https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84308329737?pwd=RjJUdCtJVXRySjlvMHdXakJRRzVmUT09

Meeting ID: 843 0832 9737  Passcode: 678146  Phone: 1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

F. X. Baird was born in Philadelphia, the youngest of 12 children. He studied with David Ignatow at the 92nd Street Y in New York City in the early 80’s and later at the Antioch Writers’ Workshop in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He currently studies with Leonard Gontarek in Philadelphia and conducts a poetry workshop, via email since the pandemic, with long term inmates at Phoenix (formerly Graterford) Prison sponsored by the Prison Literacy Project of Pennsylvania and the Phoenix Lifers organization. Ten poems from five poets from this workshop were published in the Fall 2017 Schuylkill Valley Journal. He received “honorable mention” in the 2019 Sandy Crimmins National Poetry Prize for his poem “Phantom Limb” published in the Spring 2019 edition of Philadelphia Stories. His first chapbook, Painting with my Father.

Steve Burke is the author of two chapbooks – After The Harvest & For Now. His work-life consisted of being a psychiatric technician & a labor-and-delivery nurse. He now lives in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia with wife-Giselle & cat “Luigi ‘Golden Eyes’ Boccherini.”

Charles S. Carr was born in Philadelphia and lived here his whole life. Charles was educated at LaSalle and Bryn Mawr College and has worked in social and community development services for 45 years.  He has also been active in raising funds for various missions and organizations serving the poorest of the poor In Haiti.  In 2007 Charles was The Mad Poets Review First Prize Winner for his poem “Waiting To Come North”.  Charles has two published books of poetry: paradise, pennsylvania and Haitian Mudpies & Other Poems and his poems have been published in various local and national poetry journals. For five years Charles was the host of the Moonstone Poetry series at Fergie’s Pub. Since 2016 he has been the host of Philly Loves Poetry a monthly broadcast on Philly Cam. He has read poems in the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin Ireland as part of international 100,000 Poets For Peace.

Larry Robin, Host

Open reading follows