Mac’s Backs Books: basement – foto by Smith

Mac’s Backs Books is the longest continuous poetry reading venue in Cleveland — I first read there back in the early 1980s.

Last night’s reading there was extra special because Yuyutsu Sharma’s co-feature was Katie Daley, whom I believe is one of Cleveland’s two finest performing and writing poets — the other one is Wendy Shaffer.

Here are a few fotos from last night’s reading.

Mac’s Backs Books: Allen Ginsberg – foto by Smith

Mac’s Backs Books: Legalize Levy – foto by Smith

Mac’s Backs Books: warrior poet – foto by Smith

Yuyu reading at Mac’s Backs 1-2902011 – foto by Smith

Yuyu reading at Mac’s Backs 1-2902011 – foto by Smith

Lady at Mac’s Backs Books – foto by Smith

Here’s Yuyu’s remaining scheduled poetry performances here in Cleveland:

January 30th at 1 p.m.
PoetryElyria at Jim’s Coffeehouse, 2 Kerstetter Way in Elyria, Ohio

February 2nd at 7 p.m.
Snoetry: A World Record Winter Wordfest
at Jim’s Coffeehouse,
2 Kerstetter Way in Elyria, Ohio

Lady K and I will be reading at Snoetry at 6:30 as well.

Yuyu reading at 737 Gallery, Lorain, Ohio last night – foto by Smith

Yuyu’s reading last night at “n Verse Lorain: A Poetry and performing Arts Extravaganza” at the Lorain Arts Council’s 737 Gallery in Lorain, Ohio was indeed part of an extravaganza – poets, music, singers, dance, free food, and a large audience.

Tonight’s he’s reading with Katie Daley at Mac’s backs in Coventry.

You can hear Yuyu recording with Apartment One at reverbnation.com/apartmentone. . . click on “See All 198 Songs” and go down eleven titles for Spacecake Amsterdam and another eleven for Temple London and click and play.

Yuyutsu’s next three readings:

January 29, 2011: Yuyutsu Sharma Katie Daley
at Mac’s Backs.
7 PM, 1820 Coventry Rd.,
Cleveland Hts., OH 44118. 216-321-2665.

January 30th at 1 p.m.
PoetryElyria at Jim’s Coffeehouse, 2 Kerstetter Way in Elyria, Ohio

February 2nd at 7 p.m.
Snoetry: A World Record Winter Wordfest
at Jim’s Coffeehouse, 2 Kerstetter Way in Elyria, Ohio

Yuyu will be reading from his new book — Amazing Helambu –
a photographic and poetic journey through the Helambu and Langtang area
228 pages, 125 panoramic photographs, 19 poems
ISBN 978-3-9810883-1-1

Yuyu reading at 737 Gallery, Lorain, Ohio last night – foto by Smith

Yuyu reading at Visible Voice Books, November 2009 – foto by Smith

Jammed up jelly tight for the next 6 days due to hosting a Nepalese poet, so blogs may or may be scarce.

Our poet friend Yuyutsu Ram Dass Sharma is reading 4 places in the next 6 dfays:

Yuyu Reading in Cleveland, Elyria and Lorain from his new book — Amazing Helambu –
a photographic and poetic journey through the Helambu and Langtang area
228 pages, 125 panoramic photographs, 19 poems
ISBN 978-3-9810883-1-1

January 28th at 6:30 p.m.
In Verse Lorain: A Poetry and Performing Arts Extravaganza
at the Lorain Arts Council’s 737 Gallery, 737 Broadway Avenue in Lorain, Ohio.

January 29, 2011: Yuyutsu Sharma Katie Daley
at Mac’s Backs.
7 PM, 1820 Coventry Rd.,
Cleveland Hts., OH 44118. 216-321-2665.

January 30th at 1 p.m.
PoetryElyria at Jim’s Coffeehouse, 2 Kerstetter Way in Elyria, Ohio

February 2nd at 7 p.m.
Snoetry: A World Record Winter Wordfest
at Jim’s Coffeehouse,
2 Kerstetter Way in Elyria, Ohio

Here is a short sweet 10 year old poem — more rhyme per buck with 4 lines, 6 rhyming words: hole, soul, black, crack, sky, I. And actually backed rhymes internally too.

Used Karma Lot

I cut the cockroach off at the watering hole
Sent his brown backed soul
To that great black crack in the sky
May God have more compassion than I

– Steven B. Smith, 2001

Yuyu recording at Peter Ball’s Apartment One studio, November 2009 – foto by Smith

threshold smith – foto by Smith

A poem I wrote Sunday titled “Belly Back Beat Off Blues” was turned into a musical jam this afternoon which by evening became an online song called “Bellybonesmith“.

Right now it’s the first song on Peter Ball’s (aka Apartment One) home page at reverbnation.com/apartmentone.

Just click and listen. It’s an easy going awkward blues not quite sung, kind of sweet in its own way.

belly bone back, back bone belly
gonna go jack my jam in jelly

beveled mirror edge me – foto by Smith