Happy Birthday, Michael

100,000 Poets for Change, September 24th, 2011

Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion of Big Bridge have spearheaded a global event that will take place on September 24th. Here's a link to events taking place in over 450 countries and 600 cities.

Here are ways to get involved in the Twin Cities:

1. The Guerilla Haiku Movement is on a mission to cover Minneapolis in poetry, as part of 100000 Poets for Change, and you're invited. If you've got the verse, we'll have the chalk. Once equipped, you can scribble sidewalk rhymes at your leisure or set off on an optional scavenger hunt to help find new canvases and bring passers-by in on the fun. Organizer Caley Vickerman started by asking people to write haikus to one another, first in theater exercises, then on the streets of New York City. The movement has since blossomed into a seven-city fall tour, with hundreds of on-the-street poets ready to pounce — and Minneapolis is the sixth stop. Haiku of all themes and lettering of all forms are welcome, so seek out your spot and let those syllables fly. (Philadelphia City Paper)

When: September 24th: 2pm-6pm

Where: Spitting Turtle Fountain @ Lake Harriet Rose Gardens (Meeting Place- then we head out in teams all over the city- contact the Haiku Mistress if you miss the meeting point: 917.715.5976)

Why: For the pure joy of it. Because we are all full of poetry.

Pictures will be shared here and at http://www.guerillahaikumovement.com/

2. 350.0rg is planning a rally on the capitol steps. The organizers are seeking out poets to participate!

          Moving Planet Rally: “A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels”

Saturday 24 September, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. (estimated)

Be part of a world-wide rally calling for dramatic reduction in the use of fossil fuels. We’ll perform simple roles in a procession, carrying images and messages that will stream back from one of our large puppets. No experience needed; instructions provided on site. For more information about this event: www.moving-planet.org/events/us/minnesota-state-capitol/1277

Location: State Capitol front steps, Saint Paul

3. Recordings for Change: I willl be recording short films of local poets reading a poem and discussing change to be collected on a blog. If you are interested in more information about this, please message me directly. My email is on the sidebar.

Coldfront Video Review

DJ Dolack put together a really lovely, rainy video review on Coldfront of the reading Ronaldo V. Wilson and I did this past May at The Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church. Thanks, DJ! Thanks, Coldfront!

Two June Events!

In the wee hours of June 4/5th, I'm proud to be a part of Bedtime Stories during Nuit Blanche at the Walker Art Center's Open Field.

Also, You Must Not Name Everything: An Art Party takes place on June 18th. It will showcase new work by Jack Walsh and Pete Degan, along with many other wonderful fine art and craft vendors. Beginning at 7pm, there will be readings by me, John Colburn, Sarah Fox, Matt Mauch, Laura Pendell, and Dale Pendell!

Happy Spring!

Feeling Contemplative but Inarticulate, I Repost...

These are the four requested songs played by the Current this morning after the announcement of bid Laden's death:









And here is Ken Chen's reflective and well-spoken Montevidayo post.

Catching Up

First, I am reading tonight at the Banfill Locke Arts Center with the novelist Kevin Fenton. We'll start at 7:30. There'll be wine and snacks and I hope you will come.

Second, I made a website. It's here: http://www.paulacisewski.com/. It'll have readings and news and classes and one day in the near future, crafty little creations and vintage whatnots from my very own Etsy account. I am new at website organizing, so I am happy for feedback.

Third, I just picked up Matt Hart's WOLF FACE last night at the Pocket Lab Reading Series, where he and all the other poets were phenomenal. So psyched to dig into that book!!