why contemporary literature never gets the respect of literature of other centuries, why James
Wright is one kind of poet, take him or leave him, and Shakespeare is another. And the
directors of these programs seem to know their place, making each of their students feel
special about their own achievements and never worrying about the notion of the literature
they create having a real impact on a multitude of others in the world around them. That was a
big reason, in fact, for my efforts to create literary narratives - using my talents as a listener
and a poet - from the oral histories of ordinary people. I found a very satisfying bind to the
universal audience of ordinary readers.
So I was proud that night at the concert in downtown Rochester when Police Chief Gordon
Urlacher read his story to the delight of several hundred people. To those who did not know
Gordie, it made him seem human. So that afternoon, driving home, listening to the courtroom
coverage of the Urlacher trial which was being covered by major media of course, I was
shocked to hear my name! Why was my name uttered by the lead prosecutor in this case? He
introduced my writing, my transcription of his story, my literary accomplishment - published in
Gannett newspapers for thousands, and to another few hundred in my book, Hearts and Times
- my narrative from Gordie’s oral history about his boyhood story. As I drove, I heard the
commentator say, “The District Attorney brought into evidence Ross Talarico’s narrative to
point out that Police Chief Urlacher has been a liar all his life...”
Imagine that! My writing, this legitimate piece of literature, brought up and read from in a
courtroom with thousands of people listening in. The first reaction was my disgust - my friend’s
story, so popular and endearing to many, written to humanize him, now used to convict him
and send him to jail. It wasn't fair, I said to myself, that's not what literature is for. But a while
later, I thought about it again.
What was the prosecutor after? The Truth? Why not focus on a piece of literature? After
all, it does reveal who we are, ultimately, right? Oh, I know there’s other arguments here,
especially regarding how we change in adulthood, and what influences affect us, and what our
choices are, etc. But finally it did strike me - and yes Gordie was found guilty and went to
prison - it was a powerful day when I heard my writing introduced in court to convict my friend;
but that’s exactly how literature should work, and the DA was insightful (however a bogus
interpretation at the tim e ). . . he knew the effect of literature. Some creative writing program
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