I just got a letter from my friend and poet Ed Galing. Ed is 88 years old. He has published in hundreds of magazines over the years, including Ibbetson Street. I published a collection of his poetry "Prayers on a Tenement Rooftop," some years ago. It dealt with his childhood in the Lower East Side of New York City in the 1920's. I call Ed every few weeks. He is an inspiration. In spite of his advanced years; an infirm wife, and all the aches and pains of age; he still churns the stuff out and more often than not finds a home for his poems. I am of the belief that his work keeps him alive...literally. His poetry deals with his experiences in World War ll, his years working in the Burlesque business, his family, growing up Jewish, the characters he meets at Jack 's Deli in Philadelphia...well, you name it. Ed is the poet-laureate of Hatboro, PA, he plays a mean harmonica, and he never tires of writing. He has the voice of a carnival barker, and he often alternates between being sweetly avancular and severely pissed off.I was suppose to film Ed this summer, but as fate would have it, my plans fell through. I hope to still do it, and if anyone out there is interested, I'll give you his contact info. Ed doesn't write for money, and at this point in the game he realizes he won't be a poet laureate. He writes because he has to. Ed is a true poet, and will be writing up till his last breath. There ain't too many better ways to go! Ed wrote me a letter recently. I'd like to share some of his thoughts.
"My wife turns 88, how time is going by Doug. Nobody wants to think of death being around the corner...but sooner or later...we will all have to face it bravely...not yet...not yet."" I am not so interested in posterity...nobody really remembers unless you are really famous...and so what?""There is no rhyme or reason to what I write. I have a habit of writing rapidly...and then putting it away overnight...if it still reads ok; I take a chance and send it out..."" I began to write around high school. I lived in poverty back then. I thought writing was a way out, and I found out it's not an easy way to get rich.."" A genius I am not. No James Joyce, Richard Wright, or any of the Jewish writers I love. But I try to have my own style, and write the way my personality declares I must write."Ed invited me down to his house stating: "I would sure like to meet you in person. If you do don't expect much. I am now just an old man, with a small Cape Cod house. But we are friendly and loving, and I play harmonica. That might entice you to come. Take care Doug. Write me a letter sometime. It lasts longer."--Posted by Doug to Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene at 7/04/2005 02:01:00

Well... the Ibbetson Street Press is working on three books presently. Two are from Cambridge poets Ann Carhart, and Philip Burnham, Jr. The other is from Hugh Fox...that we hope to have out this summer.

The new issue of Poesy is out, with an interview with Lyn Lifshin by Pablo Teasdale. Check it out on http://www.poesy.org

Steve Glines, the head of The Wilderness House Literary Retreat tells me the poet Franz Wright will be our guest in Aug 2005...stay tuned! http://www.wildernesshouse.org

I pretty much have next season's Newton Free Library Poetry Series booked. We are scheduled to have such poets as Frannie Lindsay, Laurie Rosenblatt, Tam Lin Neville, CD Collins, Dick Lourie and more... Starts on the second Tues. in Sept...

Susie Davidson will be reading at the Toast Lounge from her book "I Refused to Die"That's July 10 2005 3PM 70 Union Square, Somerville.

Neil W. McCabe resigned as editor of The Somerville news http://www.thesomervillenews.com We wish him well. We also welcome George Hassett as the new editor.

I am still awaiting word from Harris Gardner about the fate of the "Boston National Poetry Festival." http://tapestryofvoices.com We hope it can be salvaged for next April (2006)

Doug Holder 

The new issue of Ibbetson Street has come out (17) with fine cover art by Richard Wilhelm and Harold Cunniff, and poetry from Robert K. Johnson, Michael Estabrook, Mike James, Freddie Frankel, Lainie Senechal, Ed Galing, Mid Walsh, James Kernochan, Stephen Morse, Linda Haviland Conte and many others.

Louisa Solano, owner of the "Grolier Poetry Book Shop," will be the recipient of the third annual "Ibbetson Street Press Life Time Achievement Award," at "The Somerville News Writers Festival," Nov. 13. Previous recipients were Jack Powers and Robert K. Johnson.

Harris Gardner's brainchild the "Boston National Poetry Marathon Festival" is in danger of being cut because of fiscal difficulties at the library. This five year old festival has been a great success, and a real important part of our community. Send emails in support of the festival to Harris, so he can alert the library to what a mistake it would be to axe this unique event. Send to: tapestryofvoices@yahoo.com

Susie Davidson's Holocaust book "I Refused to Die..." that includes poetry, essays, oral testimony, etc...had its first reading in Brookline and it was standing room only. We have other events planned such as radio appearences, readings at McIntyre and Moore Books, Newton Free Library, Newton Community Education, The Somerville News at Toast Poetry Series, and more to be announced. You can purchase a book through the Ibbetson Street Press 25 School St. Somerville, Ma. 02143 $11 with postage.

Our next guest at the "Wilderness House Literary Retreat" will be the former literary secretary to Anne Sexton Suzzane Berger.

Susie Davidson, author of "I Refused to Die...." (Ibbetson 2005) will be releasing her book on Boston-area Holocaust survivors May 6. There will be a reading at 100Centre Street Brookline, Mass at 6PM Oct. 5

Well -there was a good showing for the "Celebration of the Small Press " reading at Adams House-Harvard. Both the Ibbetson Street press and Cafe Review folks read.

Ibbetson 17 will be going to the printer in the next few weeks. June 26 at McIntyre and Moore Books in Somerville 3PM will be the releasing reading.

There are some exciting developments for the next "The Somerville News Writers Festival" in November--stay tuned.

I will be interviewing the new head of the "Iowa Writers Workshop," Lan Samantha Chang, for The Somerville News.

Ibbetson Poet, Jennifer Matthews has released a new CD "The Wheel" Not only is she a great poet, but she is a great singer/songwriter. To get a copy go to: http://www.jennifermatthews.com

Our April 9th Wilderness House Literary Retreat http://www.wildernesshouse.org was a success. Our guest was Lois Ames, a confidant to Anne Sexton.

Poetry submissions for Ibbetson Street 17 are closed...the issue should be out in June 2005.

Sadly, Robert Creeley died shortly after his appearence at Wilderness House Literary Retreat in Dec. 2004. We were lucky to meet the man. A tape of the event is available for viewing (by appointment) at the Lamont Library Poetry Room-Harvard University.

I just found out that Cait Collins, the founder of http://www.the-hold.com passed-away...my condolences...

Marc Widershien, author of the lyrical memoir of Boston "The Life of All Worlds," ( Ibbetson 2001) http://marccreate.com has now released a CD version of the book. He appeared on the "Jordan Rich" show on WBZ AM recently.

Linda Haviland Conte and Mary Buchinger Bodwell recieved a Somerville Arts Council grant for a poetry workshop. It will start in April at the main branch of the Somerville, Mass. library.

Programs were just released for the "Boston National Poetry Month Festival" http://www.tapestryofvoices.com slated for April2 and 3 at the Copley Branch of the Boston Public Library.

My friends Timothy Gager and Maria McCarthy, founders of the Heat City Review tell me the print version will be out this month. http://heatcityreview.com

"The Somerville News" has gone weekly and so has the "Lyrical Somerville" So check out poetry every week. http://thesomervillenews.com

Doug Holder 

I just interviewed "Mothra" and Matt, two principals involved in creating the new 'zine library in Cambridge, Mass. They hope to have it opened in April 2005, at 54 Mt. Auburn St. in Harvard Square.

Yellow Pepper Press ( Pittsburg, PA.) has agreed to publish my book "Wrestling With My Father" It should be released in the Fall of 2005.

Lois Ames, confidant of Anne Sexton, will be a guest at the Wilderness House Literary Retreat April 9. http://wildernesshouse.org

Next month in Poesy Magazine, I will have an article about Robert Creeley's visit to the Wilderness House...

Lo Galluccio, and "The Alewife," a North Cambridge newspaper founded by Neil W. McCabe, will be having a poetry venue starting in March at "Spirits" outside of Porter Square, Cambridge, on Mass. Ave.

Word has it that The Somerville News http://thesomervillenews.com will go weekly in March. That means I will need more poetry for the "Lyrical" Somerville.

Ibbetson poets Linda Haviland Conte, Deborah M. Priestly and Doug Holder will be reading April 21 as part of the "Grolier Poetry Reading Series," Small Press Celebration with Maine's "Cafe Review." That will be At Adams House 8PM.

Harris Gardner is working feverishly to get the "Boston National Poetry Festival Marathon" up and running April 2-3 at the Boston Public Library. For more info go to: http://www.tapestryofvoices.com

Deborah M. Priestly of the "Out of the Blue Art Gallery" fame got a wonderful review of her book "The Woman Has A Voice" in this month's "Small Press Review" She will be reading in the "Grolier Poetry Series" in April with other Ibbetson Street Poets.

I have been asked by Diana Der-Hovanessian, the president of the New England Poetry Club to read with Frannie Lindsay and Liz McKim at Harvard April 9th. I will be reading from my book "Dreams at the Au Bon Pain."

At "Finagle-A-Bagel" in Harvard Square ( in the basement) at 9am most Saturdays, poets will (hopefully) be gathering, chatting, networking, and eating in a group called "Breaking Bagels With The Bards," founded by Harris Gardner and Doug Holder. It is just an informal gathering, stay as long as you like, or as little, we hope that it will have a life of its own. Feb 12 is the kick-off.

Ibbetson 16 was a "Pick of the Month" in the most recent issue of the Small Press Review.

I am told by writer, poet and journalist Susie Davidson that her Holocaust book "I Refused to Die" which consists of oral testimony of Boston-area Holocaust survivors, should be out in April.

Let's see... a lot of time to think with all this snow. A new paper is in town "The Alewife"(Cambridge, Mass.) And poet Lo Galluccio is the poetry editor for this new kid on the block. She is accepting poetry for possible publication: logalluccio@aol.com right now it is a free monthly. Founded by Neil W. McCabe, also of "The Somerville News."

I was chatting with Louisa Solano of the "The Grolier Poetry Book Shop" in Cambridge, Mass. She tells me there will be a joint reading with the "Cafe Review," and "Ibbetson Street" in the spring at Harvard...nice work if you can get it....

Susie Davidson, that red-headed firebrand of "The Jewish Advocate" fame is slated to have a book out in April "I Refused To Die." (Ibbetson Street) that consists of oral testimony of Holocaust ( Boston-area) survivors.

I released a new,and better looking edition of my collection of poetry "Dreams At the Au Bon Pain." Only four bucks... contact me at dougholder@post.harvard.edu

I went to a fairly new reading venue the other night. It was held at the "Cambridge Co-Housing" development on 175 Richdale St. in Cambridge. Nice surroundings, people, great poets, plus a roaring fire and munchies. Harris Gardner read that night, along with another great local bard whose name escapes me. The name of this event is the '"Fireside" series. It meets the last Tuesday of every month--7:30PM.

" Pressed Wafer"press editor Joe Torra gave me a new chapbook of poetry from veteran Boston bard Jim Dunn--friend to the late John Weiners, and long-time pal of Jack Powers of Stone soup Poetry fame. Joe Torra and Dunn will be reading at the "Toast Poetry Series" in the Spring. This great series is sponsored by that great newspaper "The Somerville News" http://thesomervillenews.com

Brian Morrisey of Poesy Magazine http://poesy.org will be in town for a reading at the "Out of the Blue Art Gallery" today. 8PM I will also have dinner with him at the Middle East beforehand. The new issue should be in the mailbox soon.

I am proud to announce my interview with Robert Creeley is going to be translated into Chinese. It seems that Afaa Michael Weaver, a poet and professor at Simmons College in Boston, is at the Univ. of Taiwan teaching, and he got wind of the interview. Weaver, is on the faculty board of "The Wilderness House Literary Retreat" http://wildernesshouse.org where Creeley spoke. Weaver told me he will
have the interview translated and distributed among students and faculty.

The Newton Free Libray Poetry series will open up again in Feb. (2005) with poets: Don Share, Art Nahill, and Deborah DeNicola.

Brian Morrisey, founder of Poesy Magazine, will be reading at the Out of the Blue Art Gallery, at 8PM in Cambridge Dec. 27. You can join us for at the Middle East rest. in Central Square, Cambridge for dinner beforehand.

Well... let's see... a lot of stuff coming up. Dec 11 The Wilderness House Literary Retreat will host Robert Creeley go to http://wildernesshouse.org The Ibbetson Street Press will have a reading at Somerville's McIntyre and Moore Books the same day at 5PM. Jan 20. Poetic muses Deb Priestly and Jennifer Matthews will read at Squawk in Harvard Square. The Somerville News@Toast at Toast series is going swimmingly. Our next guests will Gary Duehr and J. Pope Dec 17 8PM http://toastboston.com My friend and former Somerville News editor Neil W. McCabe is forming his own newspaper "The Cambridge Alewife" It should hit the streets Dec. 1. And guess who the poetry editor is ? Lo Galluccio. Brian Morrisey, founder of Poesy Magazine http://www.poesy.org is slated to read at the Out of the Blue Gallery http://outoftheblueartgallery.com Dec 27. More later...

I just interviewed the folks at "Porter Square Books" in Cambridge for THE SOMERVILLE NEWS. It is good to have an independent in the area, and I hope they make a go of it...as you know it ain't easy. They are located in the Porter Square Shopping Center on White Street. A good location on the Somerville/Cambridge border.

Poet Lo Gallucio of "Hot Rain" fame tells me her book is now on the shelves of the "Gotham" in NYC. Way to go LO!

The Wilderness House Literary Retreat has a website http://www.wildernesshouse.org. We have a faculty advisory board, and a few faculty members to be announced. We hope to have a special program in the next few months.

Remember The Somerville News Writers Festival--Nov. 14--Jimmy Tingle Theater--255 Elm St. Davis Square, Somerville

The new issue of Ibbetson Street should be at the printers the first of the month. It should hit the streets by mid-month.

On Tues Oct. 5 2004 Steve Glines, Harris Gardner, Diana Der-Hovanessian, Barbara H. Hyett, Jean Houlihan, Steven Cramer, Tim Gager, Charles Coe and myself formed an advisory board for the "Wilderness House Literary Retreat". The meeting was held at Harvard, and lasted a couple of hours. We hope to have a working operation by next August. I will keep you posted!

I just had breakfast with Timothy Gager and Maria McCarthy. They told me the new online edition of the "Heat City Review" will be up Oct 15. There will be work from A.D. Winans, Steve Almond, and others... Check it out...

Also : Work proceeds on the SomervilleNews Writers Festival 2 slated for Nov 14 7PM at the Jimmy Tingle Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville, Andre Dubus lll, Steve Almond, Tom Perrotta, Regie Gibson, Robert K. Johnson, and others will be reading.

Stone Soup To City Lights: Jack Powers on Lawrence Ferlinghetti
with Doug Holder

* this excerpt originally published in Poesy Magazine (2000)

Jack Powers is the founder of Stone Soup Poets, a venue of readings and publishing in the Boston and Cambridge area for over thirty years. He has provided a space for open poetry readings from poets from all walks of life. He has also published poetry books for a variety of known and unknown poets, including: Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who was a major player in the Beat Poetry Movement on the West Coast in the 50's. Jack recently visited Ferlinghetti in San Francisco where he still runs City Light Books. City Lights, the first all paperback bookstore, was founded by Ferlinghetti in 1953. Shortly after he formed a publishing house, creating his renowned Pocket Poet Series. Among the poets he published were: Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Jack Kerouac, Dianne DiPrima, to name just a few. I spoke with Powers about his recollections and his recent meeting with this legendary poet.


Doug Holder: Jack, you have told me more than once that Lawrence Ferlinghetti brought you back to poetry. What is it about the man that drew you to him?

Jack Powers: I think people of my generation were scared into a stasis in post-war America. I was turned on to Ferlinghetti when I read one of his books from the Pocket Poet Series Howl and other Poems by Allen Ginsberg. I came across it in a little bookstore at the corner of Mass. Ave and Huntington in Boston. In the late 50's I went out to San Francisco with a dear friend and discovered Ferlinghetti's City Lights Bookstore. I didn't actually meet Ferlinghetti until 1975. I was attracted to Ferlinghetti's poetry because it was written in the vernacular; he wrote about "high" things in the common tongue. Now in his 80's, he is still a very formidable presence. I feel he will be recognized as a great poet in his own right, beyond his role as a guru of the Beat Movement.

Doug Holder: Ferlinghetti, along with Peter Martin, launched the first all-paperback bookstore in 1953, and later formed a publishing house, starting with their Pocket Poet Series in 1955. Was your own publishing house, Stone Soup Publishing, modeled after Ferlinghetti's and Martin's efforts?

Jack Powers: It was impossible not to be influenced by something so beautiful. When I went out to "Frisco", and City Lights, I loved the feel of Grant St. ( home of City Lights), and the crazy people. When I say "crazy' I mean the label that mainstream society gave them. Here were these creative people spreading their wings, amidst the stifling conformity of 1950's America. The energy that came from that little bookstore in North Beach was inspiring. Ferlinghetti kept his "tire in track" simply put: he didn't kill himself with booze and drugs, like so many others. Kerouac, for instance drank himself to distraction and died in his 40's. Ginsberg bathed in the Ganges and was a master of histrionics. Ferlinghetti remained the solid core. Ferlinghetti was and is the model of the sober, committed artist. People could depend on him. He was the co-founder of the Beat Movement, but he was solidly planted like a tree. Every time I see Ferlinghetti I feel born again, flushed with new energy.

Doug Holder: Ferlinghetti published Ginsberg's "Howl" You published Ferlinghetti's "Jack of Hearts" Were there any similarities between the books?

Jack Powers: Ferlinghetti publishing "Howl" was a very natural development. He even wrote a poem "The Dog" in his book "Coney Island of the Mind", that was based on the poetical persona of Ginsberg:

The Dog trots freely in the street
and sees reality
and the things he sees
are bigger than himself
and the things he sees are his reality
Drunks in doorways
moons on trees

I believe Ferlinghetti and Ginsberg belong together. Like two dogs they walked the street and wrote about the stark reality...the wino, the aging drag queen, the ethereal shine of the moon on a tree. They were both living question marks, searching for a common truth.

Doug Holder: During your trip to the Coast you told me that Ferlinghetti showed you the cottage that he let Kerouac use to dry out and concentrate on his writing. Describe the setting, the feeling, the sense of place or presence there.

Jack Powers: I remember touching the desk Kerouac did his writing on. I wondered how many words flowed from here. How incredibly privileged I was to be there. I followed a nearby creek to the Pacific. I stood in the ocean and said: "Thank you, I understand." Just like the creek, we start out as a mere trickle and make that universal passage to the sea, the world at large, the cosmos, what have you. The shore puts you in contact with constant reality, like a heartbeat.

After I got back to Boston, I had the most remarkable thing happen: I saw my own aura around my arms and legs. I feel Kerouac gave me this gift.

Doug Holder: Ferlinghetti is in his 80's now and you are in your 60's. Will you be able to carry the torch for him?

Jack Powers: I feel that I have to continue to carry the torch. I owe Lawrence for teaching me that each individual life means something. You don't have to be a Yale Younger Poet in order to say something. Lawrence believes as I do, that Americans are too into titillation, they don't read things that challenge them. I think the idea of producing challenging art forms is a common goal.

Wilderness House Literary Retreat

Right now, me and several members from the Boston-area literary community are involved in recruiting for the board and faculty of this new literary retreat
scheduled to be in operation next Summer. It is owned and managed by the New England Foresty Service in cooperation with the Littleton Rotary Club ( contact: Steven Glines sglines@is-cs.com 617-549-7274)
"Wilderness House" is 7-bedroom cabins built in the early 20th Century as a sportsman retreat by a large and wealthy family. Situated deep within several hundred acres of forest, it also is near Littleton's Long Lake, where a private dock
is located.

The Literary Retreat offers a series of intense literary workshops lead by an acknowledged literary master of their genre. Each week a different literary genre will be presented. There may be poets one week, playwrights the next, etc... There will never be more than 15 participants.

Currently we have contacted poets and writers with national reputations to be on our board. Already several have agreed to serve on our board and or our faculty.
Currently the "Wilderness House" is being renovated, and we anticipate having a reception there in the Fall. If you are interesting about getting more information or attending this retreat contact: Steven Glines 1-978-952-6340

Doug Holder/ Wilderness House Literary Retreat.