The mind, a dormant stone

Ever wonder what the Los Angeles Poet Society was all about? Well, it's a service to you, Poets of LA, SoCal, beyond :), you make this happen. I'm just archiving it all! Become a Los Angeles Poet Society Member! Join the network that will bridge the heartbeats of LA! LAPS Member Survey Being a member is free!

Joe Gardner serves up his poetry without any bullshit! Interviewed by Jessica Wilson I first met Joe Gardner at the downtown mecca for literary delight, The Last Bookstore . We were there for a reading hosted by the fabulous and one of the most generous Angeleno Poets, Mike ThePoet Sonksen . As soon as I heard Joe at the mic I was astounded. His work was genuine, raw, and said truth with no colorful innuendos or analogies, his work is core-shaking. It shook me! I immediately introduced myself to him after the reading and offered him a spot to join my open mic series. Since that moment, Joe has stayed in my brain. Each time he reads I am simply amazed with his work, and Joe is a humble Poet, often times I think I make him blush, but he is a damn genius! I had a desire to make him blush some more and interview him because the WORLD needs to read Joe Gardner ! Here’s how it all went: Jessica:  Where are you from and how do you think the place you’re from has affected...

SoapBox Poets Open Mic has had quite a journey -- conceived under the Venice Beach sunlight, with sandy  smiles and gracious hands. Slender fingertips pointed lightly at the words tumbling between the lips of strangers. Since then, it has flourished inland, in the valleys of San Fernando and made its humble home in the streets of North Hollywood: coffee houses, open parks, and once even, an artful loft in downtown's Brewery Art Colony. Now, Venice once again beckons our forgiveness, and gentle guises as we cruise closer to the ocean, where our wombs met warm beside the shore. Starting April 14th, SoapBox Poets will hold stage 2nd Sundays at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center! 681 Venice Blvd. Venice, CA, 2-4pm footsteps, Granados & Wilson This is our home. Bring your words. The mic is YOURS!

Lit Notes: (Upcoming Events) Saturday, February 16th, at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood - 4PM, Free of Charge Vagabond Books presents a book launch party for Ernest Rosenthal’s Not for Drones . Facebook: http://www.booksoup.com/Details.asp?ProductID=2812 If you haven't heard about Ernest's work, it is a must read.  Here are a few comments on his work: At 92, Ernest Rosenthal presents his brilliant intellectual prose poems ranging on subjects as resonant as the Holocaust that he lived through, to the twisted-cross irony of the tragic nationalism of Israel tangled up with the imperialism of the United States in an age of cannibal consumerism. A book of truths, which is also replete with much humor, as is necessary in these days when lies are the hottest commodity on the mockit. Jack Hirschman ... Ernest, I like very much what you have written here!  Thank you. Howard Zinn ... Thanks for sharing th...

Once upon a time, I was in love. Now I'm here to slumber on love's memory and conjure up new melodies to make my heart swoon. ---- Your eyes alone capture me amongst the minutes Poppy seed eyes in a golden field laid delicately between the fires my light and recollection our throes and intentions to make us happen. Happy fingers and lazier eyes. You're mine. for mk

Parted Lips was an erotic reading I performed during Art Undressed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sexual prowess undermined, tight. It often pillages the ears, floods senses like a hot kiss sprinkled with cinnamon passions, pushing wet over my pout. Stingy and deliberate hair aside to fall between and above, tantric squeezes to my breast, wide open for that final shove until wetness is all there is.

About: The Los Angeles Poet Society, (LAPS), was founded in the spring of 2010, by native Poet, Jessica M. Wilson . Mission:  The LAPS is a bridge. The mission of the LAPS is to fuse communities of Los Angeles and Southern California Poets, poetry organizations, Writer’s groups, booksellers, publishers, literary enthusiasts and supporters into a unified social and literary network. The focal point of LAPS is to network and publicize the events and achievements of its members. LAPS also organizes and promotes events, pulling from within its own community, to create and sustain Los Angeles’ literary anchor. 

Please join us and also sign the petition to appeal this sentence for Poet Mohamed Ibn Al Ajami ! http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7041 We are so fortunate to lift our voices to the skies and suffer no penalties for our speech.  We can stand together and try to help this Poet secure his freedom! More information on the back story of Mohamed Ibn Al Ajami's "crime":

The Poetry Bomb: A Weapon of Mass Discussion | Los Angeles | Artbound | KCET (photo courtesy of S.A. Griffin) Article written by friend and Poet, Mike ThePoet Sonksen on one of the truest gentlemen Poets in Los Angeles, S.A. Griffin! Vote here to make this story #1 in KCET's Artbound!