[New-Poetry] Rogue panel at AWP conference

[Millicent Accardi]

It's been a long time, but AWP WAS in Miami once. . .and a few years ago it was in Palm Springs (maybe 2001?)


Cheers,

Millicent 

-----Original Message-----
From: jforjames at aol.com
To: new-poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu
Sent: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 8:51 am
Subject: Re: [New-Poetry] Rogue panel at AWP conference



Spontaneous acts of poetry save the day. Great story, David. 

I've never been to an?AWP Conference. Sometime I'll get to one...
maybe when they have it it warmer place. Don't get me wrong...
Chicago's a great place...I like to?browse?Myopic Books on N Milwaukee Ave. when 
I blow through town (and it's easy to blow through town in the Windy City).
Finnegan


-----Original Message-----
From: David Graham <grahamd at ripon.edu>
To: new-poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu &amp; Views <new-poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu>
Sent: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:45 pm
Subject: [New-Poetry] Rogue panel at AWP conference


I am just back from Chicago, where I ingested millions of new words by many poets at the AWP annual conference. ? 



Thought I would report on the most interesting panel I've ever attended. ?It was billed as Chicago Poetry Slam, and was to have featured the inventor of the slam, Marc Smith, along with several others. ?




None of the promised panelists showed up. ?I don't know why, though I heard a number of rumors later.




The room was packed, and everyone stayed for 10, 15, 20 minutes into the nonexistent event. ?Finally a gentleman named C. J. Laity stood up and asked if anyone wanted to read a poem. ?As it happens, several did. ?Pretty soon there was an absolutely unplanned poetry slam occurring. ?Mr. Laity performed as M.C., ushered readers up and led the applause after they read, etc. ?He began calling it the Illegal Panel, the Anti-Slam, etc. ?Things got more and more riotous. ?Almost nobody left the room, and there were many readers, in a wide range of styles. ??




At one point someone from the next room came over and complained that our room was too raucous, which it was.




As at any open mic, the quality of the offerings and performances varied, but I can't say it was any more uneven than the average sponsored event I've attended over many years. ?




It was easily the most interesting AWP event I've ever seen, and I walked out feeling just great.




No, I did not read anything myself--which is what everyone asks me when I tell the story. ?I just relished it. ?




?Read more about this event and see some photos here:





http://chicagopoetry.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1221













========================================

David Graham

grahamd at ripon.edu




Home Page:

http://web.mac.com/drjazz




Poetry Library:

http://web.mac.com/drjazz/iWeb/Site/DGPoLibrary.html

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