On November 20th I travelled to Bonn University to lecture on “Reclaiming Rhyme: On Contemporary American Poetry, Hip Hop, and Rhyming Culture.” At the University, I was delighted to meet a number of faculty and students. It was particularly gratifying to meet Professors Christian Kloeckner and Sabine Sielke, as I had previously contributed to a collection they edited, and Professor Frank Kearful, as I was able to thank him for warmly reviewing my first book. The talk went well; the students and faculty asked a number of helpful, insightful questions and discussions continued over coffee and dinner.
Next week I will speak on “American Jewish Poetry” at an event organized by the European Jewish Community Centre. The talk should draw attendees from a number of European countries. I am very interested to see how these American issues appear from their perspectives.
David Caplan
Benjamin T. Spencer Professor of Literature
Associate Professor of English
Associate Director of Creative Writing
Ohio Wesleyan University