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Pork, Pain, Bananas And All The Usual Poetry Stuff

This was the event to end all events. A beautiful poetry reading by Campbell McGrath, Kevin Young, Richard Blanco, and Dana Gioia. Young dealt us pork and pain. McGrath bathed us in banana and creatures from the bay. Blanco showed us the shame in Legos, and Gioia recited his classic verse with effortless style. 

I was in poetry heaven-these guys wove such beautiful pieces out of everyday objects, unthinkable pain, and all the usual poetry stuff. But, the coolest part, I think-and this is the case with each reading I attend-was that these guys, as talented and amazing as they are, are just regular human beings. It's nice to be reminded that these demigods of language aren't demigods at all. With hard work and dedication to the craft, even a young poet from Alabama can spread beautiful language throughout the world one day.

Ashley Jones is a contributor to the Florida Book Review. Jones attended the poetry panel on Saturday. You can check out FBR's full live blog of the 2012 book fair here.

WLRN is collaborating with the Florida Book Review to cover this year's Miami Book Fair International. Check back all weekend for updates.

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