Joanne Kyger Reading / September 27, 2007
Event Report
More than a hundred people crowded into the Soderberg Auditorium to hear Joanne Kyger read from About Now: Collected Poems, published by the National Poetry Foundation. Kyger read poems from every decade of her long career, beginning in the 1950s and ending in the present, and entertained questions from the audience.
For the full photoset, visit our Flickr page here.
Set List
Introduction by Ben Friedlander
TAPESTRY
CAPTION FOR A MINIATURE
THE HUNT IN THE WOOD: PAOLO UCCELLO
AT THE PURPLE GATE TENT BOLINAS
MEMORY STICK
THE RAIN
SOON
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I AM NOT UP TIGHT
OFTEN I TRY SO HARD WITH STIMULANTS
UTMOST DISARRAY
NO ONE WAS WATCHING THE TORTILLAS
I WANT A SMALLER THING IN MIND
I DON’T BELIEVE IN ANY
THE FAR OFF PINE WHOSE BRANCHES TURN YELLOW
WOODEN WALLS MAKE US A NICE LITTLE PALACE
I AM AFRAID
THE CRYSTAL IN TAMALPAIS
DESTRUCTION
A few selections from THE DHARMA COMMITTEE
DREAM 1959 BIG BUDDHA
DREAM 1959 ALBERT SAIJO
JACK SPICER INTRODUCED ME TO
JACK SPICER ORGANIZES ZEN SINGING AT THE PLACE
DINNER AT BRIARCOMB, THAT ARTIST’S POSH RETREAT
THANKSGIVING
DECEMBER 25
PHILLIP WHALEN’S HAT
JANUARY 12TH 1984
NARCISSUS
THE PHOEBE AND THE ICY COLD WIND
MIST ON THE ORCHIDS
AGAIN
ANTHRO INFO
INCENSE FOR THE BUDDHA
IT CERTAINLY WAS DIVINE RUNNING INTO YOU
A STORY FROM EASTER
NO ESCAPE
HOW DOES ONE ATTAIN THAT POPULAR NARRATIVE
I BLINKED MY EYES, LOOKED UP AND EVERYONE WAS 25 YEARS OLDER
THE STORM IS UPON US
BOB MARLEY NIGHT SATURDAY DOWNTOWN
POISON OAK FOR ALLEN
GRATEFUL
STUPIDLY INSPIRED
LIFE IS SHORT AND THERE IS NO ONE TO TALK TO ON THE TELEPHONE
COMMON COOL ECONOMICS
THE NIGHT PALACE
ABOUT KARL JUNG
ABOUT NOW
SLACK KEY
Questions
Do you look for subjects for poetry or do they just find you?
Do you know Jack Kerouac?
Some of your poems are very conversational, like we’re hearing just one side of a conversation. I’m interested to know who the ‘other’ is.
How did your relationship with Gary Snyder affect your writing?
I like your reading style, and the way you frame your poems… when you approach a reading, do you have a sort of strategy you use? Do you gauge the audience?
What do you feel is the easiest way for you to write? Typing, handwriting…?