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PAUL AND JIMMY PANAGOPOULOS,
AND CHEF THEODORE OF THE
NEW AND OLD DOWNTOWN
PARTHENON AND
LEO STASSINOPOULOS,
NOW BRING FINE
AUTHENTIC GREEKTOWN
CUISINE TO YOU.

oni\ihe poem "On Forgettings" by
from her award-winnin

A •e ••;•';:••

move from the highly personal effects
tures the idea of moving on through a
of the illnesses and death of her father
picture of the Ambassador Bridge.
to broader issues involved with the flow
Three series of poems — "Inventory"
of Jewish history.
"Persuasion" and " On Forgettings" —
"Sadness is built into the concept
have specific site references to the metro
of Diaspora because it involves leav-
area, recalling a popular
ing," says Seyburn,
shopping mall, a car deal-
who has left family,
ership and a cemetery.
her mother and broth-
"I'm a city poet," says
Seyburn, who made one
ers, in Michigan, to
which she returns twice
of the biggest changes in
, her life about two years
a year for visits.
"On the whole, I'd
ago, when she married
attorney Eric Little. As I
like to think of myself as
moved around, the ques-
a celebratory poet, but
tions of where I'm from
the loss of a parent is
became more complex.
what could be the first
My father is Canadian,
experience of tragedy.
and I feel that's part of
The notion of reinven-
me. Living in New
tion has its down side."
York gave me a greater
The poet's attitude
sense of what it is to
toward Judaism devel-
be a Jew culturally."
oped over the years she
11
"Dias oradic is a winner
Seyburn, about a
attended Temple Israel,
of the Marianne Moore
year
away from finish-
where her mother,
Poetry Prize, established
ing
requirements
for her
Shirley Seyburn, was
"to honor the poetic mood,
doctoral degree, is start-
secretary to the cantor.
pioneer spirit and creative
ing to apply for univer-
In her poem "Dedica-
energy of America."
sity jobs so that she can
tion," written for a
share her passion for
friend who went
poetry with students.
through a great deal of change after
"I'd like readers to feel a certain
moving to Germany, she explores the
click of recognition as they read my
meaning of being a post-Holocaust
poetry and feel a challenge to think
generation Jew in that country.
more about how they observe and per-
Seyburn, active in a synagogue close
ceive the world," she says. 1-1
to her in California, sings with the
choir and has been invited to join with
her rabbi in conducting a three-session
seminar on Jewish poetry.
Patty Seyburn will read her
When I was young, working
poetry at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,
toward my bat mitzvah and confirma-
Jan. 20, at Borders, 30995
tion, I memorized prayers," the new
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington
author recalls. "As an adult, I think of
Hills. (248) 737-0110.
),
them as poetry.
The cover of Seyburn's book cap-
eimX
'VV")," '",>70.."•P;"
• "
'

4101 ORCHARD LA
LOCATED AT CROSSW
WEST B 0
co ER•F ORCHARD 4 & L

1/15
1999

Detroit Jewish News

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