by VINCENT TINGUELY

The streets of Montreal reverberate with the word in all its guises this fall. On Sept. 25, New York underground literati Romy and Foxy of Goodie Magazine and Panther Books present an evening centred on the beat/surrealist poet Marty Matz (1934-2001) at Casa del Popolo, screening a 35-minute video documentary about Matz made by spoken word artist Penny Arcade and the Lower East Side Biography Project, and launching Matz's collection In the Seasons of My Eye.

A couple of local launches to look out for: the latest issue of Stationaery litzine, at Sala Rossa on Sept. 21, featuring music by John Lennox and Lil' Andy. On Oct. 2, Maya Merrick launches her first novel, Sextant, with guest Taras Grescoe, at the lit-soaked Copacabana.

Lit and word series rule! Sept. 18 starts the Words and Music at the Casa series, with host Kaie Kellough presiding over a rotating series of a capella and musically supported performances, 9 p.m., $5. The Yellow Door Poetry and Prose Series kicks off Sept. 22 with the 2004 QWF Best First Book Prize winner Jaspreet Singh, Nicola Vulpe, the Ottawa author who edited Sealed in Struggle, an anthology of Canadian poetry about the Spanish Civil War, and others. Coco Café continues its high-quality theme-based spoken word nights hosted by Jason "Steel" Joseph and DJ Franky Selector on the last Sunday of every month, starting with "Drama: Complicated Stories" on Sept. 25. at Jello Bar. And every Tuesday night, the Kalmunity Collective Vibe takes shape at Sablo Kafé.

October is the month of Random Acts of Poetry, a week-long event where Carolyn Marie Souaid, José Acquelin and Fernand Durepos address poetry to unsuspecting pedestrians on the streets of Montreal, Oct. 3–9.

"LoVE LanGUagE" is the third installment of Black Theatre Workshop's Poetry Jam series featuring 15 hand-picked "love lyricists" competing for cash prizes, Oct. 2 at the Green Room. And there's a reading by Pulitzer Prize winner Franz Wright at McGill's Lande Reading Room (3459 McTavish) presented by Vallum magazine on Oct. 17.

Poets can test their mettle at Poetry Plus, a monthly series featuring poetry, prose, music and an open mic - next show's Oct. 6 at the Arts Café (201 Fairmount W.). Also on Oct. 6, Catcall offers an open mic to the ladies on the first Thursday of every month at Pharmacie Esperanza. There's also a free open mic every Tuesday at Grumpy's. Sign-up is after 9 p.m. Expect a mix of spoken-word, comedy, music, and great drink prices!