Peggy Zuleika Lynch says poets are ย“the lowest on the totem poleย” when it comes to artists. Lynch should know; sheย’s been struggling in the not quite lucrative or glamorous world of poetry for decades. But she says poets have one advantage over other creative types, as theyย’re the only artists who are actually ย“needed at specific moments in life ย— births, deaths and weddings.ย” She adds, ย“People donย’t think of poetry until some crisis or celebration comes around.ย”

Lynch claims to write about ย“everything,ย” but her books Behold Texas and From Hide and Horn make it clear this self-described ย“true Texas productย” and San Antonio resident is deeply into her Lone Star roots. And though sheย’s a bit cagey about what exactly it is sheย’s going to read today, she says she plans to mix it up with ย“some haiku, some free verse and some things more traditional.ย” Now thatย’s something to celebrate.

This article appears in Apr 5-11, 2007.