Dodge

Get out of Dodge, dodge that bullet, the Artful Dodger, dodgeball... these are the references one might come up with when given the word 'dodge." I humbly submit another- The Dodge Poetry Festival. Held this year in Newark, NJ, the Dodge Poetry Festival ran from October 7-10, and featured poetry readings, discussions about craft and literature, and frank conversations about the business of poetry.

Named after Geraldine R. Dodge, the festival is held every other year, though the organization puts together mini-festivals and poet visits for schools as well. While I admire the effort to bring poetry (and an appreciation of same) to high school students, I was unfortunate to be there on a Rutgers field trip the same day that the high schoolers were there on their own field trips, and was reminded just how much work these people have ahead of them to instill a true appreciation of verse in these youngsters who his from poetry sessions in the bathrooms, texting and chatting through readings as though there was no one on stage at all.

But enough ranting about the shortcomings of today's youth. For my own part, I was able to hear a number of poets read, including Amiri Baraka, Marie Ponsot, Rita Dove, Billy Collins, Sharon Olds, Kwame Dawes, and Kay Ryan. I couldn't pick a favorite if I tried, they were all special in their own way. And so funny! I worry that I lack the sense of humor obviously required to be a poet of note. I really would have liked to stay longer that day, or to be able to go back for more sessions over the weekend (there were dozens of poets that I did not get to hear), but my own writing kept me busy, with a poem and a short story due that Monday. (You can click this link to lead you to some recording from the festival.)

Funny thing, though- after all the excitement of Friday, with the festival during the day and an art show at a gallery where I read that night, with pages and pages of assorted thoughts scribbled in a notebook, I couldn't come up with a things to write about. I was so eager to write after the festival, but I was empty. I got the job done, but after hearing so much amazing poetry, it was humbling just getting down my couple of pages.