Poetry And This World Of Uncertainty

Featuring:

Poets Jane Hirshfield, Robert Bly and Coleman Barks gave us two magical evenings in Libbey Bowl, reading new and ancient poetry, accompanied by Marcus Wise, tabla and David Whetstone, sitar. On Saturday morning they led a discussion around the theme of the festival, "Poetry and This World of Uncertainty".

Festival goers said:

"I felt steeped and nourished by a great current of inspiration, music and heart."

"It was well beyond my expectations to be so completely moved."

"People are hungry for this!"

My poems resemble the bread of Egypt - one night
passes over it, and you can't eat it any more.

So gobble them down now, with they're still fresh
before the dust of the world settles on them.

Where a poem belongs is here, in the warmth of the chest;
out in the world it dies of cold.

You've seen a fish - put him on dry land,
he quivers for a few minutes, and is still.

And even if you eat my poems while they're still fresh,
you still have to bring forward many images yourself.

Actually, friend, what you're eating is your own imagination.
These poems are not just some old sayings and saws.