Poets in Play, featuring Jessica Femiani - The ARTS Council

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes (The ARTS Council) invites you to the first reading of the 2026-2027 Season of Poets in Play featuring Jessica Femiani on Tuesday, September 15, from 7-9pm.

Join us at The ARTS Council, 79 West Market St., in Corning, NY, or on Zoom for Jessica's's reading. An open mic opportunity for in-person poets will immediately follow the featured reading. Poets, read a poem based on Jessica's prompt or something of your own selection. Open mic will only be available to in-person poets.

Prompt: I truly believe everyone in the U.S. should write their own American Gun poem. Still, here are two lines from the poem that might help a writer to get started:
“That child crying out in the hall…” (11)/ “If I decide to run out for a carton of milk, I worry…” (19).

Zoom Info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81547558670

This event is free and open to the public.

About Jessica:

Jessica Femiani’s poems and essays have been published in the Paterson Literary Review, Labor: Studies in Working-Class History, #MeToo, Anch’io, Harpur Palate, Mom Egg Review, Italian American Review, OVUNQUE SIAMO, Pine HillsReview, Free State Review, St. Katherine Review, Lips, & other publications. Her chapbook, "The American Gun: A Poem"was published by Finishing Line Press (2024). Jessica is an adjunct lecturer at SUNY Oneonta, where she teaches composition & creative writing. Jessica’s poem “On the Cutting Edge of the Fascist Takeover of America,” was selected as a winner for WSKG’s contest, The Revolution will be Poeticized. Originally from NYC, Jessica lives in Binghamton, NY, & is a theoretical hiker.

Questions?

Email Director of Public Programs, Casey Winston, at casey@eARTS.org.

Poets in Play is presented in partnership with FootHills Publishing.

Funding for this event is generously provided by The Newbury Giving Fund