I just returned from the 17th Oxford Conference for the Book held in Oxford, Mississippi. I gave a reading on March 4th with Mark Jarman (right). Our session was moderated by the lovely Beth Ann Fennelly. Jarman teaches at Vanderbilt University. He is the author of several collections of poetry. He coedited Rebel Angels: 25 Poets of the New Formalism back int 1996. I hope to post a 1 question interview with him later this week. I met Jarman briefly many years ago. He reminded me that Kevin Young introduced us in Nashville. Hanging out in Oxford we had an opportunity to talk about poetry and the state of our academic institutions. I wonder how the poets are doing in California? Will creative programs get cut?
I packed some poetry provisions for my trip to Mississippi. In my luggage was good woman: poems and a memoir 1969 – 1980 by Lucille Clifton, and Mary Karr's Sinners Welcome. I also found a place for the important Poetry And New Media: A Users' Guide. This is the Report of the Poetry and New Media Working Group that was organized by the Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute (Poetry Foundation). I highly recommend that poets obtain a copy of this report. Here one will find the legal bone stuff we all need to know. I went immediately to the section on estates. There I found a list of question poets should consider, for example:
Do I wish to deposit my papers with the institution before my death, and, if so, what level of control do I wish to maintain over their use during my lifetime?
The last few years I've been depositing my personal papers to the Gelman Library at George Washington University. I've been encouraging other local poets and literary organizations in the Washington area to consider doing the same.
On the trip from Oxford back to Memphis (before flying to Charlotte and then to DC) I shared a ride with Nicholas A. Basbanes. Geez – this guy is fantastic. He spoke at the conference in Mississippi about book collecting. I told him I had to obtain a copy of his book, Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books. Here is a link to his web site.
Oh, let me mention one final thing before I forget. On the last night of the Oxford conference there was a big literary reception at the Off Square bookstore. There I met Danielle Sellers (author of Bone Key Elegies ). Jody Bolz and I had published her poem "Elegy For A Murdered Friend" in an issue of Poet Lore. It's always wonderful when you're fortunate to meet someone whose work you liked and in a small way gave their career a boost. If poetry can't bring us together I don't know what can.