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photos by Molly Bennett

Monday, December 10, 2007

Molly Bennett PortraitMolly Bennett took some shots of me while I was in Seattle on December 7th, and some of them turned out quite well, if I do say so myself. She’s got a set on flickr of shots of me also.

Getting photographed is hard for me. I have hated being in front of a camera since early adolescence - my mom is an amateur photographer and took hundreds of shots of me as a kid, but after I turned about 12, the photos trail off dramatically because I stopped letting her take my picture. I’m still uncomfortable, but I feel like I finally like the way that I look in photographs, I finally feel like I look like me. In retrospect, I think refusing to let my mom take my photo is probably related to my gender identity as a teen and my uncomfortability with my own femininity.

So, I’m trying to learn to be in front of a camera. I think I did alright, despite my occasional whining and blushing in front of Molly. See more photos from Molly’s shoot over in the ‘about me’ stuff.

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myspace music!

Saturday, November 3, 2007

I finally created a music page for myself on MySpace, where you can listen to a few of my spoken word poems and find out about my upcoming readings. Add me as your friend!

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Jeanette Anderson, “Parts of Speech”

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Jeanette Anderson, who co-wrote the chapbook Urban Ornithology with me, was featured at the Girls Write Now showcase in June. Here’s a video of her beautiful poem, Parts of Speech:

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Brooklyn Reading Works, November 15th

Saturday, November 3, 2007

I’m thrilled to be reading at Brooklyn Reading Works on November 15th!

Poetry Punch, a delicious and heady mix of poetry at Brooklyn Reading Works on November 15th at 8 p.m. featuring Lynn Chandhok, Michele Madigan Somerville, Marietta Abrams, Zaedryn Meade and Cheryl B. at The Old Stone House. Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope. The house is an old stone building in JJ Byrne Park. Don’t think you are lost. It’s a house in a park.

Also: save the dates of these exciting upcoming events:

  • December 6th, Seattle, Washington -Seattle Spit at the Wildrose Bar, 8pm
  • January 9th, 2008 here in New York - Bowery Poetry Club, 6pm - FYI writing group annual showcase
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fall readings

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Couple exciting things coming up. Jeanette, my mentee through the Girls Write Now program, and I will be reading from our chapbook Urban Ornithology at the Girls Write Now fall “Friend”raiser on October 18th, and then I will be reading at Brooklyn Reading Works in November.

Here’s the details:

Thursday, October 18th - 5:30pm

Girls Write Now fall Friendraiser and Chapbook Release celebration!
(Flyer attached) Reading with Jeanette Anderson, co-author of the chapbook Urban Ornithology that Girls Write Now is publishing. Jeanette & I will be reading a few things from our chapbook, as will a few other of the mentor-mentee pairs. At the Bluestockings Bookstore  , 172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington on the Lower East Side - 212.777.6028

Thursday, November 15th - 8pm - BROOKLYN READING WORKS
Lynn Chandhok, Cheryl B, and me!

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late summer readings

Saturday, August 4, 2007

I’ll be reading at Janine Avril’s Girlsalon at the Perch Cafe in Park Slope on Thursday, August 16th, and I’ll be reading at Sunday Salon in September. More details to follow … Come join me!

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This I believe

Saturday, August 4, 2007

My poem “Me in a Nutshell” was recently published through NPR’s website This I Believe. The poem idea was inspired by a few other poets, namely Alix Olsen and Staceyann Chin, both of whom have poems where they use the repetition of “I believe” as a way to discuss their own values, personality, and approach to life & the world. I started collecting little snippets of sayings and philosophies and writing them all down in one place, and after a few years of letting these ideas stew, this poem came out.

Me in a Nutshell

I believe love is the closest we get to divinity
I believe in waiting patiently on the corner for the light to change
I believe in being kind

I believe that as birds fly, and fish swim, humans create;
it is our ‘natural’ mode of operation
I believe the opposite of war is not peace, it’s creation
I believe creative expression is a way to get to know
what we don’t know
that we already know

I believe in finding common ground and elevating the discussion
in wanting what I have and giving what I need
I believe in asking myself how it is that I will come alive
because that is what the world needs

Read the rest of the poem over at This I Believe. (Thanks to Louise Crawford, who saw me read this poem & encouraged me to submit it!)

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photos with Bill Wadman

Monday, July 9, 2007

Waldman 01Bill Wadman took some photos of me yesterday for the www.365portraits.com photo project where he is taking one portrait every day this year. I first heard of 365 Portraits through the www.52projects.com website, and have been watching his shots since early February. I kinda played my queer butch card, and he was interested in photographing me; I feel very lucky to have worked with him and to now have some really fabulous photographs.

For his final choice, Bill picked the one with his girlfriend’s arms around me from behind. It’s a beautiful photograph, but my favorites are the ones of me solo. I put a few of the outtakes up on the photos page.

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PvC was a blast!

Friday, June 22, 2007

The Poetry vs Comedy show was such a fabulous time. I performed two of my favorite (and gayest) pieces, and made it to the final round against Kelli Dunham where we both had to improv on “clam(s).” Um, what?

So I wrote this:

THE TROWEL

we spent all weekend
digging clams at ocean shores
on the oregon coast
sand between our toes

you forgot to get dressed

I watched you belly-down
on the bed
staring at the TV so
unselfconscious
I wanted to feel
the full fist of you again

staring out at the open ocean
so flat
so seamless
I’m hiding from you in here
in this chair
this lampshade
hotel grade
I haven’t forgotten

the things you promised
to desire when the fire
went out, the beach
went dry, the waves
stopped coming and
coming

I laid my open palms
on the table
took the metal pail
from the porch
and began
with a trowel
prying open
the clamshells
one
by one

… and I actually kinda like it. Apparently the judges did too, ’cause I won! Thanks judges, and thanks Carolyn (the fabulous MC, who I so have a crush on) and Cheryl, the producer. But like Carolyn says, remember, it doesn’t matter who the winner is, ’cause we’re all loosers here.

Check the PvC blog for more tidbits.

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PVC = GAY

Monday, June 18, 2007

Poetry! Comedy! Queers! It doesn’t get much gayer than this folks.

*****

Cheryl B. Presents
PVC: The Poetry Vs. Comedy Variety Show
Gay Pride Spectacular!

PVC is not a typical poetry slam nor a regular stand-up comedy show. PVC is a battle of wits and rhymes where the stanzas and the stand-up collide. The show was created by writer and literary series curator Cheryl B. and is emceed by comedian Carolyn Castiglia. On June 18th, don’t miss PVC’s first annual Gay Pride Spectacular!

June 18, 8 PM
Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery, NYC
$6
www.myspace.com/pvcshow

EMCEE: Carolyn Castiglia (Caroline’s)

COMEDIANS
Christian Cintron (Menaga a Ha)
Michael Cyril Creighton (VH1’s Best Night Ever Podcast)
Kelli Dunham (I Am Not a Twelve Year Old Boy)

POETS
Robin Cloud (Under The Pink Carpet)
Zaedryn Meade (Best Lesbian Erotica)
Jhon Valdes (Bearapalooza)

MUSICAL GUESTS: Kicker and Turner with Shawn Hollenbach (Thursgay)

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