Sturgeon's Law

Well, I could go on and on and on about the West Chester conference. Instead, I'll just try to sum up some of my thoughts about the whole thing.

• Overall, the week was a wonderful experience. Though it got a little too formal-orthodox at points, I think the conference provides value to anyone, including someone like me who writes 75% free verse (even if much of it is ghost-of-meter), who is interested in those metrical aspects, outlying aspects of the poetry that aren't inherently formal, and some of the best poets around.
• Getting to hear and meet some of my favorite poets was lovely. I especially enjoyed meeting Alicia Stallings and Pete Fairchild, both of whom were very gracious while I (of course) felt like I was coming across as a stammering goon.
• Almost everyone was super nice and highly accommodating. Dick Davis even got me a beer at one point.
  
• I think the most heartening thing about the conference for me was seeing how many young people (here meaning ~35 and under) are really passionate about poetry and about to make notable impacts with their own writing. From well-established people like Josh Mehigan to first-book-coming-soon people like Chelsea Rathburn to at least half a dozen people around my age who are going to get there, there won't be a dropoff. Poetry should be in good hands.
  
• Mark Jarman is as good a teacher as I remember, and incredibly generous. Dave Mason seemed to be everywhere. Sam Gwynn's reading was probably the best. Meg Schoerke provided some great dinner conversation. There are so many nice, smart, talented, etc. people that I met that there's no way I can remember them all, but here are some names I'll especially remember (either first-time meetings or people I already knew one way or another): Carrie Jerrell, Chris Michel, Chad Parmenter, Jee Leong Koh, Kevin Cutrer, Mary Agner, Tony Barnstone,Terri Witek, Rhina Espaillat, Mike Snider, Michael Cantor, David Anthony, and Kevin Walzer. If I met you there and haven't listed you, please don't be offended. There were so many people.
• Thanks to Michael Peich and Amy Brubaker for organization, and to Kean Spencer for financing many things and for having a party at his immense house.
  

There are a few more fun stories and detritus from the conference that I may post sometime, but I think the basics are covered. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this sort of thing. One warning: stay at Holiday Inn, not in the dorms.

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Quote of the Day:

"Nihilists! Fuck me. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos."--The Big Lebowski