February 28, 1980: Poetic Apprentice

Published in the Journal, Poetic Apprentice

February 28: Met with Allen 3 hours yesterday. Likes “Naive Moment” — says it’s “pay dirt.” Also says I have a remarkable ability to recall detail. Also said I had talent. Asked him whether memory poems have any value. He said “The only thing that’s really interesting is gossip.” Last night read Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent” and he disagrees.

I’m in a morass of poetry. New stuff is piling up but I have no clear perspective. All form (outside of the poems themselves) shot. Coming too fast. Trying to put a portfolio together that I promised Stanley 3 weeks ago — hopeless. Perspective changing too quickly. Won’t stop it — Lifetime of barren thought to tidy up — when poetry comes, write it down. Worry later.

LATER:

Annie Witkowski ran into me before class and said, “You and Allen are getting along well.” “Yeah, I like him.” “Allen likes your work.” “How do you know?” “He told me.”

Thinking of reading during the Naropa Arts Festival. Annie W. & I never really got along but she sat next to me in Allen’s class & kept asking me what page we were on. After class I asked her if poetics students had to read & she said no. Turns out she’s never read either & said “I’ll read if you read.” I told her I couldn’t promise & she said she couldn’t promise either. And then she said everyone wants to hear what I sound like since I never say anything in class.