I once saw a famous Shakespearean Critic at a reading stripping to a
silver posing pouch. It scarred me and the nuns for life.

I saw Gael Turnbull read and spoke with him a week before he died of a
brain haemorrhage. Scary.

Denise Riley persuaded me *not* to take her course. I was her only
candidate. The rest of the audience - about 60 - dived towards Michele
Roberts and prose.

PmcP and AB - now they are rare and fine birds to have at a reading.
Particularly when the Rodent read as well. Great days, great days.

I saw Linton Kwesi Johnson give a wonderful reading, out-shining
Benjamin Zephaniah.

I saw Andrew Duncan at Birkbeck give a reading that lasted for 20
minutes. Then 25, then 30, 35 until Drew Milne interrupted and asked
him if he was going to read all day?

The same Andrew Duncan reading in a small Cambridge church. All very
solemn and serious. This bloke in the audience starts to cough, then
begins to search for something in a plastic bag. Of course, this noise
drowns AD out, he stops,  then gives the bloke The Glare. At this
point, blokey stops, hands in his plastic bag and looks up. "I'm just
trying to find my cough mixtures", he says. Comedy gold.

Peter Riley has to rate up there as being the most generous and humane
poet I've ever met.

Me and six others saw Nirvana in Bristol before they Made It Big.

But, seriously, Frank Zappa? Dude!!!! Way to go!!!!

Roger

On 2/11/07, andrew burke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I'm a rare poet who has heard Janet Jackson read <g>
>
> But, seriously, folks, it is surprising that living in 'the lost isolated
> capital in the world', we have heard many famous and worthwhile poets -
> Earle Birney was one of my favourites; Bob Creeley was very generous with
> his time and attention; Robert Duncan signed my study wall 'First of all /
> to sing the wall' and read from my copy of his work which he then signed;
> Ted Hughes - a strong animalistic presence; Roger McGough, always fun at a
> reading and great with anecdotes; Bob Dylan in a press conference ... I
> spent about a week with Jon Silken up in Singapore, which was fun and
> instructive.
>
> I spoke to Frank Zappa once. I immediately became tongue-tied and could only
> utter the worst 'fan' cliches.
>
> ... and one of my most enjoyable readings was in Cambridge, UK, with Roger,
> Patrick and Robin.
>
> What I have learnt from all these meetings is - don't have any expectations.
> Denise Levertov was a big disappointment yet George MacBeth was a great
> gossip and fun, with an acerbic wit.
>
> Aussie poets I have enjoyed meeting include Dorothy Hewett, Bob Adamson,
> Dorothy Porter, Tom Shapcott, Les Murray, Andrew Taylor, Anthony Lawrence,
> John Kinsella ... Well, I've been reading in Oz since the mid-Sixties so I'm
> privileged to have met many poets!
>
> Andrew
>
> On 11/02/07, Janet Jackson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > Jon lists:
> >
> > > Allen Ginsberg  (heard read and went to his reception)
> > > Kenneth Koch  (heard read)
> > > Basil Bunting   (heard read, and he gave me some wine)
> > > Gregory Corso  (heard read and he autographed a book)
> > > Bob Kaufman  (well actually I just bought him a beer once if that
> > counts)
> >
> > Yeah, that counts.
> > It's the other things that don't.
> >
> > Janet
> >
>


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