It’s Happening

Interview with Irene Simon Sipos who is reading March 2 at CFI

Posted on March 1, 2016 Updated on March 1, 2016

Interview with Irene Simon Sipos

Irene Simon Sipos will join poets Ed Taylor and Celeste Lawson at the next Center for Inquiry Reading Series in the Just Buffalo Literary Café at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 at the Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Road in Amherst.

Irene Simon Sipos is a retired professor from the College Writing Program at SUNY Buffalo State and continues to work as a freelance editor and tutor at Buffalo State’s Writing Help Center. She is a native Buffalonian who completed her master’s degree in American Literature at the University at Buffalo under Robert Creeley and Leslie Fiedler. Her work has been published in a wide variety of publications, including Comstock Review and a feminist arts literary periodical, Earth’s Daughters.

Rachel: Is it important to you that people understand what your poem is saying? Or are you more pleased when others have different interpretations that touch their lives?
Irene: There is not one interpretation. The pleasure and fun of “understanding” poetry is the various perspectives that readers and listeners bring.

Rachel: What writers influence your work?

Irene: I’m sure every writer I have ever read since I was six years old has influenced my life and my work. So without listing thousands of writers, if we could think in terms of decades, the writers who are inspiring me in this decade perhaps include: Rumi, Hafiz, Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsberg, Pablo Neruda, Robert Creeley, Billy Collins, Jane Kenyon, Elizabeth Bishop, Maxine Kumin, Jane Hirschfield, Stanley Kunitz, Naomi Shihab Nye, Marge Piercy, Ruth Stone, Wistawa Szymborska, Ilya Kaminsky, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and many beautiful Western New York poets.

Rachel: How important do you think it is to get an MFA to be a successful poet?

Irene: Not at all. It might be nice but how many of the aforementioned poets had an MFA? Not Rumi or Hafiz!

Rachel: What changes in the local Buffalo poetry scene have you witnessed?

Irene: The poetry scene seems more welcoming to me in recent years. More inclusive of diversity in style and voice, gender, and ethnicity.

Rachel: Please tell me a story about some poets you met.

Irene: I had the opportunity to study poetry at UB in the 70s with Robert Creeley, John Logan, Robert Hass and others. It was a dynamic time, with classes, readings, pool and beer at Maxl’s on Main and West Ferry, parties, more readings, planned and extemporaneous.

Rachel: Is there any last thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?

Irene: Poetry seems like a secret sometimes. I wish the secret could be shared so that everyone would indulge in reading as much poetry as possible. Read, listen, talk about, share, write, read some more.

This entry was posted in It's Happening and tagged Irene Simon Sipos.

Workshops, Poetry Circles, Readings & Open Mics and Events

Posted on February 16, 2016 Updated on February 16, 2016

Workshops

Allentown Poets’ Workshop (APW), initiated by Marc Belisle and founder, Shayna Israel, meets Mondays at 6:30pm at Cafe 59 in Allentown, Buffalo, NY without fail for a writing prompt session followed by a more in depth workshopping process.

The Poets’ Camp Hosted by Shayna Isreal. Winter Cabin Edition is Friday, February 26th 5pm to Sunday, February 28^th. Contact Shayna Isreal.

Poetry Circles

Ground and Sky Hosted by Nathan Stolte. First Thursday. Rust Belt 318 Grant St. 7pm to 9pm.

Spring Poetry, Hop Poetry Circle hosted by Rachel L. Johnson at the North Tonawanda Public Library 505 Meadow Dr. Thursday February 18 from 7pm to 8:45pm.

Last Exit Book Store in Kent, Ohio. For details ask Nathan Stolte.

Poetry Readings and Open Mics

The Inkwell Hosted by Lissa Roads at Caffeology 23 Allen St first and third Thursdays from 7pm to 10pm. Readings and open mics. Free.

UB Center for Inquiry Reading Series Hosted by Jennifer Campbell at UB Center for Inquiry. In Just Buffalo’s Literary Café every first Wednesday 1310 Sweet Home Rd. starting at 7pm.

RIC Readings at Daemen College’s Research and Information Commons Room 101 every 4^th Friday 4380 Main Street Amherst, NY 7:30pm. February 24 reading featured Perry Nicholas and Peter Ramos. Refreshments. Free.

The Screening Room 3^rd Wednesday Series hosted by Lynn Ciesielski and Marek Parker at 3131 Sheridan Dr. Amherst from 7:30PM to 9PM. Featured Reading and open mic. $2

Dog Ears Bookstore Reading and Open Mic Hosted by Fred Whitehead at Dog Ears Bookstore 688 Abbott Rd at 7 pm every 4^th Friday of the month. Refreshments. $4

Circleformance Hosted by Lynn Ciesielski at El Buen Amigo 114 Elmwood Ave Every 4^th Wednesday. $4

Empire State College Apple Tree Reading Series and Open Mic at 2875 Union Rd at 7 pm every last Tuesday of the month. Reading and Open Mic. Refreshments. Free.

Wordism Hosted by Jumanne Pitts. Locations may vary. Usually at Em Tea Coffeecup 80 Oakgrove Ave

Non-Competitive Open Mic Event for Spoken Word Artists. Good place for beginners. Free.
Pure Ink Poetry Slam

Open mic at Gypsy Bar 376 Grant St at 6pm 2^nd Sunday of the month. Free.

Poetry Slam at Gypsy Bar 376 Grant St at 6pm 4^th Sunday of the month. $5

Spiritual Café Hosted by Anne Huiner every third Saturday at St. John’s 51 Colonial Circle 4pm.

Readings. Free. February readers are poets Rebecca Gay and Claire Gay from Inspiration Point.

Events

International Women’s March Series. Hosted by Rachel L. Johnson at El Buen Amigo 114 Elmwood Ave

Women Birthing Saturday March 5 from 5pm to 7pm. Live music, Midwife Eileen presents and open mic theme is women birthing.