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[dave eberhardt]

was David Franks something else?- and yet- u couldn't know it at the time- unless- unless- u were specially prescient-
 
Franks is the kind of poet that was famous after his death
but that was then .....
now?
 
he was ahead of his time
but- i wonder if there is enuff lov of poetry now to redeem him?- for history? not that it matters to him- he's dead-
 
his range- his excellence in many areas- Chris Toll read a poem by him that has never been published- and i think Chris has the only copy and Chris's own  poem, in response was also great
 
to us who still treasure poetry- what does it matter whether we draw big crowds?
REVIEW CONTINUES BELOW

[dave eberhardt]

yet and still (as they say in "the hood")- between 50-75 persons gathered at the creative alliance's patterson theatre today to honor the memory of legendary baltimore performance poet- David Franks- the order of events was: 3-4, Memorial, 4-5, Reception, 5-6+ reading by poets-  some 20- curated by David Beaudouin; the event was organised chiefly, as far as i can tell, by Adrianna Amari and Megan Hamilton and the Creative Alliance- along with other of David's closest friends- Rafael Alvarez?


The Memorial: , welcome by Megan Hamilton, video of Franks composition for handbells- thoughts on collaboration- Glenn Moomau,  letter from Sen. Mikulski read, letter from Chris Sharits,  video of David reading- done by tENTATIVELY a cONVENIENCE, thoughts from poet Andre Codrescu read, eulogy by Buck Downs read by Buck, Franks poem on bluebirds-read by Lorraine Whittlesby, ended w Franks composition of recorded tug boat whistles

the reception was a potluck- with many items brought by the audience- several large cakes read Happy Birthday, David- in that Sat. was Dave's birthday although he died before that- what date? pin on buttons were avaliable in the shape of red hearts reading "Poet David Franks"

poetry reading- a super job by David Beaudouin: many moving readings-much humor- (befitting David) Mike Lally from D C begins - says " it pisses me off that now i know David won't be attending my memorial"- REVIEW CONTINUES BELOW



  
 
  

[dave eberhardt]

other poetsand writers and inspired friends  reading: Alpert,  Alvarez, Bender, Boyd, Eberhardt, Epstein, Figgs, Fuller, Hamilton, Lang, Mason, Moomau, Royer, Schiavone, Toll, Wall, Zippelli- i know i've left some one out- this was m c'd by David Beaudouin-

some one tells me, you never get a feel for the whole person except in retrospectives like this- more's the pity-the person of David Franks came to life in this event more than in any similar event i've been to

he was a startling poet- like Rimbaud, Patti Smith-a humorous poet, a radical poet

in one poem he mentions his influences- Creeley, Berrigan, O'Hara, - poets who include the chance, include the lost material- poets who "didn't know what they were doing"- i'm sure David would include John Asberry- altho for me- these poets - as was David- can be annoying in their lack of meaning- I still luv em to death


Dave would never have been published in Poetry Magazine or the New Yorker- and i have a problem w that-one of his poems ends "May I call you penus?" (this was read by Betsy Boyd)- if we can't include such poetry as great- where are we?

[julie]

thanks so much for this David Frog

was there any videography taken?

I would have like to be there.

[dave eberhardt]

Julie- there was- contact Stephen Reichert of Smartish Pace-  sreichert@smartishpace.com  i think he would burn a disc for you- i asked him to do so for me--
be sure and come to our reading at the barnes and noble at 33rd and st paul on feb 25 at 7

[julie]

email me details David and I'll get it up on the calendar!

I will contact him thnx!

[dave eberhardt]

and, wouldn't you know- he hasn't burned me a disc?!?!?