~the lab's poet laureate reads~

 

On Monday (26 January 2009), the Microbial Laboratory's Poet Laureate, Katherine Williams, will read from her recently released chapbook, Cranioglyph:  A Memoir in Verse, for Monday Night Blues at the East Bay Meeting House.  Katherine's chapbook was chosen for publication in the 2007 South Carolina Poetry Initiative Chapbook Contest of the University of South Carolina.  Her reading begins at 8 pm.  While the Microbial Laboratory might be a bit biased here, this is an event that we highly recommend and fully support (and yes, for tonight, we are living under the illusion that you asked for our recommendation).  Go forth!  Attend!  Enjoy!     

~~~~~

Sonnet For Bonnie Claire by Katherine Williams 

from Cranioglyph:  A Memoir in Verse, Stepping Stones Press

Not just her shirt, but also her back,
and always the Yes that probably meant No.
Married every man she kissed, and stole
like a Traveler.  At Shorty's, made you laugh
clean through to the first Algiers ferry,  made
rent on a pair of threes.  Loved to sing scat,
throw clay to the wheel, smoke crack.  She had
our first boy since grandpa, gave that away
too.  And then there's me, in love with art,
afraid of people, trying to pen her
tough short wicked life, 33, cancer
of love.  If she came back from death, it
would disgust her to see me, stiff with grief: 
Just live your stupid life.  Live it for me.

Comments

[Pat]

I don't leave the house after I get home from work, so I won't be there - but I LOVE her sonnet! Please tell her for me.

BTW, what is a chapbook? (Just showing my ignorance...)

[Pam]

Pat, I will be sure to tell her - and she will be thrilled. Regarding a 'chapbook' - my definition is that it is a short book - often a collection of poems, or essays - I think they're often published in lesser numbers and are soft-bound. It's pretty common for collections of poems I believe.

[Layanee]

I'll be there in spirit!

[Vera]

I'll try to make it.

[Pam]

Vera, we missed you - I kept looking for you!