Name: Aran Donovan
City: New Orleans, LA
Occupation: Bookslinger
What does poetry mean to you?
Poetry is the dancehall where it all goes down.
Favorite Poet/Poem:
Let’s go with Olena Kalytiak Davis. This poem: “sweet reader, flannelled and tulled.”
Why do you like this poet/poem?
I like Davis’s frank, wonky address. Her love of Gerard Manley Hopkins. Reading her reminds me of the possibilities in poems. Reminds me to stop being such a fuddy duddy and have fun.
Additional poetry loves—
I also love Jack Gilbert’s The Great Fires. Anne Carson. John Berryman’s Dream Songs or Sonnets to Chris. Carrie Fountain.
Bonus: Poetry challenge! Memorize a poem this month! Go proselytize with some choice verses. Convert someone! Try Philip Larkin’s “This be the verse.”