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State poet
By Bret Schulte
Senior editor
As a grandfather, he loves to tell stories about
his family. As a poet, his words describe the lives
of millions.
William Kloefkom, the Nebraska state poet
since 1982, has published volumes of poetry in
his lifetime and most recently a reflective volume
of prose, a memoir titled “This Death by
Drowning.”
At 3 p.m. today Kloefkom heads “Prose,
Poetry and Conversation,” a dialogue between the
author and the audience framed around readings
of his poetry and prose. Sponsored by Sigma Tau
Delta, the undergraduate English organization,
the event will last for two hours to encourage con
versation and boost attendance.
“We hope that during this two-hour period
people would come and go as they are able to,”
said Jacquelynn Sorensen, University of
Nebraska English grofessor and sponsor of
Sigma Tau Delta.
Sorensen knew the state poet from their days
teaching together at Wesleyan University, where
Kloefkom had taught poetry from 1962 to 1997.
She said that Kloefkom was a popular
instructor to whom students responded with
enthusiasm.
‘Tve never had a student who wasn’t
impressed with him,” she said. “I asked him a
number of times to come talk to my classes. Bill
came to talk, and students kept him talking so
much in class that he only had time to read one
poem.”
His eagerness to chat played a large role in her
decision to invite Kloefkom to UNL for “Prose,
Poetry and Conversation.”
“I hope we get a lot of people because he’s
charming, he talks easy and besides, I like his
work.”
She’s not the only one. People from coast to
coast are familiar with Kloefkom’s poetry, which
is published in houses in New York, Minnesota
and in periodicals across the country. His most
recent collection of poetry, “Treehouse: New and
Selected Poems,” was published in 1996 and
includes personal favorites published in about 20
previous books.
Described by Sorensen as “intimate,”
Kloefkom’s poetry springs from personal history
but is largely fictional in its final form. Mostly
free verse, his narrative writing style is easy to
associate with, his stories universal in nature. The
accessibility of his work inspired his nomination
to a governor-appointed committee assembled to
seek out candidates for the Nebraska state poet
After reviewing a sample of his work and
weeding through writings from dozens of appli
cants, the committee suggested Kloefkom to die
governor’s office, then filled by Charles Thone. In
1982, he was appointed state poet for life by
proclamation of the Legislature.
Since then, Kloefkom has continued his writ
ing and travels on a lecture circuit that most
recently took him to South Dakota, Colorado and
Utah.
He said that Miami is the next stop on his list.
Until then, he will be occupying himself at
home in Lincoln, where he still teaches a poetry
class at Wesleyan. His talk today at UNL will
focus on “This Death by Drowning,” published
last year by University of Nebraska Press.
The tide refers to a near-death experience he
had as a 5-year-old boy in rural Kansas where he
grew up. He said he was chasing grasshoppers
around pools of water while his mom and dad
fished at a nearby pond. When a fleeing grasshop
per jumped into the nearest body of water,
Kloefkom followed suit.
Kloefkom doesn’t remember the incident, but
his mother told him that by the time his father had
scooped him out of die pond he “was about gone.”
«
I’ve never had a
student who wasn’t
impressed with him.”
Jacquelynn Sorensen
UNL English professor
“This Death by Drowning” is a reflection of
Kloefkom’s own mortality, which he said is
something all writers must contend with.
Now 66 (but he claims to look 38) and a
grandfather, Kloefkom still relies on personal
experience for inspiration to his poems, which he
said usually begin from a “nub” of autobiography.
From that “nub,” he weaves the poetry that has
garnered him national attention and earned him
die lifetime position as state poet.
He plans to discuss poetry as well as prose in
today’s discussion and invites anybody interested
in writing and literature to attend.
“Prose, Poetry and Conversation” will be held
at the Dudley Bailey Library, 228 Andrews Hall,
from 3 to 5 p.m.
Robyn Hitchcock
“Storefront Hitchcock”
Warner Bros. Records
Grade: B+
There’s something pleasantly
deranged about Robyn Hitchcock.
Hitchcock’s music has earned a rep
utation over the years as a quirky blend
of folk-pop genius, surreal lyrics and
playful gleefulness. Hitchcock may like
to think really deep, but he’s never going
to grow up.
“Storefront Hitchcock” is the com
pact disc accompaniment to the film of
the same name. That film marks direc
tor Jonathan Demme’s return to musical
documentaries, the last having been the
Talking Heads’ “Stop Making Sense.”
But just because a big name’s directing
the film doesn’t mean the music that
goes along will be spectacular.
But Demme has a knack for picking
the musicians who really are great
Hitchcock’s gift lies in his ability to
not take himself seriously. In a time full
of overly angst-filled tunes, Hitchcock
has remained just slightly silly, enough
to make you wonder if he’s pulling your
leg.
Most people couldn’t pull off songs
with such flippant titles like “I
Something You” or “Alright Yeah” with
ease.
What aids “Storefront Hitchcock”
in getting something new, though, is a
bit of the person behind the music. And,
yes, he really is as weird as die lyrics he
writes.
Between “1974” and “Let’s Go
Thundering,” he decides to pontificate
on naming songs, and it weaves and
rambles through all sorts of philosophy.
What begins with him complaining on
how little a song’s title actually reveals
eventually turns into him telling the
audience how they could explode at any
given moment, for no real reason.
And that’s just the way he is, so it
makes perfect sense.
Most of “Storefront Hitchcock” is
acoustic, but the crystal-clear sound is a
nice change from the occasional murki
ness of some of Hitchcock’s albums.
It’s also almost only Hitchcock him
self playing. On a couple of tracks, he
does have some help, but there are never
any drums or bass. For the most part, it’s
just Robyn and his guitar. That’s as it
should be, though, because Hitchcock
has always been about the songs and the
lyrics, not being flashy.
On a couple of tracks, Hitchcock
also plays harmonica, and it’s surprising
how well he can while still playing gui
tar and keeping track of his lyrics as
well.
Above all, “Storefront Hitchcock”
has a very laid-back and casual attitude
that carries throughout the whole
album.
The only moment that could have
been glossed over, however, is “The
Yip! Song.” After a few listens, the fast
forward button seems infinitely close
on that one track.
Other than that, though, most of
Hitchcock’s best songs are hit here,
although “Raymond Chandler
Evening” isn’t present, sadly.
Interestingly enough, Hitchcock also
covers a Hendrix song, “The Wind
Cries Mary.” And die surprising tiling is
that it works.
But that’s the way Hitchcock is.
He’s constantly surprising his fans with
sly lyrics and casual grace.
“Storefront Hitchcock” is a good
place to start for anyone familiar with
the devious musician and a nice addi
tion for any old fan.
-CliffHicks
Stephen Hawking makes debut
on ‘The Simpsons’ as himself
LUNDUN (AP) - Physicist
Stephen Hawking, author of “A Brief
History ofTime,” flew to Hollywood for
a role in “The Simpsons” series and
wowed Bart, Homer and Lisa, a British
newspaper reported Sunday.
Hawking, who holds the
Cambridge University post once held
by Sir Isaac Newton, plays himself,
complete with “supercharged wheel
chair” and his distinctive electronic
voice, reported The Independent on
Sunday.
Hawkins suffers from amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou
Gehrig’s disease, which affects the
motor skills, and he uses an electronic
synthesizer to speak.
Bart, “an underachiever and proud
of it,” his father, Homer, and sister Lisa
were “overawed” by Hawking, the
newspaper reported.
“He comes in to make a commen
tary on the universe as a whole and
intellectuals,” producer Bonnie Patila
said. “He plays himself. It’s a show that
has to do with intellectuals, and we
don’t know anyone more intellectual
than him.
“Everyone wanted to meet him,”
Patila said. “We are all huge fans. He
was great fun.”
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8
D_
INFORMATION
TABLE
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
November 16th - 18th
s Nebraska Union
FILM SHOW
4 p.m.
Wednesday, November 18th
Nebraska Union
i ■ (
For more information call: •
800/424-8580 <press #1)
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