The is a special episode to begin season 3 of The Two Boots Word Vault Podcast. It is a recording of a reading I did on May 9,1990 with my friend and publisher, Jim Dochniak. Jim published my first broadside Men Don't Dance in America in 1983. I didn't know him at the time. Meridel LeSueur had herd me read the poem at an open reading at the Greater Midwestern Book Show and commanded Jim to publish the poem. This 1990 reading took place at the bookstore owned by my friend, Anthony Signorelli.  That evening in Tony's bookshop Jim introduced my to Scott King, who eventually published four of my poetry collections. This was a very special reading for me, and the only time Jim and I read together.

Bryce Black, Yata Peinovich, and Timothy Young with Bruce Hecksel lead guitar, piano, and percussion, Julie Hecksel background vocals, and Dalyce Elliott violin. Recorded by Dallas Egger. Set list for this podcast: Mississippi River Chant, Grey Goose, What I Need, This Fire I Am, My Black Guitar, My Heart is Your Home, River Song, and Peace, Salaam, Shalom.

On November 9, 2025 Como Cottage Salons hosted poets Thomas R. Smith, Scott Vetsch, Jesse Dermody and Timothy Young for a poetry scrum. Cris Anderson recorded the event and this podcast is the second half of the day. Thanks, Cris.

From our 2011 CD Perfect Harmony, three poems with musical accompaniment, one by Hafiz, two by Ibn Hazm

Thomas R. Smith has been a poetry friend of mine since 1981. We've been reading together ever since. He joined Jesse Dermody, Scott Vetsch, and me for a Como Cottage Salon Poetry Scrum on November 9, 2025.

On November 9, 2025 The Como Cottage Salon Series hosted a poetry scrum with Jesse Dermody, Scott Vetsch, Thomas R. Smith and Timothy Young. Before the scrum, each read the poems of their choice for about 10 minutes. Here is Jesse's contribution.

The Como Cottage Salon on November 9, 2025 featured a poetry scrum, hosted by Timothy Young.  Featured readers  were Scott Vetsch, Jesse Dermody, Thomas R. Smith and Timothy Young.

Rappers are not the only freestyling poets.  Here is an example of one poem I freestyled in December 2017 while the SpiritHouse Quartet played at a Como Cottage Salon.   Later with slight editing, I prepared the poem for publication.

This episode is my telling of a Metis tale, Little Man with Hair All Over. I used to tell a version of this tale to my son when he was a boy.  This version is a recording from my telling to The Fifth Direction Men's Elder Circle.