i should have gone to the opening session of the poetry festival tonight, but I was a little unhappy about the change in schedule.  I was supposed to be giving a talk in a large lecture hall, and now it turns out it is the hallway.  No powerpoint, probably no mike.  

and the next day i read some translations of Rafi Weichert.  I would have loved to talk about the translations but i’ve been limited now to 7-8 minutes.  Compared to the screwups in today’s government, the threats of war,  it’s nothing.  But it all adds up.  With all the wonderful poets in this country, there is still a sense that we mess us even the greatest assets we have.  

I will probably feel very differently after I hear some great poetry tomorrow and see some wonderful friends.