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The Bookslut Reading Series: Triplicate Kristys
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Andersonville's Hopleaf: Home to poetry, fiction, a groovy menu,
and a long list of formidable beers.
In the most recent chapter of the Bookslut Reading Series at the Hopleaf in Andersonville, I was happy to catch Kristy Odelius, Kristy Bowen, and Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz. Of the three, Aptowicz offered the biggest departure of the evening in that she performed her poetry. For those who haven’t seen a poem peformed by a slam-oriented poet, it can be a wild and in-your-face ride. Detractors would say that therein lies the rub. Poetry is more than just the recitation of it—meaning that screaming doesn’t make it any better. Slam poetry—where the message takes precedence over any nuance (unless you count puns) and the delivery gets top billing rather than diction, metaphor or imagery—has never been my bag, but that’s why Chicago is in renaissance mode. There’s been a confluence of many different types of poets here of late and some of the writing doesn’t neatly fit into any one box. I’ve seen readings where the performance is completely downplayed and also performances given by poets who seemed to have the attitude that the written word is just a byproduct of the emotional memory being presented. It’s old news that slam poetry came of age here in Chicago as invented by Marc Smith at the venerable Green Mill—past haunt of Al Capone and current home of some high-caliber jazz.
Kristy Odelius, a local professor at Northpark University and author of Strange Trades, read first and I was (and am) impressed by her ability to take the reader/listener to new and unexpected places. If poetry should give the reader the impression that the world is softly exploding all around us, then Odelius’s work fits the bill. Her poems are each a revelation and her work genuinely surprises. I’m reminded of the work of Wallace Stevens, which is not to say that Odelius’s work seems derivative—it has a breadth and depth of imagination and dry wit that is unique.
Kristy Bowen followed and she also offered up some of the best lines of the evening. As publisher of Dancing Girl Press, a local press that focuses on women’s writing and emerging authors, Bowen read self-described dead girl poems and listed everything under the sun in her sometimes diaristic poetry filled with zipcodes and starlings.
Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz finished the evening and I was impressed by her grasp of the personal. Aptowicz was the resident hot and bothered badass that night and she gleefully related details of her life as a New Yorker who occasionally works in the porn industry, as a copywriter and editor. I laughed out loud at least once as she recited her orgasm haiku—each a list of moans, yup, 5-7-5. But as I laughed I realized again the differences among types of poetry and how my expectation as observer/listener has much to do with my satisfaction from it. Even though the performance was a direct hit, Aptowicz’s orgasm haiku wouldn’t be something necessarily worth printing. I don’t mean to sound too down on slam poetry. I have seen a few great performances and a few talented slam poets who obviously excel in duel roles—writer and performer. Kevin Coval comes to mind as someone who is more solid on the page and mesmerizing on the stage.
My only experience involving Marc Smith, inventor of the slam, was the night I was featured to read with him at Quimby’s with another poet and he blew off the reading. Half the dejected crowd marched out when the news arrived that Smith wouldn’t show and the other half stayed. Although I saw few familiar faces that night the audience seemed glad they came as they milled about afterward (and I didn’t even have to scream).
In other news, be sure this week to hit New Wave Coffee 2557 N. Milwaukee tomorrow night (April 21) in Logan Square to catch visiting poet Joshua Beckman as he reads from his new book Take It; Michael Burkard and Ron Padgett are reading at 5:30 on April 22 at Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash; and this Sunday it would be great to see you at Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee at 7:00 to hear Jesse Seldess and Arpine Grenier.
Stay tuned. More reading reports to come!
As always, exciting new poetry is offered by Myopic Books, and best of all it's free.
Don't get me wrong. Read up on the poetry slam phenomenon.
There's also no shortage of experimental poetry being written in the United States. Spencer Selby's list is a great place to start, if you're ready to take the plunge.
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