December 04, 2006
Observable Poetry Rings in Early This Week
I keep a mental sticky note for the first Thursdays of the month, which is, most of the time, when Aaron Belz's Observable (poetry) Readings occur. But, since this is the season to drink spiked eggnog, wear argyle legwarmers and purchase live mistletoe from Bayer's Nursery, things are busy over at the Bottleworks. If you go to Maplewood on Thursday to hear poetry, you will likely find instead a holiday beer-tasting or an Xmas party.
So listen up! The Observable Reading is tomorrow night at Bottleworks (7260 Southwest) at 8pm, and it is going to be very, very, very good. (Well - they're all very good, but I think even those who don't like poetry much will really dig this reading.) Reading will be Gabe Gudding and Piotr Gwiazda. From Aaron's blurb on the site:
Gabriel Gudding is the author of two books, A Defense of Poetry (Pitt Poetry Series, 2002) and Rhode Island Notebook (Dalkey Archive Press, 2008). His work appears in such anthologies as Great American Prose Poems: From Poe to the Present (Scribner, 2003). He teaches literature and creative writing at Illinois State University.
Piotr Gwiazda is the author of Gagarin Street (WWPH, 2005). His poems have appeared in Barrow Street, Columbia, Drunken Boat, Hotel Amerika, Rattle, The Southern Review, Swink, Washington Square, and elsewhere. He teaches modern and contemporary poetry at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
and finally, excerpts chosen by Mr. Belz to be printed on the promotional posters, to give you a wee taste of what to expect:
POEM IMPLORING THE RETURN OF MY BUTT
Dear Sir--I have lost my butt. It was a
frail butt not unlike a dog's. Now
that it is gone I am concerned
about its recovery as my legs are
grating against my abdomen.
Sincerely,
Gabriel Gudding
FOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
At times I can barely understand myself,
living in the place called Brainwash.
My visitors talk to me in headlines.
I reply with absurd proverbs.
-Piotr Gwiazda
Belz adds at the bottom of the flyer: "Dress casual. It's OK to be late. Lots of beer!"
Amen. The snow will be melted too. Come down!