Thanks to all who came out to the reading (despite the weather) last evening at the Scarab Club. After a white-knuckle 2.5 hour-ride both ways, I’m truly ecstatic that this is my last poetry reading until the spring. The Woodward Line Series is in its 9th year, and is hosted by James Hart and Kim Hunter; last night Jim Matzoukis a visual artist/poet from Cleveland kicked things off, followed by Rob Lipton, who read work from his book, “A Complex Bravery” as well as new work. As usual Rob’s poems had the audience back on our heels and nervously laughing–a quality I love about his work. It was great seeing friends in the audience, and strangers.

I read entirely from my new manuscript Severance–and it was a joy to read these poems–only the second time I’ve let them fly–for such a receptive audience. The Q and A afterward was pretty intense, especially when one is on the spot to speak of a manuscript still in progress! A sampling (not verbatim) of some of the questions: “These new poems were dubbed “experimental” by the host who introduced you. What do you consider “experimental” poetry?” “If it is Grief’s job to change your speaker’s role, and take him from the “stage” is it Regret that sends him back?” “Is your work ever inspired by dreams?” “This new manuscript represents several dichotomies: light/dark, day/night and your characters seem to live in a space between. Please tell us about that…”

One guarantee of the Woodward Line series: Everyone is there to listen and to listen hard.

Published by Robert Fanning, poet

Robert Fanning is the author of seven books of poetry, including five full-length collections: Cage, (forthcoming, Salmon Press), Severance (Salmon Press, 2019), Our Sudden Museum (Salmon Press, 2017), American Prophet (Marick Press, 2009), and The Seed Thieves (Marick Press, 2006) as well as two chapbooks: Sheet Music (Three Bee Press, 2015) and Old Bright Wheel (Ledge Press Poetry Award 2003). His poems have appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, Shenandoah, Gulf Coast, Waxwing, Thrush, The Atlanta Review, The Common, and many other journals. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Sarah Lawrence College, he is a Professor of Creative Writing at Central Michigan University, where he is an awardee of the CMU President's Award for Faculty Excellence in Community Engagement, as well as a two-time winner of the CMU Excellence in Teaching Award. He is the Founder/Facilitator of the Wellspring Literary Series in Mt. Pleasant, MI., and the Founder/Director of PEN/INSULA POETRY, a resource for Michigan poets.