Bridgewater Public Library
Sorry for the late announcement, but…
Tuesday, December 4
S. THOMAS SUMMERS (me) and JIM BERKHEISER
Somerset Poetry Group
Bridgewater Public Library
Meeting Room C
1 Vogt Dr., Bridgewater
7 PM Free
Open Reading to follow featured readers.
Contact: 908-526-4016 or
Bob Rosenbloom: 732-371-3817
bloom306@yahoo.com
Bud Berkich
amnestyblackcat@aol.com
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Arts and Entertainment, Illinois, Libraries, New Jersey, Poetry, Public, Public library, S. Thomas Summers, United States, Vogt
It’s Sunday morning. My family and I are usually getting ready for church. It’s my job to get my son (8) dressed in churchy clothes. I also comb his hair. It’s my wife’s job to critique my work. Do his clothes match? Does his hair look good? It’s a system, a good system, a routine that I enjoy; however, thanks to Hurricane Sandy, our church, Jacksonville Chapel in Lincoln Park, NJ, is powerless. Electricity is presently a rare and valued commodity in Northern New Jersey. Sadly, this morning’s church service has been cancelled. Lord willing, we’ll be back in church next week.
It’s 8am. My son is wearing a Snoopy t-shirt and a pair of jeans with a hole in the right knee. And his hair, it’s still disheveled. (So is mine.) Obviously, I’ve a bit more time than I usually have on a Sunday morning, time to think a bit, time to wonder.
That’s why I write. That’s why I’m a poet. Well, it’s one reason, anyway. I wonder. As much as I can, I sit still and wonder.
In my next post, I’ll explore this “wondering” a bit more. I’ll wonder why I wonder.
Posted in Poetry, S. Thomas Summers, Words, Writing, Writing Inspirations, Writing Process
Tagged Church, Jacksonville Chapel, Lincoln Park, NJ, S. Thomas Summers, Snoopy, Writing
The “Voices from History” poetry tour visits Franklin Lakes, New Jersey on November 7, 7pm at the Franklin Lakes Public Library
Franklin Lakes Public Library
470 DeKorte Drive
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
201-891-2224
http://www.franklinlakeslibrary.org/index.html
In the program “Voices from History,” a study of history through poetry, S. Thomas Summers (Scott) provides a tour of the battlefields and camps of the Civil War through the eyes of Confederate soldier Hercules McGraw, and David Vincenti offers a view of the life of Galileo Galilei that will surprise many who think they already know the famous astronomer. Through their compelling verse and discussion of the times about which their poems speak, Scott and David will entertain fans of poetry and fans of history alike.
David Vincenti (www.davidvincenti.com) is a father, husband, poet, engineer, accordionist, and project manager. His poems have appeared in the Paterson Literary Review, the Edison Literary Review, and The Journal of New Jersey Poets, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His first chapbook, To The Ones Who Must Be Loved, was published in 2010. David curates the Spoken Word Series at The Theater Company in Hoboken, NJ.
S. Thomas Summers (www.thelintinmypocket.wordpress.com) is a teacher at Wayne Hills High School and an adjunct professor at Passaic County Community College. He is the author of two chapbooks: Death Settled Well (Shadows Ink Publications, 2006) and Rather, It Should Shine (Pudding House Press, 2007). Scott’s book, Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War (Anaphora Literary Press), was published in 2011. It is available for purchase at Amazon.com.
This reading is free and open to the public.
Yup, the protagonist of my second book will breathe. The Journals of Lt. Kendal Everly: Poems of the American Civil War is to be published. Anaphora Literary Press, the publisher of my first book, just sent me a “Yes, we want it!!”
I sent Anaphora a partial manuscript so I better get a move on. Time to write, write, write. I got a book to finish!
My friend, poet David Vincenti, and I are going on tour, a poetry tour. Our program is titled Voices from History: Where Poetry and History Collide. In the program Voices from History, a study of history through poetry, I provide a tour of the battlefields and camps of the Civil War through the eyes of Confederate soldier Hercules McGraw (via my book Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War), and David Vincenti offers a view of the life of Galileo Galilei that will surprise many who think they already know the famous astronomer. Through our compelling verse and discussion of the times about which their poems speak, Vincenti and I will entertain fans of poetry and fans of history alike.
Thus far we have scheduled several dates. More events will be schdeuled soon. Here’s what we have thus far.
Chester Public Library
Chester NJ
Wednesday, October 3
7PM
Ridgewood Public Library
Ridgewood NJ
Saturday, October 20
2PM
Franklin Lakes Public Library
Franklin Lakes NJ
Wednesday, November 7
7PM
Port Jervis Public Library
Port Jervis NY
Thursday, January 3
7PM
West Caldwell Public Library
West Caldwell NJ
Sunday, April 14
2PM
Cedar Crest
Pompton Plains NJ
Sunday, April 21
2PM
Here’s a bit about Dave. You know enough about me. If not, there’s a link to my bio above.
David Vincenti is a father, husband, poet, engineer, accordionist, and project manager. His poems have appeared in the Paterson Literary Review, the Edison Literary Review, and The Journal of New Jersey Poets, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His first chapbook, To The Ones Who Must Be Loved, was published in 2010. David curates the Spoken Word Series in Hoboken, NJ.
Hope to see you at a reading.
Posted in David Vincenti, Poetry, Poetry Reading, S. Thomas Summers, Voices from History
Tagged American Civil War, David Vincenti, Franklin Lakes New Jersey, Galileo Galilei, History, Hoboken New Jersey, Poetry, Poetry Reading, Public library, Pushcart Prize, S. Thomas Summers, West Caldwell New Jersey
Salman Rushdie said that one of the purposes of poetry is to keep the world from falling asleep. I like that. Therefore, as a poet, I can keep the world awake, make it think, feel, scream, laugh, cry, shiver, shriek, and even sashay. Sadly, if someone or something keeps me awake for too long, I get grumpy. It’s no mystery why no one reads poetry anymore.
It’s rough being a poet! Goodnight all.
Posted in A Poet's Life, Poetry, S. Thomas Summers, Writing
Tagged Poetry, S. Thomas Summers, Salam Rushdie, Sleep
My poem Directions for Reading this Poem was a finalists for Goodreads’ September poetry competition. Sadly, it did not win. However, I am happy to share it with you here. I hope you enjoy it.
Directions for Reading This Poem
Please – don’t sink into the complexities
of these words. This ink veils
no abyss. I purpose not to blind you,
spin you before a paper donkey
that’s lost its tail. Rather, imagine
apples clustered in a wooden
bowl on a kitchen table. Steal one;
taste it as shadows stretch across
the grass beyond your front door
Let its captured sunlight christen your lips,
drip from your chin as Eve let drip
her passion – clearly, you must understand.
–S. Thomas Summers
Posted in Awards, Poem, Poetry, S. Thomas Summers
Tagged Goodreads, Poetry, S. Thomas Summers
S. Thomas Summers is a teacher of Writing and Literature at Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, NJ and an adjunct writing professor at Passaic County Community College in Wanaque, NJ.
He is the author of Private Hercules McGraw: Poems of the American Civil War, published by Anaphora Literary Press. It is available on amazon.com.
