FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES

Thursday, October 30 @ 7:30

Featured Reader: Harvey Hess

Next month: Final Thursday comes early to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Join us on Thursday, November 20 for the open mic and featured reader, Susan Rochette-Crawley.

This month the Final Thursday Reading Series features Harvey Hess. Harvey Hess’ published writings show an amazing range of interests.  The poem below comes from Orchid Art and the Orchid Isle, a collection of linked poems (by Hess) and paintings (by artist John Thomas) about the orchids of Hawaii.  He has also collaborated with graphics designer Philip Fass on Skipped Stones: Faces in Time, providing a series of haikus to accompany Fass’ art.  Most recently, he has published Th’ Autumnal Sequence: Sonnets of the Fall,  a sonnet sequence celebrating Iowa in autumn.  Hess teaches at UNI and Hawkeye and is a reviewer for the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier. 

Creative writers (and listeners) unite!  Open mic signup begins @ 7 p.m. on a first come, first served basis.  Limited slots are available, so readers are encouraged to sign up early.  Read your best five minutes or so of poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction.  Singer-songwriters are also welcome.  The open mic begins at 7:30 p.m.  The featured reader takes the stage between 8:00 and 8:30 (depending on how many open mic readers there are).  During the breaks, we are also proud to feature the classical guitar of Bill Koch.

Vibe is located at 909 W. 23rd St. in Cedar Falls on the second floor of Bought again Books.  Persons needing access accommodation should call 266-7115 by the day before the event.  For more information, contact Jim O'Loughlin.

Now Available from 

Final Thursday Press

Ghost Wars

Poetry by Vince Gotera

In Ghost Wars, Vince Gotera, Editor at the North American Review, brings together a career of poetic considerations about the experience of war and its aftermath in this timely chapbook.  Denise Duhamel writes "The poems in Ghost Wars are the tickers off the bottom of CNN's screen pushing out of the TV and flourishing like vines in our living rooms."  Allison Joseph notes "Lively, compassionate, and intelligent, the poems of Ghost Wars are a necessary balm for our uncertain national psyche."

Ghost Wars is a signed and numbered edition limited to 500 copies.

$5.00 32 pgs. 8 1/2 by  5 1/2

ISBN 0-9742764-0-5

Laugh.  Damnit.

Poetry by Ahkos

Feeling pretentious?  Walk away now.  The poems in this collection target poetic self-importance with humor and a bit of an edge.  Formed in (and in response to) Boston's open mic scene, "Laugh.  Damnit." will make you smile, or else. 

$1.00   16 pgs.

Bad Men

Microfiction by Jim O'Loughlin

Four short short stories that made their debut at the Final Thursday Reading Series.  They weren't originally intended to be part of a collection; it just happened that way.  Find out what happens to the lounge lizard, the ex-con, the slacker student, and the serial monogamist. 

$2.00   18 pgs. 

Ask for them at 

Bought again Books!

"Gift of Orchid Scent"

By Harvey Hess

From Orchid Art and the Orchid Isle

Out of the cut crystal vial

And the crystal-shaped water,

With her green stem—later

To be gone swift as a soft smile—,

The Purple Cattleya emerges,

Herself an Island’s Isle of sumptuous splurges.

Neither the lava nor the glass

From which the Orchid rises

Has the means or the disguises

Whereby an Isle bloom may surpass

Her own cut flower’s evanescence;

For all of that belongs to Other essence.

Forth from the incense of Her lip

Perfume ascends to share

Ultra secrets with the air

Ascent that, last, shall give the slip

To all that’s cut earthbound or fond

And find a Crystal Garden past despond.

Read Work by Some of

Our Past Featured Readers

Karris Golden

James P. Roberts

Jonathan Stull

Ray A. Young Bear

Vince Gotera

Paul Hedeen

Susan Rochette-Crawley

Kathleen Kelly

Scott Cawelti

Check out the Final Thursday Press Website