Drunk on Poetry

Melinda Palacio

Sporting one of my official Bird Forgiveness Tour outfits. 

As the sights and sounds of my magical vacation to Ireland start to fade like the voices in the movie set in Scotland, Brigadoon, I'm thrust back into the reality of my stateside life, which is not bad in itself. The last two weeks, I had two book tour events in New Orleans. The first, reading with the poetry buffet, I was joined by New Orleans Poets Valentine Pierce and Dennis Formento, and our poetess hostess, Gina Ferrara. Dennis reminded me of how our reading was a sort of literary reunion. Four years ago, the three of us read together in the 7th Ward, and Dennis secured a radio spot for us, leading up to the reading. These are connections I'm honored to make as an adopted New Orleans poet. The benefits of being married to a Southern man include an extended home in New Orleans, but California is where I am from and where I vote. 

Recently, a friend wondered if I loved to tour since sighting of the Bird Forgiveness Book Tour is heavily announced on social media. I don't mind running around from venue to venue. The best part of the book tour is sharing my work with newcomers. I especially love when people who say they aren't big readers or who have never been to a literary event, fall in love with my books. And, as my friend, Reyna Grande says, the books don't sell themselves. People enjoy hearing from the author directly. They want to hear the words in the poet's own voice. Recently, I received a phone call from someone who attended my reading at the Maple Leaf Bar last Sunday. She spoke about how much she enjoyed my presentation and also complemented me on my bird dress. Although I've seen plenty an author show up in frumpy clothes, my mother taught me better. It is from her that I get my aesthetic to show up properly dressed when speaking in front of an audience, even if that audience is made up of a handful of people. When I was a teenager, I was a slob and often went to school with shorts over my pajamas and a big lumpy sweater, while my mother, a teacher, was always dressed very nicely. Somewhere along my journey to healing from the grief of losing her (she was 44 when she left this earth), I took on the quality she had of putting some effort into my appearance and planning my outfits ahead of time. I still don't go all out the way she did. I don't roll my hair because it's naturally curly (she always wanted curly hair and I always wanted her straight hair) and I don't wear much makeup because I have allergies and I am always rubbing my eyes and sneezing (I am especially allergic to cats).

The Maple Leaf Bar's back patio

When people compliment me on my presentations and my appearance, I know she is smiling on me. Last Sunday, at the Maple Leaf Bar, was no exception. A friend in the audience asked if I had noticed the gigantic Monarch Butterfly that graced my reading. How could I not notice the larger than life creature, a blessing indeed. The Maple Leaf Bar can be a tough venue because some people don't necessarily show up for the poetry, but to throw back a few drinks in the outdoor patio. While one or two inebriated people were a little loud in their applause or praise for my poetry, I was not thrown off and I steadily and professionally delivered each poem. At the end of the day, I sold and signed more books than I had expected and won over some new fans, drunk or not. 

Poet Charles Baudelaire, asks us to be drunk, "But on what? Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk."  "Enivrez-Vous. Mais de quoi? De vin, de poésie, ou de vertu, á votre guise. Mais enivrez-vous. In New Orleans, The Soul Rebels Brass Band suggests: "Drink A Little Poison Before You Die." 

If you're in New Orleans the second week of November, don't miss a chance to experience the Louisiana Book Festival, beginning with a cocktail party at the State Library Friday, November 9 and a full program of literary events Saturday, November 10. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the best literary event in Baton Rouge. Your poet will read from 12:15 to 1pm at the Capitol Park Welcome Center, Glass Room on Saturday. 

Live from the Core: Poetry and Wine tasting in Orcutt

Melinda Palacio

Library Wines before the reading.

In a strange twists of hits and misses, I ended up reading at CORE Winery in Orcutt.

When my poetry pal, Gina Ferrara, asked me to read for her, I did not hesitate to say yes. I have to admit I was a little disappointment she wouldn't be traveling from New Orleans to California to read from her new book, Fitting the Sixth Finger,  poems inspired by the paintings of Marc Chagall. Gina has promised to return next year.

Gina first met Michael McLaughlin, the poet and coordinator of the Live from the CORE Poetry Series in California. He was so taken by Ferarra's reading at the Mission Poetry Series that he asked her to read in Orcutt. I was more than happy to host my good friend. McLaughlin also read at the Maple Leaf Bar on the day when I was in New Orleans, but reading in a different part of town. Most people had assumed we knew each other because he is based in Santa Maria, a town forty minutes from Santa Barbara; we had never met. However, contrary to popular belief, I do not know every poet in California, although I'm working on it.

Reading at CORE Winery was fun.

While Los Angeles is filled with more poetry events than an eager fan can attend, the little town of Orcutt, holds one poetry reading at the CORE Winery once a month. The series is now in its second year and has a strong following and includes an impressive core group who sign up for its open mike. The reading series featured several La Bloga friends, including Luivette Resto, and Emma Trelles, who will read next Saturday, June 10, along with San Luis Obispo poets Jim Cushing and Celeste Goyer at CORE Winery Tasting Room, 105 W. Clark Ave, Old Orcutt, CA 93455. If you're still scratching your head about where Orcutt might be, it's 75 miles north of Santa Barbara. The drive is gorgeous. Orcutt is one of those one street towns. There's a main drag with everything from a hardware store to a winery to an Italian restaurant that serves handmade pasta.

Signing books after the reading

I was most impressed with the CORE Family, Becky and Dave Corey, who open up their tasting room to poetry once a month and the generous audience who listened attentively, bought copies of my book, and shared their own excellent poems during the open mike. What more could a poet desire? Many thanks to Michael McLaughlin for the reading opportunity. I had the pleasure of testing out some new work from my upcoming poetry book, Bird Forgiveness (forthcoming from 3: a Taos Press), and reading with Bay Area poet Mark Fabionar, who recited his first poem at the age of five at a Filipino community center in Stockton.

Mark Fabionar 

I'm looking forward to hearing more poetry at CORE next week. Come and join me and listen to Emma Trelles and new poet friends from San Luis Obispo  June 10.