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…

Dirty Fucking Hippies

The poetry insurgency’s March 2011 lyrical ambush was intense, starting with all of two poets and ballooning over the course of two short hours into over ten. This Tuesday:

• Brenda pretended that it never happened, reminding us now crashing cruel reality comes and a wounded heart makes the hand mean.
• Damian uncharacteristically confessed that he is confused, and also feeling pleasant and conversational, before channeling MC Lyte.
• Sarah shared Alix Olson’s ode to the Lower East Side, and also noted that Focus on the Family’s headquarters has its own ZIP code.
• Jazmin visited us from New York, and suggested that woman awake, arise, stand up on her perfectly unbound feet, as we have lost the Earth staying on our knees.
• Lenny envisioned the revolution as cream cheese frosting, and reminded kings and queens and dictators that their time is served.
• Rabia spoke of the Mtagne d’Oro.
• Jeff reminded us that despite having just one planet where we live, we’re all split, and also exhorted us to before the battle better strategize.
• Monique suggested that she is alone.
• I speculated that Lyndi might be from Italy, and shared a tale of spending a night in less than ideal circumstances in central Manhattan.
• Alicia said that you have to give it back.
• Lyndi called a spade a spade, and decried justice denied and delayed.
• Amy, channeling Alix Olson, recalled that we’ve learned to scream until our throats throbbed.
• Ted noted that Rosa Parks and Hellen Keller are mentioned but minimalized, because history is militarized.

Come back out to Bossa to join us next time, on April 12!

Last month’s GPI open mic at Bossa was hot, as we welcomed GPI vets/virgins and also our feature Head Roc! He started it off right and everyone followed suit, showing off their good vibes, words, and rhythms. Can’t wait to see what March brings!

A little recap of February’s open mic:

Head Roc’s “being black is truly unique” as he corrected the establishment’s impression of hip hop and spoke on behalf of DC against Walmart:

“That is not hip hop, What is that, it is crap, It is rap, it is pop, That is not hip hop” and

“Keep DC Walmart free, They ain’t about you and me”

Shahid brought “mutiny against big brother” and pointed to the “Obama years–hope but keep the same fears.”

Damian gave voice to Lincoln Perry: “I seem happy more than I am because I hide a lot”

I soared like a feather girl and loved with olfactory expression.

Stephanie told us how “life should be delicious.”

Jeff’s “pills he pops give him a glimpse of heaven, translation stated: serotonin spill on aisle seven.”

Graciela danced and brought alive the spirits of the mestiza women: “She had to hide, Couldn’t be herself, Gave her compassion for all… Let it out and show the world who you really are”

Jonathon reminded us of the “million different widows looking listlessly for lost ones.”

Damian’s noun, his every verb, burned holes in all concerns.

Enrique loved the sound of creaks never too loud and showed us money from Wall Street’s perspective.

Jonathon plugged the DC slam poetry scene and said to keep an eye on events at The Fridge.

Head Roc found comfort in his weaknesses, then indoctrinated us into the AHIAHR (”affordable housing is a human right”) point of view and Empower DC, stating too that “DCPS is under attack by the same racism from way way back!”

Many more thoughts spilled forth that night, fueling the flames of creative resistance, hope, and passion that tend to hover in the air the warm and welcoming GPI open mics.

Curious to hear more or share your thoughts in the flow? Join us at our open mic at Bossa every second Tuesday of the month, 7-9 PM.

See you there!

- Jessica

It was a snowy night in DC last night, but guerrilla poets nonetheless came from far & wide — including George Washington University, from which students Ellen and Kevin rolled through — to rock the mic at Bossa. Meanwhile, a crew of stray guerrillas rocked rhymes in Hollywood, while the SF crew did a round of interviews for a forthcoming newspaper story in the San Francisco Chronicle.

On a wintry Tuesday night in Adams-Morgan….

Damian got up above the ugly stuff and decided to enjoy the ride for awhile;

Carlo derided charlatans (“So it’s a bloody tree of life, is it?”) while surprised that such good wine would follow such wretched swine;

Ellen let hate fall by the wayside and spit rhymes like magnets to rattle human batteries and keep our ideals from surrendering and falling into the bottom drawer;

Metaphysical and unstoppable Kevin disregarded iambic pentameter and crashed political parties fashionably late;

Shahid wondered whether Mo wonders whether Damian’s crazy, and suggested the cultural flood of the 20th century offers possibilities for the 21st if we simply stop and talk to one another;

Little Mo channeled our dear Brady Chalmers, now in Chicago (GPI field trip, anyone?);

Damian searched for Sidney Poitier;

Ellen derided virtual pokes and people who suggest that IWBHL (I will be home later);

Kevin was narcissistic, ugly at best (just kidding!);

Mo recalled his friend Billy’s smile and lamented wars lining the pockets of the profits of a system astray;

Carlo spit (several times, and actually apologized for getting carried away) at You, who make the world an arena;

Shahid asked why your taxpayer dollars are still going to torturers and war criminals;

Ellen hated to turn all feminist when receiving a compliment but found it foolish that appetizers at a vegan restaurant count as a dinner date;

Mo said something…

Shahid crooned the Bagram Blues while his voice cracked like a 10-year old male soprano’s; and

Damian explained that American media wants us all to be criminals and declined an offer for American charities to arrogantly stare at us.

We’ll be at it again next month, on Tuesday, February 8.  Come kick it if you have something to share…or if you just need a dose of inspiration to chase down the day’s news!

Twas the last GPI in 2010 and all throughout Bossa…

Newcomers and GPI veterans alike rocked out the night, followed by an awesome and lyrically inspiring set by Fourth Stream.

What I heard…

Gowri OPP’d violently at the neo-hippie douchbags telling her about gaia and her aura.

Carlo cockneyed about Jesus the rebel and his many exploits (if ‘e’s resurrected, where the fuck is ‘e?).

Jonathan spoke of the girl who pinned the tail on his donkey.

Shahid took the green out of the pipes of the politicians and put it into the pockets of the people.

Jeff called throughout the land for Lord Flulffybottom and his cleaning tail.

Damian told the donut eatin’ bastards to choke on that shit.

Lyndi asked Israel/Palestine…Peace process, peace process, why you call it that? Peace process, peace process, are you smokin’ creack?

Thomas recited the stuff of fairy tales…great ambitions of great sold men, let slowly simmer the smoldering regret.

Zack is into flowetic turnin’ potentials into kinetic shit.

Marcos had us all singing with glee at choir practice last night.

Laura got caught up on fallen branches and was grabbin’ grayfish by the tail.

Ashley pieced together magazine clippings of her mind.

Jessica put flames under everyone’s butts and called out the virgins.

…All in all, it was a fantasic, inspiring night. See you out at the next one!

- J