Thanks MLA! A Reading Report: Beth Ann Fennelly, Erika Meitner, and Nicole Cooley
Yes, sometimes I interrupt my busy schedule of doctor’s appointments to go to other people’s poetry readings! 🙂
This weekend, the MLA conference is here in Seattle, and because of this, there were a plethora of wonderful readings all over the place. The one that took top billing in my head was this wonderful threesome of readers at local poetry bookstore Open Books, including Beth Ann Fennelly, who has been one of poetry heroes for a long time, and the very sweet and funny Erika Meitner, who read from her latest book, Makeshift Instructions for Vigilant Girls (which I reviewed not too long ago for Barn Owl Review.) The third reader, Nicole Cooley, whose work I wasn’t as familiar with, was lovely and funny as well, with a final poem about the metaphorical life of dollhouses that was haunting and disturbing. (I picked up a copy of her Milkmaids, which is just my kind of book!)
Just hearing the bios of these three poets was daunting – they are all so accomplished. I think, “How could I do a third of what they do?” But in person they were all so down to earth and friendly. It was one of those readings I wish could have gone on longer. Their use of language, their reading styles, just made the whole experience deeee-lightful!
Snow Bees, poems for the weather and some great books I’m reading…
A very seasonally-appropriate Winter 2011 issue of Goblin Fruit is out, featuring my poem “Snow Bees” – you can even hear me reading it!
Incidentally, this is one of the poems that I wrote while collaborating with artist Amy Johnson for her installment art exhibition, which involves snow, wolves, bees, the works. I’ll post info on it as soon as it’s up!
While the doctors are busy trying to figure out why I keep going into anaphylaxis (I’m going to learn to spell that word correctly, for one thing) – food allergies, autoimmune, etc – I’m trying to keep my mind occupied with new reading material. Cate Marvin’s Fragment of the Head of A Queen, Sandra Beasley’s I Am The Jukebox, and issue 8 of Cave Wall, which I’ve seen some people mention lately, and I wanted to discover a new lit mag. I’ve only glanced through all three so far, but I’ve loved what I’ve read of Sandra’s “I Am the Jukebox.” Here’s a little bit from “Another Failed Poem About the Greeks,” which will indicate why I love the book so much:
“His sword dripped blood. His helmet gleamed./ He dragged a Gordon’s head behind him…As first dates go, this was problematic.”
I’m also reading Lizzie Acker’s terrific and strange Monster Party, a hybrid-forms, short-short fiction collection from Small Desk Press, as odd and crazy and interesting as can be. I just finished the story called ‘Baby,’ in which a dying narrator talks to…well, I can’t explain what or who the baby is, but let’s just say, it’s not what you’d guess.
Ever want to do something high stress in a greenhouse in summertime? Last night I gave a reading in a coffeehouse with sun streaming through a large glass wall; it was 80 outside, and probably 95 inside. Wow. I was lucky my mascara was waterproof.
Note to self: only accept readings in cold parts of the country, or places with air conditioning. No more Southern California readings in places with no air conditioning. And, the place had one giant step up to the stage and no ramp – not crutch-friendly at all!
Other than the miserable heat, and the embarrassment of trying to get onto the giant stage with one good leg, the reading went okay. A decent turn out, got to hang out and talk a bit with fellow blogging poet Adam, met some local poets, and sold a few books.
Now we’re off for a few days on a little well-deserved holiday. Sure, a holiday on crutches, but better than no holiday at all! Sure, a holiday where I’ll have to grade stuff for my class, but still! It’s also the first real “road trip” we’ve taken in a long while.
I was realizing that since I’ve started teaching I’ve gotten really behind on my reviewing. Teaching seems to soak up all my spare time and energy. I’ll be moving during my two months off, but hopefully I can get back on the wagon. It’s also been tougher, it seems, to place reviews; less venues these days are interested in poetry, especially paying venues. Maybe I’m just not querying the right places. I’ve fallen behind in sending out poems as well. It’s hard to find the right balance between work, poetry-related work like submitting and reviewing, and writing.
Reading Report:
Well, I think Tim Green and I survived last night’s Barnes and Nobles reading, and even sold a few books. Despite the “shoplifting alarm” going off three times during my reading, and several toddlers screaming their heads off during Tim’s, I think the audience was friendly and welcoming and seemed fairly poetry-savvy. So that was nice. And it was good to hear poems from Tim’s book, “American Fractal,” out loud. I noticed we both read some “science-y” stuff, I believe both with combusting elements, which, you know, I’m for. More science in poetry – that’s what the kids today are into, right? LOL. I’m still not at the peak of my physical game, so standing for the reading was kind of painful (see: random foot/ankle injuries over the past few months,) but other than that, I thought it went pretty well.
Multi-Talented Reviewer
The lovely and talented Serena M. Agusto-Cox has posted a review of Becoming the Villainess at her site, Savvy Verse & Wit, here.
She also posted an interview with me here.
And she reviewed my book on Amazon!
So, really, a very hard-working reviewer and interviewer! Thanks Serena!
My focus now: send some poems out, send some book manuscripts out, get healthy, stay healthy.
Right now: Off to physical therapy for a look at my ankle. Then: More grading. I know, you’re saying, that’s too sexy and glamorous a lifestyle, Jeannine. Slow it down! What can I say? The poetry life is a thrill-a-minute.
Reading Report – with guest appearances!
Well, thanks to K. Lorraine Graham, one of the AgitProp reading series curators, I got to see LA poet Allison Carter read (a great poem called “The Doctor’s Office” I think, was my favorite,) as well as Steve Willard – although he also sang, with electric guitar accompaniment. I ended up sitting across from Rae Armantrout and her very nice husband Chuck at dinner beforehand (and got to ask her and Lorraine about “the New Narrative” – by the way, if you know any good resources on that, let me know!) which was unexpected, along with other local poets who were all really friendly. Then, the first person I saw at the Agitprop gallery was none other than Rigoberto González, who was in town for a conference! At first I thought, did Rigoberto move to San Diego? Are we going to see him read too? And the charming and talented Jericho Brown was there, who is just one of those people who projects good energy. It was so much fun to talk poetry, and hang out with so many wonderful poetry people. I almost felt like I was back in Seattle again. Yay, poetry community!
Mysteries of the San Diego poetry scene: Many UCSD students at this reading; the last reading I went to was crowded with SDSU students. Do these students ever go to the same readings? Questions to be answered…)
I asked Jericho if it was unusual to see so many local poetry luminaries together in the same time, and he joked and said something like, well, there are only ten poets in San Diego.
So anyway, good times. I’m hoping to make it to some more poetry readings in the near future. Hey, I’m even giving one next month!
(PS – I wore my super-long jeans to cover my cast, for those who were curious about fashion choices for big-velcro-walking cast people. I think people might not have noticed the cast, but then they were probably just annoyed by the slow-walking girl in the long jeans.)
