From the previous nights' reading, I thought I'd learned that one great funny line in a light poem should not immediately follow another, for the audiences' laughter buries the line and no one hears it, but I hadn't heard R.S. Gwynn, or known his skillful pauses that allowed the audience to sustain a barrage of funny stuff. Gwynn was the funniest and most entertaining. He left the audience wanting more.
A couple who struck me as having particulary authentic voices at that moment when they read were Diane Thiel and David Yezzi. I missed the last nights' reading (which had a line-up of heavy-hitters) having dinner with my niece at Spence's (which I highly recommend if you're in West Chester). Really, everyone was great.
Charles Martin should have gotten a standing ovation for that 911 poem of his.
Nice to meet the Hodges', Alicia, Jennifer Reeser (I still want you to sign my books), Rhina, Yezzi, Cantor, Anthony, Annie Finch, Diane Thiel, Kim, Garrick Davis, Kate Light, Michael Peich, Simon, Lake, Slip, Gioia, Dowling---too many to name but all delightful.
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