Even then I might not have read it. I must say, considering his message, and his times, he was indeed a courageous poet. People still don't admit to what he was actually saying.
I read instead my sonnet on Lord Byron. Though he was a much badder boy than Whitman, the poem I wrote about him wasn't quite so potentially incendiary.
I then read two short ones: "Among the World's Great Poets" and "Brought Them to Their Doom", the last being a part of a series of short "logic poems" (or so I call them).
Because a young poet had read what I call a sentence poem the previous week, I'd offered to bring in one of mine. He said he really liked Being in Love With You. Reading it gave me the chance to make some edits — and enhance the format — which I greatly appreciate.
Chris giving me the "one more", I asked the audience if they'd like another love poem or a "social message" poem. Opting for the latter, I gave them "Then They Came for You", after changing only one word in mark-up.
His Eminence Charlie Clouse showed up again, but did not read. We had an extremely enjoyable musical performance by a Brian somebody who will be performing his Segovia-like guitar at an Italian restaurant on E. Market in a week or two. As you can see, specifics on such things aren't my strong point.
My readings in the encyclopedia volume also introduced me to Arnold von Winkelried, "legendary hero of Swiss history." I never knew.
Read your encyclopedia, wherever you might find one. It could change you.
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