In anticipation of the 2009 Massachusetts Poetry Festival, where does poetry come from these days? And where is it going?
Click to listen to Chris’s conversation with Regie Gibson. (27 minutes, 12 mb mp3)
Chicagoan poet Regie Gibson places himself “somewhere between page and stage,” writing and speaking about life, art and philosophy. He won the 1998 National Slam Competition and founded the Church of The Funky Word, a literary and musical arts ensemble utilizing ancient, contemporary and original literary text combined with world music. He has taught, lectured and performed in seven countries.
Q: Give us the poem that got you into the game.
A: “The Raven”
Q: Who’s in the conversation with you?
A: Emily Dickinson, Yusef Komunyakaa, Pablo Neruda…
Q: Give us a signature poem.
A: “It’s A Teen Age Thang.”
Q: What’s your preferred mode of delivering a poem?
A: Somewhere between page and stage. We’re creatures of sound. We listen before we’re born.
Q: Who’s doing or did your kind of work in other arts?
A: Jimi Hendrix, Caravaggio, Rothko, Dali, Ayi Kwei Armah …
Q: What is the keynote of your personality as a poet?
A: I lean towards the shamanic.
Q: What talent would you most like to have that you don’t?
A: Facility with higher mathematics. Ability to play violin.
Q: What quality do you look for in a poem?
A: Imagination.
Q: What’s the general state of the art?
A: On the upswing, especially after 9.11. People turned to poetry for succor …
Q: What do you learn from high school students?
A: Stay honest— they can sniff when you’re not.
Q: What’s your motto?
A: “We’re individual flames that tend to burn the brightest together.”