APPROXIMATE TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTION TO JEROME ROTHENBERG (ERIC MOTTRAM
CELEBRATION) AT SVP 26 10 99

- Prefatory remarks
Many of you will recall that the first reading in memory of Eric Mottram
took place in this room the day after he died in January 1995. We had come
to hear Eric read and instead gathered to remember him. Everyone who wanted
to read or speak that night did so.
Since then, SVP has organised a Memorial Reading for Eric every year, as
near as possible to the anniversary of his death:
16 January 1996 Robert Hampson & Colin Simms
14 January 1997 Allen Fisher
13 January 1998 Bill Griffiths...
This is the first time that it has not been possible to keep that
anniversary, for a reason I shall explain
I have recently changed the name to the Eric Mottram Celebration, which is a
more accurate description of what I intend and of what we have received and
will perhaps be more welcoming to those who did not know Eric personally.
I have chosen poets as appropriately as I could, although not everyone
invited has accepted the invitation. In each case of refusal, it has been
modesty; ill-placed modesty, I think.
It has been obvious, given the nature of so much of Eric Mottram's work, we
needed to invite an American! As soon as that was formulated as a clear
idea, one person stood out very clearly as the first choice; and that person
is Jerome Rothenberg.
He is first choice not just because of the range, volume and mix of his
achievement, but also because of the high esteem in which Eric held him. We
are celebrating Eric Mottram the man as well as Eric Mottram the stack of
books; and I remember how he spoke of Jerome Rothenberg, with respect for
his work and affection for the person himself.

- Jerome Rothenberg
Jerome Rothenberg is the author of an enormous number of books of poetry,
perhaps 60 volumes by now. And many of them are very good indeed! He is a
poet of major importance; but he is also an anthologist of major importance
too. Let me remind you:
"Technicians of the Sacred"; "Shaking the Pumpkin"; "America a Prophecy";
"Revolution of the Word"; "A Big Jewish Book"; "Symposium of the Whole"
(with Diane Rothenberg); "Poems for the Millennium" (with Pierre Joris); and
A Book of the Book: Some Works & projections about the Book & Writing, with
Steven Clay, will be published in 2000 by Granary Books in New York.
However, he was done a lot more than that.
He has made radio soundplays, he has translated - and he has been
translated widely...
Years ago he was editor/publisher of Hawk's Well Press and he has edited a
number of influential magazines. I'll remind you of just one - to have come
up with "Alcheringa" alone would have been a major achievement
The man has been teaching too during much of this time; and I have missed
much out. Yet, as you can see, he's still a young man.
As soon as I put the idea of this reading to Jerry, he responded
enthusiastically. Some of you will know how long the event has been in
preparation.
In fact, there has been only one difficulty and that is the distance
involved. He lives in California and there weren't the funds to pay his
fare. Therefore, it has been necessary to wait until Jerry was within range.
Because he has been so enthusiastic about the reading, he has shared all the
possible trips which could be utilised and several times some of you have
been told that we were soon to see him. But until now none of those trips
have come off as expected; and finally we've made it.
Jerry has come here, for one day only, from Paris, where he is based this
autumn and I want to thank Kings College London for subsidising his travel
from Paris and Shamoon Zamir for making that possible.
The point is Jerome Rothenberg has come to this country just give this
reading. He is putting himself out tremendously, for no return, in order to
be here. Jerry, we all thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, Jerome Rothenberg.




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