http://geminipoet.blogspot.com/2008/11/patricia-smith-for-inaugural-poet.html

Go, read, and get cracking!

Just home from a whirlwind trip to Ohio, where I featured at the annual Writer’s Block Awards Night. 

I love the Writer’s Block scene even after one visit — it’s a community, a family, full of in-jokes that they’re willing to let you in on the moment you show up; full of good-natured ribbing that simultaneously reveals and conceals deep love; just a great space. 

My set:

Breathe
Theology
I Need A Guitar (Or Something Like It)
Total Recall
Americanized
Buried (Patricia Smith poem from "Blood Dazzler")
Radioactive Artist
Mission Statement (with a lot of improv moments thrown in)

Loved meeting people I only know through here or who I’ve only met briefly before: louiserobertson ,nobleds , chaptal ,tericol , vernelljb , smallfrenchman , Donielle Monique, Kim and JJ, Gina, Joanna, Zak Houston, Kim and Jason Brazwell, Tyrone, and a host of others (including "Rio" from Gotpoetry.com, who was attending her first ever poetry reading and drove 2.5 hours to be there with her husband Steve).

Special thanks to Dave and Louise for good conversations and excellent hospitality, and of course to scottwoods for fostering a scene that welcomes and honors poets of all styles, shapes, and callings…thanks, bud, for having me.  I hope you’ll have me back again sometime.

Thanks again.  I’m still working off last night’s wings, so I’m gonna sit back and veg for a bit…

PS:  how the HELL does campana manage to win three awards in Ohio while sitting in Mesa???  I mean, I knew he was loud, but…

Seriously, curmudgeons represent…all it takes is one feature to have a lifetime’s worth of impact, right?  Congrats, Bill.

PPS:  I guarantee that this is the first time I’ve ever typed the words "thank you, Columbus" in my life.  Somewhere in New Mexico, my ancestors’ bones are spinning.  😉