(I’m going through old notebooks now finding pieces of old poems. Here’s one)
Prayer for Being on the Leonard Lopate Show
Everyone kept telling me I had to
figure out a way to get on the Leonard Lopate show
because it was Good for My Career so a while ago
when I had a new book I tried . It wasn’t easy. I asked
Holly B. to help me. Also Elizabeth, Karen, Kathleen,
David, Sionna and anyone who knew someone there.
It took six months of Careful Hocking and consistent
single-mindedness which I don’t usually have. I am
a buoy easily distracted but the Leonard Lopate show
might be able to help so I tried and finally one day
I was on the show with my book and Leonard Lopate
but I followed Hannah Schygulla fantastic German actress who
starred in so many Fassbinder films. When it was my
turn Leonard Lopate wanted to talk about Hannah Schygulla
with me and her movies (I had seen them) and how
well she could sing. After a while I said What About My Book
and he laughed and said You Wrote One and that
was more or less that.
Esther, this poem rings such a bell to me : all the efforts to have people talking, writing about my book. Once, I was at the TV just after Charlotte Rampling, and the make up artist who took care of my face told me Charlotte was stupid.
Funny. I’m shocked she was stupid. I like her face but not as much as yours. xxxx
So funny, and perfect.
Esther-I was never on The Leonard Lopate Show, but he once disparaged a workshop I was teaching while he was interviewing people from The Center for Book Arts on his show. He singled out my ‘Wearable Book’ workshop saying he didn’t understand what was it, how it didn’t make any sense.
Friends called and emailed telling me I should call in and defend my workshop, but I was out teaching-somewhere. Maybe an elementary school in the Bronx. There were so many workshops in so many places long ago.
It wasn’t a dream. But now it seems like one.
he’s gone now xxxx
Your line ‘consistent single mindedness which I don’t usually have” – I love that. You described me or how I feel about my mind. I somehow found you in March and have a binder of your words, saving them so when I have time I can concentrate. thank you Esther.
thanks for writing Joanell.
How did you find me? I’m glad you did. xxx
And now he’s out to pasture.
So after looking at his entry on Wikipedia, I now know, thanks to your poem, who Leonard Lopate is. How did I live in such ignorant bliss all these years?
This rings so true. I was on Leonard’s show, too. I thought he was insufferable.
Everyone gets their comeuppance once in awhile. Listen to Leonard Lopate get shredded by Shirley McClain in a fun and witty way. He didn’t have a chance through the whole interview. He was a four year old in her hands. Enjoy!
I will (!!!!)