This morning we peed in a Bob Evans; this evening we read serious literature in a university library. (Shanna Compton)

Ed note:  This is the first installment of the bloof books' road trip blog. Check back often for updates. Details here. Last night Muncie, Indiana; tonight, Nashville, TN.-- sdh 

We've come a long way, baby.

Seriously, that drive from Newark to Columbus yesterday was a really, really long way. (Tallahassee to Raleigh will be worse.) We got in so late, that our trip to Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails for local wine and vegan muffalettas is all kind of a blur. The guy "pleasuring himself" in the street downtown, unfortunately, less blurry than we would like. It's like we packed a week into yesterday. We also stopped at a discount chain and bought shoes. Somewhere in Pennsylvania, I think.

Jennifer L. Knox, Peter Davis & I kicked off our book tour tonight with the first reading in Muncie, IN, at Ball State University. We've been to David Letterman's alma mater three times now, and it's always a lot of fun. Since one of the things I enjoy most about these trips are all the new-to-us poets we meet, I thought I'd introduce a few along the way.

 

_{Tyler Gobble & Cody Sean Davis: Mad for Plaid}

 

Brief totally unplanned interview of questionable depth with Cody Sean Davis

Cody, when did you begin writing Poetry? And/or, what about Poetry attracts you to it as an artform?

10 or 11. I like the freedom.*

So, you're a student at BSU, right? What year and what are you studying?

Junior. Creative writing.

What's the best poetry experience (reading, writing, otherwise) you've had lately?

This reading. [Cody opened the reading tonight, as winner of a student contest.] I got to say some stuff I wanted to say.

If you could have a poem published anywhere, where would it be?

The New Yorker. 

Can we get a link where people can see some of your work online?

Sure, I'll send you a Facebook message with the link. [Here it is.]  

Slightly more planned (and repetitive) interview of questionable depth with Tyler Gobble

Tyler, thanks so much for everything you did to help organize our reading. [Tyler distributed flyers, sent FB invitations, organized the student contest, bought cookies and punch...and even showed up.] When did you begin writing Poetry? And/or, what about Poetry attracts you to it as an artform?

Two years ago, seriously. At 14 I wrote journals with "poems."

So, you're a student at BSU, right? What year and what are you studying?

Senior. Creative Writing.

And you're the president of the student writing group, right? What's it called again?

The Writers Community. [Here's the link to their blog.]

What's the best poetry experience (reading, writing, otherwise) you've had lately?

My first public reading, at the bar above the [now closed] MT Cup [a coffee shop near].

What draws you to poetry, in particular, as an artform?

[Tyler gave a cohesive, eloquent answer about how the internet has allowed him and his writers friends to feel connected to what's happening all over. Which I will now summarize as:] The community aspect.

If you could have a poem published anywhere, where would it be?

Elimae.

And is there a link where people could find some of your work online?

Sure, I'll send that to you. [Visit Tyler's blog, and check out the list of publications in the right sidebar.]

_____

*OK, I'm not an experienced interviewer, and am half deaf on top of it. These answers may or may not resemble what these folks actually said, but for sure, what they said was a lot longer.

We also got interviewed for a documentary project some other students were doing, where they have a segment on Peter, and are covering all kinds of cool local topics. I probably should have interviewed them too.

Gotta run. Gone With the Wind is on teevee. So Jen is telling me about George Cukor (director) and Vivien Leigh picking up young boys at a disguised garage in LA called Scotty's. "Like, all the time." And we just opened a bottle of sauvingnon blanc. Next stop: Tomorrow night in Nashville. Please come say hi.

--Shanna Compton, for Bloof

Comments

[Jilly]

I'm hoping to make it to the reading tomorrow but I never know if my body will cooperate. See you in Nashville hopefully! :)

[Jason Schneiderman]

Jen always has the best factoids.