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POETS & WEDDINGS
Hello, everybody, and don’t mind the suit. It’s not that I’ve sold out, it’s just that I’ve been going to a lot of weddings lately involving poets (more on that in a second) -- so many that I feel like putting a salad spinner in a glass case marked BREAK IN CASE OF POET FRIENDS SURPRISING EVERYONE BY ELOPING. The words of everyone from Mary Oliver to Dr. Seuss to the bride herself have been invoked... and that was just in one wedding.
Oh, also, there are some poetry happenings. Last time, I focused on Austin; this time, the spotlight seems to be pointed on South Texas, starting with the place I live, work, and pay property taxes -- and the home of your world champion San Antonio Spurs.
A FESTIVAL WITHOUT FESTIVAL FOOD
San Antonio is known for its festivals, which typically involve a crush of people, some turkey legs, some gorditas (both food and human varieties), and beer. After the recent NBA championship by the aforementioned San Antonio Spurs (of whom we’re very proud), we had no less than 300,000 people jam the banks of the San Antonio River for a parade, with another 60,000 in the Alamodome for a chance to gawk at the big trophy.
But there’s another festival quietly making its impression as a summer must-see: the Gemini Ink Summer Literary Festival. Running from July 7 - 20, it’s basically an excuse to pack its poetry, fiction, and assorted other writing and publishing classes into a two-week period. However, each year also features readings, and this year’s fest boasts two free and excellent bills: acclaimed poet Li-Young Lee reading with author Tom Grimes on July 11, and a pair of phenomenal poets, the well-known Martin Espada and the not-as-well-known Brian Clements reading with novelist and San Antonio native son John Phillip Santos on July 18. Both readings run from 6 - 7:30 pm at Gemini Ink world headquarters on 513 S. Presa. And remember, they’re free.
A POETRY READING WITH FOOD
The Ballabajoomba Poetry Slam, an oasis in the coastal town of Corpus Christi, has outgrown its original location. Quick self-serving anecdote: I was part of the first-ever slam in Corpus, featuring a pick-up team from the town, a team from Austin (which I was then part of), and a team from San Antonio. The slam was held in a Unitarian church social hall -- I was going to pithily point out it’s the first slam I’ve ever participated in where baked goods were sold, until recalling that I have read in a bagel shop before (1997 National Poetry Slam, Middletown, Connecticut).
Slammaster Stefan Sencerz, whose signature phrase “Clap for de poet!” has become a rallying cry throughout all Texas slams, has moved from the Lotus Cup (where they still plan to do some specialty events) to Dentoni’s Pizza, 415 Williams. Saturday nights are still slam nights in Corpus, with signup starting at 7:45, an 8:15 feature, and an 8:30 slam. The winner gets cash, pizza, and a pitcher of his or her favorite libation.
And speaking of Corpus and slam, watch out for the Corpus team at this year’s National Poetry Slam. Proving that Texas cross-pollination is officially ON, this year’s team features Sencerz, three-time puro ¡SLAM! champ Amalia Ortiz, and Austin-based poets Jeff Knight and Tonie Roque, who have not only been setting three slam series on fire this year, but have decided to become the latest Austin poets to get married -- which, these days, is becoming an even more popular pastime than Poems About Star Wars.
THE NUPTIALS
Congrats to Austin slammaster Mike Henry and former APS board director Sonya Feher, who made it official on May 3 after nine years of coupledom, and Austin poet power couple Susan Somers-Willett (that’s now Dr. Somers-Willett to you: she also got her Ph.D. from UT) and Ernie Cline, who tied it May 24. Also, Diane Fleming and Larry Thoren will exchange vows later this summer. All of a sudden, I feel like a society page writer.
As far as I know, no other poets have gotten married in recent months.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
After nearly a decade of organizing and nurturing the Dallas Slam through some momentous years, including 2nd place at the 1998 National Poetry Slam in Austin (with one of the best teams in slam history), and 1st place at the 2001 National Poetry Slam in Seattle, Clebo Rainey is stepping down as Slammaster to concentrate on teaching, writing, and performing. Rock Baby and Militant X take the reins for the Friday night series, still holding court at the Art Bar, 2803 Main, in Deep Ellum.
AND A NAME CHANGE
It’s finally happening: Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, which has built up one of the best writing programs in the state, wants to sound less like an outpost in the middle of the prairie. So, starting this fall, the school officially changes its name to Texas State University at San Marcos. So now all you have to do is figure out where San Marcos is. (About halfway between Austin and San Antonio.)
Send poetry news and inappropriate wedding toasts my way -- I’m sure to have use for both of them.
