First drafts of poetry, as well as commentary on poems, poets and poetry-related randomonia.
Back to work this morning and no pink slip waiting for me. Couple of snarky comments, though. Considering I don't remember the last 2-3 hours of the night, including the train ride home, that's a good thing, I guess. I've always been a little coy about my drinking - for a long time even joked about being a functional alcoholic, which basically meant I never got fired from a job because of it. The truth of the matter, though, is I've got some family history combined with a tendency to ignore my limits and tempt fate. The first time I…
Tonight is Acentos and I'm feeling a little giddy already. When Oscar and Fish asked me to host tonight's show a couple of months back, I didn't think twice. I was honored! Now, the nerves are starting to kick in a little bit as it's only eight hours away. I haven't hosted anything in while and have probably been on stage for less than an hour over the past few months so it'll be tricky knocking off the rust. Fish is expecting a strong turnout which should be fun in the cozy confines of the Blue Ox. Old school Nuyorican…
After a promising start, the Rock the Vote debate petered out into yet another convoluted forum where, not unlike slam, cliched soundbites won out over depth and I suspect anybody that is even moderately aware of the candidates walked away not really hearing anything new and, more unfortunately, not seeing enough to sway them in, or away from, any particular direction. Hopefully for anyone tuning in for the first time, it spurred them into getting more information. I agree with Kerry's wife that they're not the ideal way to do it but, at the same time, I think it's too…
Poet bios are some of the most annoyingly pretentious things ever, entertainingly similar to "the bigger the car, the smaller the dick" theory. I'm talking about the ones provided for intros at shows, not what people put in their books or on their websites. Long lists of chapbooks, CDs, shows, slam teams, features, etc. B-O-R-I-N-G! It's one thing when the host snatches your bio from somewhere and decides to read the laundry list themselves but when you provide the epic bio, I'm immediately inclined to tune you out. Let your damn poetry speak for you. A few years back, I…
First of all, what marketing genius thought that the marginally-talented, off-Broadway-bound RUNNER-UP Clay Aiken was an appropriate choice for singing the National Anthem of the first game of the World Series?!?! That was as classless as the bonehead Yankee fans booing the Marlins during the introductions. Speaking of booing during introductions - in a funny way, though - that's exactly how I was greeted at Amherst last night after the host read the bio I provided him: "Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is from the Bronx, but he is not a Yankee fan." I didn't expect to run into so many Yankee…
For Willie Perdomo, with sincerest apologies for missing tonight's show. I just couldn't deal... Be sure to pick up his new book, Smoking Lovely, and catch him at Acentos next month, November 11th. latter-day saints for Willie Perdomo and Imani Springer I. 1996 -I am you. You are me. -I am you. You are me. perspective flipped god taps me on my right shoulder whispers in my left ear -I am you. You are me. We the same. his words communion wine his voice a deep, husky red -I am you. You are me. We the same. Can't you feel…
Today's radio gig went well. Fish, Oscar, Rich, Ed and myself representing for Acentos on Louis Reyes Rivera's weekly WBAI show, Perspective. Rivera is like the Yoda of poetry. Tiny old guy, his eyes practically drip wisdom, history clinging to his brown skin - he's the closest thing to an actual griot I've ever met. He even carries a crooked staff! We each read a couple of poems, talked about Acentos, hinted at the coming of the LWA (aka, Latino/a Writers Alliance) and joked off-mike about how we were like the new Menudo. Or New Kids on el Bloque. Or,…
