Avila Students Read Poetry at Local Bookstore

Avila instructor and artist in residence Stan Banks and wife Janet Banks performed a selection of original poetry between 2 and 3 p. m. on Saturday April 3^rd at Prospero’s Bookstore just hours after three poets from Prof. Banks’ Advanced Creative Writing class read their own pieces in the store’s 120 hour Poetry Filibuster. As April is National Poetry Month, Prospero’s ushered it in with a bang and a one lined poem about ghosts, read by the event organizer Bill Leathem’s son, Riley Werner-Leathem at 10 a. m. on April 2^nd.

From a few windows in the back, natural light floods a pink colored wall, the paint flaking to reveal the underlying bricks. Just down the stairs, the door is open for the curious and the creative to brave their way up the creaking boards to the second floor of the building where history is in the making. Duct taped to the wall behind the podium is a sign advertising for the store while the wall near the stairs is littered with signatures from those who have performed in the space. Though electrical cords are visible and metal chairs are scattered about the room, there is a buzz, a tingling of anticipation.

With readings occurring 24 hours a day and lasting about five days total, the event was set to break the world record for poetry reading length of 56 hours and 25 minutes set back in 1978 in Cincinnati, Ohio. 200 local and national poets were involved in the continuous reading including Avila student artists Blake Morgan, Nash High, and this reporter.

“Well, I got involved since it was an opportunity to see some of my work actually put to some use other than sitting dormant on my flash drive,” says High, a sophomore English major who became involved due, in part, to Instructor Banks’ class.

These students were able to get involved in the filibuster with such notable artists as Dan Jaffe, a world renowned jazz-poet who added to the creative buzz by giving a world premiere of his recent work Finding the Blues Way Home, Part I: Names Attached to Rhythm and performing his works with a live band whose members come from all corners of the globe.

Morgan, a senior in the English department, states, “Will Leathem definitely nudged me a little. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to read or not, but he just went and signed me up. I was a little nervous, but there was a good vibe and no real reason to be – which I found out after arriving.”

High added, “The event was a great opportunity and a great example of a community art effort in Kansas City, though I would have liked to have been able to hear some of the prime-time readings (especially Connie Dover). On the one hand, it was exciting to be able to participate, but on the other hand it made me feel a bit humbled by the sheer volume of stunning poetry that is generated even within our own community.”