It was a very hard decision to cancel my trip to AWP this year. “I’d Rather Break Your Heart” was the first panel I ever proposed. Tate's my spirit animal—or rather, I’m Mickey Mouse to his Walt Disney. Our panel’s email discussions felt downright science-y—like we were identifying some never-before-seen hybrid midwestern mushroom-insect. My brain’s been inexorably altered by our discussions on the nature political poetry, authority, Buster Keaton, and Westworld. Maybe I’ll write about it someday.

“I love my funny poems, but I’d rather break your heart. And if I can do both in the same poem, that’s the best.” —James Tate, 1943-2015.

Five poets read and explore the work, life, and craft of James Tate, whose funny, heartbreaking, and chilling poems thwarted expectations of what poetry is and does. As Tate’s distinctive style made imitation impossible and even embarrassing, our panelist discuss the influence of one of America’s most celebrated surrealists on their widely diverse styles.

James Tate was the author of 18 books of poems; each defied expectations of poetry to create mystery, surprise, and feelings for which words don’t exist. Moderator Matthew Zapruder wrote of Tate’s newest book, Government Lake, released posthumously in 2019, “He was looking for the pure poetry after all the things that usually tell us we are reading poetry are gone.” Despite different styles, Tate’s work has inspires the diverse panelists to eschew imitation, and instead create risk and surprise.