Steve Almond drew an overflow audience last year at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival with his presentation Bad Poetry. Using his own poems as well as those of others who wanted to be in on the fun and learn at the same time, he joked, displayed and generally had the audience roaring at what we all knew we had at one time or another been guilty of. There’s not a Nobel Prize winner who hasn’t written a lousy poem.
He’ll be back to do the same this year, and for your fun and edification, he’s asking you to submit your worst poems ever. He’ll choose the best worst poems to celebrate in his presentation. Send them in at carrie@masspoetry.org.
In his book Bad Poetry, Almond says, “I’ve long been of the belief that people get better as writers because they get sick of their bad decisions.” It also helps to hold those poems up to scrutiny. Which is what he does to his own work in the book. He suggests that, for many, they dare too little. For Almond, his wonderful titles suggest he dared too much: “Sartre, You’re Such an Asshole,” “Kafka at the 50 Yard Line (Shady Side),” “Sinatra Time.”
For a wonderful interview with Almond, check this out.
If you missed Almond last year, make sure you see him this year. And submit those poems! carrie@masspoetry.org.
