Poetry and the Lively Audience

Last night I read poetry at Mississippi Pizza--and came home and had frozen pizza (I ate more at home than there). (The pizza is a LOT better there!)  

Here are some pictures of this poetry + music event (next shows: Fri. January 22 11:30 am at Chemeketa CC, Building 2, Salem, and then Tuesday, January 26, 7:30 at The Press Club on SE Clinton St in Portland).

Pictures: the writer, reading seriously with pianist (Lorin!) in the back. Then, in the other picture, note the real show. Poetry works better with dancing kids. (Asa, our friend's 1 1/2 year old in the audience, kept saying, "Jan. Jan. Stage." And, Zoe too!).

Thanks to musical genius Lorin, the book table guy and the film guy (Jeremy and Justus), and especially to all who attended--and to the amazing sound engineer Lauren ("When the kids start dancing, turn up the mic's," I instructed her) and the kids who danced spontaneously on stage, demonstrating their ability to jump over dragon beams. To avoid being dragon bait.

Unscripted moments included the melt down before the show (Zoe's, not mine!), Tim shouting support for some parenting joke from the audience ("I have been backed up by a MINISTER," I said), Zoe trying to put a sticker on my chest during a poem, and the kids forming a chain and trying to hide under my--thankfully full skirted--dress.

Just your basic poetry reading, with backup Eddie Vedder on the mandolin.