Speaking of students, a study just came out showing that today’s students are more self-centered and less empathetic than students of thirty years ago. Do you think that’s true? This was, after all, a generation raised on “self-esteem” being the name of the game, which let’s face it, is self-esteem more important than caring about other people? If so, it is a shame, because reading poetry itself requires some degree of empathy – of caring what another person is thinking or feeling. To step into another person’s “I” or “You” is to take a leap of imaginative, and yes, empathetic, faith. When I do my persona poetry exercises, I explain to classes about what empathy is, and how persona poetry can help students step into another person’s shoes. It’s also why I purposefully teach books of poetry from many different perspectives in terms of gender, sexuality, race, and class.

I’m looking forward to summer, because now I can focus on writing and sending things out for a bit instead of student work, and maybe setting up some more readings (I had so much fun at the last one it’s made me more enthusiastic – and let me take a moment for a shout out to Seattle poets Michael Schmeltzer and Johnny Horton, who both rocked the house!) and sending out a few manuscripts. I’m still working heavily on revising my latest book manuscript, too – deleting poems, changing lines, updating cover sheets and acknowledgements. Some people take a poetry vacation over the summer, but for me, it’s one of my most productive times in terms of both writing and getting things out into the world. I’ve also volunteered for not one, not two, but three book review assignments in the next month or so. Yikes! A lot of work, but I felt the last year or so with all the health challenges I hadn’t been able to do as much reviewing, and I feel like it’s important for women to get out there and get in the critical conversation, right?

And I’m planning a trip up to Seattle – with maybe a stopover in Portland for my MFA reunion reception – in a couple of weeks, and trying to get things in line for that. Figuring out gluten-free eating is much easier in Seattle than San Francisco, surprisingly enough. Although San Fran did just open up an all grilled-cheese-sandwich restaurant with the option for house-made, gluten-free bread, so points for that. Of course, here in Napa, I have Pica Pica, my gracious fallback in Venezualan gluten-free food.

January 10th at 7 PM at Northwind Arts Center in Port Townsend, WA

Be there! Run with the wolves! Grrr!

Today, a student of Mary Biddinger flew in from Ohio, went to the Elliot Bay Bookstore to look for a book by Peter Pereira, and by coincidence saw that I was doing my reading with Lynnell and came in to see some of the reading and say hi. Insert eerie music here…Dan dan dann…

(PS Lynnell was fantastic, funny and sharp. You would have liked her.)

Then later, my bookstore lusts not slaked by my Elliot Bay reading trip, I went into Open Books just as a stranger was buying Aimee Nez’ new book and I was able to say, hey, she’s a great writer and you’ll love the book!

Maybe it’s just all the best poets are all on my blogroll. And their fans are following me.

PS I also drove throught the Fremont naked bicycling solstice parade. Yup, you heard me.

A perfect day for Elliot Bay Book Company and a reading…
(PS My last in Seattle for the near future…)

LYNNELL EDWARDS & JEANNINE HALL GAILEY
Saturday, June 16 at 2 p.m.

Kentucky poet Lynnell Edwards, a contributor to Poets Against the War and recipient of a 2007 Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council, reads this afternoon from her second collection of poetry, The Highwayman’s Wife (Red Hen). “Edwards reinterprets old myths and legends, twists the old formal strategies, underdomesticates domesticity, mixes drinks, plants dahlias with a pick-axe, and laments and resurrects …” – Cecilia Wooloch.
She’s joined here by Seattle poet and journalist Jeannine Hall Gailey, who will read from her collection, Becoming the Villainess (Steel Toe). “These full-bodies persona poems give dimension to the powerful (and powerless) female heroes of myth and comic books with strong voices that struggle against stereotype and silence.” – Dorianne Laux.

On Thursday: In the registration line (morning)
(afternoon) at the High Museum (bad me! but I’m addicted to art museums!)
(evening) Probably going to the Ahsahta Press Reading that night, so I can meet the lovely and talented Kate Greenstreet! And possibly some other parties.

On Friday:
Book signing at the Steel Toe Books table at the AWP Bookfair (I think table # 64) with Mary Biddinger from 1 PM to 2 PM. Bring your fancy pens!
From 8 PM to 10 PM, Reading at the Frock You Event at the Django in the Belly Bar. Be there or be square! So many many good poets are going to read. I’m looking forward to meeting them!

On Saturday:
(day)Yes, I’m working the booth at Pacific University. Come ask questions, or bring me a snack! Or just hang around and look cool. I’m not picky.

(night) If I’m still alive after booth duty, I’m going to the No Tell Books party-reading deal.

PS Thanks for your kind inquiries re: my aunt. She is doing better and is expected to leave the hospital in another day or two. Meanwhile, my mom and her son and husband whirl-cleaned her house while she was away. Hope that will help her breathing problems too!