Greetings!
Linda Gregg's poem, "The Presence In Absence," begins, Poetry is not made of words, something we know well after nine years of festivals, as we anticipate our tenth. There is a kind of poetic magic that occurs when we gather in January to work, to listen, read, and learn from one another in the very special Delray Beach location.
At the festival, absence will simply mean that you will not be with us, that you didn't apply for a workshop. On the other hand, your presence will mean that you will have the opportunity to be part of a community of poets working together, hearing some of the most celebrated poets in America read and speak about craft, sign their books for you, and enjoy so many other events.
If you are present, you might be in Linda Gregg's workshop, Craft Of The Invisible, where participants will: consider the invisible as the space between an event, and that event becoming a poem--where participants will work together in the spirit of Joseph Brodsky's statement, "Poetry is the greatest invention of mankind." So we share here the whole poem by Linda Gregg for you to consider:
The Presence In Absence
Poetry is not made of words.
I can say it's January when
it's August. I can say, "The scent
of wisteria on the second floor
of my grandmother's house
with the door open onto the porch
in Petaluma," while I'm living
an hour's drive from the Mexican
border town of Ojinaga.
It is possible to be with someone
who is gone. Like the silence which
continues here in the desert while
the night train passes through Marfa
louder and louder, like the dogs whining
and barking after the train is gone.
"The Presence in Absence" is from "In The Middle Distance," by Linda Gregg, and also appears in "All of It Singing, New and Selected Poems."
In addition to the festival's readings, craft talks, panels and interviews, the week offers a chance for you to nurture such poems. Take a moment to hear Linda Gregg read from her work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mISxSV64GBQ. Linda Greg's bio is available on our website along with the
full workshop description.
Our special guest is U.S. Poet Laureate, Natasha Trethewey. Additional featured poets include Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Chard deNiord, Taylor Mali and Glenis Redmond. Accepted participants may work in a one-on-one conference with either Traci Brimhall, Sally Bliumis-Dunn or Ginger Murchison.
Remember, to be in a workshop you need to apply before the deadline. That's a very direct way to say don't miss the festival! ... Allow us to enjoy your presence in January ... in Delray Beach, at the 10th Annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival.We would love to welcome you at the 10th Annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival.
Apply today!
