Hi, everyone.
We'll go ahead and we'll get started.
And I feel unusually nervous, because there are so many
of you so densely packed.
But instead, I'll just be grateful
that you've come out again for poetry.
This is one of the reasons why Tucson is so great.
So thank you for coming.
For tonight's reading, by G.C. Waldrep,
last night he gave a fantastic talk.
It was entitled "On the Unveiling: Parable, Apocalypse,
and Spiritual Practice in Contemporary Poetry,"
and we're so pleased to have him back tonight.
I have just a few announcements before we get started.
I don't think there are any empty chairs,
but if you want to come up into the front
and sit down on the floor, you could do that.
OK, for making tonight's event possible,
I want to thank Poets and Writers, and also
the Poetry Center's donors.
If you're already a donor, I thank
you so much for being an essential part
of this glorious place, spirit, community,
and creative endeavor that is the Poetry Center.
If you're not already a donor, please
consider making a contribution to this reading series.
There are many ways to support the center,
from putting a contribution in the box
that we always have over there at our events,
to joining our Walt Whitman donor circle.
And if you're interested in learning
about how you can give, our development coordinator
Julie Lauterbach-Colby would be happy to talk to you.
Julie you want to--
Yes, that's Julie.
The people now see you, they know you, OK.
Tonight, G.C. will read for about 40 minutes,
and then we'll have a short Q and A, and after that, he'll
sign books up here at the podium.
We have books for sale 20% off the cover price thanks
to the aforementioned Julie who works very, very
hard to get books to sell at all our readings.
And also thank you to Docents Veronica and Whitney
for selling books tonight.
G.C. will be introduced by Joshua Marie Wilkinson.
So Josh joined the creative writing faculty here
at the U of A just last year--
well, that's a year and a half that he's been here.
Our eyes are still adjusting to his shine,
because it's really bright.
He is a poet with five books to his name.
His next book, Swamp Isthmus, is forthcoming from Black Ocean
in 2013, and we're waiting impatiently for that.
He has directed a documentary film.
He has edited several anthologies,
and is at work on some new ones.
He founded and edited several really important
poetry websites, first Rabbit Light Movies,
which is now a part of the all encompassing Volta.
He is the founder and co-editor of a literary press named
Letter Machine Additions, and he also
responds to my emails really promptly.
I don't know how he does it all.
He is a wonder, basically.
So please help me welcome Josh Wilkinson.
[APPLAUSE]