Last night, I heard Nicole Cooley, Beth Ann Fennelly, and Erika Meitner read at Open Books. A riveting evening. Vibrant. The images, the structure, the story/not-story, the pull-no-punches telling–even the introductions to each poem.
Ahh…
And I confess that at one point, one quick point, surrounded by such splendor, I thought, “My new manuscript is crap, it’s all crap, it isn’t ready to send out, it won’t ever be ready to send out, I need to write much better poems.”
But the poetry was coming again, so I let that moment pass (really!) and was whisked away by more poems.
I came back to those doubts on the way home–doubts surrounded by inspiration. And by the time I reached the freeway onramp, I realized that this is exactly what I need. Seeing and hearing how it can be done (this way and this way and this way and this), another understanding.
Another door opens.
Hi Joannie! It was good to see you last night- and it really was a fantastic reading. You know that response you had about your MS? I sort of had the same response about the readers’ various impressive careers – so much more impressive than mine! But then I realized, we’re all on our own paths, etc etc. And it was some slam-bang poetry to listen to! Very inspiring!
I know! But you have a career… so cool!