If you’re a fan of poetry, or of Patricia Wilson, or of the Black Eagle: good news! All three combine for a fun new event that takes place on the second Wednesday of every month. 

I attended the inaugural event in September. The room filled up around 8pm and Patricia herself read the first poem. Then she brought on David Bateman, the charming host, who introduced such writers as Peter Lynch, Steve Keil, and Raymond Helkio, as well as several new guys. The theme was Dirty Queer Poetry, and most of the poems were scorching. Periodically, I had to fan myself and mutter “oh my." Nevertheless, it was thrilling to be in such a raunchy gay environment and also be clothed, for a change. Reader after reader captivated the mostly male audience with their scintillating stories of blow jobs and bottoming.

Then I got up and did a reading. Now I’m no poet, so I just read a few of my old columns from this website, like the one where my fetish is to dress up like a cop on Pride Day. Or the one about how I used Method acting to play a gay basher with one line in Raymond Helkio’s play Operation Soap. Or the one about the popper dispenser that looks like a butt plug so please don’t confuse the two. Amazingly, no one stormed out. Honestly, I had never seen such patience on display at the Eagle. I had to fan myself once more. 

Patricia and David used to host a poetry event at Tallulah’s, and now they bring all the fun to the Black Eagle. Poetry readings always seem like such stodgy affairs. This one is anything but.