Alí Calderón has written quite a body of work, but of that body of work, during my stay at Poetry International, I did not hear much. The poem 'Democracia Mexicana' along. A formidable poem, as it ends with a rotting baby corpse, so not for the week-olds among us.
Democracia Mexicana is Calderon's hit poem. Like pop singers can have a hit song. The eternal request song. No problem if it's a good poem, and Democracia Mexicana is that. Just like the other hit poems by other poets who were guests at Poetry International. Logical, for a festival that counts itself among the world's top poetry festivals.
Confrontations
I was also fortunate to see a surprisingly youthful world summit this week, starting Tuesday 29 May, which was also pleasantly diverse thanks to that youth. Poetry is really getting better from the input of a new generation of urban poets. Their work is plentiful in the current urban mud, and still the word 'I' may sound there a bit more often than strictly necessary, but their poetry is also gaining traction as their audience grows larger, wider. The interaction between old and young, white and coloured, elitist and off the street produces fascinating confrontations.
Now those confrontations mostly took place during the performances and in the foyer. It happened less during the table talks. Now such is always a problem at these kinds of festivals. The public interviews and panel discussions that apparently come with it stand or fall with the guests and especially the hosts. But how long do you make those conversations last? How do you make sure it stays exciting for everyone, not least the jet-lagged guests?
Cannon
You can look for it in the fame of the guests and their hosts, but that's easier at an international literary festival like Winternachten in The Hague than it is in the nevertheless somewhat small world of poetry. Not every poet is necessarily a captivating demonstrator outside the recitation of her own poems, though perhaps we should make an exception for a canon like Nora Gomringer. Thanks to her roots in the Poetry Slam, she not only has a perfect recitation, but is also an eager and lively speaker. Interviewer Tsjead Bruinja thankfully didn't mind her and Marie de Quatrebarbes occasionally taking over the conversation either.
More difficult was Friday at the group discussion on the festival theme, when a Russian, a Mexican and a Burmese, led by festival programmer and poet Jan Baeke, got no further than some generalities. It was late and would not sparkle. Here, international diplomacy was more important than sparkling conversation.
Drinks and food
How could you do such a thing better? In the corridors, everyone had a view on this. Personally, I would prefer real table talks. There are not that many spectators, so why not have everyone at the table? A good glass, tasty snacks, a musical or poetic interlude? This is how the most legendary gatherings have been organised since Plato.
It's just a suggestion of course, but I would sign for it.
Below are all the articles we published about this year's festival.
Podcast: Hear the Buddingh Prize nominees and results here #pifr
Podcast: This year, Poetry International explores the role of nationalism in poetry.
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