ThereâÄôs an old cliché about poetry: ItâÄôs dead. But out there, in the far corners of our bustling, consumer-driven society, this ancient literary art is still very much alive.
Just donâÄôt expect to see anyone making any money off of it or anything.
Today, local artist group Bosso Poetry Company will be celebrating their third anniversary at DustyâÄôs Bar with a stacked roster of local writers and musicians that include poet Jeffrey Skemp, comic Mary Mack and Venus DeMars (All The Pretty Horses).
Considered a branch of Bosso Enterprises âÄî a fictional company based out of Montana created by local musician Kevin Brixius âÄî Bosso Poetry Company isnâÄôt so much a collective as it is a concept built around the idea of creating more supportive community for artists.
âÄúBy kind of having this fictional idea âÄî us against the man âÄî that is both funny to us and very real,âÄù said local poet Skemp. âÄúAs a writer, youâÄôre not going to make a lot of money, a real good poetry book is going to sell like 1,500 copies âÄî and thatâÄôs for famous poets.âÄù
For three years, members and friends of Bosso have performed every second Thursday of the month at DustyâÄôs bar and they have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Skemp said the events are all relatively casual, and the group has always been welcoming toward newcomers over the years.
âÄúThere is this common thread of wanting to do something creative as a performer and friendship and the community and regularity of it,âÄù Skemp said. âÄúWeâÄôve been lucky enough to get some people interested on some level, and that was sort of on accident as well.âÄù
A&E administrated a literary questionnaire for some of BossoâÄôs regulars. HereâÄôs what they came up with:
Jeffery Skemp (poet):
Three Favorite Pieces of Literature?
âÄúLabyrinthsâÄù by Jorge Luis Borges
âÄúRhinocerosâÄù by Eugene Ionesco
âÄúThe Brothers KaramazovâÄù by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Favorite word?
âÄúArasmatatâÄù which means âÄúheadacheâÄù in Amharic, a language spoken in Ethiopia
If you could go back in time and publish any book before the original author, what would it be?
âÄúThe Origin of the SpeciesâÄù by Charles Darwin
Favorite time of the day to write?
In the morning with a strong cup of coffee
Lynn Gray (University of Minnesota drawing professor, poet and visual artist):
Three favorite pieces of literature?
âÄúErections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary MadnessâÄù by Charles Bukowski
âÄúNight StudioâÄù by Musa Myer
âÄúDesert SolitaireâÄú by Edward Abbey
Favorite word?
Amora
If you could go back in time and publish any book before the original author, what would it be?
âÄúThe Risk PoolâÄù by Richard Russo
Favorite time to write?
While driving on the interstate.
Kevin Brixius (musician)
Top three favorite songwriters?
Bob Marley, John Fogerty, Neil Young
Favorite word?
Floccinaucinihilipilification (17th century word that means little or no value)
Favorite time of day to write?
Middle of the night.
Scott Vetsch (poet):
Three favorite pieces of literature?
âÄúThe Blood OrangesâÄù by John Hawkes
âÄúTrout Fishing in AmericaâÄú by Richard Brautigan
âÄúBerlin AlexanderplatzâÄú by Alfred Döblin
Favorite word?
Bullhead (the fish)
If you could go back in time and publish anything before the original author, what would it be?
âÄúIn the Penal ColonyâÄù by Franz Kafka
Favorite time of day to write?
Morning
