Somewhere in corners of my mind that have dust bunnies and robots playing together in symbiosis,
a tiredly echoing phantasm of Amiri Baraka sighs loudly: the changing same". Friends tell me that it is really a good thing that I have been working on course content and a syllabus for each class over the last few days. I missed a socio-cultural political talking point event. It's now a global incident---sadly perhaps not worth spiritual or emotional repetition.
And so. . . .another time cycle begins for many of us.
A bright light on an international level, hello and welcome to the Shen Yun performers of China.
They are bringing their yearly wondrous talents and performance to San Diego
http://www.shenyun.com/sd This year's show promises to be even more exciting than last year.
On the local San Diego California scene . . . .I had breakfast with poet activist Jim Moreno early this month at the Big Kitchen http://bigkitchencafe.com/wp/ We tried last year but illness and schedules just didn't co-ordinate. His poetry is even more insightful and passionate.
Listened in awe of his word-craft last month at Gelatos Open mic https://www.meetup.com/Gelato-Poetry/events/245214864/ hosted by Ying W. and Andy P. in San Diego California when international poet Olga Gutierrez-Garcia featured ( we co-featured a few pieces together, in reminiscence of our 4nth poetry group). She's in planning an international tour and will co-feature with me in February at a local San Diego open mic.
Jim and I talked about our current lives as we relived our youth, when mentors embraced us, nurtured us, corrected us because they prophetically saw productive young adults in the rough. They saw us as more than we were.
We spoke about Jihmye Collins and his wish that all could be whole or on a path of healing. Jim Moreno hosts an open mic. It has features by poets like Broadway's Reg. E. Gaines as well as local poets. Reg E. Gaines' innovative poetic collaborations have rocked the San Diego, New York, and national scene for years!
Jim Moreno hosts 2nd Tuesday Poetry Open Mic at Club Cabaret in honor of Jihmye Collins' work as poet, teacher, activist, mentor, and friend. http://jimpoet.com/id90.html
The Big Kitchen's food is nurturing and very much comfort food. Judy the Beauty was away visiting friends, a well deserved pause to her active life as founder and mother energy of the restaurant.We ate generous servings, drank tall glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice and talked for a couple of hours. It was a good early morning interlude.
It seemed appropriate, considering how long we have been poets on the scene, to do a little creative editing to one of the photos-- make it look as if we took it during the early years of the Big Kitchen.
When we said our good byes, hugged, and continued our day, I felt renewed. Good company and early morning sunshine does that to me. I walked around the neighborhood, getting used to my new crutches and mobility. Several blocks later, a poetry tree's branches extended free poetic greetings.
Artistry, poems of inspiration. With a smile I continued my walk. It was a good day.
As for 2018 . . . . perhaps if we continue to value our humanity 2018 will fill us with hope in times of desperation, courage while sorrowful, faith when experiencing overwhelming doubt, tolerance during misunderstanding, grace when willful selfishness, spiritual discernment through confused anguish, and joy with humble celebration.
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