Exploring Kim Addonizio's Blues-Inspired Poetry

Kim Addonizio's poetry highlights the microscopic detail into the mortality of the human condition, rebellion, and love. Her themes ranged from sexual sensation to rock n roll rebellion, which was all delivered in a witty format. Addonizio’s poetic meter is delivered in a syncopated blues rhythmic measure comparable to that of the lyrics of the classic blues artists like Skip James where a continuing series of musical notes are overlapped by a repetition of lines that gradually or minorly change through progression. This style is most notable through her fixed form poetry, such as sonnets. So it is only natural that her lyrical poetry is complimented well in accordance of the blues band playing as she simultaneously reads. Addonizio's physique,

posture, behavior, tattoos, and apparel of sleeveless denim jackets match that of her rock n roll style personality that is so potent in her poetry. She read with a great deal of concentration and the emphasis she had on a few lines really enhanced and or changed the meaning of a poem entirely for me as I read along with her. The whole reading though was experimental as she played with the lyrical delivery, reading format and the musicality, attempting to mix them together with a positive outcome. Addonizio stated before every reading the theme, inspiration and meaning of the poem. Macklemore’s backroom design was perfectly fitting for a blues reading. It provoked that of a blues bar setting with the music playing, a light bellow of conversation in the background from the audience, and the casualness of everyone's drinking. She also mentioned that the musical performance and reading was nothing like the album, they were just seeing how far they can get through improvisation. It was just a relaxed scenario. Everyone drank as she read, the blues band played, and she drank as she read and played her Harmonica.