[Catherine Chandler]

I'll be leaving early on Tuesday, June 7, for the West Chester Poetry Conference, and will be back in Canada on Sunday afternoon, June 12. Hope all goes well here on TDE during my absence.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Have a marvellous time, Cathy! Can we have a full report, with photos—please!!??

Cally

[Catherine Chandler]

Cally,

Thanks for the warm wishes. Actually, I'll be carrying neither my computer nor my camera. Unfortunately, I have developed a horrendous case of tendonitis in my right hand and arm (I saw the doctor today, finally, after 10 days with no relief). Even a purse and a carry-on bag will be a challenge. However, I'm sure others will be taking lots of pictures, at least I hope so!

[Tim Murphy]

Have a grand time, Cathy and everyone. See you next year.

[Catherine Chandler]

Found a computer in Sykes Hall and a nice young man logged me in.

What a great start to the conference last evening! Couldn't believe it only took me one hour to get from Montreal to Philadelphia. I met Julie Kane and Susan McLean at the airport. Also lots of other new poet friends.

We took the shuttle to West Chester and arrived just in time to drop our bags in our dorm rooms and walk down to the Faunbrook B&B for the welcoming reception.

What a lovely venue! What great wine and food! Most of all, what wonderful poets everywhere! Met Kim Bridgford, David Landrum and Alicia Stallings, and many others. Was glad to see so many very young poets here ; had a lovely conversation with Rhina.

Registration will begin here soon, so I'll log off. Am a bit nervous about my reading this afternoon, but the atmosphere is so warm and friendly, I guess I really needn't be worried.

Other events on today's schedule "Poetry as the Global Art" with Rhina as Chair and Bill Coyle and Micheal O'Siadhail on the panel. Then there's "The Formal Poetry Press: Niche or Ghetto" panel with Anna Evans chairing and Deborah Ager, Gerry Cambridge, Allison Joseph and David Yezzi on the panel.

Then the First Books panel with Len Krisak chairing, and readings by Andrew Sofer, Brett Foster, Michael Cantor reading from M A Griffiths' work, and myself. Then this evening the keynote reading by Robert Pinsky.

Cheers,
Cathy

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Oh, wow. What a great day, Cathy! It's wonderful to get news flashes from you in this way! I can't believe you're nervous about reading your work - are you kidding??!! Your poems will take the room by the ears of its mind! (I read your book over the last few days - dazzling range!).

Have a great day - hope your hands are holding out, and give Michael Cantor a kiss from me, and if you get a chance, give us a brief insight into Pinsky's speech.

Cally

[Stephen Collington]

Originally Posted by Cally Conan-Davies

Cathy! . . . give Michael Cantor a kiss from me[.]

We want photographic proof!

[Janice D. Soderling]

Almost like being there in the midst of the formalist fest Thanks Cathy for the report. Here's wishing you a great audience for your poems and lots of purchasers.

[Catherine Chandler]

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

[Janice D. Soderling]

Yep, that sounds like heaven, all right.

Big, Huge, Giant Congrats on receiving the Keane Spencer scholarship. I'm so happy for you!