The third annual Boston Book Festival will again feature poets and poetry. The BBF, which will be in the Copley Square area on October 15, will present over 100 writers and literary professionals, as well as Massachusetts Governor, Patrick Deval.  The events range from programs for children and teens as well as topics that range from cooking, crime and gender stereotypes. The keynote speaker will be acclaimed author Michael Ondaatje, best known for his novel The English Patient. His latest novel is The Cat’s Table.
The poetry scene at the BBF will also be varied, with three different events sponsored by Mass Poetry. The events are coordinated this year, as they were last year, by Chloe Garcia-Roberts.
Personae: Self-Portrait As . . .
This presentation, hosted by poet and critic Stephen Burt (The Art of the Sonnet, Close Calls with Nonsense, and Parallel Play)Â presents a provocative look at the persona poem as a form of self-portraiture. Sandra Beasley (I Was the Jukebox) and Jessica Bozek (The Bodyfeel Lexicon) will read and join in discussing the use of the form in their own work as well as its role in contemporary American poetics.
10:30am Boston Public Library Washington Room 700 Boylston Street
A Celebration of the 75th anniversary of New Directions
2:00pm Boston Public Library Abbey Room 700 Boylston Street
Page and Stage: Teen Spoken Word
This event is a gathering of exceptionally talented young word weavers who bring powerful emotion, provocative ideas, and rhythmic words together to create a stirring experience that crosses the line between poetry and storytelling. You may even get a chance to take the mic! Hosted by Regie Gibson, winner of the 1998 National Slam Competition and member of Mass LEAP.
Gibson currently has four students engaged to read but expects more. He chooses young poets based on strong work, an ability to deliver their work well, and their appeal to diverse audience members. He is ”also very conscious of gender. Many young women write, but I have found more young men willing to present poems in public. I want to make sure young women with good work are represented.”
Gibson believes, “Every event where young people get to speak their truth is important. It’s important that we adults show our support for it. Every young person finding a creative outlet for the inevitable angst that accompanies adolescence is a young person less likely to turn toward the most unfortunate behaviors in order to get attention. When we support them at these events, we affirm their voices and our belief in democracy.”
Gibson hopes the audience will draw not only the expected teachers, parents and young people, but “journalists, politicians, law enforcement officers, musicians and theater people with a desire to help young people find their own expression.” And as everyone who has heard him at the Mass Poetry Festival knows, Gibson is a sparkling emcee who engages the audience and provides a stimulating situation for young people — and adults
4:00pm Old South Church Mary Norton Hall 645 Boylston Street
In addition to the events sponsored by Mass Poetry, Grub Street is presenting two sections of the Poem Generator workshop. The morning presenter is poet, songwriter, author, and educator Regie Gibson. The afternoon session is hosted by poet Rebecca Morgan Frank. More information on this workshop.
No comments yet.