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Local poets share prose
By Michiko Sato
Special to the Kansan
Sean Demory writes and reads poetry because poetry is a part of who he is.
"There is a pretty large number of poets in the University of Kansas," said Demory, who works for Kiosk, a journal of literature and arts published by KU students. He said about 150 poems were submitted this semester.
Demory, Olathe senior, is one of many who enjoy reading their poems in Lawrence.
Demory also organizes poetry readings once a month at the Full Moon Cafe, 803 Massachusetts St. He said other places that offered poetry readings in Lawrence were the Paradise Cafe and Bakery, 728 Massachusetts St.; the Glass Onion, 624 W. 12th St.; the Terra Nova Bookstore and Cafe, 920 Massachusetts St.; and Hashing尔 Hall.
"All of the places in town are good for KU students," Demory said.
Everyone is welcome to read their poems, and there is no preregistration required to read poetry at Full Moon Cafe and Paradise Cafe.
Poets just need to show up.
Hans Sartin, who helps with the poetry readings at Full Moon Cafe, said poets filled the cafe the second Tuesday of each month.
"Some are pretty quiet, some are dramatic, some are angry and crazy," he said.
Sartin himself is a poet.
Each poet reads poems differently, Sartin said.
Sartin himself is a poet.
"I feel you have to be a poet to be a human. Poetry is my personality." Sartin said.
After studying creative writing at a university in Georgia, he traveled through various states to write poetry. Since he arrived in Lawrence several months ago, he has organized the poetry readings at the Glass Onion. During those readings, it is hard to get a seat, Sartin said.
The poetry readings at the Full Moon Cafe are somewhat different from other places, said Lynn Abrams, who promotes music for the restaurant. The restaurant's poetry readings are more performance art instead of just reading.
The Paradise Cafe separates music from its poetry readings, but at the Full Moon Cafe, musicians perform while poets read Abrams said.
Abrams said that many kinds of poets came to the readings, from high school students to the elderly, but that the majority were college students.
Matt Fowler, who started the poetry readings at the Full Moon Cafe in September 1994, now runs the readings at the Paradise Cafe.
He said about 30 people showed up for the readings the first Thursday of every month. Several new poets are introduced by Fowler before and after the intermission, during which a band plays.
On the night of the poetry readings, there is a sign-up sheet at the entrance for anyone who would like to read poetry, Fowler said.
See Poetry, Page 17
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