...we must have had 20 poets in reading, from Ottawa, Seneca, Joliet, Naperville, Plainfield, and Delaware as in the state. Three different writers' groups were represented, and one poet from right down the block in Aurora. All great poetry, all fresh new faces except big Russ who is great too. We took a big group photo out front and as soon as it gets e-mailed to me, I'll post it up here. Absolutely a fantastic PLP day! Thank you to everyone who made it out and made it great!
Dan
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
From Green Leaf Coffee House
Hello Dreamers....
Open Mic this Monday!.......reply back to sign up!
Times are as follows:
7:00, 7:10, 7:20, 7:30, 7:40, 7:50, 8:00, 8:10,8:20, Featured Artist plays 8:30-9:00, 9:00, 9:10, 9:20.
Featured Aritst this week:Drew Fortson...
Music this Friday night...
Free, all ages show from 7-9 PM
The Battle of the Bands continues here at Green Leaf...:
Date: Sat July 21st
Doors: 5:45pm
Cover: $7
Doors: 5:45pm
Cover: $7
Saturday...
Running Club at 8am
and
a Spoken Word Forum 1-4pm
...this is an informal gathering of poets, writers, and listeners to read, listen and share....all are welcome!
**Details for the Newbies**:
We host a weekly open mic every Monday at Green Leaf Coffee House:
2400 South Eola Road, Suite G in Aurora.
Anyone is welcome to sign up for a 2-song slot between 7 and 8:30. Simply reply back to this email and let me know what time you would like to play.
Admission is $4 and includes a free drink token
You can visit us at www.myspace.com/greenleafcoffee to see what's going on here at the shop, let me know your thoughts on Green Leaf, or connect with our other musicians and regulars!
Questions? Comments? Good jokes? Need directions?
Call me at 630-851-8410 or email at greenleafcoffee@sbcglobal.net
And as always, thanks for supporting big dreams, local, live music and independent coffee houses!
Jillmarie
Green Leaf Coffee House
Thank you for supporting big dreams and independent coffee houses.....
GREEN LEAF COFFEE HOUSE
Saturday Open Mike at Green Leaf Coffee House
Saturday 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, July 21st at Green Leaf Coffee House from 1-4pm .
It's time we warmed up the local poetry scene with our own down-home poets and writers!
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!
Spoken Word at Green Leaf Coffee House this coming Saturday afternoon:
Plainfield Live Poetry will be meeting Saturday, July 21st at Green Leaf Coffee House from 1-4pm .
It's time we warmed up the local poetry scene with our own down-home poets and writers!
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!
Harmonica Summer Project
I came up with a fascinating idea by pure chance; give away harmonicas all summer long.
It happened after I bought one of the above harmonicas at Cracker Barrell one day. (No, I'm NOT plugging the restaurant, it's just that they carry these.)
I had so much fun playing the thing, (and still do) that I thought of giving one to our neighbor's son, who is very shy and quiet. I thought it might bring him out of his shell a little. So I gave one to him and his brother via their Dad. (No idea how it's going with them as yet.)
The day after that, I ran across a homeless person in down town Chicago looking for money. Somehow, it made me think of an old high school friend in Madison, WI who is a street musician on State Street up there and plays for tips. I made the mental leap and decided to start giving harmonicas out to friends and the homeless. I think I've given out about twenty or so to date.
The look on people's faces when you give them a harmonica is pure delight, like a five year old at a really good Christmas. This is something they'll enjoy for a long time to come, and many times over. For the homeless, it also might help them earn better tips - actually earn some of it through playing music rather than just begging. One can hope. If it does even one person some good, it's totally worth it.
Anyway, I'm going to give away a few harmonicas all summer, and also to the Christmas toy drive for disadvantaged kids. It's relatively inexpensive as gifts go, only $5.00 apiece, but a long-lasting enjoyment.
Here's the poem that goes with this effort:
Harmonica Summer...
I’ll never forget that cracker barrel day,
A little breakfast of biscuits and gravy,
Marion blueberry pancakes and coffee,
Laughing with my Honey.
Passing the counter to pay the bill,
I saw a large pile and my thoughts quieted,
Red white and blue boxes full of silver,
Entitled Bluesband and made by Hohner.
An idea sprouted pretty as a dandelion,
I bought one up and walked out smiling,
Little boy big and blowing sweet tunes,
I’d found a harmonica come late June.
So much fun I had since that day,
I went back with money and ideas,
Bought up five more with a gleam in my eyes,
The gift of music was something I’d play.
I gave two to the neighbor boys next door,
After asking their daddy of course,
I gave one to a friend and to a bum,
Now begging is tuneful and entertaining for sure.
I gave the last to the gal down at the desk,
It turns out her nephew loves it quite dear,
Or the gal who sold them her little brother did play,
When he was little played himself off to sleep.
For the price of a nice dinner for two,
I can buy seven seven-year-old Christmas smiles,
The kind that go on in the heart forever,
Like Gabriel releasing the seven horns - but much nicer.
I’m going back every pay day,
Buying up gifts,
I’m looking forward to a city full of riffs,
By the end of Harmonica Summer.
AquarianM
By Daniel A. Stafford
© 06/30/2007
(2nd to last verse added 7/4/7)
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.
It happened after I bought one of the above harmonicas at Cracker Barrell one day. (No, I'm NOT plugging the restaurant, it's just that they carry these.)
I had so much fun playing the thing, (and still do) that I thought of giving one to our neighbor's son, who is very shy and quiet. I thought it might bring him out of his shell a little. So I gave one to him and his brother via their Dad. (No idea how it's going with them as yet.)
The day after that, I ran across a homeless person in down town Chicago looking for money. Somehow, it made me think of an old high school friend in Madison, WI who is a street musician on State Street up there and plays for tips. I made the mental leap and decided to start giving harmonicas out to friends and the homeless. I think I've given out about twenty or so to date.
The look on people's faces when you give them a harmonica is pure delight, like a five year old at a really good Christmas. This is something they'll enjoy for a long time to come, and many times over. For the homeless, it also might help them earn better tips - actually earn some of it through playing music rather than just begging. One can hope. If it does even one person some good, it's totally worth it.
Anyway, I'm going to give away a few harmonicas all summer, and also to the Christmas toy drive for disadvantaged kids. It's relatively inexpensive as gifts go, only $5.00 apiece, but a long-lasting enjoyment.
Here's the poem that goes with this effort:
Harmonica Summer...
I’ll never forget that cracker barrel day,
A little breakfast of biscuits and gravy,
Marion blueberry pancakes and coffee,
Laughing with my Honey.
Passing the counter to pay the bill,
I saw a large pile and my thoughts quieted,
Red white and blue boxes full of silver,
Entitled Bluesband and made by Hohner.
An idea sprouted pretty as a dandelion,
I bought one up and walked out smiling,
Little boy big and blowing sweet tunes,
I’d found a harmonica come late June.
So much fun I had since that day,
I went back with money and ideas,
Bought up five more with a gleam in my eyes,
The gift of music was something I’d play.
I gave two to the neighbor boys next door,
After asking their daddy of course,
I gave one to a friend and to a bum,
Now begging is tuneful and entertaining for sure.
I gave the last to the gal down at the desk,
It turns out her nephew loves it quite dear,
Or the gal who sold them her little brother did play,
When he was little played himself off to sleep.
For the price of a nice dinner for two,
I can buy seven seven-year-old Christmas smiles,
The kind that go on in the heart forever,
Like Gabriel releasing the seven horns - but much nicer.
I’m going back every pay day,
Buying up gifts,
I’m looking forward to a city full of riffs,
By the end of Harmonica Summer.
AquarianM
By Daniel A. Stafford
© 06/30/2007
(2nd to last verse added 7/4/7)
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.
Idle Chatter
Wow, what a rainstorm tonight in Chicago! I was wondering if I should break out the canoe, and judging from all the flash flood watches in the area, not far off in my guestimate.
Here's a quick pic of Chicago at night when it's raining.
At any rate, I want to talk a little bit about one of my favorite places to post poetry online: Flowing Quills at Ezboard.com .
Flowing Quills is a beautifully set online poetry and writing board with active members from all over the world. They have set areas for free verse poetry, formed poetry, short stories, romantic poems, and dark poetry. They have a space also set aside for photography and visual arts, and for special recognition of site members that have won weekly, monthly, and annual contests for poetry.
There is a lot of action and much spectacular poetic talent on this board, and the commentary is always kind and often constructive.
Additionally, longer-term members are given their own individual forum to showcase their work.
If you are looking for a comprehensive but kind place to jump into the online poetry scene, Flowing Quills is an absolutely OUTSTANDING place to start. I highly recommend a visit.
I personally tend toward the Crossroads & Tapestries forums, which are free verse poetry and photography / visual arts oriented boards respectively.
Dan
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Invitations to post...
I've invited a few of our Western suburban poets to become team members with posting privileges here at Word Whizzyrds so that they have a way of informing our readers on Western Suburban poetry and spoken word happenings in the Chicago metro area. I have also invited a talented poet from the Peoria area to help us keep up to speed on what's going on Down State. Let's hope they give us a go and give a big welcome if they do.
If you'd like to be able to post about regional poetry at Word Whizzyrds, please e-mail Dan Stafford with why you feel you should be invited to post.
Dan
If you'd like to be able to post about regional poetry at Word Whizzyrds, please e-mail Dan Stafford with why you feel you should be invited to post.
Dan
New Word Whizzyrds Site Format...
I hope all of you enjoy the new format for Word Whizzyrds' home page - I know I certainly will. I've incorporated Blogger into the home page of the site so that I can just add brief updates via Blogger posts instead of using FTP to re-load the page and writing all the extra coding that goes with that method. I've been thinking about doing this for months, I just finally got the time to go through the majority of the work - and it should help drive up traffic to the site and all it presents. Let's all hope so - it'll only make the Western Chicago Suburbs poetry scene richer if it does so.
Dan
Dan
Saturday 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, July 21st at Green Leaf Coffee House from 1-4pm .
It's time we warmed up the local poetry scene with our own down-home poets and writers!
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!
Plainfield Live Poetry will be meeting Saturday, July 21st at Green Leaf Coffee House from 1-4pm .
It's time we warmed up the local poetry scene with our own down-home poets and writers!
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@
Attendance is free of charge and all poets and writers are welcome to read.
Contact Dan Stafford at aqmstaffo@mailbag.
Jillmarie at Green Leaf Coffee House (greenleafcoffee@
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!
About my books
Additionally, I have released two titles, The Poetry Baker's Dozen, a collection of thirteen poems that explore different areas of life, and In Season, a collection of 84 poems of Winter and the holiday season, including poetry for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. In Season in particular is a great value, and by far contains the most poetry for the money of any of my published collections in the spirit of giving that belongs to the holidays. It includes poetry about the spirit of the holidays, the beauty of the Winter season, and poetic holiday fantasies that are both heart-warming and in some cases humorous. Additionally for those of you who love being by the water, The Beach Poems contains poems about life at the edge of sand and surf.
** Just released 09/29/2004, Ghosts of the Fall is a collection of 54 poems about the feel and look of the Fall season, Halloween, and more.
The stunning cover photos were taken right here in Plainfield.
Catch the Fall spirit with Ghosts of the Fall!**
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