With a heavy heart, Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam announces the passing of our dear longtime collaborator, Douglas Bishop, who left us several weeks ago. Douglas was originally scheduled to perform at his traditional “December birthday” feature, and we will now dedicate that evening to honoring his memory and celebrating his extraordinary poetry. He was a cherished presence; he will be deeply missed by everyone in our community who had the privilege and pleasure of knowing him.

Here’s the bio he submitted for his feature this year:

“Douglas Bishop has been jamming and slamming at the Poetry Jam since it got going – which means he’s been a regular at the Lizard for over 20 years. As a teacher, he has worked with classrooms ranging from early childhood to university, but now mostly teaches online for Mill City Speaks and Lowell Poetry Wheel. As a poet, he has performed in venues from Glasgow to Guatemala but now primarily appears as one of the hosts of the Untitled Open Mic in Lowell. His doctoral study on the development of literate identity in young writers continues in his work for Freeverse!, Lowell’s youth poetry group. He also works as a visual artist, as well as performing vocals, flute, and percussion with his jazz-poetry band, Dr. Dougie’s Dangerous Delight (4D). For more, see douglasbishoppoet.com.

This feature will involve a special collaboration between Douglas and Blake Newman to present a poem and song cycle, “Requiem for the Trees,” which will include live video recording and special guest musicians along with the Trio.”

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