Reading Poetry In Front of Folks

Friday, April 4th, 2008 @ 10:34AM

Little Bill is a great son. James Dickey is a great poet. This is James Dickey, not Little Bill.

I was asked to come and read a couple of poems for the Favorite Poem Project at Weber State University.  The organizer of the event is a friend of the program by the name of Ashley.  Ashley asked if little Bill wanted to come along and read a poem too.  This was for an audience of people attending a literary conference at WSU.  Little Bill said, “sure, I’d like to go.” And so yesterday off we went to Ogden for poetry reading. 

The boy made me so proud with his rendition of his favorite poem The Captain and His Crew by Kent Frates. LB (Little Bill) told the audience that his was his favorite poem because, “I’m quite a pirate enthusiast.” He read loudly and clearly and gave a quick from the waist bow when he finished to warm applause. 

I read two poems by James Dickey.  Most people know him only as the author of the book Deliverance upon which the movie was based.  I’ve not read the novel, but the movie is terrific.  And so are Dickey’s poems.  They’re easy to find at the bookstore or the library.  Here are the two I read; “Pursuit From Under” and “The Leap.”

I know most people don’t read poems, but give him and these a try. 

Thanks for listening,
Bill Allred