National Wurster Month/Uppagus Speaks

Congratulations to Owen Lucas, the 100th person to "like" Uppagus on Facebook. You can read one of his fine poems in this issue.

You'll also find a poem that tickles me to no end, "Searching for Goffner" by Joan E. Bauer. Here's why I love it so: It's the first poem we've ever received that, Joan tells me, was written specifically with Uppagus in mind. And it's a great poem.

We've got a lot of those in issue 8: people-watching poems, mournful poems, "Antiques Roadshow" poems — plus, a nod to our favorite poetry guru, Michael Wurster. Perfect timing, since Michael's birthday is this month.

The man himself returns to these pages, reminiscing about the end of the Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange's association with the Lion Walk Performing Arts Center. His story shows Pittsburgh's "zero degrees of separation" phenomenon isn't confined to Pittsburgh after all. Or maybe that's just if you know as many people as Michael Wurster does.

Speaking of Pittsburgh … we're having our first Uppagus reading next month. featuring writers whose work appeared in the first two issues. Join us if you can!

Uppagus Speaks (issue 1)
Thursday, September 11, 2014
7 to 9 p.m.
Biddle's Escape
401 Biddle Avenue in Regent Square

Readers: Jennifer Jackson Berry, Angele Ellis, Dean Focareta, Randy Minnich, Judy Robinson, Bob Walicki, Arlene Weiner

If you like what you see here, there are more ways than ever to keep Uppagus going strong:

• Get in touch with us on social media.
• Get an extra dose of Uppagus at one of our readings.
• Send us your poems, flash fiction, and visual art. (That's what this whole thing is about.)
• Tell your friends about Uppagus.
• Get an Uppagus tattoo on a highly visible part of your body. (Kidding. You don't have to go that far.)

Happy reading and writing!