Notes from the Road - May 17, 2023

May 17, 2023

Amber has one hand on her hip and the other propping herself up against a building. She is wearing her motorcycle helmet, looking at the camera, smiling.

Darklings,

These last couple of days have been an absolute whirlwind. I turned forty on Sunday, and my husband threw me the surprise party of a lifetime. One day later, I flew to Nashville to hit the road for the Pretend It’s a Boat Poetry Tour, with my dear friend, writer Derrick C. Brown.

We picked up our motorcycle—our mode of transportation for the next two weeks—and packed all our gear and books in its pockets before heading to the venue. Our first show was at Coop Gallery, a great little art gallery that hosts literary events with Free Nashville Poetry Library on occasion. The house was packed, and friends came in from all over Nashville to see us perform.

During the opening of each show, Derrick and I attempt to build a fake boat out of objects we find at the venue—an umbrella, a table, a broken lamp. The boat serves as a metaphor for how hard life has been for all of us these last couple of years, and while things have been difficult, at least we’re all in this mess together. We end the evening by inviting the audience to take part in the show, asking them if they are in the same boat as us—have they also felt numb, lonely, and filled with despair over the last few years? Are they ready to let that all go, even just for the night, in the name of poetry and adventure?

Today, we’re headed to Louisville for our second show. Hope to see some of you out here on the road. Below are some photos from the last 24 hours. I’ll be sharing much more along the way.

Love, Amber

A parked motorcycle with its storage section and pockets open. Boxes, books, and bags are strewn around on the ground waiting to be packed into the bike. — Parking lot packing.

An overhead view of the inside of the storage compartment on the motorcycle. In it are Amber and Derrick's books, a pair of sneakers, and some folded clothes.

Derrick rests a foot on top of the parked motorcycle's seat. He's tying the shoelace on his boot as he looks into the camera with a slight smile.

Derrick stands in front of a microphone, holding his book and performing. The audience watches him. A table, lamp, umbrella, and other objects are stacked together next to him. — Coop Gallery

Listening in the Dark with Amber Tamblyn

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