Thursday evening I attended a packed Lyrik im Maerz at the AULA of the University Campus. The evening was organised by the GAV – Grazer Autorinnen Autorenversammlung which was created as the antithesis to the Austrian PEN Club. That doesn’t say much for the latter but methinks local politics as to who is on which side are more involved than need be, and surely it’s about what writers can do for PEN than …
Anyway, I was impressed by the word pictures and sounds, texture almost of Petra Ganglbauer‘s work and was moved by Christine Haidegger‘s poems. I was a little surprised to hear so much English slipped into other poems and wondered if this double-tonguedness was becoming a trend.
Friday evening was a much more intimate yet well-visited gig at Andino, where framed by Ernst Molden and Alex Miksch, sometimes jamming, Andreas Pittler read excerpts from his new book Ezzes.(Ezzes is Viennese dilact for “really good tips or advice”.)
Saturday was World Poetry Day and members of Labyrinth read their work at the Moli Wok Restaurant where the Chinese artist, Zhao Yu Sheng exhibits her work. Also reading were Hanane Aad, Kurt Simperl and Liu Ding Guo. The evening was organised by the UNESCO Club Vienna to celebrate the 10th anniversary of World Poetry Day with the readings complemented by traditional Chinese music and a wonderful meal to make any poet’s mouth water.
My LitPot concluded on Monday evening with a reading at Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers by Campbell Jefferys from his new novel, Hunter. Lots of good talk and good Australian wine to start the week.
