This simple and direct truth sometimes has many facets,
and our love of and appreciation for Steve Orlen
is one of those truths.
With this in mind, I would like to thank all of you who
have come to pay tribute to Steve and his many roles
as poet, friend, colleague, and teacher.
20 people, friends and alums from all over the country,
as well as our own colleagues, students, and neighbors,
are here to share memories and read Steve's poems.
20 more people at least have helped behind the scenes,
in particular Gail Marcus-Orlen, Cybele Knowles, Annie Guthrie,
Karen Kellen, Christopher Nelson, Sarah Kortemeier,
Kate Bernheimer, and Brent Hendricks,
among many others, including quite a few givers
of champagne.
I'd like to especially thank Ander Monson
as well and the New Michigan Press
for publishing the broadside for this occasion
and offering one as a gift to everyone here today.
I'm also grateful to Jonathan VanBallenberghe
for creating the video tribute will play after the readings.
After this nine-minute video, we'll
reconvene outside for a final toast.
On behalf of the MFA program, which Steve helped to found,
and for which he provided heart and soul, and the Poetry
Center, I welcome you and invite you to sit back
and remember and be with Steve.
If you could at this time turn off your cell phones.