FIRST POETRY READINGS IN DC OUTSIDE THE LOC

by William McLeod Rivera (W.M. Rivera)

The annual series of public poetry and fiction readings, lectures, symposia, and occasional dramatic performances at the Library of Congress (LOC) began in the 1940s.  When I joined the LOC staff in 1957 as assistant to the editor of the LOC Handbook of Latin American Studies, I developed a friendly relationship with then Poet Consultant in Poetry, Richard Eberhart (1959-1961).  After one of our luncheons together, I told Richard that, while I appreciated the LOC readings by well-known poets, I thought a series outside of LOC for younger, relatively unknown poets was needed.   That year, 1959, I negotiated with Reverend Dr. James J. Reeb of the Universal Unitarian Church on 16^th and Colombia Road to rent a room at the Church for bi-weekly (every two weeks) poetry readings by younger poets.  He charged me $5.00 per rental; in turn I charged participants $3.00 per attendance.  The readings brought together about 8-15 participants and from the monies I received, I paid for the room-rental and also paid readers $20.00 (often made up with out-of-pocket).   After each session, the reader and participants were invited to walk over to my small apartment on 18^th and Columbia Road. 

I am truly sorry that I did not keep a record of the poets who read from their works.  These were featured reading, one person per session.  Shortly after the younger-poets series began, Richard told me that he wanted to read at my series, and although I protested (mildly) that he was not a ‘younger’ poet, he insisted, and of course I was delighted to include him in the series.  Needless to say, Richard brought the largest audience (over 40 participants) and, of course, would not accept the remunerative fee for reading.  Also, needless to say, he gave the series a terrific boost.

The readings at the Universal Unitarian Church during that period (1959-1961) were the first in DC outside of those hosted by the LOC.   It was an especially exciting time in my life.

Rev. James Reeb

Unfortunately neither Rev. James Reeb nor Richard Eberhard are still with us.  Last year, the current Pastor at the Universal Unitarian Church, Reverend Dr. Hardies, accepted a poem I wrote in honor of Dr. Reeb.  Below is the commemorative poem I wrote in Rev. Reeb’s honor, following his death in Selma by thugs opposed to integration.

Today I kicked a tree

Dedicated to Reverend James Reeb (1927 – 1965), a white American Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston, MA, a pastor and civil rights activist in Washington, DC; murdered in Selma, Alabama.

I sat down on the plane and read the news,

March 1965, of how they clubbed

and cracked your skull in Selma, Reverend

James J. Reeb,

because you hoped to un-divide white/black

and carry light throughout a hostile land.

Today I kicked a tree.  Why it fell to me

to pass this way and not another, who knows. 

For you, there was no other way; you lived

to swell the ranks against the urge to hate.

Years late I turn to honor you, your life,

and yet what pains me now is not hard death,

but witnessing this winter’s dark concerns,

the odium in life no age shakes off.