Dubbed an "Ekphrastic Celebration" it truly was a conversation of art with art. Even the food conversed with various poems, including a fig tart that responded to a fig tree poem I wrote a number of years back, as well as a lovely tableau of bread and pottery that referred to a poem about Caravaggio's Supper at Emmaus
A requisite reference to sweater vests occurred in these dainty finger sandwiches. Friend and colleague Brett Foster wrote a lovely, funny, generous vilanelle, which he read movingly after I had been given the gift of my friends' generous attentions as I read poems. The poems I read including one or two from each year I was at Wheaton, 9 years. Several have asked for me to put those pieces somewhere. This seems like a fitting spot. Some are links, others I have posted whole. Not each poem is, in my judgment, the best, but each one represents a significant kind of encounter with my colleagues, with students, and with the subjects that have marked my time at Wheaton.
2001
Explaining the Nude Scene
Silence, 11 September 2001
2002
After Bach's Air in G, Transcribed for Flute
Reasons to Avoid the Woods (After Reading the Inferno, Again)
2003
A Selfish Sonnet of Thanksgiving
Four Ways to Read a Footnote (Poem grew from a challenge given to me by former colleague Keith Jones whome I miss very much.)
2004
Inerrancy (after Jorie Graham)
Bach’s Pentecostal Fugue for Electric Organ, Choir, and Tambourine
2005
Confessions (Remembering a trip to Baylor with Steve and Christina)
2006
Sestina for Bach’s Mama
Political Poem
2007
So Here's the Thing (responding to Mark Lewis' brilliant all-female production of Hamlet)The Devil Wears a Sweater Vest
2008
After David Hooker
David made many, many beautiful cups for this gathering, and each one of us got to take one home.Meeting the Relatively Famous Songwriter/Pop Star at Lunch
2009
Several Heads
The Pacifist Boxer Enters the Gym
2010
Agnosis of the Order of the Djembe, after Kazim Ali
Thanks to Christine and Stephanie for documenting the party. More photos to come.
