Chapter Happenings

Albuquerque
(meets in Albuquerque)

Rio Grande Valencia Poets
(meets in Los Lunas)

Silver City Poets
(meets in Silver City)

The Santa Fe Poetry Trails
(meets in Santa Fe)

Hello Poets!

Starting up again in September, we are looking forward to another great year of meeting in person in 2024-2025! Our meetings are held on the second Saturday of every month (September through May) from 10:00 a.m. until noon.  Meetings are held at the North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center, 7521 Carmel NE, Albuquerque (near Wyoming and Paseo del North NE).  I am currently working up the schedule for this next period and will update this notice as slots get filled in. Currently scheduled meetings:

9 November, 10:00 a.m. — John Roche (Albuquerque Chapter Member). A Short Guide to Punctuating Poetry. John says, “How do I punctuate my poems?” That is an oft-asked question. Should one capitalize each each line, using periods and commas at the ends of lines, use lots of dashes like Emily Dickinson, follow E.E. Cummings in eschewing capitals altogether, or even create one’s own system of notation like some experimental poets? The answer will depend on your own personality and what you are trying to convey (as well as the type of poetry). Are you a punctuation maximalist or punctuation minimalist?

To punctuate is literally to “point out” by way of marks. Another meaning is to “occur at intervals throughout,” suggesting a close relationship between punctuation and rhythm. Taken broadly, “punctuation” includes all the “road signs” a given poet chooses to post for the reader. These may include not only punctuation marks and capitalization, but also typefaces and font sizes, spacing and line breaks, or even icons, drawings, etc. In this workshop we will consider such questions and do some writing/editing exercises inspired by them.

14 December, 10:00 a.m. — Robert Weber (Albuquerque Chapter member). Translating the techniques of film into poetry. Bob tells us that for many years film has taken ideas from writers and translated them into its media. It’s now time to take the sophisticated techniques of film and cinema and use them the other way around: make them into vehicles of text and poetry. Stealing can take place in both directions. With mutual benefit.

11 January 2025, 10:00 a.m. — Valerie Martinez, former Poet Laureate of Santa Fe 2008-2010, poet/educator/collaborative artist (subject TBD).

8 February, 10:00 a.m. — Diane Thiel, Regents’ Professor/Assoc. Chair Department of English at UNM. Her most recent poetry book is Questions from Outer Space (Red Hen Press, 2022). Subject – TBA.

8 March, 10:00 a.m. — TBA 

12 April, 10:00 a.m. — TBA 

10 May, 10:00 a.m. — TBA 

Albuquerque Chapter members receive occasional emails, with information about meeting date/time/location, etc., from the Albuquerque Chapter Chair.  If you are not a member of the Albuquerque Chapter, you can contact the chair to receive information.

Yours for More Poetry,

Janet Ruth

Handouts from previous Albuquerque Chapter workshops

Contact Chapter

The Silver City Poets currently meet the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 1-2pm at the Silver City Visitors Center at the corner of Broadway and Hudson.

Every 2nd Saturday, the Tranquil Buzz hosts a poetry open mic from 12-2 pm coordinated by Shelly Barnett. 

Poetic Outlaws, an open mic format, meets the 3rd Friday of the month at 5:30 pm at The Lodge, Whiskey Creek Zocalo, 11786 HWY 180 East, Arenas Valley, NM 88022. 

Check back for more updates. You can also check the NMSPS Calendar of Events for other local and statewide events.

Happy New Year to everyone from Santa Fe Poetry Trails! Here are some events taking place in and around Santa Fe in 2023.

JANUARY

Kristian Macaron Poetry Reading
Jan. 22

Kristian Macaron resides in Albuquerque, NM. Her writing is inspired by this colorful landscape and explores tales that derive from connections to her Hispanic/Lebanese-American heritage, but also her love for cryptids, portals, geology and time travel. Sunday, January 22, 2023 5:00 p.m. at Teatro Paraguas. More info here.

FEBRUARY

Creative Coffee Online
Feb. 1

Creative Coffee is an online mastermind group on Meetup for creative entrepreneurs that meets monthly. You’ll get time to share what you’re working on and get feedback, ideas and support from the group. The next meeting is on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 9 a.m. More info here.

Santa Fe Poetry Trails First Monday Open Mic/Feb 6

The Santa Fe Poetry Trails chapter meets for an open mic once a month. Open Mic on the first Monday, February 6, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie. Marina creates a list of readers. You may also attend without reading, but you could read a poem written by another poet. In any case, welcome! Each reading slot is three minutes. More info here.

MARCH

Santa Fe Poetry Trails First Monday Open Mic
March 6

The Santa Fe Poetry Trails chapter meets for an open mic once a month. Open Mic on the first Monday, March 6, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie. Marina creates a list of readers. You may also attend without reading, but you could read a poem written by another poet. In any case, welcome! Each reading slot is three minutes. More info here.

APRIL

Santa Fe Poetry Trails First Monday Open Mic
April 3

The Santa Fe Poetry Trails chapter meets for an open mic once a month. Open Mic on the first Monday, April 3, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie. Marina creates a list of readers. You may also attend without reading, but you could read a poem written by another poet. In any case, welcome! Each reading slot is three minutes. More info here.

MAY

Santa Fe Poetry Trails First Monday Open Mic
May 1

The Santa Fe Poetry Trails chapter meets for an open mic once a month. Open Mic on the first Monday, May 1, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie. Marina creates a list of readers. You may also attend without reading, but you could read a poem written by another poet. In any case, welcome! Each reading slot is three minutes. More info here.

Santa Fe International Literary Festival
May 19-21

The Santa Fe International Literary Festival will take place May 19-21, 2023, bringing together world-renowned authors, thinkers and passionate readers. The Festival connects writers, readers, and thinkers — from around the world and close to home — in the celebration of words and story. More info here.