Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 10.24.01

Slam Junkie

I must confess... Back in September, I was starting to have serious poetry slam withdrawals. My life was beginning to feel boring without the rush one gets from performing in front of a crowd and being judged by five complete strangers. But thanks to the muses and the slam fairies, we are in business again!

Last night, another qualifying slam for the Hollywood team happened at Da Poetry Lounge. The place was packed as usual, Poetri and Shihan were hosting as usual, Big Al was calling out "woo-woo-woo, baby" as usual, there were lots of familiar faces in the audience and on stage as usual... Still, the first round of the slam somehow felt a little bit off. Don't get me wrong! We heard some great performances (Gina, Gaknew, Jamie, the newcomer - Kwabena). Still, it felt as though the real slam did not start until the second round. The third round was short but sweet, and when all was said and done, the undersigned (yes, my humble self!) placed 4th with a total of 58.8 points, Jamie was 3rd with 59 even, and the two poets to advance to the semis next year were... drum roll please... Gaknew with 59.6 points and Gina with a perfect 60.

So, the Hollywood line-up now looks like this: In-Q, Jovan, Gina and Gaknew. There are 8 more spots in the semis to be won, so if your eye is on one of them, make sure you stop by Da Poetry Lounge before March next year. They slam on last Tuesday of every month, but they won't slam their door in your face if you show up any other Tuesday night either.

Poeticizing at Da Poetry Lounge and raving for LitRave,

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon

John Kilroy 10.22.01

Caught Gerald Stern on Sunday, at the Rattle Poetry Series at the Skirball Center. With respect to Mr. Stern and his awards, the work had zero effect on me. It was heartfelt, to be sure, but sure seemed to march along straightforward as prose, with an eventlessness in its subject matter. However, he's a National Book Award Winner, and I'm, uh, not. I heartily recommend this series. Some of the most lauded poets in the country for $5. About 65 people in attendance. Small, friendly space. Go to www.skirball.com for the schedule. The next reading is Robert Creeley, at 1 p.m., Sunday, November 4.

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 10.19.01

No Festoons, Just a Festival

L.A. Poetry Festival for that matter. It's been happening "in sequels" at different venues over a couple of weeks this month, and it finally zoomed over to Zen restaurant (and proud home of the Poetic License) in Silverlake last night.

Larry Jaffe and friends did it again: a perfect evening of poetry. Different styles, different subjects, different poets but one goal in mind -- to support the L.A. River project and have fun while at it. The evening was jam-packed, and it would be absolutely unfair to mention some poets and not others, but hey! Who said that life was fair?!? And, since I'm writing this report, I'm going to mention who I want to mention, and that's that!

But seriously, some people really "rocked my boat," and they deserve to be honored in this humble report. The evening started with an amazing (as usual) performance by LitRave's own Frankie Drayus. Neil Aitken was hot as well, and then another LitRaver took stage: the humble undersigned, who admitted she "couldn't write poetry any more" (which, by the way, was a blatant lie). There were poets and poets and poets following each other on stage, a "newcomer" from Ohio, Lisa, among them with a mellow love poem. And Mani Suri was there with his refined poetics as usual... And Brandon Backhous with his sharp verse... And Rachel Kann with her contemplative hip-hop something-or-other style... And a poet named "7" with an unusually revealing journal entry... And then Philip Martin brought the house down in his inimitable way, to be followed by Slim calling to Lovolution (that's "love revolution" for those who don't know Slim), and Mike Sonksen marvelling about being "alive in L.A." with a little help from his friends, Philip and Slim. And then Mr. L.A. River himself (Louis McAdams) took the stage. And that would have been all for the night had Larry Jaffe not decide to admit to having "unprotected poetry last night." Now, we all know that's not a safe thing to do, but nobody could deny the fact that it was the perfect ending to this evening of aural delights. Even though we did not travel to India, we celebrated our festival by washing ourselves in the waters of a holy river: L.A. River of Poetry. May we be blessed like those who bathe in the waters of the Ganges!

John Kilroy 10.19.01

Probably the coolest thing about moving from writing to reading one's work publicly is the opportunity to meet people in poetry. I read last night at the Pale Ale Poets gathering in Laguna Beach, held Thursday nights at 8 at the Laguna Beach Brewing Company. I think John Gardiner has been doing it for something like 10 years. He's the nicest guy. He makes everybody feel important. There were probably about 25 people there for the 2 features. I'd report on them, but I'm mixed up on who was which. Then, I met the guy who does the Next Calendar, G. Murray Thomas, and he's another nicest-guy-in-the-world. I just wanted to thank him for his work. I use the Next Calendar a lot. Then, someone named, I think, Carol Luther, came up to me and just thanked me for being there. Where else in the world does that happen?

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 10.15.01

BDPS

No, BDPS does not stand for Bashful Dragon's Poetry Special! BDPS is actually Big Damn Poetry Slam which, if you didn't know, takes place in Long Beach every Sunday between 3:30 p.m. and whenever (usually 6:00). The setting is upstairs at The Blue Cafe on the Promenade. The hostess is Mindy Nettifee. The atmosphere is laid back. The DJ is spinning, open mic readers are reading, feature poet is poeticizing, slam poets are slamming, judges are judging, and the audience is having a good time. Especially when, like this past Sunday, the featured poet brings the house down as only Besskepp can.

Besskepp (or Cory the Superhero for those in the know) came to Long Beach like in that Roman saying: "Veni, vidi, vici." With him, he brought his faithful "cohortes" -- Mark Gonzales, Abbye, and the undersigned. But victory was not won through a fight. It was won by love... some of that same love that flows freely at Besskepp's own Friday night spot in Pomona. And you know what they say... all you need is LOVE. So, give some poetic love to Mindy and visit her at the BDPS one Sunday afternoon! Oh, and don't forget to mention we sent you.

Loving blissfully in Long Beach and raving for LitRave,

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon