CoPo

I had the opportunity to attend Julianna Baggott’s poetry reading on October 30, 2007.  From being moderately familiar with her work, I knew that wit and charm leapt from the pages of her poetry, but I did not know to expect the same from her lips.  She writes as she speaks, in metaphor and eloquence.  Poetry seems to exude from her very being in a way that had me hanging on her every word.

            As many of her poems are influenced by inquiries from others about her work, Baggott allowed for many questions during the reading.  When asked how subjects came to her, she simply stated, “It’s the jazz musician that holds up the instruments, and this is just playing me”, maintaining that the poetry chooses her, she does not choose the poetry.  In the same way, when asked where the diligence to write comes from, she begs beginning writers to look at writing as a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, something that one enjoys spending time with as opposed to a grueling task.  She says of it, “I love the process”; she does and it shows.

Not only does Baggott become inspired by her audience, she is also keenly interested in celebrities and their lives.  When asked why she enjoys writing about popular icons, she explains that she takes pleasure in undermining people’s expectations as to what it is like to be a celebrity.  One of the first poems she read was about Monica Lewinsky, a seemingly unlikely candidate for a sympathetic and non-jocular poem.  This, however, was one of my favorites because it plays to Monica’s emotion and presents her as a real person as opposed to objectifying her the way media tends to.  This and other like poems show the humanity of the famed and are a refreshing take upon their lives.

             I thoroughly enjoy Julianna Baggott’s poetry and was in no way disappointed with her presentation of it.  She expands upon familiar topics in diverse ways, and allows her audience to interact with the material.  In the inscription she wrote while signing my collection of her work, Compulsions of Silkworms and Bees, it read, “
Chelsea: Hope these inspire!”  To which I am proud to respond, yes Mrs. Baggott, they most certainly do.

Original post by chelseanewnam