tongfoolery

Sandstorm

Warren — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:13:20 +0000

here’s one of the two pieces i read earlier this week. it’s an oldie, but a goodie. it’s been sitting for about four years and has gone through minor revisions throughout, but i think this version works well. thanks to my fellow Cave Canem poets for their great notes!

Sandstorm

At a playground in Union Square,
two boys wrestle in the sand.
Clothes covered in dirt,
they pin each other’s faces to the ground.

One yells, “Sandstorm!”
as he throws up two handfuls of sand.
A couple of bystanders
glare back with riled eyes.

The boys, unaware,
continue to frolic and laugh,
as they scatter and throw sand up in the air.

A thousand miles away,
sand crashes down onto two other boys.
Crouched behind a clay wall,
they clutch their helmets
and check each other with calm eyes.

One yells, “Fire in the hole!”
and chucks a hand grenade over the wall.
They run for cover in the storm of debris
but are spotted by two enemy soldiers.

Another explosion, culminated by
the angry pitter patter
of hot sand raining down.

Reading at Cave Canem

Warren — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:27:00 +0000

I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of an inspiring and rewarding poetry workshop these past two months. tomorrow night, my wonderful fellow poets and I will be reading at Cave Canem. come for poems. stay for food and alcohol.

May 14, 6:30 pm
Writing across Cultures: A reading

Cave Canem
20 Jay Street, Suite 310-A
Brooklyn, NY

Participants in Cave Canem’s Spring New York City Workshop, Writing across Cultures, share poems honed in class. Instructor John Murillo hosts.

“The Talent of the Room”

Warren — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:25:13 +0000

We were assigned an essay/letter by Michael Ventura, entitled, “The Talent of the Room.” And it’s a really great read for any writer, artist or anybody really. It’s a reminder that talent is nothing if you don’t use it and put in the work. It also touches upon any anxieties or fears (or the dreaded writer’s block) you may have when crafting.

The main takeaway is “Writing is something you do alone in a room.”

And if I may, the most successful writers aren’t always the best writers, but the hardest working. Sometimes you love writing like you love your favorite friend. And it comes naturally and easily. But when it doesn’t, you just have to get it done. Like forcing yourself to do a favor for that long-time friend. You don’t really want to, but you’re obligated because because he’s always been there for you and you know you’d regret it if you didn’t. The passion comes and goes, doesn’t mean you do.

one for poetry month

Warren — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:31:13 +0000

not necessarily doing the poem-a-day challenge but still writing every day. here is a piece i wrote as a writing assignment.

Foreigners

a dada poet shakes hands with the pharaoh
down at the broken arrow

drinks are on me
an eyeball being sliced by Dali
after party at my place
about face to my moon base

sapphire encrusted bracelets
that remain faceless
thousands of blue glowing jellyfish
wash ashore on the waiting list

the extraterrestrials from the moon basin
stand adjacent to my new basement

zou bisou let’s go too far
throw your hair in a blender
and turn it on

*the theme was surrealism.
also, here is a photo that may have inspired a line in the poem, probably.
via rofltime

best place to write?

Warren — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:05:57 +0000

for me, writing on my phone on the train, specifically underground when I have no cell phone reception. and it’s not that big of a surprise. there’s less distractions. i don’t feel like i’m trapped there forever, so I can jot some things down quickly.

one of these days I want to take a writing “retreat” and just ride the subway all day. see what turns out.

addictive personality and easily bored

Warren — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:18:07 +0000

this is a lazy post.
but I just wanted to remark on how I have an addictive personality, specifically when it comes to games. such as the Draw Something epidemic that swept through the world recently. i got hooked on it for about the first two days. why, the first night I got it, i was up until 4am playing it. which is the same thing that happened when i first got scramble with friends and words with friends. i just wanted to play more and more. but i’m kinda over them now. no offense to the games. they’re wonderful games. i just bore easily. this of course is not an absolute rule. like when it comes to music. some albums I can listen to over and over on repeat without ever tiring.

Idolatry

Warren — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:57:34 +0000

Politics mixed with pop rhetoric.
Cheap parlor tricks to control the government.

Rights being redacted while we’re being distracted.

The state of the union’s atrocious
but, “Can you believe she sang the wrong lyrics?”

We demand justice but expect the opposite.
“I’m actually not surprised he got away with it.”

We want to raise the issues but discuss the trivial.
“That dress she wore last night was simply abysmal.”

It’s so pitiful.
You look that way while they pull the wool over you.

Progress falls off slippery slope arguments.
“First it’s the homosexuals, next it’ll be house pets.”

Adding fuel to the celebrity fire.
“Kim’s got no talent, but I’d give anything to look like her.”

It’s hard to give when no one has enough.
“I’m sure some one else will give their seat up.”

Doesn’t take an anarchist to see what’s happened.
Complacent ignorance runs rampant.

Blind antics in lieu of sound tactics.
Maybe someday there’ll be more passion.

don’t flip your wig

Warren — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:23:06 +0000

i’ve always been fascinated with old slang. i mean i love language in general, but old slang always hits a special nerve. i think it’s the nostalgia / old-timey feel that resonates with me, particularly 1920s – 1960s, but all good.

so it’s a treat to come across and then use some of these words and phrases.

instead of saying everything is awesome or amazing, which i overuse all the time, try some of these choice words: crackerjack, dynamite, A1, boss, choice, aces.

and instead of calling people idiots (or other more vulgar names), how about dingbat or melvin?

and if you get really drunk, say you were crocked!

i like it.

vegas time bubble

Warren — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:49:28 +0000

it’s one of those cities where you come in feeling fresh and hopeful, but leave feeling hardened and aged. you lose track of time and ignore everything else that’s going on in the world. like rip van winkle, you emerge … Continue reading →

scumbag valentine

Warren — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:33:28 +0000