Alchemy at the Napa Bar

It was quite a lovely evening.

I was looking forward to our regular 1st Monday of the month poetry reading, which was held on the 2nd Wednesday this month, to accommodate a visiting poet from Australia.  I had an epic length poem which I’d worked hard on and was eager to present.

Jane Williams, poet

I was at home with the kids, wondering if Helena would get home early enough or if I’d have to choose between being late and leaving the kids home alone for awhile.  They are at that age: old enough we can leave  them home by themselves for awhile, if need be, and we have done, for over a year already, but they are still young enough that it makes me uncomfortable.

But, she called just after 6 with an alternate suggestion: that we meet her at the Chinese for dinner.  I could go to my poetry reading from there, and her and the kids could come on home.  I questioned the timing, but figured I could just have spring rolls and a cup of tea and still make it on time.  When we got to the restaurant, I went ahead and ordered a meal and still was only about 15 minutes late to the poetry reading, which is the same as on time because, as with most events in Prague, the listed start time is not strictly adhered to.

I was worried that, with the schedule change, there wouldn’t be many people, but I was wrong.  Apparently the featured poet, Jane Williams, has some fans.  She was good; some nice poems, some sad poems, some about Australia, some about Ireland.   I was impressed with one about a couple of dead bodies washed up on the beach, called (I think) ‘Every Grain of Sand’ and one called ‘Arrow’ which was pretty and funny and based on an incident when someone mistook her for someone else, a woman named Arrow, and the poem was imagining what kind of life she might have if that actually were her name.

There were about 10 people in the Open Mike section, all men unfortunately.  The usual mix, some good, some not so great.  There was a new guy there who writes very nice, rhyming poetry about love which was doubly impressive as he is Ukrainian(but writing in English).  That was probably my favorite.

Then it was my turn.  The poem didn’t sound quite as impressive on the stage as it had in my head and I felt it was falling flat, but several people came up to me after to say they liked it, and that does not always happen.  So, it was a great night.