Joan Seliger Sidney: Bereft and Blessed

Joan Seliger Sidney

Bereft and Blessed:

Poems

Joan Seliger Sidney

Antrim Press,

Simsbury, Connecticut

Spring 2014

Sidney's new book published by Antrim House with a cover painting by Gray Jacobik reflects a continuation and deepening of her style and her soul.  Joan Seliger Sidney's poetry often deals with unspeakable hurt and almost unbearable compassion.  But she speaks it, and she bears it.   We know this because we hear it in her writing.  She shares the stories that were handed down to her, the stories she creates, and the stories she has lived, and she asks us to share, not the pain, but the misericordia.

She prefers 3-speed bikes, roller skates that clatter on pavement, granddaughters to the grandsons that she doesn’t have.  She prefers telling the truth, though the truth doesn’t always need to be told. 

She sometimes relives moments in pre-World War II Poland, a country where she never lived but where she can take us with her writing. A place where we can join her to recapture, a time that is gone, a place that is gone, and a community that she, with our help, will keep alive forever.

Ask her some day why her mother couldn’t speak Yiddish.  Or read about it in her book.  It is a book that will both break your heart, and lift up your spirit.  Joan Seliger Sidney is a poet who is both “Bereft and Blessed.” 

THREAD CITY POETS

The THREAD CITY POETS kicked out the jambs in Julia de Burgos Park in Willimantic on Thursday night 26 July.  The rain threatened but did not arrive during the outdoor reading.  Thread city poets were represented by Edmond Chibeau, Kathleen McElroy, Claudia McGhee, Lisa Sornberger, Barbara LaFlesh & Willa Correnti (aka “Other”).  

Thread City Poets was originally formed by Sandy Taylor, founder of CURBSTONE PRESS.

An “open mic” followed the performance.  Readers at the open mic were Merle Potchinsky, Jeremy Schwartz (who read translations from the Hebrew), Chris Cooke, Christian Sammartino and Yujikay (who read in both Spanish and English).  The season finale will be 23 August with Michael Bradford.  An open mic will follow.  

Poetry in the Park is supported by the Curbstone Foundation and the Town of Willimantic.