Cleveland poets represent Ohio at PA festival

Carloads of Cleveland poets and poetry lovers trekked to North East, Pennsylvania for Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest on Saturday at The Last Wordsmith Book Shoppe.

In the store’s backroom that normally houses a café, dozens packed into the room with incense, glittery snowflakes, a tambourine, pink rabbit’s foot, and refreshments for the festival hosted by Cleveland-area poets Dianne Borsenik and John Burroughs.

The marathon poetry reading began around 1pm with an hour of open mic readings, that included poets from the surrounding Erie, PA area, as well as the likes of Ohio poets like Mark Hersman, who made the trip from central Ohio where he hosts his own readings.

Featured readings kicked off with Dan Provost of Massachusetts, whose energetic work spans a variety of topics, even including football. The early afternoon saw at least 35 people filling all available seating in the small room, standing in any available space in aisles and corners, and spilling out into the main bookstore. Even with a crowd that large, features held the perfectly silent and undivided attention of the audience.

Founder of the Poetry Scene readings in Erie, Chuck Joy, expressed his excitement at participating in the estimated largest poetry event to ever take place in Erie County. Even the Erie news took notice, airing spots on the 6 and 11 o’clock news.

The marathon nature of the day saw attendees floating in and out of the venue through 11 hours of performances, grabbing meals or drinks at nearby eateries and bars. Some of the most energetic readings took place during prime time as Alex Neilsen of Cleveland declared a “block of rock”, followed by a gang of poets from Cleveland, Toledo, New York, and Michigan.

Slightly disappointingly, nearly all Erie-locals had left the venue during those prime time readings, but a handful of locals trickled in near the end of the evening, sparking a second round of open readings.

Other highlights included an audience chorus shouting “Take off your pants!” with Cleveland poet Dan Smith, Erie poet Cee Williams performing a piece in the persona of a T-rex, and Borsenik and Burroughs sharing a featured slot to the music of 10-string guitarist, JJ Haaz.

Nearly reaching their midnight goal, Snoetry ended with two happily exhausted hosts still not ruling out the possibility of another marathon next year.