Talking Pandemic Writing, Funeral Poems, and Starting an Open Mic with Rachel Baum (Revisited)

Thom Francis introduces us to poet Rachel Baum who tells how she began writing during the pandemic, collecting funeral poems, starting an open mic, and finding ways to get new people interested in poetry. Plus, Rachel reads the poem “Rodeo Winner” from her new collection.

Rachel R. Baum is a Best of the Net nominated poet, and editor of Funeral and Memorial Service Readings, Poems and Tributes (McFarland, 1999). She is the founder of Moving Mountains Poets and the Saratoga Peace Pod, crafters who create warm items for families in crisis, as well as the Saratoga Senior Center poetry open mic. Her poems have been published in OneArt, Jewish Literary Journal, The Phare, Raven’s Perch, New Verse News, and others. She has two poetry chapbooks: Richard Brautigan’s Concussion (Bottlecap Press, 2023) and How to Rob a Convenience Store(Cowboy Jamboree Press, 2024).

Rachel hosts the poetry and storytelling open mic at the Saratoga Senior Center on the second Friday of every month. The event features writers from across the region plus an opportunity for the community to share their work. The next edition of the series will be a special Poetry Trivia Contest this Friday, August 8, starting at 1:00 pm.