Invitation to Read at the Library of Congress!

I got an interesting phone call Friday--the Library of Congress invited me to read my work (and at least one poem by another person) for their Poetry at Noon Series. I'll read Tuesday, Feb. 10, with 1 or 2 others, and the theme is Love (in advance of Valentine's Day).

Now, the director of the poetry program didn't pluck me out of thin air--I applied. In fact, I also applied in 2007, but the postage rates had just changed, so I put the wrong postage on the envelope and it was returned. I felt mopey, and thought, well, I'll try again next year. And hurrah, acceptance!

It's on a Tuesday at noon, so I’m guessing the audience will be similar to those who go to a weekday concert series at a church--office workers from nearby will drop in, as will tourists, as will local poets.

There’s no money for travel, either from the Library of Congress end or from my school. I don’t care. I have family in the area, so I have a place to stay, and I was lucky to find cheap airline tickets. I knew that there was no travel money when I applied, but I knew that I could afford it anyway. I wouldn’t have applied to read at, say, a New York City venue, because I don’t have resources in that city.

So, I'm feeling optimistic about 2009 as a year that gives us kudos for creativity!