Um I used to cry regularly or at least read on the brink of tears
keeping them at bay with a pitchfork. It was like cracking open a new
form of communication. Don't know that it was 2-way though. Russell
Edson was the opposite when I saw him: he was cracking up all the time
at his own poems -- as if he'd never seen them before it his life.
Mairead
>>> [log in to unmask] 03/05/05 11:00 PM >>>
I've been to some fantastic poetry readings. But they're like theatre -
they're capable of producing the most gigantic boredom known to
humankind.
(I remember that satire of Juvenal's about how the most boring poet
always
has the longest scroll - some things never change...) I don't think that
it's a coincidence that the best readings I've been to have generally
had a
significant component of actual audience, ie people there to hear poetry
rather than simply read it. But the thing is, you can never tell until
you're there.
As for me reading, I used to find it terrifying. I well remember the
first
time I ever read a poem out in public, when I was about 17 - I made the
mistake of holding a single sheet of paper, and everyone's eyes were
transfixed on it, as it shook like a leaf in a high wind - but now I
actually really love doing them. Maybe I figured out that there really
are
frightening things out there, and reading poetry isn't one of them. Or
maybe it was the long years of reading stories out loud to children.
Whatever, suddenly I wasn't frightened any more.
Best
A
On 6/3/05 2:30 PM, "Mairead Byrne" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks Alison.
>
> The poetry reading is beginning to strike me as a very strange art
form.
> For years I didn't enjoy them but I went anyway. Then I heard Alan
> Dugan. Now I'm interested but mostly more to see the
behavior/approach
> of the poet. Generally I can't really follow/hear the poetry that
well.
> It's a very strange art form: the poet is almost a sacred relic of the
> poetry. That's the only excuse. Mercifully it's short. Also: the
> poetry audience is unusual in that it's very heavy on poets, sometimes
> exclusively
> so. Sometimes readings give me time to think. Yet I love doing them
> myself. Still I think they're hard enough to enjoy. I'm actually
quite
> afraid of the audience when I'm attending a reading, but not when I'm
> reading myself.
>
> Mairead
Alison Croggon
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
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