Issa's Untidy Hut: Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library

Friday, November 23, 2012

So It Goes: Literary Journal of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library

So It Goes: The Literary Journal of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library

Sometimes, life is just good. This was one of those times.

If someone told me I'd be reading at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library a selection of my own poems, published in the journal So It Goes ... well, you get the idea.

The library is an amazing combination library (literally, it has a collection of Kurt Vonnegut's own books) and museum space/art gallery. KVML is a non-profit venture, superably curated by Excecutive Director and Library Founder, Julia Whitehead.

There are some marvelous photos of the Vonnegut digs here.

Over Armistice Weekend, which dovetailed with Kurt Vonnegut's 90th birthday, a number of events took place. Saturday night saw the book release reading and party for Kurt Vonnegut: Letters, edited by Dan Wakefield, who gave a moving reading, told stories, and patiently signed copies for all and sundry.

This reading was preceded by a release reading of the first number of And So It Goes: The Literary Journal of the Kurt Vonnegut Library. The reading was marvelous and the audience as attentive and appreciative as any I've ever read for.

This first number, ably edited by J. T. Whitehead, gathered voices old and new, small press and famous, the living and the dead, around the theme of Veteran's Reclaiming Armistice Day. The subtle difference in the name change from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day is not lost upon poets and veterans alike.

Among the contributors are Gerald Locklin, Marge Piercy, Orhan Veli, Robert Bly, Blaise Cendrars, Julie Kane, Tim O'Brien, James Alexander Thom, A. D. Winans, Dan Sicoli, Brian Turner, Alison Baker, Hayden Carruth, B. Z. Niditch, Nelson Algren, Dan Wakefield, and Sidney Offit, and many others.

If you'd like your own copy of this first number of the annual And So It Goes, you can buy it here

There was a series of workshops on Sunday to address the ideas of peace and healing for veterans, themes close to the heart of Kurt Vonnegut. Roam around the Vonnegut Library site - there is lots to see, about this and many other things.

Some pics, via Laurie Anderson, of the library and reading:

Mark Vonnegut, Author of Eden Express & KV's son

*********

Ume crest

even on the water bucket
the war lord's crest...
plum blossoms

Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue

best,
Don

PS. Get 2 free issues. Get 2 more free issues

Lillie poem archive

Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.

Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 144 songs

Monday, November 5, 2012

Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library Reading: Veteran's Reclaim Armistice Day

Have some great news: this Saturday, November 10th, I'll be participating in a poetry reading at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library celebrating the release of the 1st number of the to-be annual journal, So It Goes: The Literary Journal of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial, in which I'll have four brief poems under the collective title "Sutra Blues." The event will be at the library at 4 pm as a prelimary to the book release party for the new Kurt Vonnegut Letters, with editor Dan Wakefield.

This year's issue of the journal is an Armistice Day Anthology, which is being released to coincide with a special program entitled Veteran's Reclaim Armistice Day: Healing Through the Humanities.
Here's a summary the program for the Armistice/Veteran's Day event on November 11th at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis:

To spotlight the importance of the arts and humanities to help veterans both heal from and understand better their experience of war, members of the board of the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library decided to hold a public event. The program will explore how the arts and humanities can help veterans cope with the trauma of war. All sessions are free and open to the public.

Veterans, notable writers, performers, philanthropists, family members, and those who are simply grateful to take part in a day of artistic expression will gather for one day of healing for hundreds of veterans and their families this November. In addition, your support will be a fitting tribute to the legacy of Kurt Vonnegut and his love for humanity. The 90th anniversary of his birth is the same day as the symposium. Kurt’s son Mark said his father, a veteran who experienced trauma from war and used art to understand his experience, would be proud to have his name attached to this event.

It will truly be an honor to share sometime with everyone coming together in this event to promote healing and peace. More info on the library and some of the great things they are doing there can be found at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library site.