I can't find any way to comment on Kaveh Akbar's "My Five Things," other than this field, so it will have to do. I was disappointed, to say the least. In his rambling preamble he informed us he wasn't going to stick to the class that was advertised, and he had already delivered it at Poetry.org. I signed up (and paid) for the advertised class. In the ninety minutes that followed he presented a disjointed session that seemed to be improvised, i.e. not well planned. Mr. Akbar even mumbled something about having not prepared as he was searching for a video. I expected much better, especially after experiencing Jane Hershfield's illuminating presentation a few weeks prior. I will be unlikely to try "My Five Things," again. As an afterthought, the level of professionalism was underscored as we watched the moderator eating her dessert before she remembered to block her video.
I can't find any way to comment on Kaveh Akbar's "My Five Things," other than this field, so it will have to do. I was disappointed, to say the least. In his rambling preamble he informed us he wasn't going to stick to the class that was advertised, and he had already delivered it at Poetry.org. I signed up (and paid) for the advertised class. In the ninety minutes that followed he presented a disjointed session that seemed to be improvised, i.e. not well planned. Mr. Akbar even mumbled something about having not prepared as he was searching for a video. I expected much better, especially after experiencing Jane Hershfield's illuminating presentation a few weeks prior. I will be unlikely to try "My Five Things," again. As an afterthought, the level of professionalism was underscored as we watched the moderator eating her dessert before she remembered to block her video.