Ronald Reagan is dead. The first great political nemesis of my personal history…

Although my first political efforts as a teenager were around pushing for Nixon’s resignation and funding the the American Indian Movement, I really have to thank Ronnie for putting me over the edge into a more full on critique of American foreign policy and its incestuous marriage to corporate interests.

It was also under Reagan that I first became truly acquainted with domestic surveillance — first with groups associated with protesting American policy in Central America, then more directly when I was group coordinator for Amnesty International in Worcester and my mail was opened regularly as part of a surveillance campaign aimed at groups working on Eastern European prisoner cases. That bled over into Bush I, too…and eventually led in part to the dissolution of our group and my first breakdown/withdrawal from activism.

I think you are in part what you are because of what you oppose. I suppose I have to thank Ronnie for what I am.

We still live in Reagan’s world, in a lot of ways.

But he’s gone at last. It’s twenty-three years too late, if you ask me.

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Busy as hell today, running about doing errands.

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Jane Cassidy is in Worcester this week! Go see her at the Hut Sunday night. I will be attending my niece’s high school graduation/family dinner, so I won’t be there.

I’d say I was bummed, and I am, but only slightly…I’ve been so looking forward to her graduation, I can’t pretend otherwise.

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I’m struck by the seeming lack of commentary on the race column on the Gotpoetry site this week. Two comments, although a lot of hits. Where is everyone?

It is possible that everyone burned themselves out on the earlier question, I suppose.

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OK…away with me…

I resisted doing one of these because I like to think of myself as older, more mature, less susceptible to trends.

I decided to do one because I’m interested in being part of of new things, experimenting, etc.

I have it on good authority that the kanji characters in the background of this icon render a quote by Barbara Adler in translation: “Fucking sheep.”

This is weird, eh?

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In the country of storytellers,
there is nothing inconceivable
unless it cannot be vocalized.
You are not born until you emerge
from the mouth of another.

In the country of storytellers
love is a pawnshop full
with things cast off by dire necessity
waiting to be redeemed by the next
needy person.

In the country of storytellers
the dissident reflex exists
only for a minute at time
before being re-absorbed like a bubble
in melting chocolate.

In the country of storytellers
we sleep with our hands
over our ears because the air is so full
of lint,
pencaps, tongues.

In the country of storytellers
a ghost is just a story
without a teller and even though
the country is enormous, it is still
lousy with ghosts.

In the country of storytellers
Death is a pair of lips
that kiss you into a box
until you become
pornographic to others.

In the country of storytellers,
there is little room for all of us
around the great tower in the
center of things and
there’s no hope that it will ever fall.

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I think it’ll eventually be weirder.

Synchronicity alert: a co-worker just passed me a brochure about a storytelling workshop.

into yet another meeting:

1. I AM Brody Dalle!

2. If I get time this afternoon, I’m gonna post a big new poem — think I’m close enough for some feedback before continuing.

3. Tenet resigns as head of CIA. I’m a bit surprised at the timing, is all. Who to replace him? Porter Goss? John McLaughlin? Get it done before the election, complete with hearings, or let McLaughlin hold the fort till then?

And — who’s next? Hmmmmmmm…This could be the start of the house cleaning I was talking about a few posts ago.

Onward.

for the Frantic Rabbit feature at the Spacement tonight — Worcester’s own performance space/Indymedia center/Food not Bombs headquarters/anarchist lending library.

Present? cheesy_goodness our excellent host, along with Bob Gill, Ted Blackler, anselm23 , yankeepoet , javabill , androidlustre , and hairy_lamb. Among others, of course.

A good crowd, good response.

Set list? Haven’t got a clue. I know I started with “In A Perfect World, Roy Horn Would Have Saved Himself”, and followed with “Declaration” (the only poem in my repertoire that mentions me fucking a blow up doll), a bunch of the stuff that’s been here on LJ, and a few oldies like “Punk”, “DIY”, “The Radioactive Artist”…I think that about kills it. No covers tonight, for some odd reason.

I’m gonna be crazy busy for the next couple of days, so don’t expect to hear much.

Thanks for responses to the race question…really interesting. I’ll talk more about it when the column’s done (not that I’m going to use the responses in the column, by the way).

If y’all haven’t answered the race question in the previous post, go check it out and drop your thoughts…

Also:

I am FEATURING TONIGHT AT:

The Spacement (Frantic Rabbit reading)
Harding Street, Worcester 7-9

Come on down. Buy a book. Make a new friend. Find a fuckbuddy. Read a goddamn poem, even.

I promised Zero Point Zero this week would be about race, and it will be.

This is a peripherally related question. And as dumb as it may seem, I don’t think it really is a dumb question. I think it goes to the heart of the issue, in some ways.

How did you learn what race you are?

I promised Zero Point Zero this week would be about race, and it will be.

This is a peripherally related question. And as dumb as it may seem, I don’t think it really is a dumb question. I think it goes to the heart of the issue, in some ways.

How did you learn what race you are?

were great.

Friday: a lovely ceremony, I read my piece, family and friends and a thrill when the minister (named, fittingly enough, the Rev. Jenny Justice) said, “By the authority vested in me…” and Dan and Mike got to kiss as a legally married couple.

Then, we decorated an Old Town Trolley with a “Just Married” rainbow flag and balloons to take the guests on a wild ride to the reception — folks were honking and screaming and applauding as we drove by. We even went by the State House to see if the governor was in so we could wave hi….but no dice.

On to the reception: at the amazing Radius restaurant, a full vegetarian banquet of English pea soup, asparagus with morels and truffle vinaigrette, hand rolled potato gnocchi with spring veggie ragout, roasted cauliflower, and a dessert of the best chocolate dishes ever — a chef’s sampling. Oh, jeez, was it amazing. That and the pinot noir flowing all night….

The next day — shoot home, do some errands, then back for the big party — huge quantities of Vietnamese food and good talk with friends we didn’t see the night before.

Today was recovery, as you can imagine.

See you soon…

Hi all — Tony Brown here.

LAST CALL!!!!!!!!!

One last time, I’m posting this important announcement about submissions
to the Worcester Review.

The deadline is TUESDAY — June 1.

We’ve received a fair number of submissions, but don’t want anyone to
miss out.

I’m posting it to multiple lists; apologies in advance for any
duplications. Forward to your respective lists as needed. GET THE WORD
OUT!

thanks,
Tony

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We’ll be devoting an entire issue of The Worcester Review to the art of
performance poetry. This review will be published in time to be on sale
at the iWPS in Worcester in February of 2005.

The Worcester Review is a VERY prestigious journal distributed
nationally and internationally. It has consistently published the work
of some of the finest poets in the world, celebrating and adding to a
long tradition of the appreciation of fine poetry in Worcester.

More information about the review is found at:
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/6433/

We’re honored to have the Review devoting an entire issue (estimate, 128
pages) to the art of performance poetry.

While we’re going to be soliciting some essays and poems from various
people, we’re looking for you to bring your own best work to the table
by submitting up to 5 poems according to the guidelines listed below.
(Yes, we’re only taking snail mail submissions…sorry. )

I’m going to encourage you all to look at sending us work that will
stand up on the page as well as on stage. The usual audience for the
Review has not traditionally been a performance oriented audience per
se; this is a brave departure, and I’d love us to show off our craft in
this issue.

I will be one of the co-editors of this issue with Worcester’s own Linda
Warren. I can tell you that we’re both excited as hell about this.

PLEASE do not hesitate to let me know of any questions you have…we’ll
make sure answers are as prompt as possible, and communicated
effectively through this channel and others as is appropriate.

I’d also appreciate it if someone would send this to the Slammasters’
list, and ask all SMs to get the word out to those not on the list.

Thanks!
Tony

The Worcester Review
The Worcester Review
is an annual
perfect-bound literary volume drawing on national and international
submissions. Special issues focused on the lives and work of poets with
strong ties to Worcester include Elizabeth Bishop, Stanley Kunitz,
Charles Olson, Frank O’Hara, Etheridge Knight and Donald Baker.

Call for Submissions:

The Worcester Review is looking for submissions for a special issue on
Slam Poetry to be released in conjunction with the National Individual
Slam competition to be held in Worcester in February of 2005.

We are looking for poetry that works both on and off the page and essays
which coherently examine aspects of slam and performance poetry so that
our readers may have a clear understanding of all sides of the genre.

Submissions should be marked and mailed with SASE to:

Slam Poetry Special Issue, c/o Linda Warren, Editor, The Worcester
Review, 6 Chatham St., Worcester, MA 01609. Deadline, June 1, 2004.

————————————————————————

is up, a confection for the holiday weekend consisting of a general rant about slam/poetic things that annoy me, irritate me, delight me.

Give a look see, if you’re so inclined, and don’t be afraid to post comments, insults, and rants of your own…

Over and out. See ya on the flip side.

T

http://www.gotpoetry.com

is up, a confection for the holiday weekend consisting of a general rant about slam/poetic things that annoy me, irritate me, delight me.

Give a look see, if you’re so inclined, and don’t be afraid to post comments, insults, and rants of your own…

Over and out. See ya on the flip side.

T

http://www.gotpoetry.com

OK:

SPEAK last night was pretty darn ok. A larger than usual crowd, including (finally) more locals; among other irregulars, Meester Stegosaurus made a premiere appearance, as well as welcome returns by Kae Collins and the long-absent Paul Gagnon. Of course, Lea D and Gary H and Melissa G and Walt U and Dave M and Tom and Cathy and Heather and … eh, you get the picture.

When I got home there were e-mails from 3 other brandy new people saying they were sorry they couldn’t be there. One bit of press and see what happens? All locals too…finally heading for what I had envisioned. Now if I can get high school/college kids there too…

The “electricity” theme brought an interesting vibe to the night; we also got a bunch of “Burst” poems, left over from the canceled May 12 meeting.

Fun.

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I’ll be off tomorrow, getting ready for the late afternoon wedding of my friends Dan and Mike.

God, I love saying that!

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After that, got all sorts of weekend plans — hope to see Regie Gibson Saturday night, got cookouts on Monday to attend.

I am really, really hoping I feel well enough to do everything I’ve got planned. I suspect something will have to give, as this is the most I’ve had planned for a given weekend in quite a while…

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Say happy birthday to myainsel! (I think I’ve gotta skip out on festivities tonight, unfortunately; stuff at work got weird this PM and think I am not up for a night out before tomorrow.)

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OK, kids…if I don’t check in over the weekend, have a good one…I will be putting up a Zero Point Zero tonight, will try to post a link here when I do.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OK:

SPEAK last night was pretty darn ok. A larger than usual crowd, including (finally) more locals; among other irregulars, Meester Stegosaurus made a premiere appearance, as well as welcome returns by Kae Collins and the long-absent Paul Gagnon. Of course, Lea D and Gary H and Melissa G and Walt U and Dave M and Tom and Cathy and Heather and … eh, you get the picture.

When I got home there were e-mails from 3 other brandy new people saying they were sorry they couldn’t be there. One bit of press and see what happens? All locals too…finally heading for what I had envisioned. Now if I can get high school/college kids there too…

The “electricity” theme brought an interesting vibe to the night; we also got a bunch of “Burst” poems, left over from the canceled May 12 meeting.

Fun.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I’ll be off tomorrow, getting ready for the late afternoon wedding of my friends Dan and Mike.

God, I love saying that!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After that, got all sorts of weekend plans — hope to see Regie Gibson Saturday night, got cookouts on Monday to attend.

I am really, really hoping I feel well enough to do everything I’ve got planned. I suspect something will have to give, as this is the most I’ve had planned for a given weekend in quite a while…

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Say happy birthday to myainsel! (I think I’ve gotta skip out on festivities tonight, unfortunately; stuff at work got weird this PM and think I am not up for a night out before tomorrow.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OK, kids…if I don’t check in over the weekend, have a good one…I will be putting up a Zero Point Zero tonight, will try to post a link here when I do.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

was pretty decent tonight. I’m drugged to the gills right now, so more later tomorrow, I have a class in the AM.

In other news:

Yeah? I would have put the percentage much, much higher.