Two distinguished poets, Anne Waldman and Jan Beatty, have appeared in consecutive weeks at the University of Nebraska as part of the 2009 Reynolds Series of Writers.

Waldman kicked off the Reynolds season on September 9th with a resounding performance of many of her well-known pieces, mixing in some new, yet-to-be published work, all with her trademark libretto style and full-stage theatrics.

Waldman concluded the reading with the title piece from her collection Manatee/Humanity, complete with ambient soundtrack accompaniment. In front of a capacity crowd in the UNK Studio Theatre, Waldman discussed Naropa, her work, her career and the time she spent with Allen Ginsberg.

Asked by an audience member about the mix of creative imagery and American historical events in her poetry, Waldman reflected, “I go to poetry for a sense of history. Poetry reflects the times.”

Pittsburgh poet and radio host Jan Beatty visited on September 16th and was no less riveting with readings of many of the urban-flavored poems from her latest book, Red Sugar. Following the reading, Beatty discussed many of her own philosophies on writing, as well as the hard-edged reputation much of her work has earned.

“The last thing you want in a poem is shock value,” she said. “You have to earn your way, and the words have to earn their way. There has to be a reason for them to be on the page.”

Allison Hedge-Coke, author of Blood Run, Off-Season City Pipe, and Dog Road Woman, among many other works, is the Reynolds Chair of Poetry at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and the architect of the reading series, which will welcome Sam Hamill to campus on October 6th.

–Rick Marlatt

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