayer flags.
According to the label, the tradition is that you hang them outside in the breeze with a specific event in mind, such as the birth of a child, the beginning of a journey, etc. The prayers written on the flags are prayers of prosperity and success. It is believed that the prayers are carried away on the winds. As the flags become weathered and the prayers can no longer be read, the prayers are believed to have been delivered.
I also stopped by Calvert Funds to get some advice on setting up an IRA that does socially responsible investing. They're going to work out an appointment for ,me to come into their office (which is right in my train station) and look over what I can do.
All in all, I really wish I could have stayed longer.
Now as to getting to the fest, since it was on a Saturday and I got out late, I had to drive downtown - I have a night-limited parking pass for one of the ramps downtown, but on the weekends I can be in there around the clock. However, my parking space is at least four miles, possibly five, from Navy Pier. I walked. There and back. On the return journey, it was after dark and raining. Not horribly hard, but a constant medium-light rain. Needless to say, by the time I got back to the truck, I was pretty damp. (Just so you know, my pickup is V6 and 2
two-wheel drive. I'm 6'6" and 330 lbs, so I can't fit in the majority of smaller vehicles. )
Altogether, it was a great and happy day.
Regards,
Dan
Thursday, May 15, 2008
This Saturday 05/17/2008
I will NOT be at the Green Leaf Coffee House for poetry this Saturday, as it is the only day I can attend the Chicago Green Festival, and one of my oldest and dearest friends is back in town from Spain. Feel free to go down to the Green Leaf and share poetry with each other - I will be at the Green Festival at Navy Pier.
I look forward to seeing all of you in mid-June.
All the best, and Write On -
Dan
I look forward to seeing all of you in mid-June.
All the best, and Write On -
Dan
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Film Screening of the documentary "All In This Tea".
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
On Saturday, 04/26/2008 at 7pm Central, I will be hosting a screening of "All In This Tea" at the Green Leaf Coffee House.
What: Film Screening of the documentary "All In This Tea".
When: Saturday, April 26th, at 7pm CDT
Cost: Free, but call ahead to reserve seating as capacity is limited to just under 40 persons.
Where:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Contact: Jillmarie or Shannon
Description:
It's A Tea-cup Universe...
An ancient bush reigns,
Upon the misted hills of China,
Stone trails nearly forgotten,
Walking a way of antiquity.
Can you taste the world or the sky?
Ten days of weather in a basket of leaves and buds,
How high a bush sits on the hill,
What lies far beneath our feet,
How did hands move - long or fast or gentle?
A family art as fine as butterfly wing breezes.
Everything modern can move mountains,
Dead dirt and dull uniforms,
Machine-printed cheap art for the masses,
Careless rush of rough touch.
Stubborn - the seeker of ancient heart.
Masterworks revived from the crush,
Uniqueness in a land of conformity,
Living tradition tied to nature,
Poetry in cupped hands and scent.
Taste it - it's a tea-cup universe that awaits.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 03/31/2008
Upon watching the documentary film "All In This Tea," I was touched by the sheer poetic beauty of the ancient hills of China, covered in fields of tea bushes. For centuries, master tea makers have captured the nuances of location, weather, tradition, soil, and water in small cups, allowing the pass one's lips as liquid art. Every detail of environment is captured in each cup, every scrap of a bundle of tea's history blends with the water that makes it, and tells an intricate story in flavor to those who may listen.
Nearly overpowered and under threat of extinction by vast commercialization in the form of mass tea exporters, this was feared a dying art. Through the efforts of a man from the West who knew the true flavor of honestly authentic hand-made teas, a hole was pushed through the wall. A new way opened up for the art to survive, and thrive.
>From the factories to history to the smallest hand-crafted details and most ornate ceremonies, this is the visual poetry of tea's truth, and how it is both coming home to China and appearing in America. As a cup of tea warms the hands, "All In This Tea" warms the heart, with knowledge and hope.
See it on the Sundance Channel Tuesday, April 29th at 9:35 pm Eastern and Pacific.
On Saturday, 04/26/2008 at 7pm Central, I will be hosting a screening of "All In This Tea" at the Green Leaf Coffee House.
What: Film Screening of the documentary "All In This Tea".
When: Saturday, April 26th, at 7pm CDT
Cost: Free, but call ahead to reserve seating as capacity is limited to just under 40 persons.
Where:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Contact: Jillmarie or Shannon
Description:
It's A Tea-cup Universe...
An ancient bush reigns,
Upon the misted hills of China,
Stone trails nearly forgotten,
Walking a way of antiquity.
Can you taste the world or the sky?
Ten days of weather in a basket of leaves and buds,
How high a bush sits on the hill,
What lies far beneath our feet,
How did hands move - long or fast or gentle?
A family art as fine as butterfly wing breezes.
Everything modern can move mountains,
Dead dirt and dull uniforms,
Machine-printed cheap art for the masses,
Careless rush of rough touch.
Stubborn - the seeker of ancient heart.
Masterworks revived from the crush,
Uniqueness in a land of conformity,
Living tradition tied to nature,
Poetry in cupped hands and scent.
Taste it - it's a tea-cup universe that awaits.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 03/31/2008
Upon watching the documentary film "All In This Tea," I was touched by the sheer poetic beauty of the ancient hills of China, covered in fields of tea bushes. For centuries, master tea makers have captured the nuances of location, weather, tradition, soil, and water in small cups, allowing the pass one's lips as liquid art. Every detail of environment is captured in each cup, every scrap of a bundle of tea's history blends with the water that makes it, and tells an intricate story in flavor to those who may listen.
Nearly overpowered and under threat of extinction by vast commercialization in the form of mass tea exporters, this was feared a dying art. Through the efforts of a man from the West who knew the true flavor of honestly authentic hand-made teas, a hole was pushed through the wall. A new way opened up for the art to survive, and thrive.
>From the factories to history to the smallest hand-crafted details and most ornate ceremonies, this is the visual poetry of tea's truth, and how it is both coming home to China and appearing in America. As a cup of tea warms the hands, "All In This Tea" warms the heart, with knowledge and hope.
See it on the Sundance Channel Tuesday, April 29th at 9:35 pm Eastern and Pacific.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Due To Excessive SPAM on the Yahoo Group...
I have changed the membership settings to require my approval for new members to join. Hopefully, that will keep our discussion list free of hot porn dates and trojaneers.
Dan
Dan
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sisters of the Heart
Sisters of the Heart
We are sisters of the heart
More than siblings of the flesh
We're two hearts one spirit
An intricate delicate mesh
We laugh and we cry
We fight and we sing
We love and we hate
But always we know one thing
Deep down inside
Where no others can see
We're never alone
There's my sister and me
We're two of a kind
Two souls woven in love
To comfort one another
Sent from God above
And if the time come
One of us must leave
Must return to God
Oh sister do not grieve
Our bond will not be broken
Though separation hurts so much
We'll still be sisters of the heart
Still keep in touch
We'll be whispers in the wind
Sunbeams dancing in our hair
A twinkle in each others eye
With each other everywhere
We'll always be together
No matter what befall
Not even death can silence
Sisters of the heart after all!
© Russ Pergram
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Notes From March PLP At The Green Leaf...
Live music & poetry intermixed - not bad. Russ Pergram & I spent a good bit of time discussing writing in general, some specific points of technique on punctuation, and writing projects each of us are working on.
That's one of the fun things about the smaller readings like the Green Leaf PLP day often is. With less people than the large shows, we can have more interactive discussion mixed in with the poetry, and keep it less formalized and rigid. If you get thirty or forty poets in to read, you have to be tight on time limits and just read on and on, with not much chance to break it up.
Not that the bigger readings aren't good or appreciated - they are. They are just a different thing altogether. It's like apples and pears. They're both sweet and come from trees, often with green skins, but they taste different. This is why I keep on truck...er, reading.
Toward the end of the afternoon, we were talking to Shannon Prahl, one of the two sisters that own the Green Leaf Coffee House, our kind and wonderful host. (Jillmarie is the other sister.)
They have a lovely pair of pictures up on the wall from when they were little girls. One is clearly from Summer, one from Fall. Russ and I decided to write a poem about each of the pictures. Russ is doing Summer, I am doing Fall. I took a phone-cam picture of the two large photos on the wall and e-mailed them home for the two of us to work with. Below is my effort. I'll post Russ's work here when he has it ready. (And after he e-mails it to me.)
Thanks for reading, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Dan
Steps and stairs,
A house number by heart,
Cool breath,
Miss you, puppy dog.
So long...
Leaves out of sight,
Never out of mind,
All about the yard,
Were in neat piles raked.
Sign of a season...
A cameo moment,
Camera-captured forever,
"Who, me?"
"Not I wags the dog."
A smile and whistle for such innocence...
Scattered gold and brown,
Wind-blown in their time,
Rustles and frost long faded,
Like clouds in the sky.
They remember the leaves even still.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford - poem, Prahl family photo.
© 03/15/2008
That's one of the fun things about the smaller readings like the Green Leaf PLP day often is. With less people than the large shows, we can have more interactive discussion mixed in with the poetry, and keep it less formalized and rigid. If you get thirty or forty poets in to read, you have to be tight on time limits and just read on and on, with not much chance to break it up.
Not that the bigger readings aren't good or appreciated - they are. They are just a different thing altogether. It's like apples and pears. They're both sweet and come from trees, often with green skins, but they taste different. This is why I keep on truck...er, reading.
Toward the end of the afternoon, we were talking to Shannon Prahl, one of the two sisters that own the Green Leaf Coffee House, our kind and wonderful host. (Jillmarie is the other sister.)
They have a lovely pair of pictures up on the wall from when they were little girls. One is clearly from Summer, one from Fall. Russ and I decided to write a poem about each of the pictures. Russ is doing Summer, I am doing Fall. I took a phone-cam picture of the two large photos on the wall and e-mailed them home for the two of us to work with. Below is my effort. I'll post Russ's work here when he has it ready. (And after he e-mails it to me.)
Thanks for reading, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Dan
Green Leaf Gals Fall...
Steps and stairs,
A house number by heart,
Cool breath,
Miss you, puppy dog.
So long...
Leaves out of sight,
Never out of mind,
All about the yard,
Were in neat piles raked.
Sign of a season...
A cameo moment,
Camera-captured forever,
"Who, me?"
"Not I wags the dog."
A smile and whistle for such innocence...
Scattered gold and brown,
Wind-blown in their time,
Rustles and frost long faded,
Like clouds in the sky.
They remember the leaves even still.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford - poem, Prahl family photo.
© 03/15/2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
March PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
March poetry : open mike - Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
The afternoon will start of with a poetry open mike and / or poetry and writing discussion, and end with co-writing a poem for December.
Date: Saturday March 15, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the third Saturday.
Location:
Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL
Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Saturday of the month from 1pm to 4pm at:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and spoken-word artists are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plainfield_live_poetry/post?postID=zbYmiUupdQukZzJQBTy7jUYPgiTkXvuQ7SHgEmGrheGcoN6Pkyu82oFbQtA3x4gisRNU7N48DTLMqBLr or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending.
March poetry : open mike - Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
The afternoon will start of with a poetry open mike and / or poetry and writing discussion, and end with co-writing a poem for December.
Date: Saturday March 15, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the third Saturday.
Location:
Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL
Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Saturday of the month from 1pm to 4pm at:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and spoken-word artists are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plainfield_live_poetry/post?postID=zbYmiUupdQukZzJQBTy7jUYPgiTkXvuQ7SHgEmGrheGcoN6Pkyu82oFbQtA3x4gisRNU7N48DTLMqBLr or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending.
Friday, February 15, 2008
A new blog about learing "The Empty Hand"
Just a quick note, I've started a journal about learning the art of Karate called "The Empty Hand." (Karate literally translates to "Empty Hand" in Japanese.) You can find a bit of humor and also insiders' notes on what it's like to be learning a martial art. Stop on by The Empty Hand at http://karateemptyhand.blogspot.com/ any time.
Regards,
Dan
Regards,
Dan
Monday, February 11, 2008
February PLP Reading at the Green Leaf Coffee House
PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
January poetry : open mike - Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry CircleThe afternoon will start of with a poetry open mike and / or poetry and writing discussion, and end with co-writing a poem for February.
Date: Saturday February 16, 2008
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the third Saturday.
Location:
Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL
Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Saturday of the month from 7pm to 9pm at:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and spoken-word artists are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plainfield_live_poetry/post?postID=zbYmiUupdQukZzJQBTy7jUYPgiTkXvuQ7SHgEmGrheGcoN6Pkyu82oFbQtA3x4gisRNU7N48DTLMqBLr or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Our Green Leaf Collaboration Poem
We're getting some nice feedback on Eggnog Latte at a couple of different online poetry boards.
First, the poem, then the comments:
Eggnog Latte...
In the falling afternoon sunlight,
Lazy Fall Sunday afternoon,
A steaming cup of holiday,
Whirls about my mind,
Stirred and lidded hand-warmer,
From which I spill poetry.
As I sip from that cup of memories
Of holidays long gone by
I savor the fragrance of their joy
Amid the velvet echoes
Of loves' sweet caress
Creamy and dreamy,
blackness and fluff
sweetness lingers
covering the bitter bite
Last minute shopping,
frantic wrapping,
hiding all the whimsical surprises,
at last a reward of frothy delight,
time being held still with a sip of holiday enjoyment,
a sense of satisfaction of new memories
being created and old ones passed on.
By: Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
© 11/24/2007
Contributing Authors: (In order of verse written)
Daniel A. Stafford
Russ Pergram
Shannon Prahl
Mary Andersen
Fom Elle Rush at Mystic Muse:
"DELIGHTFUL!!!
You know I love collaboration, it really helps the creative process along.
Inspiring people are, well..... inspiring!
Awesome & thank you for posting! Invite these Poets to our board!!"
http://mysticmuse.proboards17.com/index.cgi
From Cottage Rose at Flowing Quills:
" This is a very nice collab Dan. Brings to mind
the song "Memories are made of this" All sweet
things certainly need to be kept in our memory
box. Sylvia"
http://p198.ezboard.com/fthegoldenquillfrm120
From Blueberry Kitten at Flowing Quills:
"Life in a northern town. It sounds like a dream. Make's you feel warm. "
http://p198.ezboard.com/fthegoldenquillfrm120
First, the poem, then the comments:
Eggnog Latte...
In the falling afternoon sunlight,
Lazy Fall Sunday afternoon,
A steaming cup of holiday,
Whirls about my mind,
Stirred and lidded hand-warmer,
From which I spill poetry.
As I sip from that cup of memories
Of holidays long gone by
I savor the fragrance of their joy
Amid the velvet echoes
Of loves' sweet caress
Creamy and dreamy,
blackness and fluff
sweetness lingers
covering the bitter bite
Last minute shopping,
frantic wrapping,
hiding all the whimsical surprises,
at last a reward of frothy delight,
time being held still with a sip of holiday enjoyment,
a sense of satisfaction of new memories
being created and old ones passed on.
By: Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
© 11/24/2007
Contributing Authors: (In order of verse written)
Daniel A. Stafford
Russ Pergram
Shannon Prahl
Mary Andersen
Fom Elle Rush at Mystic Muse:
"DELIGHTFUL!!!
You know I love collaboration, it really helps the creative process along.
Inspiring people are, well..... inspiring!
Awesome & thank you for posting! Invite these Poets to our board!!"
http://mysticmuse.proboards17.com/index.cgi
From Cottage Rose at Flowing Quills:
" This is a very nice collab Dan. Brings to mind
the song "Memories are made of this" All sweet
things certainly need to be kept in our memory
box. Sylvia"
http://p198.ezboard.com/fthegoldenquillfrm120
From Blueberry Kitten at Flowing Quills:
"Life in a northern town. It sounds like a dream. Make's you feel warm. "
http://p198.ezboard.com/fthegoldenquillfrm120
Saturday, January 12, 2008
January PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
January poetry : open mike - Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry CircleThe afternoon will start of with a poetry open mike and / or poetry and writing discussion, and end with co-writing a poem for December.
Date: Saturday January 19, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the third Saturday.
Location:
Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL
Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Saturday of the month from 7pm to 9pm at:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and spoken-word artists are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plainfield_live_poetry/post?postID=zbYmiUupdQukZzJQBTy7jUYPgiTkXvuQ7SHgEmGrheGcoN6Pkyu82oFbQtA3x4gisRNU7N48DTLMqBLr or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending.
Friday, December 14, 2007
PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House
December poetry blast : open mike - Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
The afternoon will start of with a poetry open mike and / or poetry and writing discussion, and end with co-writing a poem for December.
Date: Saturday December 15, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the third Saturday.
Location:
Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL
Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Saturday of the month from 7pm to 9pm at:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and spoken-word artists are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plainfield_live_poetry/post?postID=zbYmiUupdQukZzJQBTy7jUYPgiTkXvuQ7SHgEmGrheGcoN6Pkyu82oFbQtA3x4gisRNU7N48DTLMqBLr or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending.
Happy Holidays!
December poetry blast : open mike - Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
The afternoon will start of with a poetry open mike and / or poetry and writing discussion, and end with co-writing a poem for December.
Date: Saturday December 15, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the third Saturday.
Location:
Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL
Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Saturday of the month from 7pm to 9pm at:
Green Leaf Coffee House(located in Sun Plaza)
2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G
Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410
greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and spoken-word artists are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plainfield_live_poetry/post?postID=zbYmiUupdQukZzJQBTy7jUYPgiTkXvuQ7SHgEmGrheGcoN6Pkyu82oFbQtA3x4gisRNU7N48DTLMqBLr or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending.
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Next Saturday at Harold Washington
Frome Dave Gecic:
A Reading With The Poets of The Puddin'head Press
Harold Washington Library
Author's Room
400 S. State
7th Floor
1 to 2:30 PM
Saturday, December 1st
Featuring:
Nina Corwin author of Conversations With Friendly Demons and Tainted Saints
Carol Anderson author of Ordinary
Cathleen Schandelmeier author of Chicago Phoenix
Larry Janowski author of BrotherKeeper
Sandy Goldsmith author of Imaging Center
Lee Kitzis author of Eight Dollars An Hour
There will be books by dozens of Chicago poets available.
Come and buy a poetry book for Christmas.
For more info visit www.puddinheadpress.com
or e-mail us at phbooks@compuserve.com or call 708-656-4900.
And Friday November 30
at the Mercury Cafe
1505 W. Chicago Ave
at 7 PM
presents featured poets
Janet Kuyper, Ixta Menchaca
and Nina Corwin, author of Conversations with Friendly Demons and Tainted
Saints
Saturday, November 24, 2007
November Green Leaf Poetry Recap...
November was an intimate but lively session for poetry at the Green Leaf Coffee House.
Shannon & her Dad joined in the discussion, and Shannon's Dad brought in a wonderful poem he'd written about what writing poetry meant to him.
Russ Pergram, one of our most romantic poets, was reading and driving a great deal of discussion, and Mary Andersen joined in with her first poetic writing in twenty years for our new last hour segment, the Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle.
The poetry circle is where all writers in attendance who are willing to contribute a verse to a jointly-written poem. (Rights go to Green Leaf Coffee House, as they are our generous hosts.)
I hope a happy Thanksgiving was had by all - and with the December holiday season, a wonderful month coming up.
Here is our November creation:
Eggnog Latte...
In the falling afternoon sunlight,
Lazy Fall Sunday afternoon,
A steaming cup of holiday,
Whirls about my mind,
Stirred and lidded hand-warmer,
From which I spill poetry.
As I sip from that cup of memories
Of holidays long gone by
I savor the fragrance of their joy
Amid the velvet echoes
Of loves' sweet caress
Creamy and dreamy,
blackness and fluff
sweetness lingers
covering the bitter bite
Last minute shopping,
frantic wrapping,
hiding all the whimsical surprises,
at last a reward of frothy delight,
time being held still with a sip of holiday enjoyment,
a sense of satisfaction of new memories
being created and old ones passed on.
By: Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
© 11/24/2007
Contributing Authors: (In order of verse written)
Daniel A. Stafford
Russ Pergram
Shannon Prahl
Mary Andersen
Shannon & her Dad joined in the discussion, and Shannon's Dad brought in a wonderful poem he'd written about what writing poetry meant to him.
Russ Pergram, one of our most romantic poets, was reading and driving a great deal of discussion, and Mary Andersen joined in with her first poetic writing in twenty years for our new last hour segment, the Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle.
The poetry circle is where all writers in attendance who are willing to contribute a verse to a jointly-written poem. (Rights go to Green Leaf Coffee House, as they are our generous hosts.)
I hope a happy Thanksgiving was had by all - and with the December holiday season, a wonderful month coming up.
Here is our November creation:
Eggnog Latte...
In the falling afternoon sunlight,
Lazy Fall Sunday afternoon,
A steaming cup of holiday,
Whirls about my mind,
Stirred and lidded hand-warmer,
From which I spill poetry.
As I sip from that cup of memories
Of holidays long gone by
I savor the fragrance of their joy
Amid the velvet echoes
Of loves' sweet caress
Creamy and dreamy,
blackness and fluff
sweetness lingers
covering the bitter bite
Last minute shopping,
frantic wrapping,
hiding all the whimsical surprises,
at last a reward of frothy delight,
time being held still with a sip of holiday enjoyment,
a sense of satisfaction of new memories
being created and old ones passed on.
By: Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Circle
© 11/24/2007
Contributing Authors: (In order of verse written)
Daniel A. Stafford
Russ Pergram
Shannon Prahl
Mary Andersen
Thursday, October 18, 2007
PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House this Saturday
| Reminder from: | Dan Stafford | |
| Title: | PLP Reading at Green Leaf Coffee House | |
| Date: | Saturday October 20, 2007 | |
| Time: | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | |
| Repeats: | This event repeats every month on the third Saturday. | |
| Location: | Green Leaf Coffee House, 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL | |
| Notes: | Poetry readings will ORDINARILY be held the Third Wednesday of the month from 7pm to 9pm at: Green Leaf Coffee House (located in Sun Plaza) 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL 60504 630-851-8410 greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net Attendance is free of charge and all poets are welcome to read. Contact Dan Stafford at aqmstaffo@mailbag.com or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net) Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30. Please forward this message to anyone you feel may be interested in reading or attending. | |
New Pickup Truck
As some of you know, my orange Dakota was totaled a couple of weeks ago. Here is the replacement, which is still missing a few finishing touches, such as a black bed liner, body matching hard tonneau cover, front tow hooks, and a black hood scoop. I put in a picture of another Dakota with a hood scoop on it at the bottom so you can get the idea.
Regards,
Dan
Friday, September 28, 2007
Saturday Poetry Open Mike at Green Leaf Coffee House
Saturday Poetry Open Mike at Green Leaf Coffee House
Spoken Word at Green Leaf Coffee House this coming Saturday afternoon:
Plainfield Live Poetry will be meeting Saturday, September 29th at Green Leaf Coffee House from 1-4pm .
Let's bring in the Fall with some hot poetry!!
All writers, poetry or not, are welcome to come and read - this is a spoken word event and we want to hear from all of you!
Green Leaf Coffee House (located in Sun Plaza) 2400 S. Eola Road, Suite G Aurora, IL 60504
630-851-8410 greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and writers are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at aqmstaffo@mailbag.com or 815-483-8878 or Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net)
Sun Plaza is located on the far Southwestern portion of Eola Road about two miles before it intersects US Hwy 30.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel would be interested in reading or attending!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
From Dave Gecic - Puddin Head Press
Here are four Puddin'head tidbits.
Nina Corwin, author of
Conversations With Friendly Demons and Tainted Saints
Will be feature
at Waiting 4 the Bus
at Jaks Tap 901 w Jackson
this Monday, September 17th, 7:30 PM
Dave Gecic
will be featured
this Tuesday, September 18, 8 PM
at The Café, 5115 N. Lincoln.
Great poetry, great drinks, great food, great googlie-mooglie!
Dave Gecic and Bob Boone will perform at
Geezerpalooza II.
Wednesday, September 19, 8 PM
at Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division
with readings by Chicago area educators and
the adult supporters of Young Chicago Authors.
Sandy Goldsmith's book "Imaging Center"
will be available in October.
Her next feature is
DVA Gallery
Friday, October 5, 8 PM
2568 N. Lincoln
There will be a star-studded poetry event
to celebrate her book in October.
Clear your October calendar!
For more info visit www.puddinheadpress.com
From Dave Gecic - Puddin Head Press
Here are four Puddin'head tidbits.
Nina Corwin, author of
Conversations With Friendly Demons and Tainted Saints
Will be feature
at Waiting 4 the Bus
at Jaks Tap 901 w Jackson
this Monday, September 17th, 7:30 PM
Dave Gecic
will be featured
this Tuesday, September 18, 8 PM
at The Café, 5115 N. Lincoln.
Great poetry, great drinks, great food, great googlie-mooglie!
Dave Gecic and Bob Boone will perform at
Geezerpalooza II.
Wednesday, September 19, 8 PM
at Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division
with readings by Chicago area educators and
the adult supporters of Young Chicago Authors.
Sandy Goldsmith's book "Imaging Center"
will be available in October.
Her next feature is
DVA Gallery
Friday, October 5, 8 PM
2568 N. Lincoln
There will be a star-studded poetry event
to celebrate her book in October.
Clear your October calendar!
For more info visit www.puddinheadpress.com
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Saturday, September 29th
Green Leaf Coffee House Poetry Saturday, September 29th this month...
All,
I'm going to be away this Saturday & next, so poetry at the Green Leaf Coffee House will be Saturday, September 29th, instead of 09/15.
I'll send out another reminder closer to the date.
Regards,
Dan
All,
I'm going to be away this Saturday & next, so poetry at the Green Leaf Coffee House will be Saturday, September 29th, instead of 09/15.
I'll send out another reminder closer to the date.
Regards,
Dan
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Beach Glass...
Beach Glass...
Softened bauble tossed by waves,
There in the tumble of my favorite lake,
You dance with pretty stones and driftwood,
Washed up and old but elegant.
It's something gentler the waves bring,
Walking down the sand with the gulls,
They float and they dance,
The waves break and break and break.
A soft roar and a driftwood stick,
Footprints and foam and green and blue,
Sunshine and yellow-tan with glints all about,
Looking for shells and other treasures.
We drift along in timeless reverie,
Until it's time to just lie still,
Sun-baked and wind-washed,
Filled with the beach-scent of the lake.
We take one shell,
Soft violet tinge inside,
And four colors of beach glass,
Green and amber and white and faded blue.
Treasures to set in a cigar box,
Children at play in endless time,
Tokens and omens and wishes of fishes,
An art of life that's sublime.
I turn it in my fingers and see all the beach glass colors,
Softly in my mind summer is ending,
Sharp edges gone and nights just beginning to cool,
Tumbled at the edge of Lake Time.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 09/01/2007
Words are the mind's bridge - it's connection to all the universe.Love is the heart's bridge - it's connection to all other souls.Loving words can work miracles.
Softened bauble tossed by waves,
There in the tumble of my favorite lake,
You dance with pretty stones and driftwood,
Washed up and old but elegant.
It's something gentler the waves bring,
Walking down the sand with the gulls,
They float and they dance,
The waves break and break and break.
A soft roar and a driftwood stick,
Footprints and foam and green and blue,
Sunshine and yellow-tan with glints all about,
Looking for shells and other treasures.
We drift along in timeless reverie,
Until it's time to just lie still,
Sun-baked and wind-washed,
Filled with the beach-scent of the lake.
We take one shell,
Soft violet tinge inside,
And four colors of beach glass,
Green and amber and white and faded blue.
Treasures to set in a cigar box,
Children at play in endless time,
Tokens and omens and wishes of fishes,
An art of life that's sublime.
I turn it in my fingers and see all the beach glass colors,
Softly in my mind summer is ending,
Sharp edges gone and nights just beginning to cool,
Tumbled at the edge of Lake Time.
AquarianM
By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 09/01/2007
Words are the mind's bridge - it's connection to all the universe.Love is the heart's bridge - it's connection to all other souls.Loving words can work miracles.
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