Day 1 (yesterday) was fantastic. I learned so much from the Hip-Hop panel. Wasn't really planning to attend, but was so glad I did. Attended Rhina's panel on poetry as a global art and it inspired me to return to translation, which I've practically abandoned this past year. Then a wonderful panel on the small presses, and heard insights on publishing, editing, submissions, etc. from Anna Evans, Gerry Cambridge, David Yezzi and others. Lots of questions and a discussion on print vs digital publication. The First Books panel went well. Michael Cantor read several of Maz's poems, and also had two recordings of Ann Drysdale reading two of Maz's poems as well. I got through OK but as I was reciting from memory, I accidentally forgot one stanza of my villanelle, but nobody except me (I think) noticed. There was some extra time so Len Krisak asked us all to read another poem, so I recited my winning Nemerov sonnet, "Coming to Terms".
I finally got to meet our wonderful Alex Pepple!!! He arrived earlier than he was supposed to in order to attend the First Books panel.
I met some Sphereans: Greg Dowling, Bill Carpenter, Lisa Barnett, Jennifer Reeser, R.S. (Sam) Gwynn. Jennifer introduced me to Timothy Steele. The banquet was wonderful. I was wondering why they had given me a reserved seat at table 3 with former director, Michael Peich, but soon found out -- it was because I had received the Keane Spencer scholarship and Kim Bridgford asked me to stand up and take a bow! I was also seated next to a young poet who had won the first annual Spencer prize, Richie Hofmann, who has a poem in the latest New Criterion.
Then, the Pinsky reading. The auditorium was packed. He spoke brilliantly and often with great humor, about the physicality of poetry, giving examples from his own and others' work. He spoke about the Favorite Poems project, and ended with a reading of many of his poems, including the wonderful "The Shirt".
A reception for Mr. Pinsky followed, downtown, but my hand was in agony by that time, so I didn't attend. Perhaps Michael did, or others, and they can report on that.
Today I begin my master class with Alicia Stallings. Only ten in the class. Also, a panel in ten minutes from now, "Poets' Landscapes and Sense of Place, a Robert Pinsky town hall meeting with Dana Gioia interviewing, a panel on artistic collaboration, an art exhibit and faculty readings this evening featuring Kim Addonizio, Dick Davis, Alison Joseph, David Mason, Molly Peacock and Timothy Steele.
I'm in heaven.
Cheers,
Cathy
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