What a good time. Brian Glaser read excerpts from a long poem with a title in Spanish of at least five words which I, at least, had too much beer to remember, and Ben Hollander read the entirety of a long poem, "Levinas And The Police." People came, saw, and conquered. Thanks everybody!
Though unfortunately having to compete with a stellar reading across town, we filled the room to celebrate Small Town. Brandon Brown read translations of Catullus and the Song of Songs. Dan Coshnear read a short story. David Porter, Nicholas Buzanski, and John Sakkis read poetry, some from the magazine, some not. Wine was consumed, Small Town was sold, friends were made or renewed. Thanks to the readers and those who came!
Well, even competing with Game 2 of the World Series, Zeal moved triumphantly forward. Kimberly Johnson visited us from Berkeley to read poems from her book, Leviathan With A Hook, as well as fantastic new work. Jasmine Kelly performed a poem-for-three-voices with Mukta Sambrani and Megan Pruiett, a long piece, and finally an audience-participation poem that was, if I may say so, a fine time. Wine was quaffed, brandy was on hand, and the room warm. Thanks, Kim and Jasmine, and all the brave who voyaged out!
Speaking of brave, the dozen or so who literally voyaged in through the tempest Thursday night, were that indeed. But it was a good time: we read from Spicer's books Language and Book Of Magazine Verse before watching Jean Cocteau's piece of strangeness, Orphee. One bottle of wine was shared by the masses. Thanks POETRY CENTER for hosting us.
A good crowd heard SFSU MFA candidate Giancarlo Campagna read from a long poem entitled "Water Lines." This good crowd included Giancarlo's mother, to general glee. This was followed by UC-Berkeley PhD candidate Trane Devore reading a longer piece based on, if memory serves, giant insects destroying Earth. If you missed it, you'll have to wait until it's published to personally witness the mayhem. Thanks gents!
A record crowd somehow fit into the tiny little Zeal room to hear the fantastic poetry of Poetry Center director and SFSU professor Steve Dickison and UC-Berkeley's Jen Scappettone. I'd say more about the work, but for most of the reading I had to stand in the bathroom and strain my ears, due to aforementioned record crowd. Claustrophobes beware. Thanks Jen, Steve, and everybody for finishing 2002's ZEAL with a proverbial bang!