We wrapped up the year nicely at Bossa in December. GPI vets and new voices shared their varied perspectives, rhythms, and rhymes. l saw once again how poetry brings us together and can help us peacefully explore our differences. Here are some highlights:

Since it was holiday time, Catherine shared her Christmas carol, Fascism is Coming to Town: They hear you when you’re speaking upon your telephone…[I can’t remember the rest of this rhyme but perhaps it ends with “drone”] oh!

Shahid sang, we can’t turn a blind eye to the challenges we find. There’s a Mike Brown in every town. Death machines in million dollar cases. Justice is hard to find in this world.

Yerusalem said the power to forgive is the power to free oneself from the pit.

Jess recited her DC Poem Song: Pigeon sittin on a statue head, Vacuum cleaner in the street-ah, Liquor bottles in window cases, Kissy people meet and greet…

Kayla told us about her trip to Palestine. She is told she has a birth right…you belong here…they don’t belong here…spinning from propaganda. My brothers and sisters, we cannot heal through hurting.

Lindsey: Tell me your story, and I will listen. Your story is important. Your story is clear and brave.

Catherine asked, am I killing you, me? Am I making you turn your back?

Hawah told us about OCU’s new movie Fly by Light and mentioned that a funny quirk of realization is re-realizing. As beautiful as religion can be, it can also be destructive. The world is not even ours—speciesism is just like racism and sexism.

Ooh la la. Love those deep thoughts! Join us at Bossa, 2463 18^th St. NW DC,d every second Tuesday of the month 7-9 PM. See you next time!