To sum up

It's really not as horrifyingly gross to come together and socialize with a group of like-minded animals as has been previously reported in exaggerated anecdotes. The popular literature on this topic is simply inaccurate, and one wonders if the amateur anthropologists responsible for disseminating this false information were working under the influence of some funky bias or were simply studying a dud group. While this observer can in no way detract from or refute the myth that poets are by nature shy creatures, she is pleased to confirm that in the presence of new company and a well appointed locale (and once they are properly stimulated) many do squawk and chirp the most beautiful musical noises, create plummy shapes with their meaty faces, exchange ritually dampened appendages under the flashing of bulbs and to the humstatic of popping soundsystems, and make mutual offerings of colorfully printed bound paper and tee shirts, all accompanied by the fantastic shaking and frilling of their frothy plumage. Such displays must be seen to be believed!

Luckily, I have more pictures.