STILL MONDAY
i been bad, 8:30 monday morning and im still working on my novel instead of preparing for class
bad novelist, bad novelist - what can i say, had a good weekend and im still clocking pages, long
as the show roll ima roll - bad novelist
MONDAY REALLY THIS TIME
or maybe that last post was early monday morning or something, who the hell knows
im sitting here 6 am after about 3 hours sleep, trying to clock those last 3 or 4 pages
before i put the weekend push down
rewriting a john henry segment and cannibalizing the one after it into an earlier segment
i finish these two passages and i will feel good this weekend, but im already cutting into schoolhouse time
and discretionary manuscripts, didnt do not a one, mlk rewrite, didnt touch it
feel like obama on this one, need another set of arms or two
god im underwater, but the novel is moving and thats what counts lord
everything else backburnered, including this blog, im gone, im out
rdoc
MONDAY
singing a praisesong for sarah wright today, saw her obit in times yesterday
one of the 3 wise women of the harlem writers guild
louise merriweather and rosa guy left now, deep that sarah is gone
she had an effervescence that appeared to be immortal
there was a rumor going around that maya had died, another hwg elder
but it was debunked by her agent, said maya, 81, is doing fine
but you know the clock is ticking for that generations, hell its ticking for mine
kinda deep that this come up just as i was thinking about posting
that john o killens piece, cause john o and sarah were running buddies
and john o hooked her up for her only publication this child is gonna live
and i was reading in keiths john o bio how he was so pleased to have come thru
for what keith called his most loyal comrade in arms, that moved me for some reason
im gone, been working all weekend, 12:56 monday morning and still trying to clock a couple more pages
need to find out where they going to have the memorial, i will run down to the city for that
sarah gone kinda focus me some, increase the desperation - 2 more pages in the name of sarah wright
my fellow traveler and keeper of the faith, may your work endure, may it serve many generations
all my love
rdoc
SUNDAY
picked up a king graphic novel by ho che anderson at the library last week
man that was some powerful reading, i had just done this mlk book for tara press
and figured this might be good for some insight for a touchup rewrite, i always like
to let a piece get cold and then hit it one more again, it inevitably makes for a betterwork
so i start going through this piece and was major impressed, not only were the graphics gorgeous but
he took some poetic licenses and really nailed a good evocative depiction of king, it was wonderful
he say it took him 10 years, so i need to stop whining about the 10 i been working on this novel of mine
ive been trying to run his contact info down so i can tell him how much i like it
and im going to steal a concept or two from it,
did a little novelwork this morning but ima clock a couple more hours before i focus
and im so woefully behind with my discretionary manuscript critiques i feel overwhelmed and stretched a little thin
ive been giving every discretionary moment to the novel and not inclined to do anything else
but i got to get those off my plate, i will give 3 more hours to novel
then try to focus, trying to think if i have any commentary for you
and i dont believe that i have, when im feeling pressed like this my mind
kinda closes down, did this jokillens piece for a facebook note
and will put it here but think i will give it its own post
been spoiled by oxford and want to send it off somewhere they will pay me for it but
i dont feel like being bothered, only reason i got those pieces in oxford is because they asked
samesame this mlk piece, gita asked me to do it, otherwise it all goes into my blackhole of a novel
and on that note im gone, work to do im gone
all my love
rdoc
SATURDAY
hit for a local poetry group night fore last, the underground, nice crew of young poets, i got roped
into it cause one of organizers asked me, i put it under community service, was dead tired after long day
at the schoolhouse but you know how it is, showtime you click the switch and you on - i enjoyed it
this a facebook postnote from tyehimba jess on a new anthology - 21st century howlers
put me to mind of howling wolf in that movie cadillac records, had the best lines in the movie:
just pay me what you owe me
aint no poet but ima try to get something in 21st century howers anyway cause i like to howl too
maybe some flashfiction masquerading as poetry - give a proser a break up in here
throw me a literary bone
that 1995 must be a typo you think?
im out
rdoc
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Call for Poems: 21st Century Howlers
21st Century Howlers: A New Generation Jazz and Blues Anthology
In the past ten to twenty years, a new generation of poets has emerged that seeks to expand and deepen the call-and-response tradition of Jazz and Blues music into the 21st century. Many of these poets may have not experienced a time when Blues or Jazz were the country’s common vernacular or were played with any heavy rotation on their local radio stations.
As we quickly approach the centennial of Jazz and Blues, this anthology seeks to gather the voices of a new generation of Howlers: those poets whose work embodies or addresses the musical traditions of Jazz and Blues, and who began actively publishing no earlier than 1995. Editors are particularly interested in innovative approaches, reinterpretations, and engagements with the contemporary socio-historical moment and/or Jazz and Blues scene. Each poet featured in the anthology will provide a short commentary or anecdote on the ways Blues and/or Jazz have affected their writing.
E-mails should contain a cover letter and submission as one attachment in Microsoft Word. Previously published work must be acknowledged in the cover letter. Submissions will be taken on an ongoing basis until March 15, 2010, c/o 21stHowlers@gmail.com. Co-editors of this anthology are Tyehimba Jess, Duriel E. Harris, and Patricia Smith.
FRIDAY
man, teaching creative writing is just one long exercise in feelings of inadequacy
you are never confident that you are giving good advice
to young writers, that you arent leading their stories
into some growth pattern that doesnt really fit the story
and/or their literary destiny
once again, souls in your care have to be handled w/a very light hand
its always refreshing to get to the weekend and immerse yourself in your own work
my work the only literary destiny i got in my hand is mine and i know where i want to go
ran across this article say the future of books is electronic, kindle et al, and that the recent amazon recall of 1984 of all books, is indicative of the electronic power to ban as in totally erase books that arent also in print which this guy says will increasingly be the case
for those of us who are futurists and concerned with the future of reading and literature it is a sobering if not necessarily immediate concern
my immediate concern is amiris 75th birthday on wednesday, they having a 4 day celebration in newark, starting tuesday and im sorry im not going to make it but that dont mean my newyork contingent cant
somebody need to represent since i cant
the schedule is below, im hoping the saturday thing at the schomberg still on, i havent heard anything about it, havent gotten the tickets they said they were sending me
but what i really want to know though is amiri going to have one of his legendary birthday parties, i assume hes busy and all and dont want to call him to ask but i just might have to do so - they are a blowout everyyear, i suspect this one will be a blowout to the 75th power this year
once went to an amiri birthday party and was sitting in this little room recovering from a long night of festivity and the sun was coming up and there was this wall of books beside me and i realized they were all books about amiri, i recall being astounded, a whole wall of books floor to ceiling, about him, i remember thinking god thats going to be me one day, a wall of books about me - ah the dreams of youth
i will make some calls - since im running to the city anyway for the schomberg thing i might as well party into the night, some of my youthful dreams are no longer viable but surely i can pull off one more all nighter
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Oct. 3, 2009
Sat. 6-8PM
Jazz Vespers will be honoring Amiri Baraka with a Jazz Concert at Bethany Baptist Church
located at 275 West Market Street, Newark, NJ
For information call - 973-623-8161 or bethany-newark.org.
Jazz pianist, Randy Weston
Admission free
Oct. 6, 2009
Tues. 6-8PM
Amiri Baraka Drawings
Aljira A Center for Contemporary Art presents:
Amiri Baraka Drawings, Art Exhibit Kickoff Reception
591 Broad Street - Newark, NJ
Admission Free
www.aljira.org
Oct. 7,2009
Wed.7-11PM
75th Birthday Jazz Jam
Family and Friends salute Amiri Baraka with musical and artistic tributes.
WISOMMM African American Cultural Center
15 James Street, Newark, NJ.
Live entertainment, dinner and more.
Tickets $50 per person
Oct. 8, 2009
Thur. 5:30-8PM
Baraka Book & Birthday Bash
Newark Public Library will host a publication event for the latest book written by Amiri Baraka.
There will be readings by four emerging Newark poets, video presentation, and plenty of Birthday Cake.
6 to 8 p.m. Centennial Hall.
Admission free
Oct. 9, 2009
Fri. 6-9PM
Amiri Baraka: The Political Evolution of Amiri Baraka
Panel discussion on Amiri Baraka’s political and social contributions to the struggle for democracy. Panelists include: Amina Baraka, Komozi Woodard and Felipe Luciano.
Moderated by Al-Tariq Shabazz
Central High School, 246 18th Avenue, Newark, NJ
Admission free
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in honor of baba baraka
a lifetime of struggle
and mentorship
a luta continua
rdoc
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