My Life, Slowly

Lyn Hejinian read to a full house today at Milwaukee’s Woodland Pattern bookstore. Not only does she read well, she establishes eye contact with almost everybody in the audience. How does she do that?
She writes critical essays that abstract from abstractions, then turns out a poem that makes us laugh with references to friendly barnyard animals like Goaty Throaty. How does she do that?
She helps direct the Academy of American poets, then sits in a Milwaukee living room and talks to us about art and theories of perception. How does she do that?
I really don’t know, but as I keep reading her work maybe I’ll find out.

Andy Gricevich posted an insightful reaction to her work on his Otherwise blog.
Today’s reading was recorded and I hope to be able to share selections in upcoming Wordsalad programs.