Cosmic Kindred Cousins
Hey now, groovy peoples!... 
I don't have a lot of time to write today, since I'll be listening to the Wordplay poetry program on Cleveland's WJCU radio at 12:30 p.m. (John Carroll University 88.7 FM - you can also listen at the station's website: http://www.wjcu.org/listen), and then four of our grandchildren will be hanging out here for the rest of the day. But I haven't blogged in a couple of days and I do have a couple of things to share. So here goes....
Last night I read at the Nia Coffeehouse poetry open mic (affiliated with the Cleveland Museum of Art, but since the Museum's undergoing a massive renovation and expansion, the Coffeehouse is currently being held at the Coventry Village Library). Went pretty well.... MC Vince Robinson and the jazzy band were groovin'. Had I been expecting music, I might have taken different poems (next time I'll be better prepared) - and since an eight-year-old artist was in the audience I didn't feel comfortable reading something "naughty" like Allen Ginsberg Wants You! or my new poem "Fucking Cruel." But my John Cage Engaged and Uncaged seemed to lend itself well to the music, and received a enthusiastic response.
One highlight: a deaf/mute fellow (whose name escapes me - I deeply apologize) read original poetry, using sign language and gestures, while an interpreter translated his work into English for us. A very cool experience that shows poetry can be a whole heck of a lot more than words on a page. As Emily Dickinson wrote, "To see a Summer sky / Is Poetry, though never in a book it lie."
But the "best part of the trip," to borrow Jim Morrison's words, was meeting Nia Coffeehouse founder Cavana Faithwalker. While looking for cool local poet people, I'd discovered him on MySpace - hadn't checked my regular e-mail yesterday, though - so it came as quite a surprise to learn that he'd been up til 2 a.m. the night before reading "everything" (he emphasized that word) on my site. Nice to know it didn't put him to sleep... lol. And in response he was inspired to write a poem to me, entitled "Cosmic Kindred Cousin From Around the Way" - which he performed for the Coffeehouse. He rocked the stage and blew all of us away....
Thank you, brother!
* * *
Another very cool artist, Anita Herczog, who knocked us out with her poetic piano/vocal performance at the Barking Spider this past weekend (and who will be performing with INTENSE at the Blossom Festival in Chagrin Falls this weekend) creates some intense and intriguing photographic art as well. She captured my reading at the Barking Spider with these two fiery images and has graciously given me permission to post them on my blog.
Thank you, sister!
Metal Attack on Jesus [by Anita, 17 May 2008 at the Barking Spider]
Oh... and in case you're wondering, the new installment in my Favorite Poets from A to Z series will be coming soon on this blog. In case you missed them, you can click these links to check out the first two: A is for Apollinaire (volume 1) and B is for Baudelaire (volume 2). Be advised: I never said I'd do all 26 installments in alphabetical order... lol. You might also notice that I've begun reposting this series on my MySpace blog.
JC's first public poetry reading [captured by Anita, 17 May 2008 at the Barking Spider]
I don't have a lot of time to write today, since I'll be listening to the Wordplay poetry program on Cleveland's WJCU radio at 12:30 p.m. (John Carroll University 88.7 FM - you can also listen at the station's website: http://www.wjcu.org/listen), and then four of our grandchildren will be hanging out here for the rest of the day. But I haven't blogged in a couple of days and I do have a couple of things to share. So here goes....
Last night I read at the Nia Coffeehouse poetry open mic (affiliated with the Cleveland Museum of Art, but since the Museum's undergoing a massive renovation and expansion, the Coffeehouse is currently being held at the Coventry Village Library). Went pretty well.... MC Vince Robinson and the jazzy band were groovin'. Had I been expecting music, I might have taken different poems (next time I'll be better prepared) - and since an eight-year-old artist was in the audience I didn't feel comfortable reading something "naughty" like Allen Ginsberg Wants You! or my new poem "Fucking Cruel." But my John Cage Engaged and Uncaged seemed to lend itself well to the music, and received a enthusiastic response.
One highlight: a deaf/mute fellow (whose name escapes me - I deeply apologize) read original poetry, using sign language and gestures, while an interpreter translated his work into English for us. A very cool experience that shows poetry can be a whole heck of a lot more than words on a page. As Emily Dickinson wrote, "To see a Summer sky / Is Poetry, though never in a book it lie."
But the "best part of the trip," to borrow Jim Morrison's words, was meeting Nia Coffeehouse founder Cavana Faithwalker. While looking for cool local poet people, I'd discovered him on MySpace - hadn't checked my regular e-mail yesterday, though - so it came as quite a surprise to learn that he'd been up til 2 a.m. the night before reading "everything" (he emphasized that word) on my site. Nice to know it didn't put him to sleep... lol. And in response he was inspired to write a poem to me, entitled "Cosmic Kindred Cousin From Around the Way" - which he performed for the Coffeehouse. He rocked the stage and blew all of us away....
Thank you, brother!
* * *
Another very cool artist, Anita Herczog, who knocked us out with her poetic piano/vocal performance at the Barking Spider this past weekend (and who will be performing with INTENSE at the Blossom Festival in Chagrin Falls this weekend) creates some intense and intriguing photographic art as well. She captured my reading at the Barking Spider with these two fiery images and has graciously given me permission to post them on my blog.
Thank you, sister!
Metal Attack on Jesus [by Anita, 17 May 2008 at the Barking Spider]
Oh... and in case you're wondering, the new installment in my Favorite Poets from A to Z series will be coming soon on this blog. In case you missed them, you can click these links to check out the first two: A is for Apollinaire (volume 1) and B is for Baudelaire (volume 2). Be advised: I never said I'd do all 26 installments in alphabetical order... lol. You might also notice that I've begun reposting this series on my MySpace blog.
JC's first public poetry reading [captured by Anita, 17 May 2008 at the Barking Spider]
Oh man, I gotta hear this. Send me a myspace message and tell me exactly what to do to hear you on the radio. You gotta rap Mary Cheney (Working for Dick).
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I received you message saying you're on before I saw this comment. Let's hope I make the cut and don't get the boot for lauding the cock-of-life sucking of Alen Ginsberg.
Planned on doing the full verion of "Mary Cheney" last night, if the young guy hadn't been in the audience.... The day will come.
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Great John. I did it ha. I wanna know how to listen too..
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Good grief, should of been dig it..not did it haha. Gotta love me...
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lol....
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Apparently Ginsberg sucking "the cock of life" was too much for Cleveland, Ohio, weekday afternoon radio after all. But the show was only half an hour long and I can take solace in being one of many other fantastic poets who didn't make it on.
There's always the future!
And it's so bright, I gotta wear shades.
at the Garfield Monument, 2008 [photo by Geri]Reply to this
indeed
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Hmmmm... now why does that quote sound so familiar to The Minister?...LOL
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It's over now. But for future reference, go here: http://www.wjcu.org/contact
Then click the Windows Media symbol in the upper right corner of the page.
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i'm still smiling, even though you weren't on.
the set of music that was on before "wordplay" came on was VERY interesting. it made think "fucking cruel".
hunh.
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The pre-show music - and hearing folks like Ray and Claire - made tuning in worth it for me.
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i'm glad we have the whole thing recorded. it was worth the listen even without ginsberg's cock.
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I'm glad you do, too!
"Ginsberg" would have provided the icing on the cake.
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i was thinking more like the glaze...
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I stand corrected!
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isn't that why you keep me around? to teach you all about cake?
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Well, you've had quite the week, my lord! You've gone from your first ever poetry reading to having a poem written about you, all within five short days... it's scary to think what you will do with a whole month!... and The Minister can't wait to see what happens...
Congratulations, JC! Your reputation is growing....
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Thank you, Sir Minister!
I feel pretty darned fortunate. Hopefully this is only the beginning.
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Those of us who have been reading your poetry and your blogs for some time now have no doubts whatsoever...
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I commented somewhere? Oh well, great job anyway. And your video rocks. seriously rocks..lyrics, vocals, piano...had no idea. Thought you were MERELY (lol) a writer/poet/activist, had no idea of this other side...performer.
Hugs,
S.
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lol... Thanks a lot, Suzette! Got your first comment - it's on the previous blog (Poetry Performace Update).
I very much appreciate your kind words. If you're interested in checking out another of my song videos, check out this one: Killing Myself.
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Bravo, Olé, Kudos and may this just be the
beginning of more performances. Baby you rock!
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LOL (I wonder how you'd spell LOL in Spanish). Muchas gracias, Elena!
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All I can say is awesome... Knew you could do it...
Can't wait to see what he future holds...
Major congrats coming your way..
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Thank you, Chris!
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Vince Robinson's gig at the Robin's Nest was my introduction to the Cleveland poetry scene. I love his mc'ing. He and Cavana had a regular event at the art museum for a while & it was heaven on earth for me to read poetry & hear others whilst accompanied by music.
Cavana is one real nice dude. Have a poem or two of his on thecitypoetry.com.
My favorite venues are the bookstore on W. 25 and the Brandt Gallery. Jim Lang holds the reading at W. 25 one Saturday a month, and Russ Vidrick the one at Brandt. They are two of my favorite Cleveland poets.
If you haven't yet heard Katie Daley, Wendy Shaffer or Michael Salinger read, you're in for a real treat.
This is really neat to me because you are discovering this scene. Cleveland poetry & poets saved my life.
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I'm very much enjoying your comments/insights, Lady!
Really dig Cavana - got a great vibe from him, like we're long-lost family members or were close in a past life....
Planning on checking out W. 25th and the Brandt - thanks for the heads up. I was aware of the Poetry Forum next Tuesday evening at W. 25th, but didn't know about the Saturday reading. Mostly know of Jim Lang through his photography, but I'm looking forward to exploring his poetry further....
And I haven't heard Katie, Wendy or Michael yet - but I am reading Michael Salinger's Stingray collection right now and enjoying it quite a bit. He also accepted my MySpace friend request today.
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Cavana hits me that way too. He's a special man.
I just bought Salinger's new book, too. I also recommend his collection, Neon.
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Cool... I'll have to check that out next.
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cavana faithwalker is something else. great dude to know.
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Thanks, Smith!
He's a cool cat, and very down to earth.
And they do the open mic two Tuesdays a month, so I will definitely be returning.
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it is good that you're out performing. live readings help shape the written word. i've changed a lot of my written poems after reading them out loud to an audience. easier to see what flows.
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You remind me of a poem I wrote earlier this month:
I still don't know
I can't say
It don't show
When to goquickor
s
l
o
w
From my past
Through my now
To my WOW
What to blow
How to blast
Where to flow
But here goes
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Extreme coolness...I never had a doubt!
Don't forget the "little" people on your way to the top!
Seriously, I am very happy for you and have every confidence that you will do well. You are a natural.
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LOL... I'm the little person I'm most likely to forget!
Thank you so much, Susan!
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When you're ready do a pod cast blog or video blog of your spoken word. Loooove to see it! Congrats for just standing up there and following your muse.
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Thanks, bro! Wanna do that at some point....
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His namme is Jesus
http://poetrypoem.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?poemnumber=868622&sitename=charlax&password=&poemoffset=0&displaypoem=t&item=poetry
His namme is Jesus
His namme is Jesus
KNOWLEDGE: What What
What is the beginning of wisdom it is to fear GOD the question precedes the answer at any given time and in this poem equation the ratio of non interference is combined with growing old in time and leaving mortal coil to Spirit Joy and will not question why or how just love and acceptance of the plan the plan revealed someday to be the life for all of us to live for all of us to love for knowledge comes down to all of us from GOD above and not from the mind of man. NO no man has ever seen the LORD in his created GLORY face to face and lived. The woman in the olden time the men who did disciple him came closer than most anyone to GOD. His namme is Jesus.
iff eye could read for you guys it would have to be this one
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Brother charlaxjesus! I want to thank you for stopping by and sharing this piece with us.
Peace,
JC
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I love it,Excellent article.
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Quite interesting. Thank you!
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Great work dude, u gave nice post to us. Thanks for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic.
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