Educational TV

Educational TV

Our TV is fixed!

Now once again I learn that medicine can lead me through

gauzy montages of every possible happiness, let me

run through fields of hay with my still-handsome and

playful though white-bearded husband,

who will push me on a swing while I lean back

and we both smile smiles wide as a swing seat.

Pencil in hand, so that I can write down the toll-free number,

I learn that pills can let me play chess with

an elementary-school lad of color who will gaze

at me adoringly, chin on fist, while reaching slyly toward

the timer to his right.

I’ll slap playfully at his hand, and we’ll both giggle.

I learn also that if after taking the recommended dosage,

I experience any of the most common side-effects:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, difficulty breathing, headache,

double vision, frequent urination, trouble hearing,

dizziness, nausea, palpitations, loss of appetite,

or an erection that lasts more than four hours —

or other common side-effects,

including runny nose, sneezing and thoughts of suicide —

I should call my doctor or nine-one-one.

If on the other hand, for any reason I have a moment of

good health and am focusing simply on Buying Local,

I learn that several car dealers right here in Newburgh,

in colorfully checked suits and blonde helpers,

can get me a great deal on a certified pre-owned vehicle

but only until May, so I have to Act Now and Not Delay,

and that our local attorneys, if my car does indeed

lose its tie rods or brakes, will stand by me all the way

and never give up, because: They Don’t Win if I Don’t Win!

I’m writing it all down.

Really, when the TV is fixed, everything is fixed.

What an edication!

The Spin Cycle of Life

The Spin Cycle of Life

 Passing the laundromat, I slow to smell the fragrance

of fabric softener and dryer sheets that infuse the warm, moist air

from the vent pipe protruding from the brick wall. My husband finds it sad:

“That’s the smell of people too poor to own a dryer,” he says.

But it makes me happy: To me, it’s the scent of women

who care enough about their families to shlep overstuffed cloth bags

to the laundromat, either slung over their shoulders or balanced on

a stroller or kid’s wagon, and who later expertly fold the dry clothes,

each item into its own perfect rectangle. You can see them

chatting amiably in Spanish at the long, deep Formica counter

behind the big plate-glass window, recently replaced
after an incident outside involving two men and one woman.

 And it occurs to me while the machines rumble, that I have entered

the Spin Cycle of Life. No more for me the Soak, the Power Wash

or even the Rinse. My world now feels as if it’s in the throes of vertigo.

Round and round we go, staggering and nauseated, with wild ups and downs — more Tilt-a-Whirl than Merry-Go-Round — and I’m approaching that moment where the dizzying days I’ve had, understanding nothing but somehow

getting through them all, are about to jerk to a halt and things

(memory, skills, wit, friends, good health) will, by centrifugal force

or force of habit, continue to stay put for maybe

one moment more and then collapse all at once

and thump in a damp, bumpy clump and jumble of relief, regrets and —

with G-d’s grace — gratitude.

Perfect for Christmas or Chanukah: Poetry!

If you are among the few living souls who still have not purchased my poetry book (it's really a "chapbook" -- just 30 poems or so) for yourselves or your poetry-loving friends and neighbors, NOW is a great time to do so. Published by Finishing Line Press, it's called "Pretty Nearly All Natural."

You can get it by searching for either that title or my name at www.goldenhourbookstore.com. 

Golden Hour Books is a sweet, bricks-and-mortar shop at 181 Broadway right here in Newburgh. Say hi to the proprietor, my friend Angie Venezia! She's closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and open Thursdays from 11:30 am to 5 pm; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm; and Mondays from 12:30 to 5 pm. 

Of course, you can also get the book through Barnes and Noble or Amazon, but DON'T. (Shop Local, y'know?)

Happy, peaceful and creative holidays to all!

Get a great poetry book at a great bookstore — “Pretty Nearly All natural,” by me, Newburgh’s poet laureate!

Get All 4 at Golden Hour Bookstore!

My poetry chapbook, “Pretty Nearly All Natural,” and my three novels: “Louey Levy’s Greatest Catch,” “Louey Levy’s Perfect Pitch” and “Louey Levy’s Heading Home,” are all for sale at Golden Hour Bookstore, 181 Broadway in Newburgh. You can also get any of them straight from me at genieabrams@gmail.com. (Of course, you can also get them from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, but: DON’T.)

Is it too early to point out that they would make great holiday gifts for the readers and poetry-lovers in your life?

Nah, it’s not.

my poetry chapbook has joined my 3 novels in being published and on sale at Golden hour Bookstore in newburgh!

The Coolest Books are at Newburgh's Golden Hour

The Golden Hour Bookstore, 181 B’way in Newburgh, N.Y., is wonderful for many reasons, first among them being the proprietor, Angie Venezia, who has a knack for offering books for all interests and all ages in her little shop. She carries great poetry there, and I am honored to say that, if you can’t wait to buy it in person, you can order my own poetry chapbook, “Pretty Nearly All Natural,” anytime, through goldenhourbookstore.com.

Drop in and browse, or order online. Hope to see you there soon!

Golden hour bookstore, at 181 Broadway, is just what newburgh needed. support this bricks-and-mortar treasure!

Get It at the Golden Hour!

Shop Local: My first book of poetry, “Pretty Nearly All Natural,” is now available at the Golden Hour Bookstore, 181 Broadway in Newburgh, N.Y.!

If you haven’t done so already, please pre-order a copy or two (or 10, or 436 …) by clicking here: https://goldenhourbookstore.com/products/pretty-nearly-all-natural-poems-by-genie-abrams-9-27-24

Golden Hour is a great bookstore (as you’ll see, if you haven’t been there yet), and it’s more important than ever to support our local businesspeople. Hope to see you at Golden Hour Books soon!

Get ‘em while they’re hot! pre-order my first book of poetry from the one and only angie Venezia, proprietor of golden hour books on newburgh’s broadway, today!

Please order my poetry book by Aug. 12 ... for the discount!

For those few stragglers who have still not ordered “Pretty Nearly All Natural,” my poetry book that will be published by Finishing Line Press in September: this weekend is your last chance to do so AT A DISCOUNT! The publisher is raising the price by 2 bucks on Monday, Aug. 12. To pre-order now for $15.99, go to finishinglinepress.com, click on “Bookstore” at the top and then type “abrams” in the search bar. Or, just click on this bold type: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/?s=Abrams&post_type=product

THANKS!!

wELL, IT’S PRETTY NEARLY ALL NATURAL, GENIE’S FIRST BOOK OF POETRY!

Nice Ad for my First Poetry Book!

Thanks to the Mid Hudson Times for running this ad for my first book of poetry … on Page 3, no less! It’s also in the awesome Southern Ulster Times. All you have to do (and please do) is pre-order the book before Aug. 3. On that date, the publisher, Finishing Line Press, will raise the price by 2 bucks. Hope you will pre-order before running out to see the fireworks tonight!

Thanks to the mid hudson times and the southern ulster times for running this ad. now, please run and pre-order my chapbook, “Pretty nearly all natural!”

Where Do All the Poets Meet?

“Grand Street, Grand Street…”

Sorry, the heat has melted my brain and i was just humming to myself (because, why not?) the old Orlons hit, “South Street.” ANYWAY: Check out the new meeting place for the Hudson River Poets!

And, join us! Anyone can come, read a poem or two, or just listen. We have some terrific poets around here!

July 6, aug. 6, and sept. 7 are our next 3 meetups … in the air-conditioned newburgh free library! everyone is welcome to attend, read a poem, or just listen.

Mid Hudson Times Wants You to Know

My first book of poetry, “Pretty Nearly All Natural,” will be published by Finishing Line Press in September! Here is the story about it that ran in Dae Vitale’s column in this week’s issue of the MHT. To summarize: It costs $15.99 if you pre-order now, but the price will go up by 2 bucks on Aug. 3. So, please, hurry over to: finishinglinepress.com, click on “Bookstore” at the top and then type Abrams in the search box. Or, simply click here: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/?s=Abrams&post_type=product

This terrific poetry publisher is also on Twitter at @FLPress.

Thanks for the nice write-up, dae! Hope everyone clicks here: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/?s=Abrams&post_type=product before August 3!

Advice to All Poets Laureate

Here’s a poem I wrote shortly after being named Poet Laureate of Newburgh, N.Y. last year.

It’s called “Tatter Us a Poem,” and it’s advice I’d give to all Poets Laureate (if anyone asked me).

Tatter us a poem — tack it to a wall

and never give a damn if it doesn’t rhyme at all.

Shatter us a brain; break a heart or two;

etch a verse upon the door of every bar in view.

Spatter us a feeling upon a sash or sill;

blast it bold for everyone to hear it, if we will.

Scatter us some startle — shake us to our core;

awaken us to dig connection deeper than before.

Matter not the meter; the meat of what you say

(and the solace) is the knowing you have touched us on our way.

Stay tuned for info on my forthcoming book of poetry, “Pretty Nearly all natural!”

Where Should I Hang This Poem in Newburgh?

This great poem by Sharon Olds deserves to be widely appreciated … in an appropriate spot!

As Newburgh’s current Poet Laureate, i’m thinking it should be featured on a cemetery wall. But, which one? Hmmm… All ideas appreciated!

I’LL PUT THIS POEM SOMEWHRE WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE IT.

Read Your Favorite Poem Out Loud at the Library!

Join me at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 at the Newburgh Free Library, 124 Grand St., for the city’s first annual Poetry Circle! Read your favorite poem out loud, or just come to listen to the poems others bring. Either way, it’ll be lots of fun for all ages. (This is a direct order from the Newburgh Poet Laureate, so don’t even think of missing out!)

Everybody gets to say ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE POEMS WE HEAR AT THE POETRY CIRCLE!