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Abstract

Since 2004, the Florence Poets Society has been a hub of the poetry communities in Western Massachusetts, promoting the sharing, reading, and publication of works by its members. The group has sponsored outdoor poetry festivals, poetry slams, and readings and it has encouraged publication of poetry through its annual review, The Silkworm, and through chapbooks of its members.

Established in partnership with Rich Puchalsky and the Florence Poets Society, the Western New England Poetry Collection constitutes an effort to document the vibrant poetry communities in Western New England. The collection includes all forms of poetry, from the written to the spoken word, in all formats, but with a particular emphasis upon locally produced and often difficult to find chapbooks, small press books, unpublished works, and limited run periodicals. The collection is not limited to members of the Florence Poets Society, and additions from poets in Western New England are eagerly welcomed.

Access

The collection is open for research.

Language:

English.
Western New England Poetry Collection, 1977-2009
6 boxes (3 linear feet)
Call no.: MS 561

Historical Note

The Silkworm, 2007

The Silkworm, 2007

During the summer 2004, Carl Russo and Thomas Clark gathered a group of poets in Florence, Mass., to found the Florence Poets Society. Since that time, the Society has grown in size and significance, becoming a hub of the poetry communities in Western Massachusetts, promoting the sharing, reading, and publication of works by its members.

In the past several years, members of the Florence Poets Society have received grants from the Northampton Arts Council to organize an outdoor Poetry Festival in Northampton (2005-2007), and with additional assistance, they have promoted a successful, on-going Poetry Slam competition (2006- ) and a regular run of other public readings throughout the region. The Society publishes an annual review, The Silkworm, and since 2006 it has sponsored an annual international poetry contest that now receives dozens of submissions from as far away as Australia and the UK. The Society also supports the publication of chapbooks by its members, often working in concert with local publishers such as Slate Roof Press and Turtle Pond Press.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Established in partnership with Rich Puchalsky and the Florence Poets Society, the Western New England Poetry Collection constitutes an effort to document the vibrant poetry communities in Western New England. The collection includes all forms of poetry, from the written to the spoken word, in all formats, but with a particular emphasis upon locally produced and often difficult to find chapbooks, small press books, unpublished works, and limited run periodicals.

The collection is not limited to members of the Florence Poets Society, and additions from poets in Western New England are eagerly welcomed. In the collection inventory, we have included biographical statements for selected poets.

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Inventory of Collection
Ayvazian, Andrea

And So Begin (Northampton, Mass.: Turtle Pond Press, 2003). 2003
Box 1: 1
The Jesus Poems ([Northampton, Mass.]: Turtle Pond Press, undated). undated
Box 2: 1
Souls Floating By (Northampton, Mass.: Turtle Pond Press, 2004). 2004
Box 1: 3
With These Words (Northampton, Mass.: Turtle Pond Press, 2002). 2002
Box 1: 4
Bartok-Baratta, Howard

Old New York City Where I Lay My Head (Northampton, Mass.: s.n., Undated). Undated CD Box 2: 2
Bell, Jim

Crossing the Bar (Northfield, Mass.: Slate Roof Press, 2005). 2005
Box 2: 3
Beskin, Lisa

Prussian Blue (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2011). 2011
Box 2
Bloomfield, Luke

The Duffel Bag (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2011). 2011
Box 2
Cahillane, James Francis

A Winter Offering and a Second Collection (Williamsburg, Mass.: Florence Poets Society, 2007). 2007
Box 1: 5

Signed by author

Clement, Joyce

Beyond My View 2011
Box 7
Cook, Wanda D.

après bath 2009
Box 8
dusky lingerie 2010
Box 8
first light undated
Box 8
In That One Place (Greenfield, Mass.: Tribe Press, 2006). 2006
Box 5: 5
sirens and incense (S.l.: s.n., 2006). With Larry Kimmel 2006
Box 5: 7
Cook, Wanda D. and Porter, Linda, eds.

flower of another country 2007
Box 8
Crapo, Trish

Walk Through Paradise Backwards (Northfield, Mass.: Slate Roof Press, 2004). [26p.] 2004
Box : 4
Crowell, Elizabeth A. C.

BirdSnippets (S.l.: s.n., 2010). [2p.] 2010
Box 3: 4
Seasons (S.l.: s.n., 2011). [2p.] 2011
Box : 4
Denig, Nancy Watkins

hitting home: poems 2004-2006 (s.l.: s.n., ca.2006). ca.2006
Box 2: 5
Moonlit Pillow (Northampton, Mass.: s.n., 2008). 2008
Box 5: 1
Sensible Particulars (Florence, Mass.: s.n., 2008). 2008
Box 5: 2
Desrosiers, Lori

Masks and Mirrors and Other Poems (S.l.: s.n., 2003). 2003
Box 2: 6

Signed by author to Vikki.

More Poems in a Pinch (S.l.: s.n., 2008). 2008
Box 5: 3
Three Vanities (Pudding House Publications: Columbus, Ohio, 2009). 2009
Box 5: 12

Signed by author on ffep.

Trees Are Not Still (S.l.: s.n., 2007). 2007
Box 2: 7

Signed by author on ffep.

Devaney, Kevin

Outstanding Works of Genius Vol. 2 (S.l.: s.n., ca.2005?). ca.2005?
Box 2: 8
Doherty, Oonagh

Home (S.l.: s.n., ca.2012). ca.2012
Box :
Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays

Moore, Maureen , ed., Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays (Northfield, Mass.: Maureen Moore, 2004), v. 1:1. 2004 Spring
Moore, Maureen , ed., Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays (Northfield, Mass.: Maureen Moore, 2004 Sept.), v. 1:2. 2004 Sept.
Box 2: 9
Moore, Maureen , ed., Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays (Shelburne Falls, Mass.: Ginger Cat Press, 2005 Spring), v.2:1. 2005 Spring
Box 2: 10
Moore, Maureen , ed., Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays (Shelburne Falls, Mass.: Ginger Cat Press, 2005 Fall), v.2:2. 2005 Fall
Box 2: 11
Moore, Maureen , ed., Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays (Shelburne Falls, Mass.: Ginger Cat Press, 2006 Spring), v. 3:1. 2006 Spring
Box 2: 12
Moore, Maureen , ed., Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems, and Essays (Shelburne Falls, Mass.: Ginger Cat Press, 2006 Fall), v.3:2 2006 Fall
Box 2: 13
Faerstein, Howard

Play a Song on the Drums He Said (Brooklyn, N.Y.: Owl's Head Press, 1977). 1977
Box 2: 14

New Brooklyn Poets no. 3

Five College Student Poetry Fest

Poems (S.l.: s.n., 2008). 2008
Box 5: 13
Fleischer, Donna

Indra's Net 2003
Box 7
Intimate Boundaries 1991
Box 7
Twinkle, Twinkle 2010
Box 7
Foley, Brian

The Black Eye (Northampton, Mass.: Brave MenPress, 2010). 2010
Box 3
Forges-Ryan, Sylvia and Ryan, Edward

Take a Depp Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace 2006
Box 8
Forrester, Mary Coleman, ed.

In Time for Plum Blossoms 2003
Box 6
Forrester, Stanford M.

Buddha's Fingerprint 2003
Box 6
The Haiku Manual of Icarus & Other Myths 2009
Box 6
January Sun 2007
Box 6
The Toddler's Chant 2009
Box 6
Toy Submarine 2004
Box 6
Forrester, Stanford M., ed.

Gatherings: A Haiku Anthology 2008
Box 6
Seed Packets: An Anthology of Flower Haiku 2010
Box 6
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal

Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XIX:1 1991 Spring
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XIV:2 1991 Summer
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XIV:3 1991 Autumn
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XIV:4 1991 Winter
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XV:1 1992 Spring-Summer
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XV:2 1992 Fall-Winter
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XVI:1 1993 Spring-Summer
Box 7
Frogpond: A Quarterly Haiku Journal, XVI:2 1993 Fall-Winter
Box 7
Gallers, Anita

Care Center Poems (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2007). 2007
Box 1: 6
Gessner, Michael

Artificial Life 2009
Box 8
Gillett, Michelle

Blinding the Goldfinches (Omaha, Neb.: Backwaters Press, 2005). 2005
Box 3: 1
Goodan, Kevin

Thine Embers Fly (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2007). 2007
Box 3: 2
Gover, Tzivia

Dream House: Poems (Holyoke, Mass.: In Other Words Inc., 2005). 2005
Box 1: 7

Art by Joanne Yoshida.

Greene, Dick

Explorations (Simsbury, Conn.: Antrim House, 2009). 2009
Box 3
Grossberg, Chaya

The Next Planet (s.l.: s.n., 2006?). 2006?
Box 3: 3
Haiku Circle

Nami: An Anthology by the Haiku Poets Society of Western Massachusetts (S.l.: s.n., 2003). Ed. by Wanda Cook and Linda Porter 2003
Box 5: 8
Untitled (Northfield, Mass.: Bull Thistle et al., 2008). 2008
Box 5: 4
Halm, Sky

Escape Hatch (S.l.: s.n., 2008). 2008
Box 6
Haug, James

A Plan of How to Catch Amanda: Poems (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2007). 2007
Box 3: 4
Hoeppner, Bob

Cafe Poetry at Night (Holyoke, Mass.: Avalon Classics, 2004). 2004
Box 3: 5
Ireland, Lauren

Sorry It's So Small (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2011). 2011
Box 3
Johnston, Karen G.

Struck Just So: A Collection of Sensual Poems (S.l.: s.n., 2007). 2007 Oct.
Box 3: 6
Karkow, Kirsty

Shorelines: Haiku, Haibun, and Tanka 2007
Box 8
Water Poems: Haiku, Tanka, and Sijo 2005
Box 8
Kent, Marian

responsive pleading (Easthampton, Mass.: All Caps Publishing, 2012) 2012
Box
Kimmel, Larry

THe Piercing Blue of Sirius: Selected Poems 1968-2008 2009
Box 7
room on the third floor (S.l.: s.n., 2007). With Wanda Cook 2007
Box 5: 6
Langland, Joseph

In the Shell of the Ear and Other Poems (Northampton, Mass.: Hampshire Typothetae, 1977). 1977
Box 3: 7
Laurie, Christina

Seasons Rising 2010
Box 8
MacFayden, Janet

Janet Cochrane MacFayden was born in Englewood, NJ, but grew up in Williamstown, MA, where he father taught geology. She received an A.B. in geology from Brown University and 14 years later, an MFA in English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She lived in Providence, RI; Cambridge and Somerville, MA; Delray Beach, FL; and Amherst, Leverett, and Shutesbury, MA. In her early adulthood she tried many different professions, including soup cook, woodworking, piano tuning, various secretarial jobs, welfare worker, and personnel recruiter. After her MFA, she worked as a freelance writer/editor for many area schools. Later she also worked part-tome for Yankee Environmental Systems, a firm developing meteorological instruments. Her first poetry teacher was Harold Bond in Cambridge, MA; later Susan Mitchell at Florida Atlantic University became an important influence. Workshops with James Tate and Dara Wier all informed her work. [Biographical statement courtesy Slate Roof Press.]

"My poems have always been a way to reach that part of me and the universe that remains hidden. On one level, many of my poems are attempts to reconcile early memories of childhood, the truth of which are now greatly altered by time. On another level, poems connect me with that dark glittering Something that stands outside of human understanding, that Something coming to the forefront in lucid dreams, meditations, and when the pen writes unhindered by the mind."

In Defense of Stones (Sunderland, Mass.: Heatherstone Press, 1995). 1995
Box 3: 8

Publishers proof.

Martin, Jeannie F.

The Art of Awareness 2009
Box 7
Middleton, Susan

Susan Middleton , born 4/18/49 in Cambridge, MA, has lived in Ashfield MA since 1991. She has a BS in Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and since 1986 has worked as a freelance writer and editor of mostly science textbooks. She was one of the six founders of Slate Roof Press, which works collectively to publish chapbooks of its Franklin County members. In her spare time, she leads hikes for the Appalachian Mountain Club, tutors ESL students, and of course writes. [Biographical statement courtesy Slate Roof Press.]

"I was initially drawn to writing poetry because it combines elements of two earlier passions in my life -- music (singing, playing the piano) and visual arts (painting, photography) -- with my love of language. And experimenting as a young adult with various crafts (including pottery and sewing) prepared me in part for the discipline and pleasures of revision. The main focus of my poems has been on nature: nature in its own right, how nature affects me personally and us as human beings (especially as a source of spiritual renewal), and how nature in turn is affected by us. I also draw on nature for metaphors in poems exploring relationships between people."

Seed Case of the Heart (Northfield, Mass.: Slate Roof Press, 2007). 2007
Box 3: 9
Miller, Paul

Called Home 2006
Box 8
Few Days North Days Few 2011
Box 8
Moise, Lenelle

Madivinez (S.l.: Lenelle Moise, 2007). 2007 CD Box 3: 10
Nautilus II

Poetry and art by teen mothers studying at The Care Center

Nautilus II (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2004), v.2 2004
Box 3: 11
Nautilus II (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2005), v.3 2005
Box 3: 12
Nautilus II (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2006), v.4 2006
Box 3: 13
Nautilus II (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2007), v.5 2007
Box 3: 14
Nautilus II (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2009), v.7 2009
Box 6: 2
Nautilus II (Holyoke, Mass.: The Care Center, 2012), v.10 2012
Box :
Newman, Leslea

Signs of Love (Port Orchard, Wash.: Windstorm Creative, 2008). 2008
Box 5: 9
Still Life with Buddy: A Novel Told in Fifty Poems (Radnor, Ohio: Pride Publication, 1997). 1997
Box 5: 10
Newton, Peter

What We Find 2011
Box 8
Ogden, Don

With Respect to Peskeomskut (S.l.: s.n., 1994). 1994
Box 4: 1
O'Shea, Teri Buford

Jonestown Lullaby (Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, 2011). 97p. 2011
Box :
Patlove, Susie

Susie Allen Patlove was born in Boston in 1947 and lived in Hingham, MA until she was twelve, at which time her family moved to Red Bank, NJ. She was educated at Smith College and UC Berkeley, taking a degree from Smith in Chinese History. She has long been a student and practitioner of Zen Buddhism. She has worked at a variety of jobs including nursery school teacher, housecleaner, landscape gardener, editor and bookstore clerk. She now works at the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls. [Biographical statement courtesy Slate Roof Press.]

"For me, writing poetry is a way of divining what lies beneath the surface of things. If I get out of my own way, I have much to learn from the universe. I am always happy if what comes through can resonate with others."

Quickening (Northfield, Mass.: Slate Roof Press, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 2
Peck, Charles

Yesterdays Toys (Springfield, Mass.: Galeria, ca.2006). ca.2006
Phillips, Alex

Under a Paper Trellis (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 3

2nd printing

Prior, Ezra

At the Nowhere Cafe (S.l.: s.n., ca. 2011). ca.2011
Box 4
Puchalsky, Rich

Doctor of Dead Letters (S.l.: s.n., 2005). 2005
Box 4: 4

First printing, signed by author

Shards of Glass (S.l.: s.n., 2000). 2000
Box 4: 5

Second printing, signed by author

Sun on the Surface: Poems and Pictures for Children (S.l.: s.n., 2006). 2006
Box 1: 8

Signed by author

The Power of Weevils (S.l.: s.n., 2004). 2004
Box 4: 6

First printing, signed by author

Purington, Carol

Family Farm: Haiku for a Place of Moons 1999
Box 7
Gathering Peace 2007
Box 7
The Trees Bleed Sweetness 1997
Box 7
Richie, Joseph

Nothing Left Open Can Keep You (Amherst, Mass.: Factory Hollow Press, 2008). 2008
Box 4
Richmond, Paul

No Guarantees Adjust and Continue (Greenfield, Mass.: Human Error, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 7
Robinson, Martina D.

Before and After (S.l.: s.n., 2009). Undated
Box 5: 16
The September Poems (S.l.: s.n., 2008). ca.2008
Box 5: 17
Set on Freedom, vol. 1: Disability Poems (Mariposa Press: Belchertown, Mass., 2007). 2007
Box 5: 18
Set on Freedom, vol. 2: Feminist Poems (Mariposa Press: Belchertown, Mass., 2007). 2007
Box 5: 19
Set on Freedom, vol. 3: Queer Poems (Mariposa Press: Belchertown, Mass., 2007). 2007
Box 5: 20
Set on Freedom, vol. 4: Person of Faith Poems (Mariposa Press: Belchertown, Mass., 2007). 2007
Box 5: 21
Set on Freedom, vol. 5: People of Color Poems (Mariposa Press: Belchertown, Mass., 2007). 2007
Box 5: 22
Set on Freedom, vol. 6: American Poems (Mariposa Press: Belchertown, Mass., 2007). 2007
Box 5: 23
Words Inspired by the People's Music Network (S.l.: s.n., 2009). ca.2009
Box 5: 24
Schulman, Joel

There Will be a Singing (Northampton, Mass.: South Street Books, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 8
Shanahan, Dan

The Lotus Seed Poems (Lotus Seed: Northampton, 2003). 2003 CD Box 6: 1
Silkworm: The Annual Review of the Florence Poets Society

Russo, Carl and Thomas R. Clark, eds., Silkworm 2007: The Annual Review of the Florence Poets Society (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 9
Russo, Carl and Thomas Clark, eds., Silkworm 3: The Annual Review of the Florence Poets Society (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2008). 2008
Box 4
Clark, Thomas R. and Carl Russo, eds., Silkworm 4: The Annual Review of the Florence Poets Society (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2010). 2010
Box 6: 3
Clark, Thomas R. and Carl Russo, eds., Silkworm 5: The Annual Review of the Florence Poets Society (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2011). 2011
Box 6
Slate Roof Press

Titles, Fall 2007. 2007
Box 1: 9
Stein, Art

blonde red Mustang state trooper (Northfield, Mass.: Slate Roof Press, 2005). 2005
Box 4: 10
Svane, Christina

Sonnets to the Unseen and Other Poems (Sebastopol, Calif.: Talking to Tara Press, 2001). 2001
Box 5: 11
Terrence, Maureen, ed.

Equinox: An Excursion of Stories, Poems , and Essays (Spring 2004) (Northfield, Mass.: , 2004 Spring). 2004 Spring
Box 4: 11
Twilite, Tommy

Amerika (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2006). 2006
Box 4: 12
The Hum of Distant Turbines (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 13
Light the Nose (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2005). 2005
Box 4: 14
Richardson's Milk: Poetry from the Crate (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2007). 38p. 2007
Box 4: 15
Son of Richardson's Milk: More Poetry from the Crate (Florence, Mass.: Florence Poet' Society Press, 2007). 2007
Box 4: 16
Varney, Laura T.

Love Illusions (S.l.: Lonegoddess Publ., 2005). 2005
Box 4: 17
Ward, C. S.

Neneh Cherry and the Buffalo Stance Feeling (S.l.: Fortunes Find Press, ca.2011). ca.2011
Box 4
Winlove, Peggy

Peggy's Poems (Leeds, Mass.: s.n., 2011). 2011
Box 4
Wlodyka, Linda Bratcher

My Spirited Cameo: Poetry For the Ages (Florence, Mass.: Collective Copies, 2008). 2008
Box 4: 18
Poems 2011 (Florence, Mass.: Collective Copies, 2011). 2011
Box :
Voices from the Blue Room (Florence, Mass.: Collective Copies, 2009). 2009
Box 6: 4
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Provenance

Acquired by gift from Rich Puchalsky and assorted friends and associates of the Florence Poets Society, 2008.

Processing Information

Processed by rsc, 2007-2008.

Copyright and Use (More informationConnect to publication information)

Cite as: Western New England Poetry Collection (MS 561). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

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Search Terms

Subjects
  • Poetry--Massachusetts.
Contributors
  • Florence Poets Society.
  • Puchalsky, Rich.
Genre terms
  • Chapbooks.
  • Periodicals.