A.K. Allin, who served as The Poetess at Green Lake last year, is back at the lake today for a one-day special poetry event:
At noon [until 9pm], on Sunday 6 July, this participatory, site-specific performance will take over Green Lake. 60+ umbrellas have been prepared with favorite lines from poems (painted, printed & trailing from ribbons). Volunteers will hand umbrellas to passersby who will carry them around the lake.I carried an umbrella for a bit (it had a few lines from Czeslaw Milosz's Song on the End of the World).
Yes, this a departure from the standard fare on this blog, as there's nothing political about either Allin's event or my mention of it. But if you happen to be at the lake today, why not add to your enjoyment by reading and sharing some poetry?
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 06, 2008 02:30 PM | Email ThisEvents like this fit in to the idea of free market capitalism much better than in to the more socialistic theories.
Such non-governmental activities are often viewed as threats by those in government. If events become big enough, the politicians often feel a need to co-opt or absorb them, as they have done with fireworks and parades.
I wonder how this poetess would feel about being characterized as part of the free market? Perhaps "marketplace of ideas" would suit her better.
Anyway, we Libertarians applaud spontaneous, non-governmental events like this.
The only thing better would be if it took place on private property.
Posted by: Bruce Guthrie on July 6, 2008 10:41 PMBruce, as so often, words fail. You're a clever man. Probably too clever.
Posted by: Benjamin Johnstone-Anderson on July 7, 2008 01:33 PM