Charlotte O'Brien 1.10.02

I am Woman ... Hear Me

There is a certain Woman that I look for and occasionally find. And when I do find her, I recognize her and I am moved. This type of Woman vibrates, resonates, and you don't know why, you can't put your finger on it but it's there and you can't help but feel touched. I've heard it said that these Women come in threes. Last night I found three of these Women. Imagine that! Three Women weaving songs and stories and of course poetry and how could we not have come away cast under their spell?

One by one the lights were turned low at Hutch's BBQ. Jaha Zainabu stepped up to the stage – not a microphone – who needs a mic when you have a voice like that? Someone turned on the light hanging low behind her, and she was bathed in tiny beads of color. We were hooked…then the cello, then her voice.

Jaha has the type of voice you can't help but be hypnotized by. Her words spill out like a cat purring around your legs, into your lap. You can't help but listen to every word, intonation. You can't help but watch the way she holds her head, the way she moves when she speaks, slow, deliberate: Or the patterns that her hands make as if dancing to her words. You can't help but be charmed by her playful banter between each piece. As she rises out of herself and her poetry to realize that you're there, listening.

The venue was small and intimate and the audience gathered round, clustered. Jaha made her audience welcome and in turn her audience welcomed her. Gradually the performance bellied out as though a whole nine months were s welling into the space of two hours. Intimate, doesn't really cut it. It was almost as though we had stumbled into a bedroom or a living room or a Woman's kitchen and she was performing just for us, unabashed, as though she knew we were there and didn't care. She was just doing her thing…All of them were.

If you haven't seen Ms. Grey perform yet then you need to make it a priority. She was Jaha's feature poet. Sometimes there just aren't words…but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

Bridget Gray stepped up in the most amazing coat I have ever seen. A hand knitted coat of many colors and the way the light strung beads across her shoulders. Well, I don't know how I'd missed it before but I hadn't noticed how delicate, how exquisite, how regal her cheeks bones. It was appropriate for her to start with her signature piece "Shades of Gray". The last time I'd heard this piece it was during a slam and it packed punch. She was beautiful and sassy and I know that I for one wanted to be her and definitely wished that I'd written it. But that's part of what is so unique about her, her pieces could never be mistaken for anyone else's. Last night her edge was different. In this intimate setting, she exposed to us a side of Woman that is in essence in all of us: The part that we as Women are forever trying to hide. She simply spread her colors out on the floor in front of us: so brave and open. She was everything that I admire about that certain type of Woman, and I was blessed to witness such a moving performance. I was weeping with her. She was everything…EVERYTHING, but grey.

She got a standing ovation.

We came to the end of this cypher with someone who I have a hunch is one of Jaha's very close friends Aquiah. She was…well I don't like to overuse this word, and I don't want to devalue what she did, but in this instance I just gotta say it. Like Bridget and Jaha before she was absolutely beautiful. You ever met a Woman who is beautiful only on the outside? Well, I think that part of what distinguishes these girls as Women is this. These Women stepped up beautiful and stayed beautiful, no I take that back…got more beautiful. It was when Aquiah (who admitted that she was shy about singing) opened her mouth and sang like…like…like. Well, like a f---ing Goddess that I knew she was truly how she looked. She followed this song with a piece she had "dug out" of her bottom drawer. If that's' the old stuff then I sure would like to hear her do some more recent pieces. She left as suddenly as she had come and I kinda felt a little cheated. Like But wait a minute girl, I just know you've got more…

And more there will be. Hutch's BBQ is hosting Jaha's show every Wednesday night at 8:30pm. I know that I'm gonna be there every week. This is the type of show I've missing in my life. These are the types of Women I look for and aspire to. I hope Jaha will forgive me for quoting from one of her poems aptly entitled "You…Woman" but "Sister, you Woman when there are some things you just know because the heavens told you." And I know that this is a whole lota Woman for one little show.

Also, don't miss Jaha featuring at Mia this Saturday night OR her upcoming performance in the Vagina Monologues. I guess you'll need to go see her for details.

CJ

Journey with Jaha
Wednesdays at 8:30
Hutch's Barbecue
390 E Walnut
Pasadena
626 449 8095

Mia
Saturday at 7:30, FREE
At Tanner's Coffee
On Colorado between 2nd and 4th in Santa Monica

The Exorcist 1.8.02

Hi. This is a report from the Exorcist. I went to the lounge. First one of the year. They have a slam on the 22nd.Mr. Young did an old piece, Slim did a new one and so did Thea. She got a standing ovation for hers. The last line was 'what's the use of being a butterfly if you're still in your cocoon?' Steve Conell did a piece and Talaam Acey was the feature for the night. He probably did about 20 minutes.Very racy material. Very sexual. There was another feature in the second half. Talaam closed the first half. The second guy was from Atlanta and he was a host for a poetry spot there called 'Poetry Planet'. He did a really long piece on people's thoughts, the origin of thoughts, tax on thoughts etc. His second piece was called 'Nasty Shit' and dissed McDonald's cheeseburgers. Trippy piece. He talked about the fries coming over on a potato slave ship?! One poet did a great piece on his love of birthday cakes. Talked about not using a fork but his hands instead because he's nasty like that. Ended with taking life one slice at a time.2 girls played guitar. One of them who ended the night had a chorus that everyone joined in on 'I want to fuck John Hanson' Talked about running her hand through his locks and betting that they all had really big cocks. Brought the house down. A lot of new faces and a marked absence of regulars. This has been a report from the Exorcist

Wayman Barnes 1.8.02

I finally, finally made it to Roni'z Bakstreeet Cometri at the Comedy Store and, boy, was I glad I did. Great reading, incredible singers, and a phenomenal backing band. This reading is about to have it's FIFTH anniversary! Which is a millenium in poetry venue years. And that alone should tell you all you need to know about the place. Go! Roni's Bakstreet Cometri The Comedy Store First Monday of each month 8433 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood Must be over 21 years of age There is a $5 cover and a two drink minimum

The Exorcist 1.8.02

Hi this is the exorcist back from the dead. Quick breakdown on the happenings at Midnight Special this Friday. Lee Slocum tickled me. 'all work and no play makes the Taliban a dull boy'. One kid did a Russian Roulette poem. one verse between each empty chamber click and he getting more frustrated each time he was denied death. Then 'boom' at the end of the poem. Fresh piece. True original. Talaam Acey did his poem about when he was a 15 year old at a vd clinic. This has been a report from the exorcist

Wayman Barnes 1.6.02

Way to go, Schofield!

Wayman Barnes 1.6.02

Mia

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 1.6.02

Mamma Mia!

That's exactly what I would have said last night if I were Italian. Not only does "Mia" (@Tanners Coffeehouse in Santa Monica) host some good poetry, but it can get quite kinky, mind you. Just like last night... Matriona and Rev. Dave both read poems that could go under the "kinky" category. The gracious hostess, Charlotte O'Brien wasn't far behind with her poem "Pele," and neither was Leslie Ann Neal. The feature, John Schofield, laced his reading with striptease, and to top it all off, Larry Jaffe had some "Unprotected Poetry" in the end. Next time I'm thinking twice before I go to another poetry reading, or I might end up at an orgy instead...

Wayman Barnes 1.3.02

Don't ask me how I ended up in this situation, but I was watching the Def Poetry Jam with two stoned young men. I don't think either of them realized I was sitting between them, they were too busy staring at the poets on the screen. Then one of them turned to the other and said, "Dude, I want to make fun of this, but I don't know how."

I think that means the show was a success.

Wayman Barnes 1.2.02

Whitman on a Windshield

Wayman Barnes 1.2.02

Whitman on a Windshield

It wasn't enough to catch people unawares with poetry on their windshield. We wanted to simultaneously cheer them up, inspire them, and make them feel sorta naughty. And there was only one poet we could think of who would fit the bill … Walt Whitman!

Okay, there have been cheerier poets. And, yes, more inspiring ones. And, if you must, naughtier. But very few have been all three as well as our boy, Walt. And that is exactly what we wanted the customers of Von's grocery store to be thinking on their way home.

Wayman Barnes 12.30.01

Of course, if you want to add your own Performance Poetry Manifesto to the LitRave forum send it to moi.

John Schofield 12.30.01

A Performance Poetry Manifesto

1. There are no great performances without great audiences. A great performance is a collaboration between the speaker and the listener. Performers should view the attention, silence, and appreciation of the audience as valuable gifts that should not be squandered.

2. Only perform works that you like. It doesn't have to be finished; it doesn't have to be perfect; you don't have to love it -- but at least like it. Make sure there's something about it you're proud of before you share it with us. If you think it's boring, why should we think any different?

3. Don't be afraid to fail. A good reading is a place where it's safe to fail once in a while. If we don't fail sometimes, we aren't being daring enough.

4. Know your tools. As a poet, your tools are your words, your voice, and your microphone. You should know your words well enough that it doesn't sound like you're reading someone else's scribbled handwriting. Rehearse. This is a performance. Pay attention to how you sound, especially if you're using a microphone.

5. Reach the audience. If you're sweating, you're doing good. If the audience is sweating, you're doing great. If your work does not reach the audience, never blame them. Instead, change your material or your approach. While we all write to please ourselves, we must also consider how other people will perceive our work. If we truly wrote just for ourselves, we would simply put our work in a drawer when it was done. There is no shame in sincere applause, and popularity does not necessarily imply mediocrity.

This manifesto should not be thought of as a list of rules, but a starting point for a discussion among poets and those who love poetry. Please send any comments to coyotehighway.com
--John Schofield

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.30.01

BOLDLY SPEAKING

Now, about this "incarnation of James Baldwin" business... Although I am at the same time honored and intrigued by the thought, it is virtually impossible for me to be his physical incarnation. I'll let you in on a secret: I was born way before Mr. Baldwin passed away (December 1987). On the other hand, 1988 was the year when I started "taking my poetry seriously," so if there is such a thing as poetic incarnation, I'll take Wayman's insinuations anytime! Besides, the incarnation theory would be a neat response to the question I get all the time: "How did you ever come to an idea to write that poem 'if I were a Black Man, would you take my pain seriously then?"

By the way, for all you uncool cats who don't know who James Baldwin is, check the libraries and the Internet for info. And for all you cool cats, please let me know if you have a copy of Mr. Baldwin's book "Jimmy's Blues." I'd like to borrow it sometime. (Gotta do my research, ya know!)

On a different note, I have no idea who Billy Dean is although it may sound as though he knows me. (He almost fooled me, too!) And although I liked his poem, NO, I did not follow him anywhere. True, recently I followed somebody else, and some of the verses there pretty much describe what happened, but his name is definitely NOT Billy Dean. And he is not the type who'd kiss and tell anyway.

Jelena

Billy Dean 12.29.01

This Lady is a Moon

The stars put on the same old twinkle, twinkle
Every night
But she takes off her velvet wrap
Curve by curve,
Then stands in the spotlight--
Still, iridescent and nude.

This public face winks at her fans,
But her smile is a thin disguise.
Can you see the scars on her soft cheeks
Where critics have thrown hard things at her?

Wise old owls ask "Who? Who are you?"
Wolves and maniacs beg to see,
But she keeps her private side for only me.
She sends me love notes, too--
Not in tossed bottles,
But riding waves kissing sand.
I read her ebb and flow in the tides
Lapping code upon the shore.

She followed me home last night
Quietly as smoke drifting through the trees.
To light the street?
To tease my dreams?
Who can tell?
But I liked walking,
Wrapped in her big-eyed glow...

Copyright 2001 Billy Dean

Wayman Barnes 12.29.01

The Bashful Dragon Boogaloo
This will make sense to no one except me, but I will say it anyway: Jelena Andjelkovic is the reincarnation of James Baldwin (or maybe I should say the James Baldwin that is in a photo book I have at home). She has the same fire in her eyes, the ready-to-pounce body, and the expressive, dangerous, dancing hands (Can you tell I've been going to a lot of poetry readings lately?). I think I've even seen her wear the same shirt.

I always find it exciting to see someone whose work I know really well do a feature. It allows me to hear the poems in a different context and as part of a larger body of work. I find that I always end up seeing the poet in a different way (in this particular case, as James Baldwin).

The "Mia" poetry reading at the Tanner's Coffeehouse in Santa Monica has been a wonderful place to see up and coming poets do their first feature. Yet another excellent reason to support them (The other being their kahuna-sized mochas. 'nuff said.). ~ WB

PS: For all you unhip cats that wrote me asking what a boogaloo is: it's a dance.

PSS: For all you unhip cats who are about to write me and ask me what a bashful dragon is: it's Jelena's nom de plume.

"Mia"
Saturday at 7:30, FREE
At Tanner's Coffee
On Colorado between 2nd and 4th in Santa Monica
It's usually outside, so dress appropriately.

Mike the Poet 12.28.01

WaymaN & JelenA & all LitRavers..

Much love on a great 2001 & onward into 2002!
LitrAvE will be there bringing the facts on LA poetics..
Brilliant breakdowns full of insight, humor & info..

Respect to you folks, things are gettin' better all the time!

the words are shinin' bright,
Mike Sonksen

Leslie Moore 12.23.01

Merry Christmas LitRavers!!!

Wayman Barnes 12.23.01

I'd like to add that in addition to being a wonderful poet, Kwame has a beautiful singing voice.

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.23.01

Forget Tuesdays with Maurie -- Think Saturdays with Mia!

I can't tell you why Charlotte O'Brien picked Saturday for her weekly poetry reading in the first place ("Mia" @ Tanner's Coffeehouse in Santa Monica) but I tell you she had a perfect feature last night. Not only is he a poet and musician extraordinaire, but he was BORN on a Saturday and he has the name to prove it (Kwame - personal name of Akan origin denoting a male child born on Saturday).

Without a doubt, Kwame James mesmerized us with his "Magic Words." The mix of poetry and music that "spilled out of his cup that overflowed and spilled in to the void" definitely proved (as though any proof was necessary) that Kwame has "all the style he needs" and persuaded us that he can rightfully claim, "I am that I am." Indeed, there is no other like him... So, if you hear Kwame James is featuring at a poetry spot in town, go see him! That is, if you too want to be mesmerized.

Also, come by Santa Monica Tanner's next Saturday to hear (shameless plug goes here) the undersigned as a featured poet. By the way, I was born on a Saturday too, so that tells you something, doesn't it?

Jelena

"Mia"
Saturday at 7:30, FREE
At Tanner's Coffee
On Colorado between 2nd and 4th in Santa Monica

Wayman Barnes 12.18.01

It was a very special evening at Monday Night Poetry last night. The Emerging Urban Poets were celebrating the publication of their Fall 2001 anthology. Everyone in the audience was given a complimentary one and read along with the poet. Very cool.

Emerging Urban Poets: Lynn Halley Allgood, Aspartame, Mel Bernstein, Calokie, Don "Kingfisher" Campbell, Circe, Tish Eastman, Thom Garzone, Tom M. Hall, Eleanor Higgins, Rossie E. Stewart, Eugene Topalian, Damon B. Wiliams
Monday Night Poetry
Monday (duh) at 8pm, FREE

Emerging Urban Poets Workshop
Saturdays from 1-3pm, FREE

Santa Catalina Branch of the Pasadena Public Library
999 E. Washington Blvd. in Pasadena
(Two blocks east of Lake)
626-281-3605
mondaynightpoetry

Frankie Drayus 12.17.01

RATTLE Poetry Editor Stellasue Lee introduced Lucille Clifton by saying she had bathed in the well of Wisdom. After listening to her read her poetry, I believe her.

Lucille Clifton is my new hero. Many writers claim to be honest, unpretentious, or unaffected by what others think, but Ms. Clifton may be the first person I've encountered who truly exemplifies all these traits. If I ever grow up, she will be my role model; this woman is not afraid of anything. She's never let anything stop her - not poverty, not cancer, not the judgement of narrow-minded people. And having conquered these things (repeatedly), she was able to stand before us smiling, no trace of bitterness to be found. On Sunday afternoon at the Skirball Center, in between sometimes heartrending and always beautiful poems, she told us she first got published "when my children were 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1." Okay - no more excuses for the rest of us about not having time to write! After a generous sampling of her work, she answered impromptu questions from the audience and occasionally had us in stitches. If you get the opportunity, go see this woman. And read "Homage to My Hips." Part of the Rattle Series - for more info check out www.skirball.org and www.rattle.com

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.17.01

Haunting and Guidance

What does a poetic diva do if she is "Haunted by Want, Guided by Don't Need" all year long? She makes it into a full-blown dope a$$ spoken word show, of course. And the woman who definitely CAN do that is Rachel Kann. And she did it last night at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood.

"Haunted by Want, Guided by Don't Need" is Rachel's one-woman show (with some help from her friend, DJ Lynk) that takes the audience on a tour of one woman's (Rachel's) year from December through January, February... and so on, ending with another December. Rachel's poetry flows smoothly over the beats DJ is spinning, and she slips skillfully from one mood to another, from whisper to a scream and back to whisper again, emotions flooding the room, bouncing off the walls, hitting the hearts of the audience with little spoken word arrows, so we bleed when Rachel bleeds, and we lust when Rachel lusts, and we feel her every word reverberating through the sea of our own emotions. And when this spoken word flood has subsided, we find ourselves unable to say anything but "Wow!" for about five minutes after the performance end. As a matter of fact, I'm still pretty much in the state of awe.

So, if you want to catch Rachel performing before the end of this year, get to the city of Orange Wednesday night (Wednesday, December 19th). She'll be performing her show at the Ugly Mug Cafe, starting at 8 p.m. The admission is free, so jump into that car and go see her. You won't regret it, I promise!

Charlotte O'Brien 12.17.01

Chromosome X: Yes, It's True
Yes it's true Rachel Kann does have a poem for every month and Rachel Kann is on fire! Chromosome X was a "Dope Ass show" and Rachel was the show, featuring herself with "Haunted by want/Guided by don't need". I was melting in my seat under the heat of WOMAN. Splendid, magnificent beautiful WOMAN. The open micers were smoldering with songs and poems of sex and heat and love and lust, and all of those crazy emotions that go along...the ones you can't pin down, but DAMN did they pin them down. The men had odes and anguish, the Women were howling. I didn't look, but I just KNOW that the moon was ripe and full like a buttered crumpet, dripping down on all of us in heat. Guest hosts were talented and gorgeous. We all left sweating.

The only thing I wonder is, where are all the Women? I swear there are more men at this night than there are Women and I wonder why. It's the most breathtakingly dedicated forum for all of our raw raging complicated complaining openness. Chromosome X is the perfect place to get things off our breasts and none of us are there!?

Chromosome X
Once a month at
The Knitting Factory
7021 Hollywood Blvd
(at Sycamore, 1 blk E. of La Brea)
10 pm SUPER sharp (open mic sign up at 9:30)
$5(no drink minimum, all ages) www.inspirachel.com

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.16.01

Kiss of Death

Why is it that poetry venues we rave about close shop right after we have let everyone know how good they are (Aftaglow, Poets Cabin, In the Flow, RHYTHMz...)? We have to examine our editorial policy, Mr. Editor! Or maybe we should get rid of those voodoo dolls... And yes, you've heard it right -- RHYTHMz is closing shop, too. Come support their last run tonight, and let everyone else know. They want to go out with a big bang, and to that end, they have two absolutely amazing features to help them: Mike Sonksen and Phil Martin (aka PhilHarmonic).

When: Sunday, December 16th, at 7 PM.
Where: Zen Restaurant (upstairs)
Hyperion and Griffith Park in Silverlake.
Why: Because we love them. (We'll miss you, Brandon and Larry!)

And, just where did you hide those voodoo dolls, Wayman?!?

Wayman Barnes 12.16.01

I arrived a bit late, but what I heard of Michelle Daugherty's feature at "Mia" was kick ass!

Frankie Drayus 12.16.01

Art/Life at Art City
15 December 2001

Twenty-seven published poets, paintings of nude women in every color and position imaginable adorning the walls, (note to Charlotte: Pele was EVERYWHERE) and countless shivering but loyal audience members all packed into a single art gallery for an amazing afternoon of spoken art... Now what did YOU do on Saturday? We drove up to Ventura for this special Art/Life event with both Phil Taggart and Joe Cardella in the house, not realizing it was the end of an era - Art City will be no more at its present location. People came all the way from Italy and Oakland and Marin and San Luis Obispo just to be there. (Okay - only one foreign country. But Northern California counts as a foreign country when you've lived here long enough.) Amy Uyematsu confessed to putting in her contact lenses backwards and driving around blind for an hour before figuring it out. Wayman was sick but pretending he wasn't, determined to make it through. "It's just allergies," he lied, grabbing for yet another tissue. No one can sneeze as quietly as Wayman in a public place. Other poets stunning me with their brilliance included Tim Pompey, Jeanette Clough (a fisherman knows how to unlock water), David Oliveira, Kevin Patrick Sullivan, Joyce LaMers, Gwendolyn Alley, Glenna Luschei, friday, Adrianne Marcus, David Starkey, Robert Chianese, Philip Greenlief, Jill Waldren, Kimberley Young, Carol Davis, Enid Osborne, Elijah Inlay, Jamie O'Halloran, J.G. Bertrand, Doris Vernon, Shelly Savren, Eleanor McNaughton, Virginia (with the very cute dog), Jackson Wheeler... Thanks to all of you, my head is filled with images of electrons stroking their quarks while Jupiter's moons spin around the Pilot House Motel where no one notices the girl who secretly loves the riots rising from Meeks Bay and shimmering like two giant turquoise glass earrings against lustrous black hair. I am utterly overwhelmed.

When the last poet had spoken (actually, the painter of Pele reading his girlfriend's poems), we headed home down PCH, Red Hot Chili Peppers and REM blasting as waves crashed off to our right under the starlight. We were already filled with words so we inhaled music. Each time I turned up one song, Wayman would try to outdo me and turn up the next even louder. Needless to say we can't hear anything today but we had a great afternoon of poetry. What else matters?

Eat your chicken soup, Wayman. I don't want to ride shotgun with anyone else tomorrow. And the rest of you need to check out Art/Life. It's twenty-one years old and it can do whatever the hell it wants. Be transformed: www.art-life.com

Wayman Barnes 12.15.01

This poetry reading was too cool for school. I really, really liked it. All the poetry was top notch. There was free coffee and cookies. And everyone was as sweet as can be. Definitely worth the trip to OC.

Tebot Bach
Last Friday of each month at 8
Fidelity Federal Bank
19900 Beach Boulevard
Huntington Beach, CA
714-968-0905
www.tebotbach.org

Frankie Drayus 12.9.01

Dear Wayman -

Thank you for letting me babysit your car while you are in Texas. I'm so used to riding shotgun it took me a little while to get used to the driver's seat. Not that I went anywhere or anything. If all your tapes are not exactly where you left them, perhaps there was an earthquake. Just keep looking. I'm sure they'll turn up. Especially that tape with Prodigy and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Oh, and ignore the appearance of all those extra miles on the odometer. Maybe there was another earthquake and something shook loose. It's been really windy here. Maybe that's what did it.

Oh - and you needed new tires anyway.
- Frankie

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.9.01

MIGHTY MAPLES

Now, I know many people would say, "it's either music or poetry -- it can't be both, it can't be in-between." Well... I don't quite agree with that. At least not when it comes to Totem Maples.

I heard Totem Maples first a couple of months ago at RHYTHMz, and fell in love at first sound. Their music is jazzy enough but not overworked, innocent enough but not too sweet, bluesy enough but not too heavy... in two words, their music is just right. And the spoken word, the "unshackled poetry," pulls just the right strings of audiences' hearts. At least, that's what it does to mine. And in one moment I want to snap my fingers to that guitar tune, in the next I want to dance to that conga beat, and in the following one I feel like crying in perfect rhythm with the rainy sound of the keyboard and Larry's poetic word. Totem Maples are mighty indeed!

There is one problem, though: they don't perform in Los Angeles very often. So, when they do, it's a real treat. Last night, that treat was served at the Un-Urban Coffeehouse in Santa Monica, and boy was it sweet! You should have been there! You really should have been there! I'm glad I was.

By the way, Totem Maples will have their first CD coming out beginning of next year, so make sure to get one. I have already reserved my place in line, and will be waiting patiently. Guess, once they become famous, I can start boasting I was their first official groupie.

If you want more information about the band, or to find out where they are performing next, visit their website at www.totemmaples.com and get your name on their mailing list. These 4 guys and a girl are going to be big some day soon. They are going to be really big!

William Myers 12.6.01

Yule

We were in the Yule,-
Our hair was done,-
The look was northward,
But heat began our body's ring,
His saving bell and holly's color
Dieing for adjacent berries
Acceptance at the end of time,
The manger gifts of foreign men
Laid no please his mother
By the camel's park
And humor at the pole.

We were inundating by the singing snow
That bestowed glee upon us to mistletoe
Another tree and rank the passing baskets
For the fruit we'd never eat
And oranges all for me,
That nobody had discovered
Bulging in the choir loft
And water's sanctuary
Making haste to sleigh the death that Santa's
Elves had stacked for music's sake,
Or e-mails for the south.

We cried his name is Jesus
The gift of Christmas last
And heading out to sea
When men were the entire west,
The likely for his promise
Skipping though our street,
For the package deals
Waiting underneath,
That he was looking hard
And all the best of me.

We were the falling snow incarnate
Into the our blessed day
The knot was tied and left,
The chosen path a ribbon to hang the waiting day
His own would leave for dead,
These shining eyes the window lights
That passing soldiers spied
On their way to next year
Looking for his mother
And Joseph's kids again:
We were the dawning day;

Now he is again.

Thank-you, and a merry . com o-matic: www tech chief ahead of time

Wayman Barnes 12.2.01

RHYTHMz SHMYTHMz

Wayman Barnes 12.2.01

RHYTHMz SHMYTHMz

Where in the hell were you?! RHYTHMz was the place to be last night! Frankie Orange Superstar was featuring with her baby brother, Neil Aitken. They were trading off poems like ol' school wrestlers. Slammin' em down on the mat and everything. They even gave each other noogies, I swear!

It was a very special show, one of those "you had to be there" nights. But RHYTHMz is always like that. The last time we went there were a bunch of rock bands mixing it up with the poets. You never know what to expect when you go there, which is part of the charm. They are keeping the poetry edge sharp.

Check them out!

The other performers were: Eva Stippel, John Schofield, Brandon Backhaus, Cindy Bailey, Mark Gonzalez, Alice Pero, Larry Jaffe, Tom M. Hall, Keith Myers, Sharifae, Wayman Barnes, & Russell Salamon.

RHYTHMz
Sundays 7-10pm, free
Zen Restaurant Theatre
2609 Hyperion Blvd., Silverlake
www.poetix.net

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.2.01

PS: For those who want to know, Wayman has a brand new chapbook out there, titled "Titty Titty Caca." Now, if you don't mind owning something sounding this suspicious, buy it, buy it, buy it! You'll definitely get your laugh's worth, I mean your money's worth. And yes, I have to promote my friend shamelessly, since he didn't think to do it himself.

Wayman Barnes 12.2.01

Dear Jelena,
No one thinks of you as a shameless self-promoter. Anyone with half a brain knows that I am the shameless self-promoter and the reason I posted your personal e-mail on the News page is because I want some wearable art for Christmas. In particular the piece called "Afrika." Okay? ~ WB
www.picturetrail.com/angel-dizzign

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 12.2.01

Shameless (Self)promotion

Wayman the Magnificent really was magnificent. A whole bunch of people risked coming down with pneumonia (from sitting in the cold in front of Santa Monica Tanner's) or freezing their behinds off, to say the least, JUST TO HEAR WAYMAN feature at "Mia." And, judging by after-the-performance reactions, and during-the-performance chuckles, none of those people were disappointed. Moreover, all of them walked away happy they braved the elements and certain to follow Wayman wherever he goes. The world has a new leader: Wayman the Magnificent! Well... not quite, but I have to promote my friend who made me look like a shameless self-promoter by posting a personal e-mail I sent to him on the News page for everyone to see. So, I guess, I'll have to rely on the good old "tit for tat" strategy, and let him promote himself if he wants to have a full house at his next feature. In that spirit, I won't say another word. My lips are sealed! And if you want to hear Wayman perform, you have to ask the man himself where he is featuring next.

Wayman Barnes 12.1.01

Wayman the Magnificent

Wayman Barnes 12.1.01

Wayman the Magnificent

Magnificent (mag nif'e sent) adj. [Ofr < LL magnificens: see prec.] 1. beautiful in a grand or stately way; rich or sumptuous, as in construction, decoration, form, etc. 2. exalted: said of ideas, etc. and also some former rulers, as Lorenzo the Magnificent 3. [Colloq.] exceptionally good, excellent 4. Charlotte the beautiful singing a song 5. Olga Riviera reading a story about sexual communication 6. Michelle sharing a poem about the perils of growing up 7. Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon showing us a different side of her 8. Seth telling us about pity kisses and Hemingway 9. Dana Snow and his comedic bits 10. Gene doing two pieces about his daughters 11. Katie and her wonderfully thick hair 12. Raymond the Exorcist getting the demons out 13. Jenny Gabrielle's poems about love 14. Unsean's poem about his jism 15. Rev. Dave 16. Wayne doing a poem for Mia 17. Thaine H. Allison, Jr. and his friend 18. Lloyd talking about buses 19. Me being Wayman the Magnificent 20. All the LitRavers who came out to support - SYN. GRAND - mag nif' i cently adv.

"Mia"
Saturday at 7:30 (7 sign up)
Tanner's Coffee - Santa Monica
On Colorado between 2nd and 4th
310-829-0884 (ask for Charlotte)

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 11.30.01

The Color of Envy

"Green" is making other poetry venues in town green with envy again. Last night was another perfectly slamming (or slammingly perfect) night at "Green." Put together fourteen poets in the first round, full house, and poetic (and physical) warmth on a cold night, and you get another perfect monthly slam at "Green." DJ Jedi was spinning, poets were poeticizing, competition was hot, hot, hot... In the final round, it came down to the battle of two L.A. slam team members, one Long Beach slam team member, and Steve Connell who defies any categorization. Going into this round, Steve Connell and Rachel Kann were tied at perfect 30 each, and Shihan and Poetri were tied at 29.9 points. As a consequence of being harrassed by LAPD for speaking to himself in the street (!) just before his performance, Poetri forgot his lines. Shihan did not forget his, but judges still didn't think his performance deserved a perfect 30. Rachel Kann read a brand new poem and informed us she quit smoking 13 days ago. And then, it was time for Steve. And boy, was it a good time! The judges felt his vibe and awarded him another perfect 30. However, he ended up with a 0.5 deduction for going over time, which dropped him into 4th place. (Scream bloody murder!!!) Poetri finished in 3rd, and Rachel and Shihan were tied for the first. Since Shihan and Poetri have already qualified for the grand slam that will take place in 2002, two November spots went to Rachel Kann and Steve Connell. So, the Los Angeles slamming line-up now looks like this: Thea, Gimel, Mark Gonzales, Jovan, Rachel Kann, Steve Connell, plus the 2001 L.A. slam team -- Sekou, Shihan, Poetri and Omari. There are six slots in the grand slam still open, so if you want to run with the best, get over to Green before April next year, and slam! I just have to warn you: brace yourselves, 'cause slamming can be highly addictive.

Oh, and Steve, I hope you can hear me all the way in Burbank: I'm still screaming bloody murder!

Jelena aka Helen the Bashful Dragon 11.26.01

Mea Culpa

Wayman is still my friend, but I have to give props where props need to be given... Congrats to Mike Cirelli for winning the November slam at The Big Damn Poetry Slam in Long Beach last Sunday!

And I also have to stick a foot in my mouth... I'm ashamed to say I've been misspelling Mike's last name all this time. It's not Sorelli but Cirelli with a "C". Mea culpa!!!! Hope he can forgive me...

And, Wayman, I'll be rootin' for ya at the next slam. You can do it! You can do it...

Leslie Moore 11.26.01

Hey LitRavers. I just read that JK Rowling will be the first billionare author. I am so happy for her. Hard to believe she was on the dole just a few years ago. Maybe some of her luck will rub off on us. I'm definitely going to go see Harry Potter again. Just for JK.

William Myers 11.25.01

auto taxes and substitution-landlord, homeowners; the appendage of no-return

all like minded seated tickets, whether or not the Rothschild vote is substitutionary, itself: the frequent trip by bus, a man called adam, the atomic player, final buzzer in a cohabitation mode, O streaker, your mother, her wish, a card, your date, the other, relaxation; mine the power, hitler's nose, when turned around together, the other rocks, my takeness reaching over fences, ventura, church think tank, the poor, pride and baskin, no other names, a finger, the results of this, all others, the god of yesterday, clothes, your name, your greatness, yesterday, a dose, your youth, good-bye.