Laurie kicked it off with reflections on her mis-education regarding Christopher Columbus, Jess, right behind, with we’re going to get it until Gowrie’s poem’s starting talking shit.  Cloven hoofed and bare tongued, Elizabeth rang in her birthday, Shervin’s attachments trampled all his holy places and Ashep spoke of multiple pathways to immortality.  Xavier featured a Peruvian poet while Amy’s thirsty tree drank of her roots. Marcos sang with such beauty in Spanish, while working in tall buildings.  Transformation is on it’s way and Laurie asked it not be delayed, while Gowrie mused about being the wrong color of the rainbow. Jessica beat back oppression and Shervin took one more step despite his weariness. Elizabeth brought us home with some of her comic bits.  This community is a gift.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

See you Monday, November 9, 7pm  (2nd Monday of the month) @ Bossa. The always fun and raucous Mo Allem will be hosting!

]]> http://www.guerrillapoets.org/archives/it-was-hotand-im-not-talking-temperature/feed http://www.guerrillapoets.org/archives/summer-season-officially-kicks-off http://www.guerrillapoets.org/archives/summer-season-officially-kicks-off#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:32:50 +0000 Laurie Blair http://www.guerrillapoets.org/?p=304 It was a beautiful night, sidewalk chalked in masterpieces, the DC Guerrilla Poetry Insurgency kicked off their 2009 Summer Season (we’ll be in Dupont thru Sept).  Out of the gates, Laurie and Bobbie, Damian armed to the jawbone, pointed at Eryca’s kitten.  Brandon summed up his feelings with one word, “dam.”  Virgin Walrus rocked sapling prodigy, Lacy reminded us why we were there and Mo getting ready to protest you.  Courtney our feature lyrically floated ….remember your goodness.  Arinze and Alexis with earthly breezes properly eulogized.  Goodson provided a cacophony of sounds and words while the insects flirted with Zaccai and Cathryn oded to the bed bug.  Ravens eyes were glued like paste as Jessica shared her voice fighting against hatred and discrimination.   Next month’s feature - one of DC’s dopest MC’s  - community hip-hop powerhouse Bomani “D-Mite” Armah.  Here’s a preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HuCPadxPVI&feature=channel_page.   July 13 @ 7pm @ Dupont Circle Fountain!

Thanks to Bossa for the shelter and the special treat of being downstairs!!!

Laurie kicked us off with Hopi Elder words calling us all to be leaders.  Damian spun his rhythms waking up from the American Dream, while Lacy lived in the margins watching the empire collapse.  Jess, over 30 and f-ed, freestyled on train tracks, Sarah hung on by a fingernail in the much larger ocean of the universe, inspired by Jess’s train, Jessica found her light in the darkest places and talked to us about the Saartjie Project.  Brandon SCREAMED from the paper keeping his sh-t together like a stapler and Emily renovated the past knitting in patterns.  Princess of Controversy, the evening’s feature, brought self love into the conversation reminding us, you can’t press forward when you’re stuck on rewind.  Ted demanded justice for the windmills turning in Amy’s OPP mind, John and Gordon (aka Lucky Dub) brought us a little love via acoustic reggae complete with back up singers (catch their CD Release Party Friday 5/15 at Asylum).  Tiffany lamented the demise of her guard railed crush and Jackson Poleock dispensed everything he had inside –  killing the inner addict and letting the habit be the tablet.  Weaved throughout the entire evening were the sound stylings of our resident percussionist Ken Quam.

Gratitude and love to you all!  Now let’s hope for some f-ing sun in June!  Join us Dupont Circle, Monday, June 8!

Jonathan Tucker featured in March, sharing with us his introspective and external observational, upbeat, and rhythmic ways. We had a ton of poets and performers come out, some veterans and some newbies, including two who walked in (after seeing us in the window) wearing WWF shiny world champion belts. As always, the audience members were engaged, interested, and plentiful. Thank you to everyone for making it such a great last indoor show! (Although, if it rains on a second Monday during the Spring/Summer, we’ll see you back at Bossa.)

Here’s a bit of what you may have missed: Damian retold his love song now called tennis; Tora gave us glimpses of her Baltimore memories; Pauly flew a wheelchair out of Iraq; Jenny let us know about her city streets; Tom found freedom falling down while surrendering to love; Elizabeth waxed angry funny about the GOP and her debut as a gonzo reporter; Jonathan made us love Mondays and wonder about widows in windows shattered; Brandon gave us a taste of about bitter sweet lovin’; Kristin wants to strip to her panties and read aloud; Rob recounted the reality of his speedy mentality; Dan gave us the new and the old; Lacy reminded us stand united against the IMF and World Bank; Ted toasted our war-monger anniversary; Strawberry Sunshine Tahini Sun Burn Burn (a.k.a. Elizabeth Croydon) simply asked Tibet or not Tibet?; Gowri told us about what “they” ssay; Shamaine talked about a reconstructed life; Robel sang a sweet escapist single from his new album; and Lance shared his black sheep moments to a room of people who would likely understand.

Thanks again all…see you in April!

- Jessica

Another amazing night…… GPI provides the vehicle, but it would mean nothing if it wasn’t filled with such talented voices.  Thanks to all the poets and appreciators!  See you March 9!

Kickin’ music and revolution out in the street
Rhythm Workers bangin’ out a beat in time
Guerilla poets wagin’ a lyrical struggle in rhyme
Belmontia risin, Batala boomin

DC51 son! We be swoonin’
Enraptured by individual visions
Minds uncaptured by institutional incisions
Every single soul human nuclear fission

My man C-Max produces artwork in stacks
Original paintings, graphic design
Direct action organizer most of the time
A funky fresh handsome fly Argentine
He rocks a new school mullet and feels just fine

Little Moo is my brother from another mother
A little belly tickling always makes him shudder
When it’s time for an escapade, he’s done for another
Renaissance man, socialite, Brasiliera lover

Little LSB is our pet love bug
she’s always spotted hefting a massive-sized mug
Giving out to everyone the most amazing hugs
Of all things I’ve encountered an excellent judge

And then Mooper Cheekrabubblereggaenameen
Met each other the first time in a dreamy scene
Used to do her best to destroy her spleen
But always willing to switch to Al Green

Sweet-T was once a mousy computer guy
Always cooked a mean meal, but learned how to fly
After picking up the mic and telling “the Man” to die
Photographer extraordinaire with a morning high

Special K knows the way to make the beat go boom
Let her into any space, and she’ll conquer the room
She’ll croon, dance a jig and then, real soon,
You can watch every brother (and half the sisters) start to swoon

Little Vishy has cheeks I’d call squishy
He drops funky beats on both decks and drums
W always have fun, kicked it in the sun
On extended trips, we touch each other’s bums

Daddy Fadi is the warmest clown you’ll ever find
if we monkeys are juice in fruit, this man’s the rind
ready at the drop of a hat with some kind
standing ever ready to get you out of a bind

My doppleganger Hawah does a lot of yoga
Way too healthy to ever drink soda
You gotta get a load o’ the way this man stands
With him walking the world, it’s like we’ve each four hands

Back in the day, Mama Laila fed us all
An inundation of inspiration, an energy ball
End up at her place after playing the National Mall
Now she takes care of our snack, Amal

Sweet little Yummers has the brightest smile
Nobody can step to her on the dance floor, child
We spent some time, kicked it for awhile
For her company, I’d walk every mile of the Nile

Our feature Sol y Sol, with Marguax, Danielle, Heather and Cyn hit us with a range of subjects; the impact of guns on young black men, the negative imagery of women, “doin it,” addiction and god’s puzzles.

They were joined by PhenomeJohn wanting to be picked, Damien, Sarah, Laurie, Chris’s connections, Jess, Robby callin out vessels of peace, Lacy, Anne’s reminder of the power of one, Amy, Marco, Sheila, Elizabeth with her “windiest poem in the bar”, Lance’s “patriarchal disorder”, Jonathan and Erin, who helped us make some positive changes to our constitution - we voted YES!

We also did some anti-consumerist carols to get folks warmed up for Friday, December 19 (see calendar for details).

Thanks to everyone who came out — I’ve gotten several messages of love and appreciation for you all! Thanks for helping create a FABULOUS night!

We’ll be back at Bossa 7pm on Monday, January 12 — You don’t want to miss it!!!

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