Also, keep an eye peeled for the upcoming number (9) of his & Adam Clay’s TYPO, one of my favorite online poetry journals.
January 2007
Monthly Archive
Mon 22 Jan 2007
Sat 20 Jan 2007
Robert Archambeau’s latest entry at Samizdat Blog takes poetry readings as it subject & is both a response to our show the other night & an elaboration on a blog entry he made last summer. I’m not in a position to discuss his complimentary view of my presence there (though I am grateful & pleased that he feels as he does) but think he makes some first-rate observations about what made the evening fun.
As for the above photo, it represents what I enjoyed most about the reading (I find the time before the reading to be mostly anxious; the time during the reading one in which poem-energy thankfully supplants the anxiety; & the post-reading time is frequently marked by a sort of manic comedown): seeing my pals (in this case, l. to r.: Michael O’Leary, Ben Taylor, Mahmood Shaikh, & Peter O’Leary). These delightful men comprise friendships whose influence is felt in more or less everything I do. Where else could I spend even a precious few minutes with these guys but at a reading or a rock show? That I was able to meet Robert & catch up with the writer & teacher, John K. (whom I thank for his various support over the years), serves as further confirmation of the pleasure of community.
Thanks to Justin, Amira, & the Powell’s staff for making the drive worthwhile, & to my friends in Chicago for making it worth doing anytime.
Tue 9 Jan 2007
I’ll be reading poems in Chicago with Justin Palmer & Amira Hanafi on Thursday, January 18th at Powell’s Books, 2850 N. Lincoln Ave. You can get the scoop here or call Powell’s at 773 248 1444. I look forward to seeing you there.
