Build Community Through Poetry
Support Poetry Flash's year-round literary programs, events, and publishing.
PROGRAMS
Norman Fischer and Linda Norton
Fog and Light: Vince Gotera, Ken Haas, Kathleen McClung, Diane Frank, more
Linda Norton
Norman Fischer and Linda Norton
20 JUNE 2021 — sunday
Poetry Flash presents a virtual poetry reading by Norman Fischer, There was a clattering as…, and poememoirist Linda Norton, Wite Out: Love and Work, online via Zoom, free, 3:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: please click here; you will receive an email with a link to join the reading)
Please join us for a Poetry Flash virtual reading on Sunday, June 20 at 3:00 pm PDT! We are excited to bring you Norman Fischer and Linda Norton via Zoom. To register for this reading, please click on the link in the calendar listing above. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Thank you for continuing to support Poetry Flash and our reading series during these unprecedented times.
This reading is co-sponsored by Moe's Books in Berkeley; the featured books are available at bookshop.org/lists/poetry-flash-readings and at www.spdbooks.org/AdvancedSearch/DefaultWFilter.aspx?SearchTerm=norman+fischer.
MORE ABOUT THE READERS
Linda Norton's new memoir with poems is Wite Out: Love and Work. John Keene says, "With Wite Out Linda Norton breaks new ground as an autobiographical poememoirist. Combining an exploration of her familial roots, an interrogation and critique of whiteness as lived experience, a diaristic account of relationships in all their complexity, and a personal, social, and cultural history of certain precincts in American poetry's late twentieth century avant-garde. Wite Out is a masterpiece." Her previous collection, its prequel, The Public Gardens: Poems and History, introduction by Fanny Howe, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. A recent East Bay Express review calls Wite Out "a must for anyone trying to understand the nuanced aggression of systemic oppression and how it affects the afflictor and afflicted in equal measure." Born in Boston, Norton lived in Brooklyn for many years before moving to Oakland, where she raised her daughter and met her foster son, who are the heart and soul of Wite Out. She's also a visual artist with a background in book publishing, oral history, and libraries and archives. She was a 2020 columnist-in-residence at SFMoMA's Open Space; you can see her essays, collages, and photographs at openspace.sfmoma,org/author/lindanorton and find her blog here: thepublicgardens.blogspot.com/2012/03/love-and-work.html.
Zen Buddhist priest and poet Norman Fischer's brand new book of poems is There was a clattering as…. Maged Zaher says, "Can you write about the plague without this writing being situational and somehow banal? Yes you can, There was a clattering as… is a poem about the plague, human condition, world materiality, soul fertility, and the mutual creation of God and human…This book is magnificent and as human as it could get." His other 2021 poetry title is Nature, "(a fractured re-do of Emerson) …about nature but also about thinking, language, identity, consciousness, science, idealism, economics, religion, and, in general, about the unsettling (in case you haven't noticed) paradox of being human in a human, non-human world." His other poetry books include any would be if, Untitled Series: Life As It Is, and On a Train At Night. His latest Buddhist books are The World Could be Otherwise: Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path and When You Greet Me I Bow: notes and reflections from a life in Zen. His 2002 translation of the Hebrew psalms, Opening to You, is read by both Jews and Christians, and Experience: Essays on Thinking, Writing, Language, and Religion was published in 2016.
< previous month | show all JUNE | next month >
14 JUNE 2021 — monday
- Kepler's Literary Foundation presents a reading and discussion featuring YA fiction authors Misa Sugiura, Love and Other Natural Disasters, Claire Kann, The Marvelous, and Jared Reck, Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love, reading from new work, free, online, 6:00-7:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.keplers.org/upcoming-events-internal/2021/6/14/misa-sugiura-claire-kann-and-jared-reck)
15 JUNE 2021 — tuesday
- Kepler's Literary Foundation presents a book launch for In the Heights: Finding Home, with a discussion on the humble beginnings of the hit Broadway show and the importance of creativity and community, featuring award-winning composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, playwright and lyricist Quiera Alegría Hudes, and writer and producer Jeremy McCarter, Young Radicals, $48 (ticket includes a copy of the book), online, 5:00 pm-6:00 pm PDT (Purchase tickets here: www.keplers.org/upcoming-events-internal/lin-manuel-21)
- The Not Yet Dead Poets Society presents poet Charlotte Muse, reading from her new collection of poems, In Which I Forgive the River, open mic to follow, free, in person at Cafe Zoe, 1929 Menalto Avenue, Menlo Park, 5:00 pm PDT (More information: www.cafezoehub.com/music-events)
- The Bay Area Book Festival presents novelist Keenan Norris, discussing The Confession of Copeland Cane, in conversation with poet and journalist Dr. Michael Datcher, Raising Fences: A Black Man's Love Story, free, online, 7:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.baybookfest.org)
- Cobalt Poets presents a reading featuring poet Kathabela Wilson, creator of Tanka Poets on Site, a pblic group on Facebook, open mic to follow, free, online via Zoom, 7:30 pm PDT (Zoom link here: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
16 JUNE 2021 — wednesday
- No events listed for this date. Find out how to submit your event listing.
17 JUNE 2021 — thursday
- The Mechanics' Institute presents a Juneteenth Tribute to James Baldwin, featuring a discussion of Baldwin's life and work with writer and editor James Campbell, Talking at the Gates: A Life of James Baldwin, essayist Clifford Thompson, What It Is: Race, Family and One Thinking Black Man's Blues, and poet and playwright Jewelle Gomez, Waiting for Giovanni, free for members, $5 for nonmembers, online via Zoom, Noon PDT (Register to attend: www.milibrary.org/events/juneteenth-tribute-james-baldwin-zoom-jun-17-2021)
- Brilliant Playground presents "Freedom to Write," a workshop led by poet Maxima Kahn, Fierce Aria; attendees hone their writing skills by writing and sharing their work in a group and will practice writing on a regular basis, runs nine weeks, June 17 to August 19, with no session on July 22, $397, online via Zoom, 4:00-6:00 pm PDT (Enroll here: brilliantplayground.com/freedom-to-write)
- Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry presents a poetry reading featuring Lake Country Poet Laureate Georgina Marie Guardado, Tree Speak and Finding the Roots of Water, open mic to follow, free, online via Zoom, 7:00 pm PDT (Email: blake@snakelyone.com for Zoom link/to sign up for open mic; more information here: www.artsmendocino.org/event/point-arena-third-thursday-poetry-series-virtual-zoom-reading-6)
- The You're Going to Die Team presents Poetry, Prose, and Everything Goes…, an open mic reading and performance, share poetry, prose, music, artwork, dance, or any other performance with the community, five minutes per performance, "sign-ups" for the open mic will be available on the Zoom call, free, donations welcome, online, 6:30-9:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.facebook.com/events/802249803747481)
- City Lights Books presents Laura Raicovich, author, former president and executive director of the Queens Museum, discussing her new book, Culture Strike: Art and Museums in an Age of Protest, about the origins of art museums as colonial institutions and how they can be reinvented to better serve the public, in conversation with activist and writer Malkia Devich-Cyril, free, online, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=event&event_id=3804)
- Book Passage presents novelist and poet Ocean Vuong discussing his debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, a deeply moving family portrait written in the form of a son's letter to his mother, in conversation with novelist Robert Jones, Jr., The Prophets, $5, online, 5:30 pm PDT (Purchase tickets here: www.bookpassage.com/oceanvuong)
18 JUNE 2021 — friday
- Point Reyes Books presents journalist and nature writer Cal Flyn discussing her new book, Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape, about spaces on earth abandoned by humans, whether from war, disease, or other disasters, that nature has sprung and reclaimed in astounding ways, free, online, Noon PDT (Register to attend: www.ptreyesbooks.com/event/cal-flyn)
- Skylight Books presents TV writer Danielle Henderson, Maniac and Difficult People, discussing her new memoir, The Ugly Cry, in conversation with journalist Ann Friedman, Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, free, online, 6:30 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.skylightbooks.com/event/live-crowdcast-danielle-henderson-discusses-ugly-cry-ann-friedman)
- San Diego Poetry and Art (SDPA) presents a poetry reading featuring poets and writers previously published in the San Diego Poetry Annual, as well as any newcomers and poets in the community who would like to read, free, online, 6:00-8:00 pm PDT (Sign up to read/to attend in the audience: poetryandartsd.com/2021/05/19/sdpa-june-11-18-open-readings)
19 JUNE 2021 — saturday
- Book Passage presents a three-hour live poetry session led by former United States Poet Laureate Billy Collins, Whale Day: And Other Poems and The Rain in Portugal; attendees will learn about the process of composing a poem and what goes on in a poet's mind when their writing is in progress, $75, online, 1:00-4:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.bookpassage.com/billycollins2021)
- Poetry Center San Jose presents "Beautiful Black Books," a program featuring Black writers in conversation followed by an audience Q&A, featuring spoken word poet and clinical psychologist Dr. Donny Jackson, One Man Shown, boy, hosted by poet Tshaka Campbell, free, online, 7:00-9:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.facebook.com/events/192254569433957)
- Art, Creativity, and Psychoanalysis Book Series presents a celebration for the publication of Poetry and Psychoanalysis: The Opening of the Field, by poet and psychotherapist David Shaddock, published by Routledge Press, who will read selections from his book as well as his poetry, followed by questions from the audience, free, online via Zoom, 10:00 am-11:30 am PDT (Zoom meeting ID: 822 3675 5632, password: Poetry; for more information, email: gahagman@optonline.net)
20 JUNE 2021 — sunday
- City Lights Books presents an evening of readings from poets published by Black Ocean, an independent publisher based in Boston, featuring poets Carrie Olivia Adams, Intervening Absence, Zachary Schomburg, Scary, No Scary, poet and translator Hedgie Choi, and poet Nathan Hoks, Reveilles, The Narrow Circle, free, online via Zoom, 3:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=event&event_id=3814)
- The Marin Poetry Center presents the Traveling Show, a series of poetry readings featuring new and longtime members of MPC, this reading features poet James Gronvold, Word and Mortar, poet and cellist Tova Green, dancer and poet Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş, MPC's Inaugural Youth Poet Ambassador Harita Kalvai, poet Sharon Pretti, and poet Robin Lee, free, online, 3:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.marinpoetrycenter.org/programs/trav-show)
- Book Passage presents best-selling novelists Alka Joshi, The Henna Artist, and Sujata Massey, The Widows of Malabar Hill, discussing their new books, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Bombay Prince, respectively, in conversation with actor and activist Freida Pinto, known for movies such as Slumdog Millionaire and Desert Dancer, free, online, 1:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.bookpassage.com/event/alka-joshi-secret-keeper-jaipur)
- Poetry Flash presents a virtual poetry reading by Norman Fischer, There was a clattering as…, and poememoirist Linda Norton, Wite Out: Love and Work, online via Zoom, free, 3:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: please click here; you will receive an email with a link to join the reading)
21 JUNE 2021 — monday
- Rivertown Poets presents a poetry reading featuring Anita May and Ernesto Garay, Reverberating Voices, open mic to follow, three-minutes per reader, hosted by poet and artist Sande Anfang, Xylem Highway, held the first and third Mondays of the month, free, online via Zoom, 6:15 pm PDT (Register to attend/sign up for open mic: aqus.com/rivertownpoets)
22 JUNE 2021 — tuesday
- Skylight Books presents professor and writer Moya Bailey discussing her new book, Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women's Digital Resistance, delving into misogynoir, a term Bailey coined to describe the anti-Black and misogynistic ways Black women are represented in digital spaces, in conversation with activist Mariame Kaba, We Do This 'Til We Free Us, free, online, 5:30 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.skylightbooks.com/event/live-crowdcast-moya-bailey-discusses-misogynoir-transformed-mariame-kaba)
- City Lights Books presents author and editor Benjamin Hedin, In Search of the Movement: The Struggle for Civil Rights Then and Now, reading from and discussing his debut novel, Under the Spell, free, online via Zoom, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=event&event_id=3767)
- Join Poetic License Sonoma every fourth Tuesday for an evening of poetry readings featuring the nine poets that make up Poetic License Sonoma, Susanne Arrhenius, Jeffrey Bartfeld, Joseph Cutler, Paul DeMarco, Kusum Irene Jain, Leo McCloskey, Steve Trenam, Judith Vaughn, and Jaime Zukowski, with special guest poet Diane Frank, Canon for Bears and Ponderosa Pines, free, with donations welcome, 7:00-8:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: poeticlicensesonoma.com/events)
23 JUNE 2021 — wednesday
- Point Reyes Books presents best-selling author Emily Rapp Black, Poster Child: A Memoir, discussing her new book Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg, about her relationship to her body and the compulsion to hide disabilities that is often encouraged by ableist society, through the lens of Frida Kahlo's art and life, in conversation with poet and essayist Matthew Zapruder, Sun Bear, Why Poetry, free, online, 7:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.ptreyesbooks.com/event/emily-rapp-black-and-matthew-zapruder)
- Book Passage presents writer and performer M. Leona Godin, The Star of Happiness, The Spectator and the Blind Man, discussing her new book, There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness, examining the history of blindness, the myths that have grown around it, as well as scientific studies and developments in accessibility, including the author's perspective as someone who began losing her vision at age ten, free, online, 1:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.bookpassage.com/event/m-leona-godin-there-plant-eyes-personal-and-cultural-history-blindness-online-event)
24 JUNE 2021 — thursday
- Poetry Flash presents a virtual poetry reading to celebrate Fog and Light: San Francisco Through the Eyes of the Poets Who Live Here, a new anthology, with contributors Vince Gotera, Ken Haas, Jodi Hottel, Kathleen McClung, Gwynn O'Gara, and editor Diane Frank, online via Zoom, free, 7:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: please click here; you will receive an email with a link to join the reading)
- City Lights Books presents novelist Doug Henderson, discussing his new novel, The Cleveland Heights LGBTQ Sci-Fi and Fantasy Role Playing Club, in conversation with novelist K.M. Soehnlein, The World of Normal Boys, free, online, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=books_events)
25 JUNE 2021 — friday
- Green Apple Books presents poet and essayist Jenny Bitner, reading from and discussing her debut novel, Here is a Game We Could Play, a story set in Pennsylvania in the 1990s that follows a woman who, stuck in the rundown industrial town where she grew up, turns to fantasy and books to escape the darker memories of her past, free, online via Zoom, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.greenapplebooks.com/event/virtual-event-jenny-bitner)
- Junior High, Not a Cult, and Skylight Books present poet and former Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles Rhiannon McGavin reading from and discussing her new book, Grocery List Poems, free, held at Junior High, Inc.'s outdoor venue at 603 South Brand Boulevard, Glendale, California, 6:30 pm PDT (More information here: juniorhighlosangeles.com/calendar/rhiannonmcgavin)
26 JUNE 2021 — saturday
- No events listed for this date. Find out how to submit your event listing.
27 JUNE 2021 — sunday
- San Diego Writers, Ink presents "The Poems of Charles Bukowski," a workshop led by poet and owner of Vault Publishing, Sunny Rey, Quotes and Poems by a Nobody, and poet and spoken word artist Anthony Azzarito, $36 members, $42 nonmembers, online, 10:00 am-Noon PDT (Enroll here: www.sandiegowriters.org/poems-of-charles-bukowski-sunny-rey)
- The Claremont Library presents a reading featuring poets Romaine Washington, Purgatory Has an Address and Sirens in Her Belly, and Anna Leahy, What Happened Was, Aperture, part of the Fourth Sundays reading series, free, online via Facebook Live, 2:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.facebook.com/fourthsundayspoetry)
28 JUNE 2021 — monday
- No events listed for this date. Find out how to submit your event listing.
29 JUNE 2021 — tuesday
- Green Apple Books presents novelist Rivka Galchen, Atmospheric Disturbances and Little Labours, reading from and discussing her new novel, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch, in conversation with novelist Paul La Forge, The Night Ocean, free, online via Zoom, free, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.greenapplebooks.com/event/virtual-event-rivka-galchen-and-paul-la-farge)
- City Lights Books presents poet and playwright Camille Roy discussing her new book, Honey Mine, a collection of short fiction exploring coming of age in Chicago's South Side and youth in the lesbian underground, in conversation with poet and writer Eileen Myles, Chelsea Girls, free, online, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=books_events)
- Cobalt Poets presents a reading featuring poet Sharon Smith-Knight, Wine-Sip and Other Delicious Poems, open mic to follow, free, online via Zoom, 7:30 pm PDT (Zoom link here: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
30 JUNE 2021 — wednesday
- Point Reyes Books presents essayist Gillian Osborne reading from and discussing her new book, Green Green Green, a collection of essays exploring history, horticulture, and the green world, free, online, 6:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.ptreyesbooks.com/event/gillian-osborne)
- City Lights Books presents novelist and essayist Kate Zambreno, Drifts, Appendix Project, discussing her new book To Write as if Already Dead, part novella, part study, exploring friendship, language, identity, and bodies against the backdrop of French writer Hervé Guibert's novel, To the Friend Who Did Not Save My Life, in conversation with writer T Fleischmann, Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through, free, online via Zoom, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.citylights.com/bookstore/?fa=books_events)
© 1972-2016 Poetry Flash. All rights reserved. | 