Here goes:
Over the course of seven days, write a poem each day that uses the form (number of words in a line, number of lines in a stanza, number of stanzas in the poem, etc.) of the poem you wrote on day one.
"flower that splits the rocks"
On Rich’s recommendation, I recently found myself a nice used copy of The Spanish American Roots of William Carlos Williams by Julio Marzán.
I’ve always found it interesting that the Puerto Rican heritage of one of the premiere modernist seems to be terribly overlooked and I hope this book sheds more light on that subject.
With time being such a commodity right now, I have taken to listening to audio files of William Carlos Williams and can say that I am officially a fan of his live readings. Ok, for a second I was thrown for a loop by his 1940s newsreel announcer voice, but once I got over that I was floored by his reading style and his commentaries on process.
More to come later after I have listened to all the audio files, read the book and (oh yeah) read more of his poetry.
Tea Party Issue #17 Release Party
From Tea Party magazine Editor-in-Chief Esther Lee:
Dear Tea Party Friends,
We’re proud to announce that the TRANS ISSUE #17 will be available any minute now! To celebrate, we want to invite you to join us for a night of ART, FOOD, AND MUSIC at Berkeley’s LA PENA CULTURAL CENTER. Meet Tea Party friends, artists, and writers while enjoying food provided by Cafe Valparaiso and other local businesses [cash bar available]. Music will be provided by Lamya Amir el-Chidiac (aka DJ Chic Sheik).
Plus, Special Contributors from #17–artist MICHAEL ARCEGA, poet CRAIG SANTOS PEREZ, and choreographer SEAN DORSEY–will be there to present their work at 8pm!
Be there for our RAFFLE DRAWING when we’ll give away prizes, such as a 7-entry pass to Osento Bathhouse, tickets to the Fresh Meat Festival of Transgender and Queer Performance, pizza + tickets for four to the Parkway Theater, and a $50 gift certificate to the Global Exchange Fair Trade store!
BRING YOUR FRIENDS, MINGLE, AND EAT and, while you’re at it, help celebrate and support a great nonprofit arts magazine. And who said you couldn’t multi-task?
Cheers,
Esther
Editor-in-Chief
teapartymagazine.orgP.S. Suggested donation: $10 which includes a raffle ticket (though no Tea Party fan will be turned away for lack of funds). Your donation helps us meet printing costs and continue to offer payments to the magazine’s contributors.
For directions: www.lapena.org/index.php?s=16
BY BART: Exit at Ashby station and as you exit the turnstile, bear left and walk up the left side of the parking lot to the steps. From the top of the steps, turn right to the corner of Tremont and Prince streets. Head left on Prince for one block to Shattuck. La Peña is located on the opposite side of Shattuck Avenue (next to Starry Plough).
Spindle is now live
Many thanks to Spindle for including my poem “I’m Jus Askin” as part of their soft launch!
A word from Editor Guy LeCharles Gonzalez:
Spindle is an online literary magazine with a twist, featuring creative non-fiction, poetry and short fiction by, for and about New Yorkers — literal and spiritual. Showcasing emerging writers, artists, musicians and other creative types, we are dedicated to the fundamental idea that cultural diversity, not cash or pseudo-celebrity, rules everything around us.
Why does it exist?
Because the New Yorker can be rather boring sometimes?
Because the Village Voice ain’t what it used to be?
Because TimeOut and CitySearch are kind of lame?
Because there’s far too many creative people in this City and not nearly enough interesting venues to feature their work?
Or, more simply, why the hell not?