Next Up to The Mic: Carlton Wells & Rhonda Rosenheck at Honest Weight Food Co-op

This week, Thom Francis welcomes local writers Carlton Wells & Rhonda Rosenheck to the mic. They shared their work at the Poetic License Poetry Reading and Open Mic at the Honest Weight Food Co-op on Friday, November 7, 2025.

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For four years, the Hudson Valley Writers Guild and the Upstate Artists Guild have worked together on the Poetic License project, bringing together poets and visual artists from the Capital Region and beyond. With the beautiful, inspired artwork as a backdrop the words filled the air at two readings supporting the shows in both Troy and Albany.

On November 7, writers Carlton Wells and Rhonda Rosenheck shared their work in front of a full audience in the Community Room at the Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany.

First up to the mic is Carlton Wells who read a sonnet with a lot of word play and then his poem “Wino in the Garden.” Local writer, editor, and educator Rhonda Rosenheck was next with two poems “All the Wonders,” a poem that was picked by an artist to be included in the show, and “Earth’s Watch.”

The call for poetry submission for the 2026 edition of Poetic License will be announced in early-spring with the exhibits taking place in the fall. For more information on the Poetic License project and to view the art and read the poems, go to poeticlicensealbany.com