Writes Poetry, Will Travel

By Libby Walkup
Contributing Writer

Writers (and publishers) of all genres know that in order to sell a book, they must travel, they must read, they must perform their poetry rock-star style for as many masses (or small groups) at every little and big book store and cranny coffee shop they can find across the country. This is what sells books. Unless of course you’re Stephen King, who, incidentally, doesn’t seem to write poetry (anymore), and still does readings.

And maybe you forgot—while stuffed into a classroom reading dialogue from Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet, in a nearly archaic language only those trained to seem to understand—the two key factors about Shakespeare: a) every word is poetry and b) it was meant to be performed.
Poetry is meant to be heard and seen. Romeo and Juliet recite a sonnet, rattling on about pilgrim’s hands kissing and touching in iambic pentameter, while turning about the aquarium, falling in love. A sonnet! Smack in the middle of the most classic and tragic love tale of all time!

Poetry was never meant to be for the stuffy upper class; full, solely, of references to other poets, Greek mythology and Christianity. Poetry was meant to be, if anything at all, a play on words rolling off your tongue, a pleasant sound in your ear, a social commentary, a cultural reference, an image, a feeling. Love.

Shakespeare, like the Beats in the fifties and sixties and Slam Poets of the eighties and nineties, was a working performer and writer. His plays were for the the poor, the uneducated. Those willing to stand in an open-air theatre for two hours to be entertained. Jack Kerouac and friends gave readings across the country in coffee shops. Saul Williams is first known for his stellar Slam Poetry performances, and second for his stellar writing.

There has been a resurgence of poetry performances nationally, and maybe it never faded, maybe it went so far underground that we forgot about it here in our humble abode. But in that patient North Dakota way, we’re now ready to tag along.

Even reclusive writers have a little performer waiting to sneak out, to step in front of a microphone, to show someone the words they’ve written, to be heard. Local poets and writers are beginning to come out of their cocoons. We’re antsy and anxious. We’re ready to show you what we’ve got.

The MFA program at MSUM has always given its candidates the opportunity to read during the semester to more than full houses in the back room at Atomic. English professors have performed Slam to full coffee shops (a distinct, and first, memory of Kevin Zepper performing at the old Moorhead Atomic where some of us were forced to sit on the floor or stand).

The McGrath writers series at MSUM has been honoring this poetry as performance mentality for 25 years, bringing regional writers to campus for a writer’s talk and a reading.

And this year’s 25th anniversary starring former poet laureate Billy Collins is a cue that poetry is far from dead in Fargo. Until recently it’s simply been confined to students and professors, but local artist and poet Colby Nelson is at the forefront of creating a local performing poetry community.

With the help and support of Mark Weiler, Nelson is hosting his third poetry reading in Fargo, “Poet’s Flow,” at ecce art + yoga, after the Billy Collins reading.

Featuring Chrissie Jo Holzer, a local musician and poet from The Krims and Chrissie Jo and the G.O.B.S.; Julie Walnum, a recent MFA MSUM graduate in poetry and collaborator in the photo/poetry exhibition “Body Speak”; and artist, poet and event mastermind, Colby Nelson. Oh, right, and myself, Libby, a master in creative writing and something more of a flash fiction writer than a poet (but they’re letting me read anyway).

It’s like after Winter Festivale when the bands play at the Fargo Theatre and then people play later at The Aquarium. We’re the local poetry after-party for Billy Collins. We’re like rock stars. Our names are on the flyer. Come. Next time yours can be too.

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If You Go

What: Poet’s Flow
Where: ecce art + yoga
When: Thurs, Sept 23, 10pm
Info: 701.298.3223