Livestream Poetry Reading: Brittney Corrigan and David J. S. Pickering

Annie Bloom's welcomes Oregon poets Brittney Corrigan and David J. S. Pickering for a livestream reading from their new poetry collections from Airlie Press.

Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/Vl7pJ5MjGqM

About Daughters:

This collection reimagines characters from mythology, folklore, fairy tales, and pop culture from the perspective of their daughters--daughters we don't expect such individuals to have, as we don't usually think of Bigfoot, the Mad Hatter, or Medusa as parents. The persona poems in Daughters give voice to the guilt, resentment, and anger that may come with raising a child as well as explore the intertwining of these shameful feelings with pride and love. These figures are a new visioning, from the daughters' perspective, of what it means to shape another human being. Taking on such topics as aging, rebellion, loss, domestic violence, homelessness, and gender identity, the voices of Daughters aim to upend the reader's conceptions of the characters and throw light upon what it means for a girl to come out from under her parents as a woman of her own making.

Brittney Corrigan is the author of three previous books of poetry: Breaking (WordTech Editions), Navigation (The Habit of Rainy Nights Press), and 40 Weeks (Finishing Line Press). Corrigan was raised in Colorado and has lived in Portland, Oregon for the past three decades, where she is an alumna and employee of Reed College. She is currently at work on her first short story collection.

About Jesus Comes to Me as Judy Garland:

This collection explores themes of sexual orientation, spirituality, family, and aging, often using smart humor and sharp observation. These poems are much like the old Cadillacs that Pickering clearly loves, big and powerful and roomy, and they are full of interesting companions kibitzing in the back seat--Bette Davis, Bob Ross, Judy Garland, Lucille Clifton, Marlene Dietrich, Vincent Van Gogh, and yes, Jesus. This collection is an affirmation of spirit and the variety of ways it manifests in the contemporary world. While these poems sometimes navigate dark and complex territories, Pickering is a confident driver, and the reader always feels safe riding shotgun in the front seat. So, settle into the leather-trimmed aqua brocade... and step on it. You're going for a ride.

David J.S. Pickering is a native Oregonian, having grown up and lived much of his life in the working-class culture of the North Oregon Coast. His poetry has been published in a variety of journals, including Gold Man Review, Portland Review, Gertrude Journal, Raw Art Review, and Haunted Waters Press. David recently retired from a 30-year career in human resources management. He and his husband, Stephen, live in Oregon.