0026 Listening To A Reading By Robert Hass Poem by Michael Shepherd

There are so many different postures
that may be adopted while listening
to a poetry reading especially
one that’s being filmed -
different tilts of neck and head,
some natural, some chosen
to suit the occasion;

it’s the panelled reading-room of Berkeley –
lecture desk, a couple of sofas,
inappropriately satin-striped for library use;
various chairs; November mid-day Bay Area sunlight
filters through the high windows,

the room’s comfortably full, a number
at the poet’s feet, mostly younger girls
and a boy whose clothes say poet;
but just outside the door, pressing in
like the background crowd in an 'important'
Renaissance painting, a horde it seems;
some fire or other precautions have
kept them out, as would
the prissy warnings that precede the video,
that adult themes and language
will be used, and
‘viewer discretion is advised’…

Zack Rogow who has introduced the poet
sits back relaxed – he's done a good and generous job;
some sit as if they’re on screen all the time - which they are;
some sit as if ‘I’m just here with him…’;
the girl on the floor looks at her companion
after each poem as if for validation
of some frail cultural bond or fragile claim;
some look as if they’re older faculty wives
attending more a social occasion, except that
the one who doesn't like a poet - is a poet;
one girl's got a note-book and a dreamy look -
she's gleaning seeds for her own poems;
that girl with the perfectly chosen spectacle frames
assesses the speaker 'coolly';
a girl at the back tilts her head
as if already practising for the time
in forty years when she’ll be a wealthy patron of the arts
who can afford to be close to culture
yet detached – she paid for it…

and the man who’s reading to us with a smile
twisted with humour and affection and humanity
in a face lined with the challenge of the inexpressible
is radiantly, the happiest human being in the room
and - his eyes say too - loves them all and individually,
just above, or just below, his love of words and speech.