January was an amazing open mic! Great way to start off the year. GPI was holdin’ it down, and we made some new friends along the way, who inspired us with their words, rhythms, and good vibes. Here are some highlights…

Jess tapped her dreams to find the words to spin into a romantic poem or undone perfection.

A smorgasbord of unfathomable might, Shahid warned that the courts say “trust us” while they blindfold you, strapped down to a table.

Damian’s got a great sense of smell–there’s bacon in the breeze, and they keep us in the basics.

J. Page found out that she is truly blessed–walked away and prayed for a hater; and she reminded us that what we wear, what drive keeps us preoccupied, while cancer-ridden mothers continue to die.

J. Quinn remembered Troy Davis, whose body dropped, tears fell, and the free world continued. His real poem begins here, at the point of anger.

Jay surprised us in over time to say It’s 2012, the year we learn our strength and find out Yes, We Can get on the same wave length.

Looking forward to February! See you there.

Thanks to all who came out to the last open mic of 2011 in December! Here are the highlights…

Always cool as the breeze, Damian applied his flawless knowledge to cause great expectations, ’cause he’s on some different shit.

Jess reminisced about el mar y lago.

Shahid is helping us find justice in this world because our rights got sold–you’re being watched by big brother right now!

Clara’s whole being vibrates, with sad melodies and happy songs, as she goes in search of a thousand houses in her absent mind.

Raj found out that love is like the wind, never to be held.

Farah knows the drive we humans have to survive, but we let things like oil cloud any judgement of what we must do to save each other–we need to learn to love to live.

Learn to love to live–aw yeah.

November’s open mic brought memories of freestyles fun and sometimes cold nights outside at Dupont Circle. Blast from the past Johanna brought her hand drum, and she sat in with poets to add some rhythmic flavor to the mix. Just like old times. Here are some other highlights…

Jeff was looking for greater wisdom towards peace in these difficult times.

Leana sang sweetly, make it sooner than later–you can move on and don’t need no one else.

Jess gave her the right to strut around here.

Shea can’t admit that you’ve been pre-trained–any proclamation that we’re all human.

Shahid asked, if not you, if not now, when?

Jay said even the watch dogs are asleep, so how soon can we make it stop?

Bring your words and rhythms, and see you next time!

October was an exciting month, as we saw and participated in actions as a collective for the first time in a long time. A few poets both old and new to GPI joined the folks from October2011.org down at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on their main stage. Here’s a link to that performance, ours is the second performance on this video. There were speakers, performers, campers, and marchers from all walks of life and generations there to share their hearts and minds with DC and the world, hoping to help stop corporate greed and the war machine that have taken over our society. GPI also had a presence in October at Occupy DC in McPherson Square, helping keep up the good fight against Wall Street.

GPI’s October open mic was an intimate gathering of familiar faces, who keep up the good words every second Tuesday night of the month in the spirit of socially conscious change. We’ll continue dropping those positive thoughts in the quest-for-a-better-world bucket, which seems to be coming to a tipping point lately. You can always come and ride the wave with us at Bossa every month, and add your voice to the movement.

See you there!

It was an intimate night of poetry and politics at Bossa during September’s open mic. Not only were some veteran poets hot to trot, but the audience got in the spirit too, sparking a lively debate about current events. Here are some highlights for inspiration…

Damian dreams in sepia and can’t think of one single thing he can bitch about.

Jessica was so sick of the everyday grind and the press, but she hopes we’re going to get it.

Jeff’s got leeches in his peaches, and the government’s his dog. He also invites you to protest against a white supremacist club with him on November 4th and 5th in Baltimore.

Lisa is a saint, an angel, a magician with tendonitis, and will be having a photography show at The Fridge in DC starting October 15th.

Lacy sang,
Where did all the taxes go
Long time passing
Where did all the taxes go
Long time ago
To CEO bank accounts one by one
When will they ever learn
I pay my money come tax time
But corporations don’t often pay a dime…

Damian’s perfectly decent but he ain’t real good.

Sheila returned after a long hiatus and retold an act by those who hate us: the halls were so quiet and when anything was said it was, the twins are dead.

The people and the poetry just keep coming out, making each month at the GPI a tasty treat. Hope to see you there next month!

- Jessica

We had a great time at Bossa in August! Here are some highlights from the open mic:

Shahid took the green out of the pockets of politicians and put it in the pockets of the peaceful.

Jess talked down to oppression.

Michael found his voice again, sharing with us his words in fours and inspired adaptability, after fighting and conquering his menace within.

Lisa reminded us that the stock market isn’t able to wrap arms around a fellow or float across a feeling–it’s not a person!

Damian: Lincoln Perry never gave much thought about what being that way would do to him.

Luis asked what is art? A mere account of existence? Art is perfection. Food for the heart, mind, body, and soul.

Laurie poured her heart out to Katrina’s 500,000 environmental refugees, seeing nothing but cracks in the nation…do you feel safe?

Lacy lamented the new liberal world: a glass world of pomp and double speak–each of her words another stone thrown.

Ashlee’s the ish, and her ish never gets old. Her red light only comes on for you.

Erin has a mission and food and love, and she has life, and it makes her smile everyday.

Other phrases from the night that may inspire you to write!…

welcome to the terror drome
i want to love you completely
i am simply incredible
might does not make right
are you wild like me
one day he’ll leave
shot the seed into the darkness
it’s too little too late
it’s bullets against rocks
congress and con-men both end up convicts

Join us out in September! We’re at Bossa every second Tuesday of the month.

The house and list were packed in July for the monthly GPI open mic and Laurie Blair’s birthday bash! Tons of friends old and new came out to wish her a happy b-day and share there words, rhythms, and rhymes with the whole crowd. Laurie was our special guest feature to boot. Here are some highlights:

Cheers and love and well wishes were spread throughout the evening for Laurie, the beautiful, kind, loving, lyrical, fun, fantastic girl we are all better for knowing. It was WONDERFUL to have her presence at the GPI open mic. She brings light with her wherever she goes.

Gowri read OPP to say everyday do something that won’t compute, ask the questions that have no answers.

Damian, always rabble rousing, loves his demons and doesn’t need no exorcism; but he felt pleasant, approachable, conversational.

Jess was hatin’ on the press.

Ted hopes that one day there will be justice for Guantanamo–shut down the lies!

Emily and are brother are one, and she kept imaging him dead.

Carmen read her soul’s scroll and danced with her fear in unison, because we are our salvation.

Jeff was there to say what’s up to Laurie B and give us his recipe for bitches brew.

Enrique stopped by after being away for far too long and read some OPP.

Stephanie warned of junk food in disguise.

Sean told us that heros are wanted; you must answer the call, do not let humanity fall.

Laurie…
…is now awake, as her partner was here all along closer than next to her.
…said the world is consuming and needs an explosion of love.
…knows an age is collapsing, collapsing Aquarius–slow down so wisdom can catch up with technology.
…asked, are you amplifying your creativity? Because the MFA is the next MBA.

Chris and Lindi made announcements–oh those noble public servants.

Elizabeth said we can begin by going outside, talking; then she was exploded by a guy with a string of flowers on his wang.

Jonathon asked war, huh!, good god y’all, what is it good for? Absolute petroleum.

Margo gave her ode to om, with her eyes focused unflinchingly on tomorrow.

Ted shared his rendition of bombs over Baghdad.

Xavier and his friend ripped it up on cajon, pan flute, and guitar, giving us head nodding/foot stomping rhythms to bounce to.

And the night went on and on. Shiek Hamala and his band blew it out later that night and most people stuck around after the open mic to toast Laurie and blow up the dance floor. Fun was had by all. Thanks for coming out!

See you in August!

The June open mic was tight and sweet. Here are some of the highlights:

Jeff turned your cat on with bass slides and body twists, wielding his words like weapons while the rich feed us bullshit.

Damian was not content with believin’ the seasons of the heathens; he showed his Rorshacht, then turned into Lincoln Perry.

Shahid can’t blow his nose without his face ending up in a database, even though he shares the consequences of bumpin’ SUVs and kinesthetic inflections.

Jess hopes we’re going to get it, ’cause can’t keep her down with no pain.

Joe whistled out some spontaneous cosmic creation old school GPI style, with conspirators and all.

Ted spoke of Hellen Keller the radical, reminding us that history is herstory too.

Jonathon will be running in the 2032 elections for the national happy hour party: your guns will no longer be necessary, the police will protect and serve us, inmates will become outmates, and the death penalty will be given the death penalty.

Thanks to all who came out to listen and have fun with us!

‘Til next time…

Thanks to all who came out to the May open mic at Bossa! Fun times all around (as usual!). Here are some highlights…

Sha brought beat-boxin’ love, then pigs pulled green out their pockets, people licked books, and he nurtured you and him by consuming you.

Jess got pissed at the press–all them talkin’ heads–gotta turn off the noise.

Ted told us history got herstory wrong and that torture, war, loss is for what? Nothing!

Michael read to his daughter, truly a sight to behold: beautiful yet powerful.

Jeff walks down the street
He says why am I soft in the middle now
Why am I soft in the middle
The rest of my life is so hard
I need a photo-opportunity
I want a shot at redemption
Don’t want to end up a cartoon
In a cartoon graveyard

Damian went back to the sun and the breeze, expressing himself in his greatest songs.

Stephanie whispered quick questioning, are we really spreading democracy when we leave dictators outside the lords doors?

Mo invoked Billy, whose beautiful smile was traded for a barrel of oil.

Hawah brought sunrays and moonbeams, reminding us we are descended from them and can regrow forests with love.

De’Junea has no regrets, because she is beautiful inside and out.

Carmen saw the assassin in her dream, and it was fear. The dream is here, the salvation is we.

Marcus gave us his see-ya-later song, still goin’ out in style, still drawin’ pictures for a livin’.

Old friends, new faces, freely feelin’ expression all night long. Lookin’ forward to the next open mic! See ya there!

- Jessica

April’s open mic was excellent. Good people, good vibes, even a spontaneous cypher…inspiration all around! Here are some of the highlights:

Liz came back from the Word of Mouth days to freeze you outa her head, with her id overriding her rational mind.

Damian gave us his Rorschach test and tried to write the song to make the rest of music stupid.

Bigpoppa Ben said you are art, you are an infinity mirror of possibility. Everything. Will be. Okay.

Ted OPP’d that weapons contracts corrupted American dreams–listen to the survivors.

Radio Rahim ripped a freestyle that existed to resist and spit hot lyrics that left the sun scorched.

Vanessa warned be wary of trying–sucks the impulse for the things she does (she’s dangerous). There’s nothing left to fear.

Laura spoke the new feminism, wearing no underwear in a skirt. Carpe diem.

Monique had a chip on her shoulder–angry as hell and trying to do right.

Jess went deep creek and taunted her perfectionist, all the while trying to be a comedian up there.

Come out next time and hear
What all those creative minds been thinkin’
Throw your words into the atmosphere
Or just relax and do some drinkin’.

See ya next time at Bossa…