One moves to Atlanta...

One moves to Atlanta for many reasons... for money, a big backyard, a job, family, the weather... one does not move to Atlanta for the "poetry scene".


And I've spent (perhaps too) much time whining about this on my blog, about how hard a time I've had finding writers and community in Atlanta, building a lit-world here.


The readings in town are redundant for the most part, at Emory, GSU, and Poetry@Tech, offering the same readers over and over. They like older white men who've been in Ploughshares a lot, or people who at least SOUND like older white men who've been in Ploughshares. Often, the people organizing the event are also readers (handy).


They like people who've been (at least) nominated for a MAJOR prize. They like poets who make an audience "sigh" and think of trees, rivers, and childhood, and (I imagine) they like poets whose names are familiar to major donors.


Now, I've worked in non-profit development enough to understand how this happens, but it's BORING! And POETRY is NOT a fundraising tool! Poetry is a moving/changing/breathing art.


So I've been disappointed, to say the least, that a city of 5 million, with several major universities, offers so little. But last night I attended the launch for a new literary magazine, VERB. An audioquarterly, a CD that arrives on your doorstep with poetry and fiction seeping through the jewelcase.


I am impressed with VERB (though I hope future issues will resist the Atlanta/old white guy/ clubby/ nothing new has happened for decades model) and with the creater of VERB, Daren Wang. I am also impressed with the bash they threw last night around the corner from me... with readings, good music, great food, local wines, and BEST OF ALL, a crowd of hundreds!


I actually had that experience I've been wanting so badly, of running into people I know, talking about books, discussing ideas for new projects.


So I want to say a big THANK YOU to Daren, and to VERB. I want to tell them that there ARE writers in this town, serious writers publishing serious work, who DON'T like to sigh and think of rivers all the time. Thanks also to the other folks who made last night so much fun. You guys are doing good work in a tough town, and if you ever need a hand...


Between Daren and Bruce Covey, the Duck and Herring Co. and regular trips to Athens, the upcoming CLMP conference... and Shanna's October tour... Atlanta is looking up!!!