As usual, lots going on in literary York and beyond. Check it out:
Dec. 12, Poetry @ Dogstar, Dogstar Books, 401 W. Lemon St., Lancaster, 7 p.m., free, featuring Barbara Strasko
Dec. 12, Crimson Frog Open Mic, Crimson Frog Coffee House, 1104 Carlisle Rd, Camp Hill, 7 p.m., free
Dec. 12, Grown ‘n Sexy Open Mic, St. Moritz Nightclub, 714 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., $10/$5 for open mic’err, featuring Jay Knives
Dec. 13, Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., free, featuring Jen Failor, Jen Hara, Diana Cordelia
Dec. 14, Café Word, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., free
Dec. 17, Hanover Critique Group, Giant Coffee Shop, 455 Eisenhower Dr, Hanover, 7:30 p.m., free, bring 8 copies of your poem
Dec. 20, Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., free, featuring Kali Meister
Dec. 21, It’s NOT the King’s English, King’s Courtyard Artist Collective, 124 E King St, York, 7:30 p.m., free, featuring Crystal Charisse & Lori Rosengrant (book release event for their book “Bi-Polarity”)
Dec. 21, Café Word, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., free
Dec. 21, Eargasm Poetry, Crawdaddy’s, 306 Reily St, Harrisburg, 9 p.m., $7/$10 per couple
Dec. 26, Crimson Frog Open Mic, Crimson Frog Coffee House, 1104 Carlisle Rd, Camp Hill, 7 p.m., free
*NOTE: Lancaster Poetry Exchange is on Christmas Break, will be back in January*
Dec. 27, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., free
Dec. 28, Poetry @ Parliament, 116 E King St, York, 7:30 p.m., free, featuring Emily Purvis, Deby the Zombie, Ryan Mergen
Dec. 28, Café Word, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, 7 p.m., free
The Blouse House
One day met I a Mr. Blouse
In the shop beneath the house
That he shares with his spouse
Hereafter known as Mrs. Blouse
Now Mr. Blouse is not so tall
Though scarcely noticed if at all
For when considered all around
His stature grows by leaps and bounds
Keen, bright, and sometimes funny
By providence was christened Sunny
Though your pardon I must entreat
Having not yet said why we did meet
His skills of note is what I sought
What he does well, though I cannot
For Sunny Blouse is a turning man
Who turns the wood because he can
He turns by day and times by night
Some to the left, some to the right
Counterclockwise rules the day
As few will turn the other way
Turning with purpose and with joy
And truly since he was just a boy
At the time though nearly eighty
With eyes sharp and hands yet steady
The work is busy and rarely slows
But that’s the way that turning goes
Now what is said of Mrs. Blouse
Is best left said by Mr. Blouse
While some may say he is nice
Of Mrs. Blouse he thinks so twice
He believes her sweet and kind
A lady of good taste refined
If he did not think that it were so
Why had she chosen him long ago?
Look close and maybe you’ll agree
There’s a twinkle in his eye to see
A happy grin and curl in his hair
Without a doubt she put those there
Cherished thoughts held deep inside
Reveal themselves and cannot hide
When words at times become cliché
Our countenance can best convey
Now I do not mean to overstate
Misrepresent, exaggerate
Still there is a truth I will espouse
Well blessed is the House of Blouse!
G R Griffin
I met Mr. Blouse a couple months ago and was inspired by him and the sign hanging in his yard which read: The Blouse House