Young Poets’ Party

What intrigued the most was the atmosphere. Though I can’t judge the intimate air of friendliness that much, because I was, after all, a mere outsider and not a member of the Pardubice crowd that largely controlled the event I am beginning here to sketch: the public reading Dík že tu sme of three close friends and poets: Černík, Suchánek, Daliba.

I went there as a youth-poetry-reading department virgin and therefore had been laden with silly stereotypes about such events (like a heavily sentimental ambiance or a tendency towards far-fetched seriousness letting the ‘art’ sink in into the dramatic pauses), most of which proved correct. However, they all felt natural and not theatrical. One could perceive that the performers have worked hard for the event to happen and had something honest to say. Moreover, it is always refreshing to see a Millennial being passionate about something else than what the number of her ‘friends’ is—which lends hope.

There were no delays, the programme was running smoothly (there was a screening of a student’s movie as well, which unfortunately, I missed) and the poetry being recited made a strong impression upon the whole audience of about 20-30 people stacked in the Final club’s basement; many were locked in the suggestive flow of the poems and listened with their eyes closed, some fixed their gaze on the podium enjoying the physical act of recitation, and some ginger gits void of a response (or a soul) of their own stared at other people as impression-hungry stalkers. We were enveloped in vigorous poetry that flowed out of the printed copies that were trembling in the young artists’ hands. It was what poetry ought to be, an emotional experience.

As for the content or quality of the poems, I can’t attempt to make any sound critical judgements from such a brief encounter. What I will do is reiterate how great an atmosphere the talented gentleman induced and how well they entranced the audience; though, at times, perplexing them with a tendency to get lost high in the evasive clouds of the abstract. Bearing in mind the promise of another reading, I must recommend it to all you kindred artsy hipsters out there.

- Jaromír Lelek