The Awkwardness of Poetry Readings

Poetry readings are generally solemn, mirthless affairs. Kind of like church. You go out of a sense of obligation, or habit, or because of your own fervency. The poet takes the pulpit and to hushed nods and amens delivers the short, plosive sermons. Before leaving, everyone stops by to say what a fine thing it was.

Don't get me wrong -- I love hearing poets read their work. It's just that the events themselves can become somewhat stifling. That's partly why the reading by Dean Young and Tony Hoagland last night was such a pleasure. Characteristically irreverent, they disrupted the poetry reading paradigm. The crowd, which packed the Chicago Public Library's Pritzker auditorium, had all the hallmarks of poetry readers (blocky eyewear, abundant wool, etc.) and responded eagerly to Young's dry, wary humor ("The longer a poetry reading goes on--mine in particular--it becomes an increasingly awkward social situation") and Hoagland's riffs. I don't think I've ever heard poems inspire so much laughter.

At the same time, the tragedy in these two poets' work inevitably seeps out, which is why they transcend mere comedy. More than anything else, both are driven by the sheer absurdity of human experience. As Dean Young put it, they derive from the ridiculousness of "sitting in a hospital room with your dying aunt, while next door there's a TV on with a laugh track.... Reality moves very quickly between the devastating and the debacle."

Tony Hoagland & Dean Young Reading - Apr 4

Two fine American poets reading tomorrow as part of National Poetry Month. Check 'em out if you're in Chicago this week.

DATE: Wednesday, April 4
TIME: 6 PM
PLACE: Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Chicago Public Library (400 S. State St.)
COST: Free, but call to reserve a seat - (312) 787-7070

Martin Espada Reading - Mar 15

"The Pablo Neruda of North American poets" will be taking the lectern at the Newberry. Certainly worth checking out if you're in Chicago.

DATE: Thursday, March 15
TIME: 6 PM
PLACE: The Newberry Library (60 West Walton St.)
COST: Free, but call to reserve a seat - (312) 787-7070

Mind the Gap

Next week AWY will endure a short hiatus while I enjoy a long-planned vacation in Jamaica. In my experience, poems written during such trips tend to resemble the palm tree-busy art you bring back to hang in your living room; what seemed stunningly beautiful there just looks embarrassingly out of place here. Nonetheless, between Red Stripes I intend to do at least a little writing to keep up my momentum. I swear I will keep the mango, rasta and reef references subtle. Mega-resorts and tourists are totally fair game, though I hope to avoid both as much as possible.

Those of you who are Chicagoans and need a lit fix in AWY's absence would do well to check out Kim Addonizio's pre-Valentine's Day reading next week. I haven't read much of her newer work, but I'm a fan of her violent and lovely 2000 collection Tell Me. Details are below.

DATE: Thursday, February 8
TIME: 7 PM
PLACE: The HotHouse (31 East Balbo Ave.)
COST: Free

Kevin Young Reading - January 16

Strange goings-on. This morning, battling writers block, I turn to Kevin Young's incredible collection Jelly Roll for inspiration. Hours later, I get an email announcement that he will be reading from his newest book, For the Confederate Dead, next week. And there was much rejoicing.

Those in Chicago will not want to miss this chance to see one of the best young American poets working today. Here are the details:

DATE: Tuesday, January 16
TIME: 6 PM
PLACE: The Newberry Library (60 West Walton St.)
COST: Free, but reservations required - call (312) 787-7070

And another thing...

Poets Gary Snyder, Yusef Komunyakaa, Philip Metres, Dunya Mikhail, Brian Turner, and Jorie Graham will be panelists for a discussion on poetry and war at the Chicago History Museum this Sunday at 3:30. Tix are $6 at the door or $5 in advance (call 312.494.9509 to reserve). With such an eclectic group of poets, this promises to be an interesting event.

Jimmy Santiago Baca Reading - Nov. 8

A quick alert to those in Chicago: At 6:30 on November 8, poet Jimmy Santiago Baca will be reading at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom (112 S. Michigan Ave). I think tickets are around $8 at the door. Sadly I will be out of town -- otherwise I would certainly be there. Baca's life story is a compelling and remarkable one (illiterate at 21, he began writing poetry during a five-year stint in a maximum security prison) that he recounts grippingly in his memoir A Place to Stand (Grove Press, 2001). Plus, he's a damn good poet. Go see the man speak.