Florey's invites you to a poetry reading in celebration of the poet William Stafford.
***Saturday, Jan. 12th, 7:30-9:30pm***
Stafford, who died in the early 90s, was a native of Kansas, a conscientious objector in WWII (who served 5 years in an American prison camp, where he developed his life-long habit of arising long before dawn to write a poem every day), a teacher of literature and poetry at William and Mary College in Oregon, married and father of four, who, if his daily poem didn't work out as planned, famously said, "I lower my expectations." His students adored him, especially when he advised them not to be afraid to write bad poems!
The William Stafford Society in Oregon initiated the celebration of Stafford's birthday, and there are now multiple such celebrations in the country. The evening will run a bit differently than our usual poetic events. The feature will be a video of an absolutely marvelous and rollicking conversation between Stafford and his great friend Robert Bly. The two were as different as poets and people can be, but the sparks that fly between them are incredibly inspiring! Then, at open mic, we ask anyone who wants to read to share a poem by Stafford, or inspired by knowing him, or his vision of life. If you haven't read his work, we urge you to find some and, as Stafford said in one of his poems, "You, reading this, be ready"; be ready for a compelling, fierce, reflective, tender and spacious view of our human life on earth and beyond.
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We hope to see you!
William Stafford Poetry Celebration
***Saturday, Jan. 12th, 7:30-9:30pm***
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Florey's Book Co.
2120 Palmetto Ave.
Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 355-8811
Open 10am to 6pm every day
http://www.floreysbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/FloreysBookCo
