May 14: Doug Holder Features for Stone Soup Poetry's Fifty-Fourth Anniversary

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On May 14, past Stone Soup president Doug Holder returns to feature during this special anniversary month.

Doug Holder is the founder of the Ibbetson Street Press, arts editor for The Somerville Times, and on the Board of Directors for the New England Poetry Club, as well as the Friends of the Longfellow House. Holder teaches creative writing at Endicott College, and taught college writing at Bunker Hill Community College for many years. For over 30 years he ran poetry groups for psychiatric patients at McLean Hospital and was the president of Stone Soup for one year. ( late 1990s). His poetry and prose have appeared in the Lowell Review, Worcester Review, Rattle, Cafe Review, and many other places. The "Doug Holder Paper Collection" is housed at the University at Buffalo. His latest book is the Essential Doug Holder(Big Table Books).

Join us on May 14 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 891 0950 3067

Password: stonesoup

 

May 7: Melissa Castillo-Garsow Features for Stone Soup Poetry's Fifty-Fourth Anniversary

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On May 7, poet, author, doctor and Stone Soup friend Melissa Castillo-Garsow features at the top of Stone Soup Poetry's fifty-fourth anniversary month.

Dr. Melissa Castillo-Garsow is an Associate Professor of English at Lehman College and the CUNY graduate center PhD program in English specializing in Latinx Literature and Culture. She is the author/ editor of 7 books including editor of ¡Manteca!: An Anthology of Afro-Latin@ Poets, and author of A Mexican State of Mind: New York City and the New Borderlands of Culture which examines the creative worlds and cultural productions of Mexican migrants in New York City. Her second book of poetry, Chingona Rules was a Gold Medal Winner of the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Poetry Book Award, International Latino Book Awards (2022).

Join us on May 7 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 894 8978 6353

Password: stonesoup

April 30: Toni Rose Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On April 30, Stone Soup closes out National Poetry Month with a special feature by returning performer Toni Rose.

Who is Toni Rose? Well, that depends on who you ask. Trouble to some, Faithful friend to others, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Victim, Survivor, Lover, Fighter, Champion, Confidant, Artist, and Poet. Toni’s poetry has a strong emphasis on the struggles of life. She paints a picture with words that can be heart wrenching truths. Toni Rose is the founder of The Blue Rose, a movement that empowers others to find their voice, speak up and be heard. Toni ‘Blue’ Rose is a spoken word artist who became a maters level clinician who believes in Healing Through Art Therapies. Toni pushes through the dark times, sometimes stumbling, sometimes doubting, but never gives up hope and never gives up the fight. Those that are willing can listen and feel that glimpse into her soul with a gritty, real, heart wrenching and perfect in its imperfection and purpose.

Join us on April 30 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 854 3628 5454

Password: stonesoup

April 24: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. This week, Stone Soup continues National Poetry Month with a late open mic on Thursday, April 24. We are sorry for the confusion.

Join us on Thursday, April 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is  825 3565 0634

Password: stonesoup

April 16: Carl Stilwell (aka CaLokie) Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On April 16, we have another surprise feature from the west coast for National Poetry Month in the form of Carl Stilwell (aka CaLokie).

Carl Stilwell (aka CaLokie) is a retired teacher who taught for over 30 years in the Los Angeles Unified school District and participated in UTLA’s teachers’ strikes in 1970 and 1989. He was born during the depression in Oklahoma and came to California in 1959 and has lived here ever since. His pen name was inspired by the Joad's struggle for survival In The Grapes of Wrath and the songs and life of Woody Guthrie. His poems have been published in Altadena Poetry Review, Blue Collar Review, Four Feather’s Press, Lummox, Pearl, Prism, Revolutionary Poets Brigade--Los Angeles, Rise Up, Sequoyah Cherokee River Journal, The Sparring Artists,    ZZyZx WriterZ and The New Verse News.

Join us on Wednesday April 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 885 5976 6144

Password: stonesoup

April 9: Don Kingfisher Campbell Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On April 9 Stone Soup has a surprise feature from Don Kingfisher Campbell, who has another collection, The Three Paths, coming soon.

 

Don Kingfisher Campbell received his MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and taught Writers Seminar at Occidental College Upward Bound for 36 years. He's been a coach and judge for Poetry Out Loud, a performing poet/teacher for Red Hen Press Youth Writing Workshops, an L.A. Coordinator and Board Member of California Poets In The Schools, poetry editor of the Angel City Review, publisher of Four Feathers Press, and host of the Saturday Afternoon Poetry reading series in Pasadena, California. 

Join us on Wednesday April 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 867 0231 3702

Password: stonesoup

April 2: Jason Wright Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On April 2 we welcome back Jason Wright to kick off National Poetry Month.

Jason Wright is the publisher and founder of Oddball Magazine. He is author of three books, A Letter to the World, Train of Thought: Poems from the Red Line, and Train of Thought 2: Almost Home. He is also the host of The Oddball Show, a podcast advocating for mental wellness.

Join us on Wednesday, April 2, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 868 4642 9954

Password: stonesoup

March 26: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On February 19, Stone Soup has an all-open mic one week before February's closing feature.

Join us on Wednesday March 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link. 

The meeting ID is 869 4191 8826

Password: stonesoup 

March 19: Lee Eric Freedman Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On March 19, our virtual podium welcomes north shore poet Lee Eric Freedman.

Lee Eric Freedman is the 3rd Poet Laureate of Swampscott, Massachusetts, United States (2016-2018). Since 2011 he's been affectionately entitled as the Renegade Poet Laureate of Swampscott (2011- Forever) When Lee isn't busy being any type of Laureate he leads the Tin Box Poets of Swampscott Workshop Group, co-hosts the online video podcast series In Other Words with his friend and SpoFest founder James Bryant, and regularly performs at open-mics and readings all over the place. He’s been published in numerous poetry anthologies and journals including publications from Netherlands, Ireland, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Scotland. In March of 2025, Lee’s poetry was published in the Vagabond Lunar Collection Anthology (Vagabond Books) that was included in the Lunar Codex Project and which landed on the moon aboard the Intuitive Machines/NASA Nova-C Lunar Lander Athena. Lee is the former host of First Friday Open Mic at ReachArts, Swampscott, his poetry’s been translated into American Sign Language and he’s a three-time winner of the Naomi Cherkofsky Memorial Poetry Contest. 

Join us on Wednesday March 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 891 9608 4462

Password: stonesoup

 

March 12: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On March 19, Stone Soup has an all-open mic one week before the closing feature.

Join us on Wednesday March 12 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 849 7864 9818

Password: stonesoup

March 5: Nike Truth Featues at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On March 5, we kick off the month with a feature from one of our newest open mic contributors, Nike Truth.

Nike Truth is a writer hailing from Michigan. With a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and experience in self-publishing, they enjoy exploring the complicated dynamics between people through storytelling. Their short story "Let The Dead Sleep" was recently published by Alien Buddha Press.

Join us on Wednesday March 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 891 2892 9933

Password: stonesoup

 

February 26: Megha Sood Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On February 26, we close the month out with Megha Sood reading from her newest collection

Megha Sood is an award-winning Asian-American author, poet, editor, and literary activist. A Literary Partner with “Life in Quarantine”, at Stanford University. Her four poetry collections include the award-winning My Body Lives Like a Threat, (FlowerSong Press, 2022), My Body is Not an Apology (Finishing Line Press, 2021), and Language of the Wound is Love, (FlowerSong Press, 2025). She has received support from VONA, Pen Women, Dodge Foundation, Kundiman, and Martha’s Vineyard Writing Institute. Her 900+ works have been featured in print, online journals, public exhibits, and anthologies including the Poetry Society of New York, MS Magazine, NYPL, Pen Magazine by American Pen Women, PBS American Portrait, NPR, WNYC Studio, etc, and numerous universities including Stanford University, Howard University, George Mason, CUNY, etc. Her poems and anthology The Medusa Project and other works have been selected to be sent to the moon in three separate rocket missions in 2025 as part of the historical LunarCodex Project in collaboration with NASA/SpaceX. She co-edits the annual Brownstone Poets anthology and lives with her son and husband in New Jersey. 

Join us on Wednesday February 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link. 

The meeting ID is 813 3708 0372

Password: stonesoup

February 19: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On February 19, Stone Soup has an all-open mic one week before February's closing feature.

Join us on Wednesday February 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 879 0757 0332

Password: stonesoup 

February 12: Ari Whipple Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On February 12, Stone Soup features Ari Whipple for Valentine's Day week.

 

Ari Whipple is the author of several books, that they will be reading selections from on feature night including their first work, Full of Now, and their most recent work, Beachfront Property. The past year, they have been working on their most recent work, tentatively titled, The Dark Water Affair, while finishing up their master's degree in creative writing online at Southern New Hampshire University. Though it's unrelated, they have a cat named Larity who would be thrilled if you gave their books a read, for free on their ko-fi.

Join us on Wednesday February 12 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 813 3708 0372

Password: stonesoup 

 

February 5: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On February 5, Stone Soup kicks off the month of February with an all-open mic.

Join us on Wednesday February 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 865 0830 1474

Password: stonesoup 

January 29: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On January 29, Stone Soup Poetry continues concludes January with an all-open mic before features are announced for February.

Join us on Wednesday January 29 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 816 0570 1631

Password: stonesoup 

 

January 22: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On January 22, Stone Soup Poetry continues with an all-open mic.

Join us on Wednesday January 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link. 

The meeting ID is 876 4944 0840

Password: stonesoup

January 15: Jennifer Martelli Features at Stone Soup Poetry

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On January 15, is Jennifer Martelli's is Stone Soup Poetry's first feature for 2025.

Jennifer Martelli has received fellowships from The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Monson Arts, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Her work has appeared in The Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day, Poetry, Best of the Net Anthology, Braving the Body Anthology, Verse Daily, Plume, The Tahoma Literary Review, and elsewhere. She is the author of Psychic Party Under the Bottle Tree, The Queen of Queens, which won the Italian American Studies Association Book Award and was shortlisted for the Massachusetts Book Award, and My Tarantella, which was also shortlisted for the Massachusetts Book Award and named finalist for the Housatonic Book Award. Jennifer Martelli is co-poetry editor for MER.

Join us on Wednesday January 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 831 2197 4917

Password: stonesoup

 

January 8: Stone Soup Poetry Online All-Open Mic

Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On January 8, Stone Soup Poetry starts up 2025 with an all-open mic.

Join us on Wednesday January 8 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link. 

The meeting ID is 824 4778 8478

 Password: stonesoup