An Overdue Review

            While this review is incredibly overdue, better late than never. Back in September I visited the Foster Auditorium to see a poet by the name of Laura. I had never been to a poetry reading before and I had some sort of stereotypical image in my head; where the room was dimly lit, poets reading their work with a bit of over exaggeration, and everyone would applaud with finger snaps. I was thankfully proved wrong. The atmosphere was very relaxed and Laura presented herself as an equal whom I believe made her poems more inclusive and understandable. Hearing several poems from her new book, a couple stood out to me in particular. A poem titled The Selvage was a story told from her daughter’s perspective in reference to President Obama’s campaign in the south. It was set in the summer at the peak of the campaign and began with a question and answer; “Who are you voting for?” “The black guy.”  The Selvage presented several blind insults, which paralleled how so many Americans are blind to what is actually going on, too many people are misinformed or not informed at all. What I found most interesting about this poem was that the observations were made by her young daughter; she seemed to be more aware than the majority of society. I found a new appreciation for poetry at this reading however, my experience was fairly interrupted by the woman sitting next to me. I believe she was a professor in the English department or an admirer, and her enthusiasm was too much for me to handle. I couldn’t help but be distracted when she would lean too far over on my armrest and repeatedly gasp in my ear. I thought that at some point she may settle down, but no, no she didn’t. What was most irritating was that I felt compelled to leave the reading because I couldn’t concentrate on the guest speaker. I’m sure the woman sitting next to me had no knowledge she was being so distracting but I’ve learned my lesson, steer clear of faculty at school-sponsored events.