T.G.I.F. — poetically speaking

By JONATHAN FOX

Although I am loath to admit it, I have issues—far too many to enumerate here, but I will concentrate, for the moment, on one. Try as I might, poetry eludes me. I have attended many events that revolve around the art form and sometimes I get it... and sometimes, not so much.

When the opportunity arose to discuss the subject with an expert, I hesitated, thought about it—and then dove in. I sat down last week with Laura E. J. Moran, founder of the First Fridays Contemporary Writers Series, now in its fifth year of residence at the Western Sullivan Public Library branch, located at 198 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg, NY.

As it turns out, I had already seen Moran perform. While explaining my reticence to embrace poetry, I described to her, in vivid detail, an experience I had with a “poetry slam” two years ago at another venue. After mocking the performance and the artist, she leaned back, smiled… and simply said, “that was me.”

Turning beet red, I apologized for speaking out of turn but she graciously explained that she let me go on (and on) in order to understand where I was coming from and was up to the challenge of changing my mind, with the help of the series, which began last month and runs through December of this year.

“The goal of First Fridays is to get people back to poetry and to make it come alive,” she explained. “Most people were exposed to poetry in high school, with long-dead poets, and their eyes usually glaze over. If you are one of those people”—and at this point in the conversation, she knew that I was, thanks in part to my inserting foot in mouth)—“I challenge you to attend the series and not walk away with a new appreciation for the art form.”

Never one to walk away from a challenge, I immediately accepted and we continued our dialog. As we sat together in the library, she and I discussed the differences and similarities of our work. Moran explained the goals of poets by saying, “I truly believe that one of poetry’s purposes and attributes is in its inherent ability to use language as metaphor. Often the single word can have a power in its simplicity. In poetry, repetition of words and phrases often create the structure.”

As I scratched my head in confusion, she continued. “It doesn’t tend to be linear. I am fascinated by language.” Moran keenly looked at me and shared one of her favorite sayings: “Don’t confuse the poem with the poet. A lot of people confuse the two.”

First Fridays showcases the work of professionals who have been honing their craft for many years—Moran has been at it for more than 20. The evenings begin with a short “open mic” opportunity for local artists. Because Moran schedules the series with writers that she knows, or whose work she has experienced first-hand, guest appearances are by invitation only.

“I need to have seen them present their work in public,” she said, since the words need to be “as strong on the stage as they are on the page.” She went on to say that “our audience has grown over the five years that the series has been around. We always have a packed house, but it is important that we continue to grow and expose as many people as possible to the world of poetry. I think, at this point, that people know they are going to experience quality, whether they are familiar with a particular writer or not.”

As our conversation drew to a close, Moran summed it all up for me (the guy who doesn’t “get it”). She eyed me and said with a sly grin: “I don’t think it’s earth-shattering or that it’s life changing, but I do think it’s a good night out.”

The First Fridays Contemporary Writers Series continues this Friday, May 7, with readings and music by performers Erica Fabri and Robin Andre, visiting from New York City. Open mic begins at 7:00 p.m. The library does not censor the authors and sometimes the language can be “gritty and contain adult themes.” First Fridays therefore suggests minors should be accompanied by an adult. The series is free and open to the public.

For more information email lmoran@rcls.org or call 845/252-3360.