Tayari's Blog: Callaloo-jah!
Posted by TayariJones on October 29, 2007 07:48 AM
Filed under
Book Tour
I'm just back from the 30th Anniversary of Callaloo, the finest literary journal in America. Yes, you heard me, the finest. I know that there are others more fashionable right now, but if you look at the 30 years of Callaloo, you will know what I'm talking about. (Side note: they have the full archive at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore.)
The conference was four days and made up of panels readings, etc. I gave a reading along with David Wright and Emily Raboteau. The higlight of the 
conference was the triple play poetry reading on Friday night featuring more Pulitzer winners that you could shake a stick at. The line-up was Yusef Komunyakaa, Caryl Philips, and blog-beloved Natasha Trethewey. Let's just say they made it clear why art is important.
Now here is a top-secret poetry reading survival tip provided by Major Jackson. If the Q&A is going on so long that you are afraid you will be late for your reservation at a very swanky restuarant, what do you do? Well, according to Mr. Jackson, you just start clapping for no reason at all. The audience will follow and then everyone will leave happy. Trust me. It works.
Other highlights were that I got to reconnect with Ms. Paule Marshall who gave my "big break" back in 2003 when she included me in her famous New Generation reading series. (That is a story for another 
day, but it involves a blizzard and me arriving soaked, shivering, and foty minutes late.) Lucille Clifton was in the house as was fiction powerhouse John Edgar Wideman. Prsiding over it all was Callaloo editor and founder, (Sir) Charles Rowell and his faithful assistant, that cute Kyle Dargan.
Yes, indeed, the glitterati were out in full force. I know this is a super serious literary blog, but you have to admit that the Calalloo writers are a really good looking set of of people. Photos? Of course.
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There are 2 comments on "Callaloo-jah!". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by ReggieH ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Always a pleasure to be with you Tayari. They were some Great Days in Baltimore. I need some time off to recover from the brilliance and the love-fest
October 29, 2007 09:22 PM
Comment #2, by Tara Betts
Hey Ms. Jones,
this looks like it was downright fabulous. Things are coming together though, and I'm looking forward to being at more events like this one.
October 29, 2007 11:06 PM