Early history of the World Alliance of Word Affiliates

In 1995, the Denver Book Fair brought together poets Eric Hjerstedt Sharp and Wardell Montgomery Jr.
A 1980 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Sharp developed an interest in poets not necessarily published in the major academic anthologies. Boulder's Naropa Institute's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetic's close proximity to UNC in Greeley introduced Sharp to Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and other beats. Friends with Steve Cohen, who also attended UNC, Sharp was introduced to Ginsberg at a downtown reading at the Walrus. Cohen had attended Naropa after graduation from UNC in the late 70s and played guitar at some of Ginsberg's readings. He also took a course from Ginsberg in the poetry of art of William Blake. At the same time, Sharp was taking a course in Blake from James Doyle, the poet-in-residence at UNC.