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Choice’s Unwind Wednesday Cometry Show

Word Around Town had the pleasure of attending Choice Bolton’s Unwind Wednesday reading. Refreshing and innovative, Choice’s poetry night is a must see.

Listed as “Cometry” on Facebook it lives up to the inception of the word; non-stop laughter and great poetry were available all night long. In particular, Choice’s hosting style is at once inviting and hilarious, he brings an energy to the show that is infectious. He demands energy from his audience, encouraging even those who did not come to read to participate as active and engaged audience members.

He hosts the show in the intimate downtown bar, Escape (914 Prairie) with little pretense. The center of the room is cleared and surrounded by seating, poets stand alone on the hardwood floor under the blue and yellow lights. DJ ARTAFACT interludes between poets with hip-hop music that gets people moving and singing. Great drink specials and instant camaraderie make the night feel special.

The performances were exceptional and often thought provoking. Qaadir Williams wowed the crowd with a moving piece about experiencing beauty with all of his senses. The night is also a practice ground for Slam! greats Khalid, Outspoken Bean, and The Fluent One who all turned in fantastic performances.

When Jem appeared a bit late in the evening wearing a huge wrestling belt like a trophy, we discovered these poets battle one another and are awarded trophies. Jem’s recent victory was celebrated and lorded over the heads of her conquests, all in good fun. Jem shared hosting with Choice, the two poets are obviously very good friends. Jem is also funny, and brings a compelling insight to her audience. She enjoyed watching the faces of the audience members who were rapt with attention. She began several philosophical conversations, asking the audience questions about the difference between pride and confidence, engaging us in a serious conversation before returning to the joking nature of the show.

The three rules of the show encompass perfectly what Unwind Wednesday is all about:

Rule #1: Respect the mic
Rule #2: Respect the mic
Rule #3: Respect the goddamn mic, because we’re artists, and we’re sensitive about our shit!

Go see Unwind Wednesday’s at Escape – you won’t be sorry for long.

Want to be considered for next year’s tour?

The organizers of Word Around Town (WAT) are often approached by poets who are interested in being a part of the tour. While WAT seeks to promote poetry, it can be difficult to narrow down a selection of poets out of the large pool of talent Houston has to offer.

WAT had to establish certain parameters that carefully chooses poets who fit the mission of our organization. So how do we do it?

At the most basic level, poets are chosen based on their presence in the community. Their participation in open mic nights or performance poetry is a must as the tour seeks to promote these types of events. Those poets especially that are visible at more than one open mic – that support not just their own art but the work of others by attending new and varied events -are given greater consideration.  Poets that host events with consistency and dedication are also given consideration.

While WAT would love to have each and every talented poet on tour with us, space is limited. If you would like to be considered for next year’s tour  please get in touch with WAT at the email address below – let us know what you’re doing to spread the word around town!

wordaroundtown@yahoo.com

WAT – Close out party with special guest Seth Walker

Tonight July 17th at Aerosol Warfare! 2110 Jefferson. the Word Around Town tour will be celebrating an incredible tour with an incredible party! The Close-out party starts at 7pm and will feature all of the amazingly talented poets on the tour as well as some fantastic bands, DJs and special guest performers.

the door is just $10 and covers all you can drink beer and wine till it’s gone. plus the entire Word Around Town line up will be there with guest host Marcell Murphy. DJs Joe B and Nando1 will keep the party moving

then there’s a great band, Tax the Wolf, and The Manichean will be headlining.

as a special treat fresh off the road we’re pleased to announce a special performance from the renowned poet Seth Walker! for more info visit www.sethwalkerpoetry.com.

Seth Walker (Leading) – “Trust in Dustin“

Most Recent Press Comment:

“His spoken gifts are undeniable. His rhythms, cadences and freestyle verse pounce upon his listeners with compelling eloquence devoid of cliché. The precocious genius of his language is almost frightening in its originality. How can one so young sustain such poetic and artistic authority?”

Read the Full Article here.

see you tonight at Aerosol Warfare!!

The Word About Marlon Lizama

Marlon Lizama – World traveled BBoy (Havikoro) and poet, this 28 year old writes to social issues, love, and injustice; all while juggling a daytime job and international BBoy competitions. Marlon strives to prove a positive message of action through dance and word. As our tour begins, Marlon has just returned from a BBoy competition in South Korea . . . and the travels continue.

The Word About BGK

BGK (Glenn Burns), a writer from Washington, D.C., has performed spoken pieces for over 15 years. In 2005, he relocated to Houston and has continued to self-publish numerous books of poetry, philosophy, and comedic abstractions and observations that, he feels, “follows consciousness where it must go.” His book “Terra” has just been released.

Reading

there are cuts on
my body
from good times
read into that
how you will
it is beautiful how you read
I was set down
on this earth to tell you

your beauty
is just what it is so
don’t cross it
let the sun shine
don’t cross it
there is a perfect symphony
in the wind
moving through the hedges
she reminds me to look
I remind myself:
love is ever-present

The Word About dee!colonize

dee!colonize is a strong voice in Houston’s poetry scene, dee!colonize

brings an in-your-face social commentary to the mic. Over the past 5

years, this Xicana has connected with several artists & activists to bring

the message of revolution & community consciousness to the stage.

She was a regular performer for the Underground Merger Collective on

Houston’s East End, has hosted at the 1st & 2nd Annual East End Festival, and has read for and organized benefit shows and events dealing with the abolition of the death penalty, an end to police brutality, empowerment of women, immigration rights, black/brown unity, and indigenous pride. Aside from poetry/activist work, dee!colonize is a student in the ancient

style of Danza Mexica, helps run a collective garden project, and is the main contributor for a blog about her neighborhood.

a poem by dee!colonize –

Cuando busque mis raices, llege aqui
Con la bellesa, flor y canto, de Xochipilli
Dijo Zapata que la tierra es de los que la trabaja
Siempre quieren cuitarnolo, pero nuestra fe no se acaba
Porque savemos nuestra conneccion con nuestro ser hermano
No importa si es de este o del otro lado
Somos mismos, hijos y hijas del Sol, Tonatiuh.
Es tiempo de levantar, direjidos con amor para mi, y para tu
.-Familia
Habla del corazon y el mundo nos escucha.
Viva los inmigrantes ~ Que viva la lucha!!!

myspace/deecolonizemyspace/toltecatl82

The Word About Stephen Gros

Stephen Gros is 28 years old. He’s a writer and artist living and working in
Houston Texas. He founded the non-profit company Panhandler Publishing, is a founding member of the Word Around Town poetry tour, is the host of the renowned ThoughtCrime poetry showcase held on the third Thursday of the month, and has performed in a myriad of filthy bars from New York to Jamaica.  He is the author of several chapbooks (some of them worth reading) and is currently fascinated by socks.

The Wet Frog Morning Shattered

The wet frog morning shattered green and gold
by the crack of a door at 7:00am
the blankets squirm
heavy like bags of stardust
draped over the shoulders of busy young gods.
They resettle on you, in my arms,
where you fit perfectly.
Your great still eyes find mine
and I’m lost for a moment
in a bright splashing fountain
the dark amber of a crystal cake perfectly baked.

Your eyes are the brown of the acorn
that grew into the tree of life.
The color of summer on a dark beach.
The color of tobacco stained hands
all day working in the Caribbean sun.
The color of forgotten childhood memories
and I wrap them around me
your eyes, untroubled by goodbyes
are restive and hopeful.

Later we will dream together
of Barcelona, the passion of lovemaking
and the future of this something we’ve started
but for now
I am content to hold you,
ever tightly,
as your great still eyes shudder and close.
Let the wet frog morning carry on without us.

The Word About Maria Palacios

Maria R. Palacios, artistically known as the Goddess on Wheels, is a poet, writer, author, spoken word performer, workshop facilitator, inspirational speaker, polio survivor, disability activist, feminist Latina whose voice of empowerment flows through the veins of her poetry.

PUBLICATIONS:
In 2002 Maria R. Palacios founded Atahualpa Press through which the following books have been published.
• (2002) The Female King by Maria R. Palacios ISBN: 0-9726483-0-5
• (2003) Indiana The Island by Todd A. Gresley ISBN: 0-9726483-1-3
• (2005) Karate On Wheels by Maria R. Palacios ISBN:                                                                0-9726483-2-1
• (2009) A Declaration of a Body Of Love by Lateef H.                                                                 McLeod ISBN: 978-0972648332

become her fan on Facebook!

excerpt from Cooking Love

Cooking Love

When I’m hungry,
I think of you.
Or maybe
it’s just that I’m hungry
for you.
Hungry
for the Love I cook
slowly
on the stove
or sometimes in the oven
or the grill.
In every single dish
I feel
your Love
filling
my senses.

I am consumed by Love
when I’m in the kitchen
even
when busy teenagers
fill
the surrounding space
with bouncing balls
and video games
and the sound of hip-hop
in the air.
I can easily sink
into this love affair
and tune the world out
to be alone
with you.

-excerpt-

The Word About Michael Hoerman

Michael Hoerman is an independent poet who grew up in Southwest Missouri. He has published numerous poems in anthologies, journals, and a Pudding House chapbook. He received a Massachusetts Cultural Council poetry fellowship in 2004 and coordinated poetry programs throughout Massachusetts celebrating regional poets and everything from Poetry Out Loud to Kerouac and neighborhood poetry workshops. A new chapbook is coming in                                                                                      2010.

Sin

The midweek sermon delivered by your father
From a rotary phone in Kansas.

A storm gathered above the prairie,
Marshaled at the state line.

From there it’s twenty-five miles to my bedroom;
Where we love in a way your father should never see.

Satiating things are sermon enough for us.
We learn to divine from the storm.

Soaring, we push toward the azure horizon,
Away from this shameful town.

We offer no excuses, seek no absolution.
Your unbuttoned jeans; my fingers trace the tingling circuit.

Your father dials as lightning hits the line
And we are connected with him in paradise.

Reprinted from Arkansas Literary Forum 2004

Look for Michael at the Word Around Town poetry tour 2010.