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Showing posts from June, 2014

Beatnik Poets! Here comes Danny Baker!

A fun part of my job that I made is that I get to host superstar: writers, thinkers, philosophers, artists, musicians... Creative people that bring a sense of love to my artistically flawed heart. My knowledge nutrients and creative chemo... Well... that said, this Wednesday, July 2nd, I get to host a real punk...rock...beat...nik...Prose/Poet!!!  :) DANNY BAKER ! Baker was the first author to be published by Punk Hostage Press , editors are the infamous LA duo, Iris Berry and A Razor! What a crew! I am so honored -- this self-admitted 3rd Generation Beatnik -- has found her family, or maybe her family has found her! Nevertheless, come to the show this coming WRITER WEDNESDAY!!! Baker has a new book that will be coming off the presses of Oneiros Books , Death in the Key of Life ! What a title that one is... Death, in the key of...Life. Love the dual irony. Sort of a palindrome of ironical sorts! Mmmhmm -- dissect the elements! You will find, in much of Baker's prose, that

Poetry Goodness

Events this Week​ 6/25 -- ​Writer Wednesday welcomes Shy but Flyy!​ Shy is an amazingly kind individual, very open, honest, friendly  -- exactly who you'd want to see at your 1st open mic!  She hosts Xpressions in downtown Long Beach,  she sings and plays groovy rhythm and percussion.  She is a Poet! We are honored to have her in our house this  Writer Wednesday ! Singer/Writer/Radio-Host/ Poet- The list goes on and on.  Shy But Flyy  has been making her presence known in the music world  since 2006 with her debut Mix-tape self titled “Shy But Flyy”, “Product Of The South,  Princess Of The West” in 2007, and “Still The Princess” hosted by New York DJ LGEE in 2008.  Shy took the rappers route into breaking in the bizz and was one of the  few young female singing artist to drop mix-tapes in her So Cal area.  “Up And Down” Shy's most recent musical release produced by  west coast producer Dae One, is available on  itunes.com   along with the musi

2014 Summer Poetry Contest!

SUMMER HAS COMMENCED and it's time for the 3rd Annual Los Angeles Poet Society Summer Poetry Contest! We know you've been writing through the entire year and have many amazing words to share!  Why not send your best poems to the 3rd Annual Los Angeles Poet Society Summer Poetry Contest?  Your poem could be the winner of a minimum   $50 prize ! Past winners include: Mary Torregrossa and   Tresha Haefner This years' contest topic: Summer Getaway In no more than 200 lines, send us your poem that evokes  Summer Getaway . All submitted work will be judged by Los Angeles Poet Society. $1 donation per entry  (details below). The Prize The sole winner will win $50, plus  all the proceeds   from the contest entry donations. The winner will also be published on the Los Angeles Poet Society website and invited to give a reading of the winning poem. (*Note: Los Angeles Poet Society will not pay for travel fees) Criteria to Enter Submit up to 3 poems max per

It's all in the way you Humument it!

A lesson in poetry from a 3rd Generation Beatnik Poet Jessica Wilson gives a workshop on the Humument! The journey of the Humument began in 1966 by Tom Phillips...and was 1st published in 1970. (wrong date given in video)         Some of the examples I refer to in this lesson... Found Art , "Readymades" "The Gift" by Man Ray, 1921    Marcel Duchamp's "The Fountain", 1917

Rock and Roll!

Since meeting Juan, my experiences with music has flourished! Wild Hollywood nights, North Hollywood creative community at Writer Wednesdays, rocking Rob's garage in Guerneville...and here we are side by side at Holy Grounds Coffee and Tea in East LA! Hosted by the belly dancing Poet, Kimberly Cobian, Juan and I go into our little realm of peace and creativity. xoxo Dear Juan, Thank you for allowing me to break free into the realm of music and beats! Here is Juan playing another song he wrote called "Lady War". Later, the band, Tikal Sun come up and play "Unbuntu Fire" -- I get to accompany them. Juan is also in the band. Lots of fun musical rendezvous!

Wedding Day

It wasn't that long ago when the excitement was blistering the rooftops and the colossal celebration of love commenced! Venice, CA -- family of Poets, Artists, and Friends... epic. My love in rare form. Juan and Jessica. The story of Juan & Jessica into the darkest of nights, the most silent of cries, and intoxicating of thrills. We are in love. We are still. We are together! Blessed moment of light -- I wish to love on to capture the eyes of all of our witnesses. To hold friends dear. Everywhere.                   Love. Super sweet wedding video from our friend Lucian "Midnyte" Recoltea! :)

Be the CHANGE you wish to see in the WORLD!

Thank you to my good friend, Sean Hill, for delivering this mantra in his poem... it has brought me much peace. Thank you to Gandhi, for being so selfless and leading by example. CHANGE! Be the CHANGE!

Jessica Wilson presents Friday the 13th Poetry Workshop

Let's get a good source of inspiration in us this Friday the 13th! I am happy to be at Holy Grounds this Friday to give you a Humument Poetry Workshop! That's right! We are going to unlock the subconscious! Let's dive in and showcase the discovery! Check out Humument's below created by Tom Phillips in 1973. Workshop Details: Friday, June 13th, 7pm at Holy Grounds Coffee n Tea (5371 Alhambra Ave. LA, CA) in Los Angeles!   Facebook invite:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1497560460456208/ Pictured here: a student Humument by Kimberly, 7th Grade at Vista Middle School in Panorama City, CA! About your Poetry Teacher:  Jessica Wilson is a 3rd generation Beatnik. She has her MFA in Writing from Otis College of Art and Design, and a BA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside! She teaches youth poetry through California Poets in the Schools -- an org dedicated to teaching poetry in schools for 50 years now!  She loves words. Making ar

Rambles of Depression

I began to talk to myself... feel somber, tired, criminal to my own debt. Why can’t I seem to resurrect past this obstacle in my life? Each week that passes brings small reward. Simple reward – living. L I V I N G God, why did this place make me value their money? Living to make money… it’s impractical, unnatural. We built this concept! It makes people miserable and urges them to kill themselves. It really does – I know this. Suicide, homelessness…no one cares for people just as people. There is always this notion of money, earning, to associate worth. This dollar makes me a human being. This dollar makes me a valuable member of human nature , I mean…society. SOCIETY is the death of humanity.  The death of all that is naturally sacred. It’s like denying using the sun for energy and taking a pill instead. Fill the voids of your humanity with manufactured plastic. Lap of luxury. No one believes in themselves anymore because  there is no dollar associated

Pride Month in Los Angeles!

National Day of Action Against Police Brutality begins TOMORROW, June 7th, in Remembrance of Andy Lopez!

Color in the Lines

You made me, yet you disclaim me: relative sown in the blood shed the massacre made to relish over new religion the known god -- an unknown doctrine placed in the hands of egoists, exploring the new world in search of gold riches. fame fortune glory. The Spanish ego; but you made me -- blood of red tierra the Navajo, the one people of the sun. Fortune? Glory? You are part of a bigger being -- Mother Earth, Madre Santa, la tierra del soul. my earth. Don't seek gold when the hands you crawl on are filled with emptiness and lies fortunes left to drought alongside the thousands of dying soldiers this side and the next. Forever young, I'd mourn my blood wonder why I could never be pure enough... Mestiza -- you Mexican? You White? You American? You Black? You Indian? You Pocha? You Primitive? You Chicana? You Spanish? You Latina? Hispanic? Have culture? What are you? How about if we gut you and mix the pieces around until it makes sense to us? Tell

Justice for Andy Lopez -- Rally, Reading, Panel at Beyond Baroque - Venice, CA

​ ​Greetings Friends and Writers: ​Happy Tuesday to you! It's been a wild few months for me, I hope all has been well for you!  The Los Angeles Poet Society  is proud to be participating in a  RALLY AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY! JUSTICE FOR ANDY LOPEZ!   ​   ​Andy Lopez  was killed by Deputy Sheriffs in Sonoma County -- Santa Rosa, California. He was shot 8 times for holding a toy gun. He was 13 years old. The communities of Sonoma County, and all those who sympathize and seek to preserve life and personal freedoms, are rising up Saturday, June 7th, the weekend of what would have been Andy's 14th birthday... and we are say NO to POLICE BRUTALITY! ​ ​ Why does this happen? Countless, nameless, people are victimized by the bullies in blue... the police named to protect an d serve. All they serve is the pocket book of big business, while they take all of our tax money, and try to convince us they are on our side. They kill our chi

Dream, Dream, Little Dancer!

Smiles from the land of Los Angeles! I am so proud to share some family news... Juan and I's niece, Rubbbbbbbbbbby (ruby rooooo), is a dancer! She is 11 years old and is so committed to her skill; she is constantly reinventing and working on her moves :) I am so HAPPY to announce that the Dance troupe from Roy Romer Middle School in North Hollywood, has WON 3 1st place trophies for Dance in the WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP from Sharp International! Holy moly! I am so proud of this lil mama! She is already following her passion and is kicking butt! Lots of love to you, Ruby Roo! You make us so proud, Shine on little DANCER!

Hobbyists

When you woke up today, did you think of yourself as performing for someone? Are you on a showcase for superstars? A new reality of your own to make shine... What if you reached up to grab at your knees pull them inside your chest, caving; the carving of anatomical complexities, just wide to imagine. Open your mouth and let the air flow in like a falling star from gravity entering beyond orbit into lungs, beating heart -- a hobby. I breathe, to make myself more useful. A hobbyist. Open large, exhale loud -- a hobby. Just an action to a reaction to an action, deliberate or not. A hobby. Talked on the phone today heard from mom and dad. They seemed to want to care today. Seemed to feel the need to understand their daughter, a living entity all on her own, a living victory of their mismatched seeds. A final exam of master-hood. Creation. Yet, still my breath to them -- a hobby. - Jessica M. Wilson