What’s on Anne Carson’s Tie?

Last week Anne Carson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. I had the privilege of hearing Monica in a reading lineup with Anne at The Book Beat in Detroit on February 22, 2025. Monica and, obviously, Anne stole the show. Here’s an excerpt from an update Monica wrote to friends and fam on the event.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Dear Fam,

The reading was magnificent. We had supper first with our friends Mariya and Scott. Then we watched a most beautiful sunset, as we drove to the bookstore. I don’t know if I’ve ever read to a packed house, but this place was standing room only. I did not feel like a patient at all. I was only poet and friend for an entire evening and I loved it!

…I tried to figure out what was on Anne Carson’s tie. She was sitting next to me. She tapped me after my reading and said, it was lovely. And I sold out of all my books. I love reading in spaces where the audience feels compelled to clap and to really be part of the reading. It’s quite magical.

Packed house is right! I had to stand off stage right in the book stacks with Mariya and Scott. Mariya asked me how cool and VIP I felt getting to show up at readings as Monica’s +1. I don’t recall how I responded at the time, but I’ll answer again now: Very cool and very VIP, Mariya.

And Monica, mi amor, we now have these pictures someone with a good view took at the reading, and I still don’t know what’s on Anne Carson’s tie. I do know that Anne wrote this:

SHORT TALK ON LE BONHEUR D’ÊTRE BIEN AIMÉE

Day after day I think of you as soon as I wake up. Someone has put cries of birds on the air like jewels.

— Anne Carson, from Plainwater