Who Are These Guys?
 

I was going through some of my papers and came across this handwritten (actually handprinted) list in all caps. Ring a bell?

READING ORDER

1. SUSAN McLEAN
2. (M crossed out) A. M. JUSTER
3. CLAUDIA GARY
4. BRUCE BENNETT
5. ALFRED NICOL
6. JULIE KANE
7. (something crossed out) J. D. SMITH
8. (ALICIA crossed out) A. E. STALLINGS
9. BARBARA LOOTS “LOTES” 4 Pronunciation
10. KEVIN DURKIN
11. ALEXANDRA OLIVER
12. ANDREW PERIALI
13. DAVID YEZZI
14. R. S. GWYNN

I'm guessing that it was one of the light verse readings at the West Chester University Poetry Conference, possibly the one in 2014.

Susan

That's what it sounds like to me also, except that I don't know if you (Ed) were ever at WCU, I don't think Yezzi has been there for many years, and ditto for Alfred Nicol. If it is West Chester, I'd guess about 2010.

More importantly, why wasn't I on the list?

It looks to me like it might be the impromptu John Mella tribute. I believe there is some poor-quality video of that reading on YouTube.

A Mella tribute happened in 2012; was there an earlier, more impromptu one?
And yes, Michael Cantor would be on a list of those 2012 readers, and so would Melissa Balmain.

I don't know what it is, but they're all personal friends, except I haven't met Mr. Periali.

Yeah, that looks like the lineup for the 2012 John Mella/Light tribute. (I chaired it, which is why my name isn't on the list.) It was a great morning. Mike's right about the not-terrific video, which you can see here. I believe it does get better after my intro... and Ed, there's visual proof of your presence alongside Bob McKenty.:)

Yes, it all comes back to me now. I remember sitting up there with Melissa and Bob watching all these folks coming up to read and not knowing exactly who was who. I hope to be there this summer and meet all of you.