Gilbert, Kinnell, Dickinson (not Emily) and Bidart: Reviews by Twilite

A Tribute to Jack Gilbert
April 29, 2007
APE ltd Gallery,
Thornes Market
Northampton, MA

Tributes can be maudlin affairs with lots of tedious gushing and fawning over the honoree, who is often drawing his agonal breaths. Maybe that's what tributes are supposed to be, and maybe there was some of that here, but by god, I'm glad I didn't miss this one. The whole thing built steadily, with the readers, and the stories, and the poetry, just getting better and better. Everyone read a Gilbert poem and one of their own, and offered some personal recollections. Kerry O'Keefe recalled a story of how one of Gilbert's poems had finished off her marriage. Doug Anderson's reading was wonderfully expressive, and Henry Lyman was sage and erudite and soulful at the same time. The afternoon built to a crescendo when Gilbert himself read a piece, "Sing Going Down". Impressively moving and effective, Gilbert gathered his powers and delivered the goods. If one reading of one poem can sum up a lifetime of work then this was it. Simply amazing.
Twilite's rating - 9.2
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Galway Kinnell and Josephine Dickenson
Smith College
April 24, 2007

Galway Kinnell is god, well maybe not the God, but definitely a poetry god, at least to me. Even though he is 80 years old this year, he remains at the height of his power and relevance. Wow, just unbelievable! I was a huge thrill to hear him read and to talk with him afterwards and have him sign a book for me. He is a most gracious and wonderful man. He has found an incredible protegee in Josephine Dickenson. What an unexpected pleasure. She completely blew my mind with her earthy, deep poetry and heart felt delivery. Nothing artificial here.
Twilite's rating - 9.4
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Frank Bidart
Smith College
April 17, 2007

Frank Bidart has an amazing cobra head, stilted, elliptical poems and a delivery in which he punctuates the reading using his free hand like a sock puppet. He lets the words hang in the air for effect, carving space like some partially deranged puppeteer. With his dark clothes and contrived persona, he cuts an odd figure to say the least. I'm not quite sure what to make of his stuff. His long piece, "Giselle", I found self-indulgent and lacking in music. Interesting, I guess. Good, but certainly not great. Somewhat perplexing.Twilite's rating - 7.9