Too much poetry...is not a thing
That's probably not true. But it sounds super cool.
I had a busy poetry week!
Sunday, went to a poetry reading / book launch at Open Book: Jennifer Manthey, reading from her new book The Fight. Also reading, Michael Kleber-Diggs (one of my favorite poets) and Halee Kirkwood. Great way to start out a week!
Monday, online poetry open mic — this turned out to be a poetry circle, actually; there were a double handful of poets, and we went around and read poems. Interesting and different. The poems I chose to read were “Always Starting Over” and “Ars Poetica.”
Tuesday, online Zoom writing workshop (courtesy of The Loft); it was bittersweet, being the last of six sessions, but the set of prompts we finished up with was extraordinarily fruitful. And it looks like at least some of us students will be staying in contact with each other for future writing endeavors & encouragement. Love, love, loved the experience. If you’re passionate and motivated about writing, Loft classes are well worth looking into.
Wednesday, I went to a poetry reading / concert — Erin Sharkey, a fantastic and versatile human being and writer, to be followed by the band Nunnabove — at Silverwood Park. The weather, alas, did not cooperate, and there was no (spoken) poetry. The rain contributed its own songs.
Thursday, I went to the Walker Art Center for part of their Summer Social 2023 series, curated by one of my favorite poets, Danez Smith. Included therein, some of their favorite poets: Tish Jones, Arleta Little, Farah Habad, and Isha Camara. Every last poet was amazing. I spotted torrin a. greathouse (another one of my favorite poets) in the audience, among other luminaries. I managed to talk to Danez Smith afterward — their hosting game is on point, like, superstar-level (much like their poetry!) — for a couple of minutes. All in all, a lovelier way to spend a hot Minnesota evening is hard to imagine.
Coming up next:
Next Wednesday, August 9th, there is an MCF Book Club event in honor of Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care. It’ll feature Mariame Kaba, among other luminous people, and will be streaming on the Marguerite Casey Grants YouTube Channel. There’s still time for you to sign up to attend, though it’s either too late to get a free copy of the book, or the sign-up is broken. Also, now the website says August 8th, but the email said August 9th. Hmmm.
Also, same day, 6pm and onward, another poetry reading at Silverwood Park, this time by Mary Austin Speaker, followed by Brotherhood of Birds. Maybe the rain will still itself this time, listen, rather than speak, for just a few minutes. That’s all it takes to change the world.