Holden
doesn’t seem to be a big fan of public speaking. Or, at least, he’s not a fan of public
speaking in which the speaker has to stay on topic and get to the point. That doesn’t surprise me, since The Catcher in the Rye is one big, long
digression in Holden’s life.
I have to do
a little public speaking tonight. At the
Vista Theater in Negaunee, Michigan, I have to attend the ceremony at which the
first U. P. Poet Laureate is going to be named.
There are five finalists, and I have been invited to introduce the poet
for whom I voted. Elinor Benedict. I’ve never met Elinor Benedict in my
life. However, I know her poetry and her
reputation. She was the founding editor
of Passages North magazine, and she’s
won tons of honors and awards. I could
just stand up in front of the audience and read her vita, and she’d probably
get a standing ovation.
I have never
introduced a writer in my life. I,
myself, have been introduced many times at poetry readings. However, I’ve never had to perform this
particular task in all my years as a poet.
I just spent two hours working on my “impromptu” speech, and I think I
feel comfortable enough now to get up in front of a group of strangers and
talk. My worry this Wednesday is that
I’m going to make an idiot of myself in front of a large group of fellow poets,
and they’re all going to stand up and yell “Digression!” at me.
I’ve never
really feared public speaking. I think
pretty quickly on my feet. I’m hoping
that quality will serve me well this evening.
If it doesn’t, I’m going to throw myself off the stage into the
orchestra pit.
Saint Marty
is going to be much more relaxed at about 8 p.m. tonight when everything is
over and done.
 |
| No digressions tonight, please |
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