Poetry Night: A sense of community in Valley Stream

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First-time and experienced poets alike gathered at the Sip This coffee shop in Valley Stream on June 5 for an intimate evening of poerty and prose. The event, which was sponsored by the Performance Poets Association, also featured poet Joseph Munisteri, who performed verses with a central theme of rebirth from his newly released book, “Butterflies in Space.”

Co-hosts, Lorraine Conlin and George Pafitis introduced the format of the open-mic event. They spoke about where the PPA performs each month throughout Long Island, including local libraries, bookstores and coffee shops. The group is a nonprofit organization that provides a space for locals artists to share original poetry and art with the community. Cliff Bleidner, co-founder of the PPA said the association also has published a literary review since the group was founded 22 years ago.

“We all have something to say,” Conlin said. “We all have a style.”

Many of the performers chose to present original poems. “Be active in your community because you never know who is watching,” advised Munisteri. “There are communities that will give you advice about publishing and resources.”

A few audience members pondered in thought while listening to Munisteri’s opening with closed eyes. Others kept eye contact. The stories in “Butterflies in Space” revolve around mental and physical illness, reflection and finding beauty in different angles. “The Butterfly on the Window” symbolically follows Munisteri on a journey and reflects an image of him in the simple verses on the page.

Depending on the mood of the feature or the theme of the night, performer Jack Zaffos said he could recite a poem based on a similar expression or go in an opposite direction.

Performers shared intimate and personal memories with a profound range of emotions from Zaffos, who offered a vivid verse called “Colors of the Moment,” to Cliff Bleidner, who shared a story with a deeper meaning revealed in the surprise ending entitled, “Calculating the Cost.”

Themes of connection, heartache, loss and rebirth made appearances in a number of spoken stories. From Conlin, memory poems from her past included her first confession of sins to watching films at a young age; to Orlandina Balan, sharing poetry about connecting with people in her piece, “Mother’s Skirt.”

After each of the poets and writers finished their readings, applause and praise was given from the room. The PPA and community has grown as a group and strives to support the storytellers in the area.

“Doing service for the community gives us nourishment,” Bleidner said. “We read poems to one another and it inspires.”