The third annual Long Beach Poetry Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, at Liberty Gallery in Downtown. It will run from 10AM to 9PM and will feature over 20 poets, headlined by Tony Hoagland.

Yes, I can do the math on that. That’s eleven non-stop hours of poetry (there will be no dinner break–refreshments will be available on site). I can see many of you shuddering in horror. But, if eleven hours of poetry is your idea of torture, you are, surprisingly, exactly the person the organizers want to attend.

Tony Hoagland“This is poetry for people who pay rent, not for academics, not for finger-snapping bohemian coffee-shop dwellers, but for people who are looking for a little meaning on a Saturday when they can’t find it anywhere else,” says Clint Margrave, one of the organizers.

Anna Badua, another organizer, echoes the sentiment. “The fantastic thing is there’s something for everybody. And I mean everybody!… I used to think poetry was leather bound, gilded edges, and just belonged on some pipe smoking, corduroy blazer wearer’s book shelf. Long Beach poetry largely changed that perception for me.”

Margrave highlights the reasons they picked some of the poets they are featuring. “Tony Hoagland for his humor, clarity, and emotional honesty about everyday life. Tony Gloeggler for his gritty realism that appeals to people who spend more of their time working than reading poetry. Steve Henn for his comedic, everyday speak about existential issues and crises that face all who have been born. Bunkong Tuon for his depiction of life as an orphaned Cambodian refugee growing up in the United States.”

Many of the poets all have appeal beyond other poets. Brendan Constantine writes in a style of hilarious surrealism and wordplay that is unmatched by any poet I have heard. Larry Colker writes poetry which is so clean you don’t realize how it has sliced your heart until it has gone by. Michael C. Ford entertains with tales of a truly bohemian life.

Margrave emphasizes, “At this festival, you won’t get any of the usual elements that make poetry in America in the 21st century so, yes, torturous. You won’t get clever for clever’s sake, obscurity for obscurity’s sake, or dramatic for dramatic’s sake. The poets participating have all been vetted by us and we’ve chosen ones who are accessible, humorous, clear, and most importantly, trying to say something about life.”

Festival flyerBadua focuses on the emotional impact and connection one can find in poetry, connection often missing in our hectic, scattered lives. “I came quickly to learn poetry can be a lot of different things and is big enough to hold many voices. It can make you feel intensely connected to someone you hardly know or don’t know at all. It can be deeply personal. There have been readings where I felt like the reader gave me a kick to the mouth or a punch to the stomach that would just leave me reeling for days.  Then there have been times where I’ve laughed out tears. And that’s what I think most people don’t know, poetry isn’t always serious, it can be freakin’ hilarious too! The thing I love most about poetry is its magic; it is able to say a lot in a few words.”

Of course, no one is forcing you to stay for the whole festival. Organizer Donna Hilbert makes that point, “We are excited to spend the whole day listening to excellent poetry, but anyone who feels otherwise is free to take in a set, leave, and then come back later.”

Hilbert also points out the assets of the venue, “The Liberty Gallery is an inviting place to spend the day. There is a patio area adjacent to the gallery so our guests can to step out for air between performances.”

Badua wraps it up. “I dare anyone to take a few minutes out of the day, put down the smartphone, and spend some time at the festival connecting to something beautiful.  Also, did I mention it’s free?”

The Liberty Gallery is located at 435 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach 90802. For a complete schedule and more information, go to http://www.facebook.com/lbpoetryfest

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