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Books by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Early Poems /
The Collected Poems, 1952-1990 /
Don't Die Before You're Dead /
Twentieth Century Russian Poetry
A Precocious Autobiography /
Ivan The Terrible and Ivan the Fool /
Selected Poems
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Books by Lee
Meitzen Grue:
Goodbye Silver, Silver Cloud In the Sweet Balance of the
Flesh French Quarter Poems
Three Poets in New Orleans * *
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Raising a Toast to a Fellow Poet
By Nell Nolan
Literature a la Russe was the theme of
a party held by the New Orleans Poetry Forum and Bridges for
peace to honor the internationally renowned poet Yevgeny
Yevtushenko. The al fresco event -- symbolically booked
for July 4th -- took place at the Lesseps Street home of Lee and
Reginald Grue. Hostess Lee Meitzen Grue, who also is president
of the Poetry Forum, has received of a grant from the National
Endowment for the Arts for her own writing. Colleagues lifted a
glass of congratulatory cheer with her as well as the honored
Yevtushenko.
The figurative cup ran over with witty asides
and insights as guests queried Yevtushenko about his life in
Russia. At one point, in answer to a question regarding foreign
policy, he suggested that Russia and America get together and
discuss "mutual stupidities."
Academia not only had a field day at the Grue
gathering, but also a good representation. Among the notables
were Dr. Kenneth Holditch, Peter Cooley, and daughter Nicole,
Dr. Joseph Cohen and professor Tom Bonner. Olga Smoak, from the
International Association of Friends of Soviet Ballet, was
likened to a character from a Pushkin poem "come to
life" in her lacy ecru party dress.
Other guests included Marty O'Farrell; Robert
Borsodi of Borsodi's Coffee House; psychiatrist Dr. Harvey
Rifkin; Sharon Olinka, director of publicity for the Poetry
Forum; Helen Parnell of Bridges for Peace; and artist George
Dureau.
One of the city's most renowned artists,
Dureau was chosen this year by the century Club of the
Contemporary Arts Center to do its limited-edition print.
"Big beach with Seven" was his "in-print,"
and it was shown at the Audobon Boulevard home of Dr. and Mrs.
John L. Ochsner. Captaining the CC crew are Muriel Bultman
Francis and Betty Moran, co-chairman.
"Big Beach with Seven" is the most
recent of a series of beach pictures, which began with one
titled "Fourth of July."
Still another calendar coincidence connected
with Yevtushenko's Crescent City trip was his visit to Armstrong
Park, where he read a poem he
had written in honor of the great musician. Satchmo's natal
date was July 4.
Back to the Grues' rhyme and reason revelers,
who also responded fast to "repast." The food was in
abundance. Homemade pate (that was "out of this
world," according to a party principle), shrimp curry,
baked chicken, at least six different kinds of salad, pecan pie
and peach cheesecake) were washed down with glasses of sparkling
white wine. But the one individual who really pulled a culinary
chromatic coup was George Herget, who came up with a patriotic
entree, truly befitting an event held on July 4: red, white and
blue pasta.
Bleu, blanc et rouge are the
reordering of those colors for this patriotic weekend, when the
several Bastile Day celebrations will be spotlighted. On
Saturday night, there will be the French parade (starting at 8
pm at the Hilton), which will cut a merry swath through the
Vieux Carre, with a prominent stop at Jackson Square.
Traditionally, the French consul general has
toasted both the parade and the queen at this spot. However,
this year there will be an added touch of sentiment since Consul
General Phillipe Gregoire will be toasting his wife, Catherine,
as la Reine d'Orleans.
Unfortunately, she will have to send in a
negative R.S.V.P. to the party they are giving jointly at 7 p.m.
at the Presbytere.
Then both of them -- as well as the two
Gregoire children who'll be on the queen's float with their
royal mamam -- will appear at the masked ball at the
Hilton Hotel after the parade. Sponsored by La Societe Francaise,
the ball is creating quite a stir among the creative set. The
first prize for the best mask is a pair of round-trip tickets to
Paris.
Queen Catherine was given a bit of monarchal
advice by Sue Peters, whom she ran into as she lunched at
Bouligny on Tuesday. Sue, the first Mystic Club queen to reign
at the Hilton, told Mme. Gregoire that the day of her reign was
her day. "Enjoy it to the fullest."
Source: Times/Picayune , July 1987
posted Spring 2002 * * * * *
update 8 July 2008 |
