On Joanne Kyger's "When I used to focus on the worries, everybody"

In January 2016, a group of poets, letterpress book artists, and readers of modern and contemporary verse gathered at the Center for the Book in San Francisco to form a collaborative close reading of single poem by Joanne Kyger: "When I used to focus on the worries..." The discussion was led by Al Filreis and it was sponsored by ModPo, the free and open online course. All of the participants had been part of the 10-week ModPo experience, which occurs each autumn from early September through late November. ModPo and Jacket2 wish to thank the staff and directors of the Center for the Book, and in particular Duff Axsom (a member of the Center's board and long-time ModPo regular). Zach Carduner and Chris Martin recorded and then slightly edited the video recording. Special thanks also to Jake Marmer, the Palo Alto-based klezmer improv poet, who joined the discussion as can be seen sitting in the first row. For more information and context, please go here. The text of Kyger’s poem can be found here: LINK TO TEXT.