May I Never Solicit

A few years ago, I attended one of the most classy (in a good way) events I’ve ever attended. By classy, I think I mean generous, gracious, hospitable, and also deeply touching. I’m certain it was free since it’s been so long since I’ve paid for events, but I bought a few books that night. It was not only classy but a first-class, five-star event, (sorry for all the clichés), I just mean to say it was one of those events where you can’t believe afterwards, that you were lucky enough to be there. It was called Poets for Peace and it celebrated a publication by a fine small nonprofit publisher, Milkweed Editions, and if I recall correctly was co-sponsored by Grey Wolf Press, another fine Minnesota press that happened to be housed down a few doors from our coffee shop. Kim Stafford was the host and the new book was “Every War Has Two Losers” by his dad, William Stafford, who has since become my favorite poet. I have extensive notes on the evening somewhere, but the memory of it will suffice for now.

I went alone. The affect may have had something to do with my attentativeness and the way each small part of the evening felt as it seeped into me.

There are about 65 things that come to mind that I could write passionately about off the memory too. Now that’s a good event. Senator Eugene McCarthy was there, and the soft voiced poet Wang Ping, and Mel Duncan.

But here’s how I got to thinking of it. I got an email from Nonviolent Peaceforce that said on its subject line: Honor Mel Duncan and David Hartsough. Without my notes I can’t say for certain if he read poetry or, if he did if it was his own. But honoring him…hell…I’d honor anybody who’d been at that event.

The e-mail’s opening paragraph read as follows:
I come to you with a unique and exciting opportunity to honor two visionaries of
peace while expressing your own commitment to their dream.
A decade has passed since David Hartsough and Mel Duncan forged the partnership
that gave rise to Nonviolent Peaceforce. Their steadfast support of the cause of
unarmed civilian peacekeeping created what has been called "one of the most visionary
and realistic alternatives to war in the world today.”

What flashes through my mind is, “Okay, he’s retiring, they’re going to have an event,” and that’s what pulls forth all the memories of the Poets for Peace. Then I find out it’s a solicitation.

I don’t mean to be unfair. I can imagine just about anybody stepping down from a cause dear to their heart saying “Skip the hoopla,” and even “Send money” instead. They’d rather you support their cause than honor them. I get it. But drats if it wasn’t a disappointing buildup and double-drats that they’re missing the opportunity to feed the souls of peace loving sorts. A really good event can inspire you to action you’ve never taken before and still be having effects years down the road.

There’s something that happens when you get people of good heart together, when you get peacemakers together, and you’re not soliciting anything but the feeling of togetherness and passion and compassion. The book-selling in the hallway comes like a gift afterwards. You can’t wait to read that poetry, know more of what’s in the hearts of these people, and you somehow know that their book is going to give it to you.

Of course, I’m thinking of all this too because of having a book coming out. It’s hard to imagine creating an event that does what that one did. But what you hope for is that what’s in your heart speaks to another person and that what you do might feel generous…and that it will never be an act of solicitation.