CIEL

Like Candy to a Child

I needed a respite from waking up to (bad) news. My new routine has been to read a few poems with my morning coffee, a practice which has rendered me much more cheerful. The past weeks I've read selections from "Something About the Blues," by Al Young, "Sailing Alone Around the Room," by Billy Collins, "City Poems" by Connie Post, and now "Flamingo Watching" by Kay Ryan.

Technorati Tags: Authors, poetry, Writers

Monterey Jazz is Fifty

Went to CAL Performances to hear the band who is currently touring 54 cities in honor of the Monterey Jazz Festival's 50th anniversary. Terence Blanchard's Requiem for Katrina was poignant as was his commentary: "Being an artist the highest moments come when you can use your art for social change." Blanchard composed Requiem for Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke." He didn't have to belabor the point - it was Berkeley. The composition has been nominated for two Grammies. Also fantastic: James Moody - the randiest, 82 year old sax player I've ever seen (he sang a 'joke' song which broke up the place); Benny Green - a really fantastic jazz (Berkeley raised) pianist and the only white guy in the band, Kendrick Scott and Derrick Hodge.

Technorati Tags: creative process, Grammy Awards, jazz

Get 'em where they live

I'm afraid that this is dragging on too long and that people will begin to forget the importance of settling the strike, which is why I'm thrilled the Golden Globes are canceled. If the average person doesn't viscerally experience the absence of WRITERS from their lives, the pressure will lessen. This is good, very good.

Technorati Tags: Authors, Literary Agents, puppy

The Laureate Likes It

When my WNBA colleague, Kim McMillon, invited me to read on KPFA two years ago in honor of Oakland's Art and Soul Festival, I readily agreed. When Jennifer Stone informed me that we were waiting for Al Young, California State Poet Laureate to show up so that we could be interviewed together, I became simultaneously tense and excited. No need. Al was charming, and in our interview we riffed off each other beautifully. I handed him a copy of "Seeking Center" and asked him to take a look. Fast forward to the American Book Awards in December. Al was keynote and I made a point of talking to him before the show began. "Of course I remember you," he said, charming again. "You wanted an endorsement, but I've been so...driven." Um, hello? Al? You have been a tireless Poet Laureate and by the way, you've just had two collections come out in the past two years. No problem! One week later I received this note:

May the following comment on Joan Gelfand's poetry -- inspired by her poem, "Daddy-O" -- serve as an avid endorsement of her work.

"'... In that space between day and night / Romance and expectation loiter.' Loiter. Yes. 
On such smooth and well-charged turns, Joan Gelfand's poems vibrate, shudder or take
flight, roaring and purring to safe and not so safe landings in the heart, in the gut.
Readers, beware. This is powerful stuff."
                         --Al Young

Technorati Tags: Art & Soul, Authors, KPFA, PEN Oakland, poetry, WNBA, Writers

Poetry Below the Snow Line

Snow dusted the highest peaks out in Livermore this weekend, but it was cozy at the Wine and Words reading at the Martinelli event center. Hosted by Livermore Poet Laureate, Connie Post, Kay Ryan gave us a rollicking good time, reading ala David Whyte - reading poems twice and discussing their nuances. I've read Kay's poems in journals and magazines, but had never seen her perform and it was a treat. She is wry, funny and generally very entertaining - and, of course, her compact poetry packs a wallop. Two of my favorite lines of the day: "I generally like facts, but if I don't have the one I need, I make it up."And, "I keep every draft I've written, because sometimes at the end of the day, an earlier draft works better than an overworked one. Besides, in the beginning, when I couldn't get published, I had these piles and piles of drafts and at least I could point to them and say hey - look what I've done." In case you don't catch the irony there, we all laughed the 'been there' laugh.

Technorati Tags: Authors, creative process, poetry, Writers