Back now from the diverting lights of Michigan Avenue, from my three coffee-roused mornings, and from the hordes of aspiring and established writers bustling in the streets of Chicago, I’m happy to report that this year’s AWP was a wonder. Not in the fanatical, awestruck sense of the word, but wonder in the sense of how people stay upright and sprightly over the course of four days. True to my confession, I found myself beckoned each day in twenty different, but pleasing directions. And as thought, the panels on Latino writing were amazing, but especially the Breach: Emerging U.S. Latino and Latina Poetry panel.
At the helm were Roberto Tejada, J. Michael Martinez, Gabe Gomez, Carmen Gimenez-Smith, and Rosa Alcalá, from left to right respectively. Certain I was in for a treat I took out my poet’s notebook and took notes—simply because this particular generation and community of poets is my scholarly interest. Five minutes into the reading I wasn’t disappointed, and the end drew near, I still wasn’t disappointed. In fact, many AWP attendees to my mind missed one of the best readings.
Even so, this year’s conference was abounding with budding and accomplished talent. At the Diode & Anti- reading at the Fine Arts Building downtown, I ran into and introduced myself to Paul Guest, one of our Prairie Schooner Book Prize winners. His reading was as stunning as his book. To this end, I saw writers I knew, recognized from bookcovers, and wanted to know after I was introduced to them personally. Of course, some of them I’ve read for years, some for a couple years, and some I will be sure to follow now in the years to come.
Until Denver, though, I have many papers to grade and poems to read before I sleep. To each of you I met, thank you for your generosity of spirit and welcoming presence. I can’t wait to see you in the Mile High City.
-John Chavez
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