Talking With Poets: Kathleen Anne Smith at the Honest Weight Food Co-op

Thom Francis introduces us to the poetry of Kathleen Anne Smith who took part in the 2023 Poetic License exhibit.

Kathleen Anne Smith, a local writer and editor, has read her poems at many of the area’s open mic venues. Her book of poems, Let the Stones Grow Soft, was published in 2023 by The Troy Book Makers.

Let the Stones Grow Soft explores the journey from the wilderness of childhood through the wounds and wonders of love, family, and more. Kathleen Anne Smith writes with a clear, lyrical voice that brings beauty and insight to troubled times.

Kathleen was one of the poets who took the stage at the Poetic License reading and open mic at the Honest Weight Food Co-op on December 5, 2023. That night Kathleen read “To Create a Summer it Takes,” which inspired the painting “Beach Cottage Summer” by Maureen Kelly; she also read “Why I Write About My Mother.” Both poems are in her latest book.

But before we hear from Kathleen, host Dan Wilcox invokes the muse with a poem by Noah Kucij, whose poems were in the exhibit, but he passed away earlier in the year.

About the author: Thom Francis

Thom Francis has been organizing, promoting, and hosting open mics and poetry / spoken word events in Albany such as Nitty Gritty Slam, School of Night, Albany Poets Presents..., and the Albany Word Fest for over 20 years. As a poet and performer, Thom has been featured at many of the upstate poetry and spoken word events from Saratoga to Woodstock as well as LarkFest, Art on Lark, 1st Friday, and the Albany Word Fest.