Tag Archives: Feature

Jun12

Performances and upcoming schedule (oh, and WHY CAN’T I WRITE?!?)

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It’s been a busy time of it these past couple of months. Many performances in the books, and I still have a couple of more coming up.

On May 29th, I had the privilege of performing in Cincinnati at Word of Mouth. Mark Flannigan puts on a heck of a show. The crowd was very welcoming and I felt really good on stage. I performed from I Speak Hick, and Fully Formed. 

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This past weekend, I was honored to perform at the Columbus Arts Festival at the Word is Art stage. I performed a couple of pieces from Fully Formed, and a lot of new work from 2018’s 30/30 in April. Besides the heat, it was a really great show. There were a lot of wonderful poets performing, and it was an all-women lineup. That doesn’t happen too often. I was proud to be a part of that.

 

And now I’m on break until later this month when I’ll be performing at Comfest (Community Festival) on June 23rd. That’s always a fun show, and the poetry is very good.  In July, I head to Akron to perform, and then I’m off for a few months. Maybe between now and some of these other performances I can actually get something written.

I haven’t written more than two poems since the end of National Poetry Month. I feel rather pathetic about that. I have not one ounce of imagination, right now. I know, I know… Write every day! you say. I get that. I even tried that, but all that came out was I dont’ know what to write, I don’t know what to write, I don’t know what to write.  Guess what? I don’t know what to write and it hurts. I’m reading, listening to music, fitting in my jogging and working out, and … nothing. That blinking cursor against the white field of possibility mocks me. I don’t know what is possible, right now. I hope I figure it out soon.

May20

Recap of Writer’s Block All-Nighter and Other Goings on

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I know, I haven’t been on for a little while. Life gets busy, ya know? But I’m here, now, so let’s chat.

Friday night was my 15 minute feature at the Writer’s Block All Nighter at Kafe Kerouac. I went on after my friend, poet Ed Plunkett. He always brings amazing work to the table. So funny. I wish I could write more funny. When the mood hits, maybe…

My feature, it went well. I performed a few of my 30/30 pieces from this past National Poetry Month. I performed a couple of pieces I had just written within the past three days before. And a couple older pieces, including my title piece from my first chapbook (to be published in early 2013… don’t worry, I’ll keep reminding you.) It felt, good, but I do need to start rehearsing some out loud readings again. I don’t want a shaky voice. Time to get in front of the mirror!

I finally got to meet a facebook friend at the All-Nighter. A wonderful young poet named Ben Ditmars. He read from his book, “Night Poems,” and did a very nice job.

I wish I could have stayed longer, but between last year (when I DID stay all night) and this year, I moved in with my life-parrtner (the Mister, we will call him). The Mister does NOT stay up late often. And, on top of that, I ended up with a migraine. Fail. Had to go back home.

Saturday, I did make a return for a Haiku death match. We had 6 poets and two rounds before they started eliminating people. Yeah, it didn’t go so well Saturday. I just wasn’t in my haiku groove. But it was fun… and FUNNY. Two out of three judges had been there overnight, and they were slap-happy. This was a good learning experience, though… haiku about masturbation go a looooong way in a death match. 😉

It was a really good show, Vernell Bristow was an outstanding host and is making a wonderful coach/member of this year’s team. They ended up making 600.00 toward their funding to Charlotte.

If you wish to donate to help these remarkable poets (Vernell, Hanif Abdurraqib, Rose Smith and Gina Blaurock) get to Charlotte, please feel free to donate here: http://writersblockpoetry.rewritingovid.net/DonateToThe2012NPSTeam.php

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On other topics, time to really hunker down and get Arts Fest preparations underway. I really want some new poems for Arts Fest. I have starts, just have to get in there and work them around. I really want to start up my crocheting again, too, though. Been itching to make some runners, etc. for my living room set. I’ll fit in. Somehow. I do know that I have to cut back on some things. I have been too tired, lately. I don’t want to burn out on life. Need to prioritize my need to do’s and want to do’s. I love to stay busy, but I have to have that calm time, too. Just every now and again.