Joshua Beckman

JOSHUA BECKMAN

This loverly Thursday afternoon, Joshua Beckman gave a hypnotic reading in the TCNJ Library Auditorium. He performed for us three poems from Your Time Has Come, which was over in a matter of moments as the pieces are so short. It was his reading from Shake that was particularly interesting. He read through the entire first section of Shake, without skipping a poem or a beat. His pace and speech made each of the poems hypnotically ryhthmic, rocking back and forth or side to side as he spoke. While he read, certain themes became obviously important: the repetition, the sound choices, hands, wanting.

His work makes the ordinary and unoticeable into something extraordinary and important. Then many of his poems simply mock this importance. His work mocks modesty in its own humility. His words are seemingly about learning. The constant need to keep learning and moving. Wanting.

After the reading, he answered the questions just as we all thought he would: like a Rock Star.

He claimed that he spends years making the decisions concerning his collections. Nothing is done spur of the moment, and most of his work truly ends up on the cutting room floor. And when asked if being an editor has helped his work he said, " Probably not. It may hurt it, though!"

He was a good man, Charlie Brown. He enjoyed a cookie or two and made sure to sign every book we through at him.

That'll do pig.

Tracy K. Smith

TRACY K. SMITH

This afternoon, Tracy K. Smith gave a fantabulous reading down in the TCNJ Library Auditorium. The turn out was superb which can only mean that the PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP did their job, top notch.

*wink wink*

(I have to represent for my people, obviously.)

She read a good assortment of her poetry, with special emphasis on Duende, which came to be expected as it is the more recent book. She then let us in on a couple pieces from her up and coming book (the date of its release as well as the expected title have completely escaped me) which was a real treat. The slight, distopian, otherworldly themes that she only slightly touched upon in Duende, are a main focus in her new work. The pieces gave way to wit and humor as well as peaceful beauty and scene. She read with grace and comfort infront of the crowd, which led me to believe she may have some theatre background; however, when asked, she denied anything of the sort. Just natural ability!

After the reading, she was superbly receptive to the questioning, especially when we got down to the hard ones, digging into her nitty-gritty detail. Even when a random crowd member asked her what "her body's question" was, she handled with with a giggle and a joke.

Then rest of the event went on with only a slight hitch...the girl from the bookstore had LEFT!!!! I suppose she got bored and figured, "well, who would want to buy a book and get it signed now that Ms. Smith has read and we know just how great her work is?" I was ready to get fist'a'cuffs! So after I ran back to the bookstore and gave them a piece of my mind, I returned with the books and a man to sell them.

At the end of the day, I think we were all rather pleased.