Smitten I was by the two poets who shared their work with us during the SSU Writers' Series. I consider it a privilege to have been there last Thursday evening. I was already in love with Lisa Olstein's work from reading Lost Alphabet. Her style is amazing, touching, and simple. I can't wait to check out Radio Crackling, Radio Gone and her new book Little Stranger. What impresses me most about her writing is her ability to turn the everyday small occurrences in life into something more, something beautiful. Her tone is quiet and reaches deep into my being. All the poems she chose to share that night were simply beautiful. I admire the fact that she likes to test her own limits and stretch beyond her comfort zone, as she did with the poems about her child. In my opinion, successes, all of them.
I had not previously had the pleasure of reading any of David Daniel's work and I am glad to have been turned on to another fabulous poet. He reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson a bit (the craziness and haphazard feel of the lines and images). He described his own poetry as "weird--mostly funny (in a weird way), and at times foul." I found his work exciting. Interesting is a word that comes up short, because I hung on to his every word. I feel he has had life experiences that totally shaped his writing and although I would love to steal much from this author, I think a lot of it requires a "been there, done that" mentality. I have not been there or done that, but I do want to write like that!
Kudos again to Professor Ramos for putting together yet another fabulous series!
