Dear Editor:
I would like to thank the Hoboken Historical Museum for hosting Something Old Something New (Jersey) on Sunday April 6. Bob Foster and the staff did a terrific job of making sure that this event which celebrated New Jersey’s poetic heritage was well publicized and well attended. As a matter of fact, in my memory, this was the only poetry event in New Jersey where people were turned away at the door due to overcrowding, perhaps proving that culture can still thrive in Hudson County. I’d also like to thank Teresa Carson (Union City) an editor for NJ’s own CavanKerry Press, whose idea this was. One of the points we tried to make is that poetry, particularly in New Jersey is not all about hearts and flowers; it’s about real people’s everyday concerns. What we may lack in pretension, we make up for in grit, determination and lyrical inventiveness. And yes, for better and worse, it’s true that Bruce Springsteen is our patron saint. As are Amiri Baraka and Allen Ginsberg.
Another point we hoped to get across is that while NJ can boast a rich literary heritage, it’s legacy is equally important. Many outstanding poets writing today, call, or have called New Jersey home. I could provide a list, but I’m sure I’d inadvertently leave people off. So… check it out for yourself. After all, April is National Poetry Month.
Danny Shot