Poets of Renown I've Met and Read
This is in reply to Scott Holstad's post. Famous poets I've read and met. You won't find me swooning over film stars or politicians, but poets! The poets
There was time when our Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation had an active poetry reading program. Lequita Vance-Watkins, herself a poet, was a genius in finding the money to host the readings, but she has since moved to Vermont. I didn't realize until recent the incredible loss to our community. I hope when I am "retired," I'll be able to fill the void and resurrect the readings to bring young poets like Evie Shockley, Susan Browne and Cheryl Snell. (The best way to introduce the young and relatively unknown would be to pair them with those of renown as openers and ask the latter to read several of the young poet's work.) The Tor House and Lequita brought--to name just a handful--Rita Dove, Jane Hirshfield, Galway Kinnell, Robert Bly and James Wright's widow, Annie Wright.
The photos below were snapped when I was neither wild about poetry nor particulary aware of the stature of these makers but simply joined in the fun. It was probably better that way as I wasn't nervous/silly in awe when I was at dinner with them. LeQuita took me under her wings and invited me to have a meal with the poets before their evening appearance at the Sunset Center. I have since read the visiting poets with intent and in amazement.
Below, Carolyn Kizer and Belle, 1994. Oh, to think I was with the poet of "Pro Femina"! She had a lifelong connection to Asian culture.
1994 with hot Li-Young Lee. You must read "Rose"!
1995 Lunch with Adrienne Rich (far right). Swoon.
I know it was with Lequita's encouragement and influence in my 30s that I have developed my yen for verse.
If a society does not cherish its poets, it earns leadership like the current President Bush. I pray the poetry of the future President Obama will not be dulled over time by the iniquity of politics.
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Scott C. Holstad says:
Fascinating!
Hello Belle,
This is certainly a fascinating post! Interesting and with pics too -- I'm jealous. :-)
"hot Li-Young Lee" -- hee hee. I haven't heard too many poets described as "hot" before. Some probably deserved to be called hot, but still, I've not heard that term used.
Of the better-known poets you mentioned, I particularly enjoy Rich and her work. I have a couple of her books and admire her craft. Of course, Rita Dove and the others are no slouches either!
I appreciated your mentioning some of the "younger" poets you'd like to bring on to engage in readings. I've had the pleasure of running across a couple of them here at Red Room. I enjoy meeting new talented individuals like these, and of course yourself. Thanks very much.
- Scott
Belle Yang says:
Scott
Have you read "Rose"? Must read. And Lee is hot. Definitely hot. Darn it, he was married ;)
I've also talked to and read Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg under unlikely circumstances
But most of all, I love meeting and reading the Redroom.com authors. This is a superior experience.
Jessica Barksdale Inclan says:
Rock Star Poets
They are rock stars. I have had the great fortune to meet and study with Sharon Olds and Robert Bly and Galway Kinnell--no great talks with the two fellows, but some. Ultimately, with great writers, I prefer not to meet them in person. I like my bubble of idealism and my love of their work. sharon was wonderful to work with because she really kept the personal out of it, and the focus was the work and the process.
Because we live in such a popular are for writers, I've heard just about all the current greats read, so I feel lucky in that. I can listen and go home, still brimming with my pedestal placing of them.
The one writer who was who she was on the page and in person was Grace Paley. I studied with her, and have no end of appreciation for her poetry, fiction, and person.
J
Jessica Barksdale Inclan www.jessicabarksdaleinclan.com
Belle Yang says:
Yes, they are all human--and, boy, have I heard weird stories--
but the ideals the poets embrace will never fall off the pedestal.
Farzana Versey says:
Grrr....
...you are one lucky woman. And what is young poets?
I promise to be 'hot'...shall post verse that is toasted and burnt with just a sliver of honey melting over it :-)
PS: Loved the pix.
Belle Yang says:
Over 30
and under 80.
Cheryl L Snell says:
I haven't met many poets,
but I did grow up in Akron, Ohio at the same time Rita Dove did.(See, Belle--I'm not THAT young!) Last year I went to a party hosted by the poet husband of a scientist friend. Howard Norman read from his new novel, and was very charming, not at all uncomfortable in the sea of scientists.
Note to self: get out more!
Cheryl Snell www.shivasarms.blogspot.com
Belle Yang says:
Scientists
are poets. I'm asking a biophysicist to send me a derivation. He says it's gorgeous. I'll put it under glass.
Evie Shockley says:
fabulous!
Add Li-Young Lee and Adrienne Rich to the famous poets I've heard read -- and like you, Belle, I was lucky enough to have dinner with Lee. Rose is absolutely exquisite poetry. Two of my favorite poems therein are "Persimmons" and "My Dream of Hair" (that second title may not be quite right, but it is a poem that describes very lovingly his relationship with the hair of the people he loves -- I wish I had the book here with me now, so I could read it again!). I heard him read most recently this past April and bought his new book. I haven't made time yet to read through it all, but it looks like some very amazing work.
Wouldn't it be fun if I could come to read in Carmel?! Woo-hoo!!! I'll plant that thought in the universe along with you, Belle, and see how long it takes to come to fruition . . . : )
Belle Yang says:
I have some
ideas . . . :)
Li-Young Lee is exquite. Everything about him is exquisite. He is lucky to have met YOU
Did you ever read his "Winged Seed"? Interesting long form for a poet. Poetry/biography. It didn't entirely work for me, but there were very strong parts where he spoke of his relationship with his father.
I love his inscription:
For Belle, Sister and fellow maker, affectionately. (I like the "sister" as I do feel him my brother.)
Matthew Biberman says:
nice thread
Brings back memories. At NYU I often saw Sharon Olds and Galway Kinnell, along with E L Doctorow, Peter Carey, Russell Banks, Chase Twichell, I remember John Ashbery coming to sit in on Bloom's talk on his poetry. And here is a name from the past: Harold Brodkey, he and Bloom would often go off together at the end of the day. Norman Rush. At Stanford I encountered Rich, and some others: Ronald Johnson, W. S. DiPiero Actually Rich organized a group to march against the first Iraq war. Ah well so it goes...
Eric Nichols says:
My, you certainly get around!
I didn't know you hobnobbed with the nabobs so fluidly! I'm duly impressed!
I wrote a poem once. I've been told it's actually pretty good. But, then again, I've been told a lot of things in my time.
Ahem....for your inspection...
Off Beatnik
We were born too late
To crouch the feet
Of that howling madman bard;
But that bongo in our bones drones onward...
Onward. Though that cursed cursor
Supplants the quivering quill,
The syncopated sax punctuates still
And the open mic invites our swill
Their anarchic ilk left us mid-sentence;
"Hold that thought" they said, but never returned from lunch.
With no forwarding address, we extrapolate their course,
And pray we get it right.