August 8, 2023 - “The Importance of Poetry Readings: Poetry Festival 2023” by Rahil Najafabadi

The Importance of Poetry Readings: Poetry Festival 2023

Poetry readings are fundamental to both readers and poets. The sounds and senses that arise from the persona mesh with the poet, there is so much to see and grasp. I find myself lost between the sound and the written word. I love looking at poetry and I crave readings because I know these are two very different things. A good reading is like a melody, just like the way good form and verse please the eye, and a poem just lives in the corner of my mind. I see it and say the words gently to myself, in my own head. But when a poem is read to me, something happens around me. Everything stops. If I hear the pauses the way I want to, the quiet air between the lines becomes so loud.

I was in awe of the poetry readings I recently attended. I have great interest in the Poetry Society of New York because of the diverse and in-depth poems that take me into each line with so much breadth. I want to know about the things that make poets write. I want to know why this poem was read and I happened to hear it. And as a poet, I always have a delight hearing poetry rather than reading my own. I was excited to attend the 2023 Poetry Festival that happens annually with Poetry Society of New York. Every year, poets, artists, and lovers of both gather at Governor’s Island for a two-day festival full of readings, performances, and exploration of local arts and literature. Although I read a poem there myself, I was mostly excited about hearing some of the most important poets read their work. I was especially moved by Danez Smith’s poem dear white america. This poem took me to another place of poetic verse, meaning, rage, and understanding. I wanted to hear it forever. There were also other amazing readers on various stages at the festival, including TALTUH. 

The Poetry Society of New York has been holding readings every month with TALTUH (There’s a lot to unpack here) which is hosted and produced by Cierra Martin. As a regular attendee, I’ve discovered so many new favorite poets. Their work always transforms me and rearranges the way I process emotions and words when it comes to my own writing. It is as always exciting to know this is something I can always experience, a haven for the human condition to be felt and explored.