What's Brewing
Edgy poets hit the road
By SUSAN THURSTON, City Times Editor
Published October 24, 2003
Poetry on the Edge is suddenly poetry without a home.
After four years of meeting monthly at the Borders at Dale Mabry Highway and Cypress Street, organizer Diana Browning has decided to move on.
Her reason: censorship.
Browning says Borders received three complaints from customers offended by some of the language used during last Friday's poetry readings. Borders responded by telling Browning to tone it down or find another site.
BROWNING CHOSE the latter.
"We're not a bunch of young kids back there swearing," said Browning, a state government worker who lives in Beach Park. "It's artistic expression."
Bill Martin, a retired teacher who lives near Gulfport, wrote the poem in question, aptly named the Last Visit. It's about a guy in love with a woman who decides to move away with a boyfriend. Distraught and wired on cocaine, the guy goes to reclaim her. While driving his motorcycle over the Sunshine Skyway bridge, he sees the ghost of his beloved mother, causing him to lose control and skid into a car, presumably to his death.
Twice during the poem he says, "Son of a b--."
Martin, 62, scoffs at the controversy but isn't surprised. A lifelong artist, he's loud and intense when reading his poem. And unlike Borders, he says, he doesn't worry about what the middle class thinks.
POETRY ON THE EDGE usually meets the third Friday of the month, starting at 8:30 p.m. A core group of about eight read their work; up to 50 people gather around to listen. The poets are intellectuals in their mid 30s to 50s. Most have jobs. Some have won writing awards.
The group advertises the readings for adults only. There's no Cat in the Hat. And forget about rhyming. Poetry on the Edge seeks stanzas about relationships, sexuality, real life. If eroticism and drug use factor in, so be it.
Friday's gathering marked the fourth annual Ghoulish Halloween Slam-O-Rama poetry contest. Browning encouraged people to dress in costume. One came as a cross-dresser, which in hindsight was probably a no-no, she said. "But I'm not the fashion police. I'm just a poet."
In the past, Borders donated $100, $50 and $25 gift certificates to the winning poets. This year, if offered three books, including one with blue highlight marks and dog-eared pages.
Browning fumed.
Trish Laurance, area marketing director for Borders, did not return phone calls or an e-mail seeking comment. A store manager who has supported Poetry on the Edge in the past said he had not heard about the group's departure and referred questions to Laurance.
Browning says it's unfortunate that a few complaints could shut down the poetry readings. Borders sells plenty of books and magazines with far more offensive content, she says.
"They've got art books that you wouldn't believe, that even I would think are obscene," Browning said. "And that's okay because they are making money off it?"
Poetry on the Edge hopes to find another spot in time for November's gathering. A bar or coffee shop would be good. (The group used to meet at the defunct Albi's on Hyde Park Boulevard when Rhonda Kitchens ran it as Poetry in the Dark.)
Browning isn't picky about the venue so long as people can speak freely and passionately. The poetry must go on.
"If I have to do it out of my home, I will."
THE LAST DROP: The Tampa Port Authority on Tuesday approved a proposal by Byrd Corp. of Clearwater to buy waterfront land next to the Channelside entertainment complex to build two condo towers and a Kash n' Karry. But the project isn't a done deal. It still has to go through the City Council and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
- Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3394 or thurston@sptimes.com
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