On Sunday, I gave a poetry reading in Redlands, California, at the State Street Deli and Cafe. It was organized by Carla McGill, who did a fabulous job of it. Before I read, Carla read some of her own poetry, as did two other poets. After the event, I was able to sell and sign some copies of Doll God. Although I get nervous speaking in public, I really do love reading my poetry aloud. Actually, I love reading poetry aloud, period.
You know what I notice in this photo? How messed up my scarf got. What a shallow mind.
Here are a couple of clips of the reading. In the first I read “American Girl,” “Effigy,” and “Calculating Loss”–all poems from the book.
and in this clip I read a new poem about my great-grandmother.
You don’t sound nervous at all. A natural! Great job Luanne!
Ah, thanks, Andy. So nice of you to say! It really was fun! Carla did a great job setting everything up!
Luanne- loved your poetry readings. What a beautiful way to begin this cold mid-November day! Thank you for sharing your gift.
Ah, thanks, Elaine. It’s chillier here in Arizona now, too. But Sunday in California was absolutely lovely. We were lucky to have such a nice day. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Nice job, Luanne! I would have been so nervous…you sounded very at ease.
The very first poem I read my voice felt shaky, but I started to feel very comfortable because I like reading aloud. Reading is a comfort place for me, always has been. I wonder if my neck got red (as if there is any question) but between this mutant scarf and my secure necked top, it wasn’t a problem.
Ha ha!
Congratulations, Luanne. Unfortunately the clips play terribly. Constant interruptions, fast and slow, arms spinning round like windmills. Hopefully just my broadband.
Oh, that’s so disappointing! I think it must be the broadband. They seem to play ok for the others who have commented. But my mother did say she couldn’t play the tapes on her computer, and I think her service is not all “that.” So funny to hear about my arms spinning round like windmills though!!!
It was somewhat disconcerting 🙂
[chuckling]
Congratulations, each time you seem more and more relaxed.
It’s funny you say that. On the very first poem (there isn’t a video of that one) my voice sounded shaky to me. Then I started to feel more and more confident.
It was wonderful. It’s so nice to hear your voice.
Thanks, Kate! Yes, everyone should post themselves talking on their blogs–that means you :)!
Oh dear….
You got yourself into it!
GREAT JOB!!! I really enjoyed hearing your voice. Your scarf is a mess though–LOL. You looked and sounded great.
A
LOL, see below. Carrie thinks nobody noticed but me. hahahaha A huge mess. Thanks for your compliments! Better that I sounded good than that my scarf was neat and I was awful ;).
The history of dolls is a history of women–love that!!!
I think it’s so true!
By the way, we just got back from the scouting trip and Jones took care of matters afterward ;).
Bravo, Luanne! I cannot wait to hear more about it in person. xo
Thanks, Rudri–I can’t wait to see you!
You look and sound very “cool.” Well done, Luanne.
Thanks so much, Anneli! If I can’t be hot I like being cool! 😉 Carla really did a great job putting it all together. I am so amazed what she did.
I hadn’t thought of it that way. Hot is nice but after a certain age (say 30, like us…) being cool is good too.
Hahaha. That’s precisely it ;).
Lovely reading!
Thanks, CC!
Congratulations! That’s wonderful. You sound and look great. And I guarantee no one else noticed the scarf. Isn’t it funny what we see that others don’t?
Hahaha, see what Adrienne wrote above! She definitely noticed that crazy scarf. At one point I noticed the scarf was screwed up and re-did it in between poems! Thank you for your nice compliments!
Well, I never wear scarves, so I wouldn’t have noticed a thing! 🙂
Jill (above) and I wear scarves to hide our red necks!
Maybe that came out wrong. Our necks that turn red when we’re embarrassed . . . .
Haha, yes, that makes more sense.
Fantastic, Luanne. I couldn’t hear you very well, but it is noisy here at the moment (those silly tractors driving around). You look very relaxed 😉 I’m going to watch again later and hopefully hear more of your words 😀
Thanks, Dianne!
Wonderful, Luanne. So nice to hear your voice.
Thank you so much, Robert! I had fun!
Great job, Luanne! It seems like it was a fun event.
It was interesting hearing your voice.
Haha, interesting? As in, INterESTing?
Thanks, Merril!
Hahaha. No, truly interesting. There are so many people I know only online, and never hear their voices.
I would love it if we had a day where all the bloggers posted their own voices on their blogs!
Nice job. Congratulations. 🙂
Thank you so much, Viv. I had a wonderful time and am so appreciative of the work Carla did.
Your scarf looks great and you sound great! Don’t worry, be happy.
No, the scarf doesn’t look great, but I hope I sounded good enough! Yes, I was happy as it was a fun time!
I LOVED hearing you read your beautiful poems Luanne, hearing your voice makes me feel I know you even better. I didn’t even notice the scarf 😉 I especially enjoyed your poem about your great-grandmother. My grandmother used to tie brown parcels with string (twine). I just wish that women hadn’t walked right in front of the camera though. So annoying when people arrive late like that…sorry, had to say 🙁 Thanks so much for sharing your video clips. Have a wonderful weekend xoxo
Thank you so much, Sherri. I really do like that poem a lot myself. Sometimes the ones people prefer are not my favorites, but that one is very special to me. The people walking in front of the camera were doing what I asked them do. It was a restaurant that allowed us use of their patio, and I wanted people to have a good time. To get more food and drink they had to cross in front to go inside the restaurant. It didn’t distract me. My son’s girlfriend took the videos for me, and she was sitting directly across from the podium. You have a good weekend, too! xo
Ahh…got it! So glad it didn’t distract you. That makes a lot of sense now you’ve explained it to me, thank you for that. And yes, I can see why your beautiful poem is so special to you. And again, I’m so thrilled for your news about Doll God. You must be floating on air, what an amazing accomplishment for you! A great weekend for you with plenty of fizz popping I’m sure…save a glass for me will you? 🙂 xoxo
I could hear nerves in the beginning, but they vanished as soon as you began reading your poem. Fantastic job, Luanne, and so nice to hear your voice. I’ve only read my poetry to people once and I needed to leave as soon as I did it. I felt too vulnerable. You had such confidence!
Nate, haha, yes, I was nervous at first, but then I got more and more confident. Thank you so much! Try it again, especially if you can do it around friends. You might like it better that way!
Luanne, you look and sound exactly as I had pictured you in my mind! Even the scarf in disarray…what a wonderful job you did – truly! Thanks so much for posting the video – that was so cool. Of course, you know my favorite was the last one about your great-grandfather. Your love for your family always comes through so clearly in your poetry.
P.S. I also loathed my science classes – isn’t that funny??
This made me laugh so much–that you had me pictured this way with a scarf in disarray. Yes, and often it’s hair in disarray from its ponytail, too. My favorite was the last poem, too. I felt as if I got inside Cora to write it. I still think that the problem with science classes for me was that in 8th grade all of a sudden it became a click that as a girl I wasn’t allowed into it. Maybe it was my 8th grade science teacher. I think the guys in my class all really liked him and have very fond memories of him today. He was a nice person, but suddenly I didn’t feel welcome with science.
Luanne, I love hearing you read your poems, and of those you read in the clip, Calculating Loss is my favorite. The poem gave me chills when I first read it, and hearing it read aloud brought those chills back. As far as your scarf: it looked fine to me, but if it wasn’t there, it would be something else. My eye always zeros in on the “flaw” in any photo of myself. That’s probably one reason why I’m camera shy 🙂
Marie, maybe the scarf protected me from seeing all my other flaws LOL!!! I am trying to be better about photos of myself, but in general I like being the one behind the camera, not in front. I have had more compliments on Calculating Loss in general than any other poems. I even put it on my website as a sample for that reason! Thank you so much!
I like to hear about your family and especially liked hearing you read, Luanne. I was listening to your poem about your great grandmother. “What Lies Inside” was so wonderful. The details were interesting and helped to create the picture of how their lives were. I love the image of the son with palms open and how she is not able to feel his need. She seems to turn away, if I have this figured out. It made me sad. But it was an honest portrayal.
“Protecting self” is such an interesting concept you described, Luanne. I picture women/mothers of this generation being accepting of their “lots” in life. It was good to turn this concept on end. 🙂
Luanne, Thank you for liking my bright orange flowers! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Do you have family and friends say a memory of someone or express thanks individually? ♡♡♡
Robin, this year it was just hubby and me for Thanksgiving, and the dinner turned out terrible. Not the company haha, but the food. So it was a disappointing weekend, but my kids are coming in a couple of weeks!!!!! xo
Yes, I imagined her turning away because I put together stories I have heard about her and about my grandfather and can see her being overwhelmed with being a mother. I’m so glad the poem resonated with you, Robin. It’s one of my favorites.