Mel Nichols and Rod Smith Reading / February 14, 2008
Event Report
Approximately thirty-five people turned out to hear a Valentine’s Day reading by D.C.-based poets Mel Nichols and Rod Smith. The first event of the spring ’08 NWS featured new work by both writers and a lively question and answer session.
For the full photoset, visit our Flickr page here.
Set List
Mel Nichols
Most selections from Day Poems
Voice Over
Stability of Error
Day Poem
The Second Line
Notes From the Forest
A mix of selections from “Hottest New Ringtones, mnichol6”, and some Flarf poems
Creatures
Snow Tea
Day Poem
Things to do With Your Dremel
Easy Living with the Sectional
Other People’s Other People’s Dreams
Various fragments from various works
“I Meant to Get to Know More Superheroes Last Year”
James Joyce Gone Wild
Pope My Ride
Here We Are Again, Monday
“You May Already Be a Winner”
“It’s Real Bacon, Not That Crap in a Jar”
The Oldest Meteorites
A mix of selections
Ben Franklin’s Man-Boobs
Sur La Neige
Day Poem
Rod Smith
Cocoa Butter
Mes Wittl Birdy Bong Stowy
Canto 97
Various fragments from SNIPS (After Steve Lacy) [titles approximate]
“I Bought Some Grapes I Bought”
“Poultice”
“You’re Letting That Great Smelling Guy Get Away”
“I Dreamt That I Was Bridgette Bardeaux and I Kissed Me”
“Your Search”
“Excuse Me Officer I Thought You were A Shape-Shifting Rat”
“Crayola”
Identity is the Cause of Warts
Police Said
The Spider Poems
Questions
What’s it like reading together on Valentine’s Day?
How do you connect images in your poetry?
How important is the performative aspect of your poetry?
How do you name your poems?
How do you position yourself between “Flarf” and “regular” poetry?