With memories and musings dancing across its pages, Mark Bromberg’s new poetry book, One Day the Birds Will Explain Everything, contains a thoughtful collection of sharp-witted observations and self-aware reflections. As if spoken to a close friend, his words are immediately familiar and comforting, channeling a wisdom that only comes with life experiences.
One Day the Birds Will Explain Everything follows Bromberg’s first book of poems, Straw Hat Stanzas, which was published in 2022 and nominated for a Georgia Author of the Year Award by the Georgia Writers Association in 2023. Both books source inspiration from everyday life, but Bromberg considers his latest collection to feel more personal and carry deeper themes. Titles such as “Joy Joy Beauty & Party Supply,” “Wholeheartedly, Ort” and “The starlings of Hollie Street” extend invitations into slices of life while revealing Bromberg’s deeply planted roots.
“There’s an emphasis on life in Athens in this second book,” says Bromberg. “I’m 72 now, so I pay attention to more of the daily details.”
Much of the momentum within Bromberg’s career can be attributed to the meaningful connections he’s made with fellow poets in the local community who offer invaluable feedback and creative solidarity. Many of the poems in Birds were developed for a weekly gathering of poets that met at Donderos’ Kitchen over the course of several years. Writers not only workshopped their poems in an encouraging environment, but kept each other motivated to get published.
“I tell readers to roam around a bit in my poems, to explore the neighborhood,” says Bromberg. “Try one poem, then another, and another. Many people have been taught to be so afraid of poetry that as one poet wrote, ‘One reader is a miracle. Two readers is a mass movement.’ There are poems here about cats, dogs, spacemen, love, the devil, growing older, reading on Kindle, and a little boy opening a box of Cheerios and spreading them out on the floor at Kroger. I hope my work sparks a few more readers to pick up a poetry book!”
Bromberg is a longtime participant of Athens Word of Mouth, a poetry open mic event held upstairs at The Globe on the first Wednesday evening of every month from 7–9 p.m. He says he initially found out about the group through Flagpole’s event listings while visiting a friend in Statham in 2010.
“I made quick friends with the group’s founder, Aralee Strange, whose energy was telegraphed by the small lightning bolt tattooed on her cheek,” says Bromberg. “She passed away in June 2013, and when Aralee’s condition reduced her participation, she asked Alex Johns and me to keep the monthly readings going.”
Currently, Johns acts as the onstage host while Bromberg, with assistance from Amanda Dzimianski, spearheads social media and promotions. David Oates, who hosts “Wordland” every Sunday at 8 p.m. on WUGA 91.7 and 94.5 FM, serves as the open mic’s announcer and reading order manager. A testament to the timelessness of poetry as an art form, the group is remarkably celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
“Athens Word of Mouth still attracts poets reading their work for the first time every month, which is a wonderful part of Aralee’s legacy,” says Bromberg. “The monthly readings also give every writer—notoriously shy people—the chance to read their poems to a supportive, welcoming group. It’s a valuable resource in Athens’ creative scene, and, happy to say, has opened the way to other open mic poetry readings around town.”
In addition to the variety of poems presented during the open mic portion, every Word of Mouth event includes a 30-minute segment by an invited poet. On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the featured guest will be Mikhayla Robinson Smith, a poet, author and spoken word artist who began her two-year term as Athens’ official Poet Laureate this past March. Future readings include Atlanta-based poets Collin Kelley in October and Lee Furey in November.
Bromberg plans to read at September’s Athens Word of Mouth, and will additionally travel with fellow local poet Bob Ambrose, author of Between Birdsong and Boulder, to read at Word of Mouth Cincinnati at the end of the month. Published by Tennessee-based Parson’s Porch Books, One Day the Birds Will Explain Everything is currently for sale through online retailers and will soon become available locally.
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