Hey Kathy--Yes. Tell them to call me; I'd be happy to turn them on to the poetry community here.

Hey Ray, would you be up to meeting a great slam poet fromt he SF Bay Area. A young friend of mine, Joe Bailey-Boyle, is heading out your way with a friend in late September. They are on their way to North Carolina. I told him he should look you up in Ethel and meet you and your band of word-slinging cronies. I think ya'll will find Joe's brand of poetry very refreshing. So what do you say, Ray? Call or email me directly. Hope all is well in your world, love your sis-in-law

Hey Julie--Try Robert Connell in Jackson, LA (her dad).

looking for an old friend, clara connell , hoping to catch up...feels like a lifetime

Cheri, Call me.

Hi Ray,
come across any buddha's lately? sending love and good thoughts...

Excuse my typeos.

This is Yah fu the prodigal son reporting on SF 2006.Well I didn't make the finals but I did damn good for myself.I'am rated 58th of 78 individuals and 16 dynamic teams.I went up against some tuff teams.My day 1 opponents were #2 rank Columbia National Slam Team,#6 rank Knoxville Equiknox Slam Team,#14 Columbia Regional Slam Team and 16th rated Shenendoah Valley Va Slam Team I did Chiquita Tigress and got two 10s a 7 and 8.8,and 8.9 but what was so wackey about that bout was they had four 30s and two 29.9!
After that our SF family gave me a new name Two Live Fu It was crazy I had a real good time.My day#2 opponent was Defending Champions and 4th rank Charlotte National Slam Team,#5 Bowling Green Kentucky Slam Team,#6 Knoxville Equiknox Slam Team and #16Shenendoah Valley Slam Team I messed up a line but recovered nicely and got high 9s for a 29.1 which put me in a three way tie for 12th of 19 individuals.I MUST CAPTOLIZIE THIS YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE MY DAY#3 OPPONENTS I MUST GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE #1 RANK FT.LAUDERDALE FLORIDA SLAM TEAM, THE #2 RANK COLUMBIA NATIONAL SLAM TEAM,THE #3 RANK TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA SLAM TEAM THE #4 RANK CHARLOTTE NATIONAL SLAM TEAM THE #21 RANK INDIVIDUAL AND THE #41 RANK INIDVIDUAL THATS AMAZING THIS BOUT FEATURES 19 POETS IN WHICH IT FEATURES THE #2 RANK POET,#3 RANK POET,#4 RANK POET,#12 RANK POET,#13 RANK POET,#16 RANK POET,#17 RANK POET,#18 RANK POET,#19 RANK POET,#21 RANK POET,#24 RANK POET #25 RANK POET,#26 RANK POET,#41 RANK POET $46 RANK POET.ISN'T THAT A HELLIFIED AMAZING BOUT!EVERY POET IN THIS BOUT IS TIGHT AS HELL.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.On a side not I have purpose that the individual finals should be increased from 4 poets to 8 poets and it passed so beginning in 2008 there will be 8 finalists instead of 4.Black on Black Rhyme Tallahassee Florida will be the host city for 2008 SF and quest what I hosted for the first time in my career the 2006 SF 5th wheel and Slam Masteres Slam.I placed 5th out of 9 poets in the Haiku slam.Well I think that will be all until later poetry is good.

Yah fu reporting for duty at Southern Fried 2006 BHam the town...I will let you in on a secert.I will introduce a woman name Chiquita Tigress to BHam and I hope they fall in love with her.

If you go to this link there are a bunch of Don Juan Picturess. I looove you.
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/wehadfaces/moonlark/

a black letter, unknown and distant . . . and another and another, letter after letter, a winding string of words in unknown tongue . . . cawing birds and dark winged phantoms bridging into the air, feet never on the earth, the unspeakable breathed from inward to outward . . . song-chant-scream-cry-proclaim--the nothings inside stirred with the tongue and teeth of heart and thrown from lip--invisible and yet visible . . . at least to some--i see angels in the air of things, floating out there, bits of glittering dust, sometimes in the shadows, ghostly mystery lit eyes and they know me--of course it would not be polite to question them, but the winding string of words are seen by them and seen by me--an unfolding halo bridge--words stacked like bricks, thick and gummy, thin ones, ellipsis, commas, periods, question marks, explanation points, --inky lightning, words of thunder, gibber, jitter, blasts, screams--the unspeakable commune of eating bread with god next to a gaggle of stars--spittering, sputtering, round and round, bound with word, bound with word, bound with word--for he spoke all into existence while walking on his lonely island and threw sea gull's screech and owl's hoot--like smoke rings and i answer his call, step on his words , stride towards him and connect, wringing water from flesh and calling ir blood . . . come on you all--write something . . . let me hear from everyone . . . i miss yall . . . bandini

hello Xero, my leadbelly poems arrived today (by tyehimba jess) and i'm enjoying . . . i'm intrigued with the different voices the poet writes in and also i think i'm going to enjoy the use of images . . . i do love image when used to drive a poem . . . thanks for turning me on . . . also susan and i enjoyed the slam last tuesday and it was good to see everyone . . . r

Hey Phillip, I couldn't make the slam; leave a message here on the guestbook with a number and I'll call you, or you can call and leave a message and number at 225-634-7611. I would be happy to help you with your project. peace/love, Ray

Hi Ray, this is Phillip. I am doing an ethnographic project on Eclectic Truth. I had wanted to interview you, but I was just too busy. I'll be at Tequila's on tomorrow, so if you are going to be there, write me an email so I can prepare a few questions.
PS - Miles told me to tell you that you were brilliant. I trust the old guy.
Take care,
Phillip

Hello everyone. Sorry about the guestbook spam that's been showing up the last couple of weeks. I've reconfigured the guestbook slightly, which I'm hoping will throw off the spam-bots. What's up in Baton Rouge? Xero, how did the National Slam finals go? Ray, what's the latest with the theatre? Jeremy, where ya been? My best to all.

sup people been a long long time. how has everyone been? life has been very hectic lately but things have gotten much better. ive been to busy to write anything but got alot rumbli'n around in this twisted head of mine anyway hope to see u all soon

The work is never done. Thank you to all who are keeping dreams and words alive on our streets, in our minds. The feet never fail and the heart often lies. Dare to disturb the universe. Feel the word.

Hey Xero, I'm coming tonight with a bunch of students;be there at 8.

Hey Ray, could you please tell all of your kids that the Freshhh Heat Teen Open Mic Poetry Lounge will be happening this coming Thursday, March 9th? The time is from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The place is the YMCA Teen Center located at 8100 YMCA Plaza Drive; off Perkins, between Seigen and Bluebonnet. I will be the featured poet and there will also be a DJ playing music before the event and between poets! We're also asking for a $2 donation to help cover the cost of reFRESHHHments. Anyone under 20 yrs. of age can come and read, but they have to get there early. We had over 170 people at the last open mic and we're expecting many more this time! Thanks!

I try to catch the slam every time I'm in town, and it is well worth the 11-hour drive! I wish y'all were here in OK, so I could get my poetry groove on more often.

Hey everybody! I just wanted you all to know that the slam has changed it's start time to 8 pm, we have a very diverse crowd (poets and mortals alike), and the poetry is as sophisticated as its been in years. Note: xero is as unsophisticated as he's been in years. In the spirit of our founder, Dr. Ray "Rowdy" Sibley, the slam is still all about community and I hope that many of our old friends will see it in their hearts to give slam a chance once again.

Hey Mike--give me a call when you get time.

Hey, Sibley. go to my webpage...you'll see a surprise at the bottom of the screen...>_<mew!!!
PS: i love you!!!!!HAPPY BD!!!!

hey

Have I dried the tomatoes sufficiently for my pasta? Will the war ever end? Can Kinky Friedman save Texas? Will it ever rain in OK?

Chad--where the hell are you? We've missed you big time. Call me and give me your phone number. If your interested, I've got a lead role for you in an April show. If you aren't interested call me anyway or come by and see what we've done on the Theatre. peace/love, Ray

hello ray

I love Ray!

hey J NIN I miss him too. Hey naked poet if your still out there, phone home. peace/love Ray

what ever happened to the naked poet?

Hey Ray lol wats up just saying hey and omg Zachary sux!!

Hey Ray, there's a young lady by the name of Anna West who's trying to get in touch with you. Please give me a call or e-mail me so I can put you in touch with her. She's the one heading up the teen poetry reading coming up in February. I think she wants to see if you have any students who would be interested in participating. Also, the slam is soooo hot right now. You wouldn't believe how good some these new poets are! Starting January 24th we'll be starting the event an hour earlier (8pm). It would be great to see you out in civilization again! LOL!

Whats up Ray nice to see ya been thinking about me brother.I'm O.K. sorry I haven't been dropping in,between doing some major reconstruction to my personal website and a full time security guard position have swamped me in.I'am still performing and writing I'll be traveling up to Austin Texas January 11th and slamming at the IWPS tryout nothing against Baton Rouge but I feel its time for me to venture out and try other slam venues to see where I stand against other slammers.I also will be competiting at my 3rd Southern Regionals In 4 years at the 2006 Southern Regional Poetry Slam Festival In Birmingham,Alabama June 2006.If any of you have time check out my site and tell me what ya think!Peace and Love Yah Fu!

Hey Tinman , Hope the holidays have been good to you and yours. Can you send us a copy of "The Man in the Moon?" We'd love to read it, but can't find it online. Happy New Year! xo K&K and the Siblets

Liberty, Are you out there? We've been talking about you, missing you, wondering how you are. Hope you are well. peace/love Ray (and friends)

Hey Sandra, We've missed you -- call me.

Hey Kim, Sounds like a good idea to me--lets talk about it in class.

(if you are that Nina?) anywayz...hi again. I have a question...can we have a poetry jam next semester that includes the entire school?

Hey Nina, We definitely remember you and the "Southern Boy" poem; its a classic in my memory (if you are that Nina). Glad to hear you are doing well. peace/love, Ray

Hi! Ray Dog....hope all is well with you and life is good... hope to see at a Slam soon. Sandra

hi...>_<mew!!!

Hey y'all, this is Nina--don't know if anyone remembers me but I used to come to the slams at M's when I was in B.R. I'm in NC now and got a job teaching English and will be doing some poetry workshops for teens in the spring. Cool, huh? Hope all is well with y'all and I hope to go to one of the slams when I'm back in B.R. for Christmas, if y'all are doing any that week. Take care.

hey everyone how hav u all been

hello Mike, thanks for posting the backroom poets reading that took place last friday night. the reading went well and we had 17 poets show up to read and share. i think we are going to have another reading on the first friday of december with a 'bad girl' theme. i think that subject is tempting. later . . . r

Hey ppl. Yeah, so Sibley, sorry Dr. Sibley, whose Micheal? Will he be helping with our play? (DUDE...SO SORRY ABOUT THAT MONOLOGUE, BUT NOW SINCE I'M FREE, THAT IS WHERE MOST OF MY TIME WILL GO. I SWEAR

Hey Kim, I love you too; you rock. Michael Tesfay-- call me--maybe we can work something out--I don't want to lose you in this play--I am so excited about getting to work with you again.
Call me on my cell. peace/love Ray

Hey everyone!!!>_<mew!!! i'm just here to tell everyone that if you dont know Sibley, you're really missing out. (Sorry, Dr. Sibley) Anywayz...he's a great man, and a true genius...oh, and, by BTW: There's a really cool play tha the Tal. Drama Department at BRMHS is putting out. I encourage all you guys to come out and see. Okay?

>_<mew!!!

Mr. Sibley, this is Michael Tesfay. I wanted to make sure you got the message I sent you last week. If not, my work has scheduled me to work every Saturday for the next 5 Saturdays and I never get home until 1 am. As much as I want to I have no way that I can participate in this play. I can't wait to see it though and I desperatly hope I can participate in your next one. Again, I am very sorry. Michael

hello everyone, We have begun our new Shakespeare project "Love's Labors Lost." We still have a few small parts (1 medium size) left to audition for. It looks like we have the most amazing group of people this time around. If you are interested in auditioning for a part or want to get involved in backstage stuff, give me a call at 225-634-7611. I hope everyone is recovering well from this most unfortunate month of September. I am happy to be getting back to some degree of normalcy. I wish everyone would check in here at the guestbook to let us know where you are and how you are. Show us some poetry. peace/love, Ray

hey everyone its been a long time sense i have heard from u all. how have everyone been? i have been doing pretty good latelty working hard with ike smith electric and making a couple trips to ohio well i miss you all and hope to see u all soon. Later Days

hello mike, the poetry at perk's has been called off for quite a while and i don't know of anything happening, except for the tuesday reading on chimes street. the backroom poets were planning a reading before katrina happened, but we lost our desire with that damn storm. next full moon, i think i might go out and scream poetry at the moon. anyway hello to all the poets out there i miss you all!

Does anyone know whether the Wednesday night readings at Perk's are still happening? And are they still at 7:30? I'm just wondering because someone emailed me asking about BR poetry events. I was able to tell them about the Tuesday night Poetry Alliance gig, but I wasn't sure about Wednesday night.

Peace

I am in Washington, DC trying to help coordinate support for friends and former co-workers from Tulane University who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Ironically, these folks are also working on the disaster response as they are public health professionals.

Anyway, Ray asked me to post this request for information and advice (thank you Ray!):

Several people urgently need housing -- though they evacuated to Houston with their families, they are in Baton Rouge alone, sleeping on couches.

One friend, Robert, particularly needs an apartment or house for his wife, teenage daughter and infant son.

Another friend, Albert, may need a place too, for his wife and young child.

Finally, my friend, LuAnn, who is the very involved in the massive disaster response, needs to be in or as close to Baton Rouge as possible. She is older, and will be commuting between Houston and Baton Rouge frequently.

Thank you all for any input and advice!

I can be reached at sohopro@comcast.net, or 202.577.6044.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Ray or Mike this is Donney Brasco...one of you can get in touch with Xero 225-803-6160 or Mona 225-229-9206..we have located a couple of displaced N.O poets that i'm sure would like to take Ray up on his offer to provide shelter...so holla at one of the above #'s and we'll get something going...peace

Hey Kevin and Kathy, Yes, we are all OK. We miss you.

Ray/Rowdy, Hope you are doing ok, bro. We lucked out and managed to get through to Jason/Tiger via phone. Thank God he and his family are ok, but it will be rough since Gulfport has been struck real hard. We are hoping you are doing well. Write or email us sometime.
Kevin/Kathy/and the Siblets, Emma and Henry
k_sibley@comcast.net

An Announcement I recieved via e-mail--fyi:

Hi, this is Chuck Dodson. We're having a slam here in Hot Springs,
Arkansas, next week, Sept 8-9. Marc Smith will be hosting and we'll have
about $2000 in prizes. For info visit http://www.hotspringsjazzfest.org
and go to the Events page. Also notice the After Party with Jacob Fred
Jazz Odyssey(!). It's part of a jazz festival so there's a lot going on
through the weekend. If you have any questions, you may reply to this
email or feel free to call me.

Chuck Dodson
(501) 617-1238

**A significant part of all proceeds from the Arkansas Grand Slam and the
Hot Springs Jazz Fest will be donated to benefit hurricane Katrina relief
efforts.

Also: now confirmed, former Hot Springs Slam Master Bud Kenny will travel
from Maine to be here (without the mule).

Are there any poets or artists out there from New Orleans or anywhere devastated that need a place to stay? If we can help, please ask. I am sure I speak for everyone when I tell you all that the Poet community of BR is strong and vibrant and willing to do whatever we can to help those displaced by this disaster.

Hey everybody. Just checking in to make sure everyone is safe after the hurricane. Please respond. Lots of nervous poets out here worried about you guys.

Hello Everyone, There is a story coming out in the September issue of Country Roads Magazine about MoonLark. Check it out. peace/love Ray

Hey everybody! Sorry it took me so long to sign the guestbook. I've been busy beating myself up over our rankings this year. I eventually had to remind myself what a priviledge it was to be part of such a great team. Mona, Donney, and Tasha made me more proud than I could have ever made myself. Regardless, our mission was first place, not twelfth. So, we won't rest until everyone knows that Baton Rouge is the slam capitol of the world! Austin 2006 here we come!!!

Congratulations Slam Team!! Xero, you rock! I heard your interview on NPR and I was very proud of you; as always, you were cool,calm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Once again, congratulations to you all. peace/love Ray

Props up to Team BR.Out there tearin down the worldwhile the rest of us, wellWe hose down the driveway and side walkin hopes the grass will look greener.
Bleach the stoopas you would a dingy smileand just hope,
no one asks to come inside…

piece

Well folks another remarkable run by our National Slam Team has come to an end.2005 BR National Poetry Slam Team has fallen in the NPS2005 Semifinals to Team Hollywood California.It always seems we draw a head up bout with the defending champions in the semifinals.Nevertheless our fantastic coach Xero Skidmore finished 4th or 3rd in the indie finals. The 2005 Charlotte National Slam Team who I had the liberty to compete against at Regionals has made the Finals and I hope they win.They came to Nationals with 12 team peices,they did not perform one single individual piece in nine rounds leading to finals. Just like Baton Rouge that team is so talented and worked so hard they did three team peices to win kentucky fried in the finals. So to Team Charlotte what the hell I'll do four team peices in the finals and win the thang.Thank you so much Baton Rouge for a hellava run.

Reporting on the progress of the 2005 Baton Rouge Slam Team they finish there bout 2nd of 5 teams behind the upstart Dallas Texas Slam team,but it wasn't enough to put Dallas in the semis and drop BR from the semis.BR is ranked 12th og 75 teams and face Boston Lizard Lounge,Hollywood,and some other teams after that Xero Skidmore will enter the individual finals the same place he finished off in 2002 rank#4 he will face the top 10 poets in the country for the right to be called National Individual Slam Champion.Whats so special about this team is that they are going into the National Semifinals with 5 team peices they used 4 of them Xero was the only poet to have slammed individual so Mona,Donnie,and Tasha haven't even used fire individual peices yet.Can you picture it the small parish of Baton Rouge La one win away from the National Slam Team Finals and Xero Skidmore one win away from National Slam Champion hope they bring it home baby!

Yah Fu, thanks for the update. The BR Slam team is rocking hard! I wish I could be there to see it.

The 2005 Baton Rouge National Poetry Slam Team has rocked in day#1 at the National Poetry Slam in New Mexico winning their bout over Atlanta,Ga,Pittsburgh,Madison,and Farmington,Va.They are ranked 7th out of 74 teams world wide.The scores were:1st Baton Rouge 84.7,2nd Atlanta Ga 84.3,3rd Pittsburgh 83.0,4th Madison 81.3,and 5th Farmington 79.1. Team coach and 2002 NPS 4th rank individual Xero Skidmore opened up the indie competition at #7 out of 179 poets It will take a total team breakdown for the hard working team of Baton Rouge not to make the semifinals.Our day#2 baout is as thus #7 Baton Rouge La vs #31 Vancouver Canada vs#32 Dallas Texas vs #37 Kalamazoo Michigan vs #71 Colorado Springs.Man I'am really proud of all the hard work,tireless energy and the troubles this team had to go through.Xero has really coached this talented team very well,I hope the success continues and I hope Xero win the 2nd bout to make his 2nd Individual finals in 3 years.

If you have yet to catch the 2005 Baton Rouge National Poetry Slam Team in action there are 2 opportunities to do so before we journey to Albuquerque this coming Wednesday...First we will be doing a performance this Sunday (Aug. 7th) at the Baton Rouge Gallery located off Dalrymple Dr...The gallery is across from the tennis courts/golf area and the performance will be at 4pm...Then, we will be performing all of the pieces we plan to bring to Nationals on Tuesday (Aug. 9th) at Tequila's Cafe (formerly Cafe' Reggae, 124 W. Chimes St.) The event starts @ 9pm...Donations will be accepted and are appreciated...For more info on either of these events contact bootstrang@aol.com. Thanks

yes Roger the reading is still going on Tuesdays...Cafe Reggae has new owners and is now known as Tequila's Cafe but it's in the same location...come check it out when time permits

is the cafe reggae still in business? poetry still on tuesday nights?

A hello to Mr. Sibley from an old student of his at the vile institution known as West Feliciana High School. I will let you guess who this is until I make my grand appearance. P.S. Soon you will have your theater, I am so happy for you and very proud to have had you as a teacher.

Bard Dog, thanks for the nice wishes! Hey, everyone, I've put pictures up from As You Like It, located here. I've heard from several people that have seen the show and they all loved it. The show runs on July 23 and every Saturday in August. I plan on making it in to Baton Rouge to see the show.

The honeysuckle azalea blooms are much prettier than those untamed locks, yet the hat looks new and damn nice if I must say so Ray. Congratulations to Mike and MissCindy, hope everyone is doing well. Piece, WOOF!!!

LA LA LA LA LA LA i remember you people you scare me and i can bring the dead back to life as long as the poetry is still good though

Congrats Mike,How is the weather in Mexico?Is it hot enough for ya!Hey Xero I think what your doing for our youth is truly amazing.Giving them a chance to speak there minds at a nice place in Perks!I will support them with a sincere heart and I hope the entire poetry community will do the same!Peace and Love!

Hey y'all! Congrats Mike!!!!! Sorry I couldn't make the wedding and, as much as you asked me, I just wouldn't have felt right on the honeymoon. So I'm sorry I let you down in that area also. Ray, what's up dude! What are you up to, oh mentor of mine? Yah Fu, good job on representing B.R. I know you rocked hard! I recently started a teen open mic @ Perks. The kids and I will be there on the second Saturday of every month, from 7pm until the last poet reads. Last Saturday my daughter Shanti took the stage for the first time with a poem she wrote out in the audience. The torch has been passed! I miss the old M's gang. We should plan a reunion! YES!!! I'll get started on organizing it! Stay tuned for details! Damn, I just lost interest. I'm going play with matches. Later.

FOR ALL WHO ARE READING THIS MESSAGE: Tonight @ Cafe Reggae, the 2005 Baton Rouge Slam team will be in competition against the 2005 New Orleans Slam Team in the 4th annual "Dispute Over The Boot". Doors open @ 9pm, SO if you're looking for something to do this evening, come and support this cause. Admission is $7...We hope to see you there...Donney Brasco-2005 Baton Rouge Slam Team

Buenos noches, mi amigos. My new wife Cindy and I are in a nice resort just north of Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Ya Fu, you are great and I hope you had an amazing time at the Southern Fried. My best to all of you, and I hope that those of you who are spiritually guided will say a prayer for my Dad, who is ill. Peace and love my poets and poetesses!

Well my people Yah Fu is back from the 13th annual Southeastern Regional Poetry Slam.I finished the three day competition ranked 58th of 101 poets.My best day was day two,wherein I finished with a bout rank of 6 out of 13 poets representing teams from Norfolk,Virginia Shock,Roanoke Virginia,and Charlotte Regional overall I rated 45th of 101 poets for that day.A lot of mistakes was made but overall I had a truly great experience.

is the cafe reggae still in business? poetry still on tuesday nights?

A hello to Mr. Sibley from an old student of his at the vile institution known as West Feliciana High School. I will let you guess who this is until I make my grand appearance. P.S. Soon you will have your theater, I am so happy for you and very proud to have had you as a teacher.

Bard Dog, thanks for the nice wishes! Hey, everyone, I've put pictures up from As You Like It, located here. I've heard from several people that have seen the show and they all loved it. The show runs on July 23 and every Saturday in August. I plan on making it in to Baton Rouge to see the show.

The honeysuckle azalea blooms are much prettier than those untamed locks, yet the hat looks new and damn nice if I must say so Ray. Congratulations to Mike and MissCindy, hope everyone is doing well. Piece, WOOF!!!

LA LA LA LA LA LA i remember you people you scare me and i can bring the dead back to life as long as the poetry is still good though

Congrats Mike,How is the weather in Mexico?Is it hot enough for ya!Hey Xero I think what your doing for our youth is truly amazing.Giving them a chance to speak there minds at a nice place in Perks!I will support them with a sincere heart and I hope the entire poetry community will do the same!Peace and Love!

Hey y'all! Congrats Mike!!!!! Sorry I couldn't make the wedding and, as much as you asked me, I just wouldn't have felt right on the honeymoon. So I'm sorry I let you down in that area also. Ray, what's up dude! What are you up to, oh mentor of mine? Yah Fu, good job on representing B.R. I know you rocked hard! I recently started a teen open mic @ Perks. The kids and I will be there on the second Saturday of every month, from 7pm until the last poet reads. Last Saturday my daughter Shanti took the stage for the first time with a poem she wrote out in the audience. The torch has been passed! I miss the old M's gang. We should plan a reunion! YES!!! I'll get started on organizing it! Stay tuned for details! Damn, I just lost interest. I'm going play with matches. Later.

FOR ALL WHO ARE READING THIS MESSAGE: Tonight @ Cafe Reggae, the 2005 Baton Rouge Slam team will be in competition against the 2005 New Orleans Slam Team in the 4th annual "Dispute Over The Boot". Doors open @ 9pm, SO if you're looking for something to do this evening, come and support this cause. Admission is $7...We hope to see you there...Donney Brasco-2005 Baton Rouge Slam Team

Buenos noches, mi amigos. My new wife Cindy and I are in a nice resort just north of Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Ya Fu, you are great and I hope you had an amazing time at the Southern Fried. My best to all of you, and I hope that those of you who are spiritually guided will say a prayer for my Dad, who is ill. Peace and love my poets and poetesses!

Well my people Yah Fu is back from the 13th annual Southeastern Regional Poetry Slam.I finished the three day competition ranked 58th of 101 poets.My best day was day two,wherein I finished with a bout rank of 6 out of 13 poets representing teams from Norfolk,Virginia Shock,Roanoke Virginia,and Charlotte Regional overall I rated 45th of 101 poets for that day.A lot of mistakes was made but overall I had a truly great experience.

Thanks Mike for all of you're support and love for poetry.We poets I'am here in Charlotte,NC reporting for duty.Last night we had 5 teams and 6 indies made the first wave of registration but they expect a flock of teams to come in today.I will find out whom I will compete against around 3:00pm today.Last night at the open mic I received a lot of love from the poets and volunteers when I did the My Mommy is Gone poem.Queen Sheba now on the Charlotte National slam team this year rock the mic also.

For anyone who may be interested the 2005 Baton Rouge Slam Team will be hosting the 4th annual "Dispute Over The Boot", slam vs. New Orleans Slam Team Tuesday June 14th. Proceeds go toward both teams' trips to Nationals

Yah Fu, best of luck to you at the Southern Fried. I know you'll give them a performance to remember. I went to Southern Fried a couple of years ago and had a great time, because it's sort of like the National Slam, but on a smaller, more intimate level. So I hope you have a great time and connect with many poets.

What's up Ray and Mike,It's been a hot minute since I signed this book.Good luck on you're play Ray,I hope it turn out well for Ya.As for me I'll be heading up to Charlotte,NC to compete at the 13th annual Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam Festival as an Indie.According to Inkera and Terry Creech this years event will house a record 28+ teams but I noticed some states will send two teams,Charlotte NC has a National Team and a Regional Team,Columbia SC is sending 2 teams,Ft.Lauderdale FL is sending 2 teams and a few more.Also our Northern Counterpart DC/Baltimore and Detroit Michigan is coming down.My Bus will leave out Tuesday Morning at 7:00cst and should hit Charlotte 3:45cst Wednesday Morning.So I'll let you all know how it went after I get there peace

Hey everyone. I heard that As You Like It was an amazing show. Congrats to all of the cast and crew. Ray says he'll be running it every Saturday night (right, Ray?) so be sure and check it out. And by the way, I've changed my email address to:

mike DOT melancon AT moonlark DOT org

This was because my old email was getting jammed with spam.

Naked Poet--You Da Buddha, $10 per show or $15 for a season ticket--get 'em at the door. I'll put the complete Cast List on the site soon but Mike Vincent is the poet you all know who plays one of the lead roles. Friday nite, the 20th, at 7pm is a sneak preview, dress rehearsal, pay what you can performance, for those who will have trouble making the opening Saurday night.

Regarding As You Like It, how about putting up a cast list? And ticket info? Naked minds want to know!!!!

hello to everyone, just wanted to let you all know that john warner smith is reading poetry friday may 6th at the bluebonnet albasha at 7:30 p.m. his theme will be the african diaspora. hope to see you all there.

Xero, I thought you were supposed to do something in the show for the Jackson kids? I was looking forward to seeing you, what happened? peace/love

Thanks Laura, The kids were great and the play was fun. Stop by on Saturdays anytime to help. The opening of the Shakespeare play is May 21 at 7pm, so we will need some help if you are available between now and then. You are a supermom!

Cowboy Ray,
Just wanted to say thank your for giving the children at Jackson Middle School an experience of a life time (along with myself). If you ever need me for anything I am in the book. I know your up coming play is going to be a big success.
Yours truly- SUPERMOM

Hey yall. Everybody needs to not only visit this site but sign the guestbook and let us know how you're doing. As for myself, life is a struggle, but that's life. Thanks to Roger and Sue Kees for coming to the teen open mic and bringing friends. Hopefully we can make it a regular event. There are so many "old regulars" to this site that I miss. I'd really like to know what's going on with everyone. Congratulations Trey! Your graduating on my 34th birthday! Good luck in New York and don't drink the water...it's expensive. I hope you continue to write and if you don't, just continue to continue. Ray, I'll see you on the 29th. I'll be performing a piece with the kids from Jackson Middle School at Moonlark Theater! I look forward to standing on that stage again. There's no place like home. Peace, poets and patrons!

hey all. NO MORNING AFTER, my spoken word cd, is now officially available for commercial release! the cost is ten bucks--a mere fifty cents per poem, which is cheaper than napster.

if you're interested to lay your hands on a copy, you can do it through my website (www.madelynhatter.com), or through my distributor (www.cdbaby.com/drmadelyn).

i will also have some copies with me at the red stick slam and eclectic truth open mic this tuesday the 26th, 9pm at cafe reggae.

Been a long time sense ive heard from or have spoken to you all. how has everyone been? Well my life is going pretty well i only have about 2 weeks of school left then graduation is on the 16th of may i believe. As soon as i am done here if everything goes according to plan i along with my hopefully soon to be fiance will be off to New York to start our life together. wish me luck on that one. Well I have to get back to work i wish all of you a great summer and a great life i will speak to you all again when i can. *salutes* so long everyone

Attention for those looking for the right poetry event to lose all inhibitions and hear some really raunchy material all in the name of helping a good cause, then look no further than the 2nd annual "Passionate Poetry Pajama Party" hosted by the 2005 Baton Rouge National Slam Team...Thursday, May 26th @ Sogo Live, 100 France St. (next to Argosy Casino). Proceeds go to help strugglin ass poets catch a plane to represent the Red Stick in Albuquerque, NM for slam nationals

hey all. the cd is finally finished, and i hope you'll join me in celebrating!

NO MORNING AFTER
madelyn hatter's cd release party




THE L BAR
174 south blvd.
across from pastimes, under the overpass

THURSDAY 4/21, 9PM $5

MoonLark will be opening "As You Like It" in the middle of May; the show looks great. We are asking for musicians to sit in for one of the big scenes in the play; no lines, you will just be jammin' a little. Especially needed are acoustic guitar players. Call Ray at 634-7611 for more info.

Shouts out to all those in the creolicious land of poetry. Big ups to my lil brothers
Donney "D dot He HOTT" Brasco and Knowledge
who did a creolicious job w SOUL FUSION on 3/31.My girl Kelly Love Jones represented most def 4 all the light skin bright skins.
Of course my poetry pimp,"The Drunken Poet" gave us all an overdose of his poetic intercourse w/ an added suprise of his father on stage doing his thing no doubt.
All who missed it should feel incomplete.We most def are doing it real big here in Baton Rouge with poetry and poetry is truly in motion. On tuesday night @ cafe reggae 9p.m.,wednesday night@ the mocha room in southern university's union @ 7 p.m. and on THURSDAY NIGHT with yours truly "JIFFY" as well as my lil sister "LINCOLN" hosting ORAL EXPRESSIONS.
ORAL EXPRESSIONS
Open Mic Poetry Night
Every Thursday Night @
The Palace 4624 Government Street
(The Palace is located between Jack-n-the-Box and the U.S. Post Office on Government Street.)
8:00 p.m. ~ 10:00 p.m.
FREE admission until 8:30 p.m.
Our Feature for Thursday, April 7 is none other than Dr.Madelyn HatterPerformance poet/ Slam survivor
www.madelynhatter.com
All interested persons need to sign in with “ Jiffy “ or “Lincoln”
Semi-casual attire requested/Denim & Jeans are acceptable.
Proper I.D. is REQUIRED !!!!!
Men must be 21 & Ladies must be 18 to enter.~ Any concerns contact ~
The Palace @ (225) 927 – 2991,
“Jiffy” @ 975-1931 or “Lincoln” @ 975- 0952
E-mail: oral_expressions@yahoo.comRemember we are all one family in this poetry land so lets support one another. Hope to see you all soon. Peace, Love and Thickness. "Jiffy"

hi ted

there's a poetry reading at bluebonnet swamp sunday at 1 0 clock by the backroom poets. i don't know of anything on saturdays,

Are there any poetry events happening on Saturdays?

Hey film fans -- the Ozone Film Fest is thois weekend - I will be speaking at 12:30 Saturday on a new topic - FILM FUSION.

I will introduce this concept, show examples, and take audience questions on this new genre and digital film production in general.

Friday nite at 8 PM we will be showing "In Search of Coonass", a documentary on the Cajuns, at Dunn Gallery in Covington. We edited the film. I built the opening an dnarrative backbone for the piece.

Coonass, directed by John Haynes, won first place at Cinequest last month - one of the top ten festivals in the world.

OZONEFILMFEST.com

In Covington april 1,2,3

Ted

well y'all we finish the slams for nationals last night and I can graciously and thankfully say that I, along with Tasha Weatherspoon, made the final 2 spots. I say graciously b/c this year Baton Rouge fielded probably the best group of performers to try out in our 6 year nationals history...there were at least 4 or 5 possible other poets who could've made it and really came down to the luck of the number draw...I also wanted to inform everyone to look out for all our benefits to get to New Mexico in august...we have a solid team and we plan to work hard to represent the city...thanks in advance for your support!

Go Madaline Hatter!

Team Baton Rouge now consists of: Taaj Freeman, Xero, and Mona Webb....one more week, with 2 spots left (for 1st and 2nd place finishers)

Thanks a million Ray I really appreciate it....And for every one I'm inviting you all to come out tonight to Cafe Reggae to experience the 3rd night of tryouts for BR's national team....thus far Xero and Taaj has made the team, so it will be interesting to see who will join them...show starts @ 9pm

Sorry I misspelt your name DONNEY. I will hook you up.

OK Donnie, I'll hook you up.

Hey Mike--I sent you some Moonlark pics of the theatre and "As You Like It." You should get the disk soon in snail mail.

Hey Ray check your email when u get a chance, I sent you a message about a favor I need if you get the time....Donney Brasco

Well, Britt, I'd love to put up some pics of the slam, and some info on the play. so, I need a volunteer to get me some digital pics of the slam, and I need a volunteer to send me info on the play. You can email either of those things to me at melancon@moonlark.org. Hope all is well with everyone!

Hey mike have any red bull lately? :)hehe
UHHHH idk yall need to put up pictures of the new poetry slam and info about our play!!!

sib!!!
yaya taaj tho idk who you are!!!:))
this is from my friend layne!!

Congratulations Taaj!!

The first round went great Mike,We had a lot of surprises.I viewed the slam from a spectator table.After the dust settled Taaj Freeman emerged the victor claming the first spot on the team with a 29.7,Xero who had got a 30 but was penalized .05 for going over the 3min 10sec rule.Dr Madaline Hatter finished 3rd with a 29.3.

Hey, how'd the first round of slam tryouts go? Inquiring minds want to know...

hey britt

Dr. sib!! talk!

bye!!!!
britt

Hey dr.sibley!! im at my school!! Lol luv you!

Brittany

Respect to all, This is the lightest blackness trying to update all on my contact info.interested? contact me at tanieshiakillough@yahoo.com.My fear is my only courage - Marley-Be blessed

Xero, I added the NPS tryout info to the main page. Check it out and let me know if I left out anything or got anything wrong. Peace, y'all.

Oops. I meant 9 o'clock. So long again.

hey yall! Taaj is back from iWPS and she did a great job letting everybody know that Baton Rouge is no joke when it comes to spoken word poetry. She ranked 37th out of 60 of the WORLD'S best poets! yes, the house that Sibley built still stands strong. if anyone out there cares we'll be starting out team tryouts on March 1st. Every week (4 of them) will be an open slam and the winner of each night will make the team. Cafe Reggae, 7 o'clock, so long.

YAY TAAJ!!

Hey yall, I just wanted to let yall know that Taaj is holding her own with the big dogs at the Individual World Poetry Slams. Based on last nights scores she is ranked 28th out of 60 poets. She slammed again tonight, but the scores haven't been posted yet. When I talked to her last night she said that she felt better about tonight because she was more confident in the pieces she would be reading. She also would be competing in a more well rested condition. She practically competed immediately after reaching the hotel yesterday. Wish her well! Peace, poets!

Has anyone had trouble posting to the guestbook in the last few days? We had a disk quota issue with our server, which I just noticed (shame on me!). It's been fixed now. Very sorry for the inconvenience.

for those of you who will be looking for that special place to take that special someone for Valentine's, make sure to attend "Sultry Spoken Seduction 4" on the eve of Valentine's (Sunday, Feb. 13th) @ The Faculty Club (on LSU's campus, Highland Rd. across from the student union). It will be the quintessential Valentine's poetry affair...hosted by Simple...But Dope Productions

Ladies and Gentlemen I come to announce that on Wednesday Febuary 23,2005 at 8:00pm at the LSU Union Ballroom presenting Race and Religion Symposiums a Dialogue of Spoken Word featuring 2002 National Poetry Slam #7 rank poet Rives,Texas Sensation Jason Carney and National Slam Champion Bayonne Bain So if you want to hear some Nationally known artists reserve that night for the LSU Union Ballroom.

Hello Everyone,
The play is coming along great and we are having a blast. I still need a couple middle aged men and a younger man for small parts; if you're interested, call me @ 634-7611.

I'm just posting this message to let everybody who don't know know and to say congrats to Taaj, The BR 2005 Individual Slam Champion. Last night was one of the most incredible slam offs i ever seen between Taaj and Xero....So everyone keep their eyes open for fundraising events to get Taaj to Indy World Slam Championships next month in Massachusettes....y'all be easy

Ted, that poem kicks ass in a most zen-like manner. I just bought a book entitled ZEN POETRY and I haven't read anything in there yet that's as good as "Fragile"!!! Keep'em coming. You're cheaper than Barnes and Noble, dude. What can I say?

fragile

clinging to life

pulled against
this ball of fire and dirt

destiny from a calm sea and blue sky

a wet blade scraping clean
the righteous and the not

the earth still spins on its axis

we pretend
to comprehend

copyright 2005 ted baldwin

Hey yall! I just wanted everybody to know that on January 11th we'll be having an open round of slam to begin competition for a 2005 Grand Champion to represent Baton Rouge at the 2005 Individual World Poetry Slam in Worchester, MA. We're sorry we couldn't give you earlier notice but for some reason PSI decided to move the event up from June (as it was last year)to February 10-12. The slam starts at 9:00 pm, so get there early! Don't forget to spread the word! Peace, poets!

Note: The Individual World Poetry Slam and the National Poetry Slam are two seperate events put on by Poetry Slam Incorporated every year.

Hey everybody! I'm not religious but I sure as hell enjoyed celebrating Off From Work! It's always been my favorite holiday and this year was especially sweet because I managed to buy fewer and cheaper gifts than I have in a long time. I got a kick out of hanging out with my family and my girlfriend got me what I've always wanted...LOVE. I hope you all had a Merry Off From Work and a Happy New Long Weekend also. Peace, poets!

I invite you to visit knightsaffinity.blogspot.com, a forum that will communicate and articulate the philosophies connected to the written and spoken forms of literature, as well as the performing and visual arts. Also, in 2005 please visit knightsaffinity.com!

Peace and Light,

Larry Knight

twinkling little lights

looking at your face across the barroom
why should you be happy

rage insidei don't know if i want tokill you
or be you, then kill myself

even the vampire movies mock themselves

the way i laugh at social justice

despairing of

tedbaldwin2004

What up Peoples! It's the artist formerly known as squirrel, dropping by to wish y'all a Happy and Festive New Year, Miss you all! Check out my new book, at my website. Wishing you a multitude of VERBS and PRONOUNS, EXPLETIVES and METAPHORS in 2005!
-Exodus

Happy Yule from the great beyond!!!!!!!

Greetings B.R. thanks for the beautiful reception and support at the Soul Fusion event on Sat. Dec. 18. Simple But Dope is the _ _ _ _! (just trying to keep it clean!!!!)
Please check out my Web Log Journal at knightsaffinity.blogspot.com for the latest. PLEASE leave some feedback...commentary makes the world go round!!!

Peace and Light...

L

If anyone's going to be in the Little Rock, Arkansas area for the holidays, I just got emailed that there is a Christmas Day poetry slam up there. If you're interested, here's a link -www.moonlark.org/arkansas-poetry-slam.html

As for me, I'll be hittin' the slopes, baby...

whats up poets? it's been awhile sense ive heard from any of you. i hope everything is going well with the slam. i have just been so busy with school lately and trying to find another car and my own place that i havent had time to come. i hope everyone is doing weel and i hope i will see you all soon

Hey, any feature opportunities out there in BR land???? Especially during the Christmas holidays?

Nina, the slam and the Eclectic Truth Open Mic Set take place every Tuesday @ Cafe Reggae...rain, shine, sleet, or apocalypse! Doors open at 9pm. Peace.

Hey poets, are there going to be any slams/readings around Christmas? I'm going to be in Baton Rouge from the 24th to the 27th and was hoping to hear some good poetry while I'm there.

Wow - an imposter on the guestbook!
Did you say you wanted to lick my ass, hard?

Sorry, I am not accepting interns at this time, but Thanks! for sending people to my website.
--------------------------------

Also, I appreciate the compliment, Mike. I don't just look like the robot,I am the Robot.

And I'll do the ass-kickin' 'round hyere, Baba Louie.

-------------------------------------------

To all you f*ckers out there in the dark - I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille.

Ted, I like the robot. He kind of looks like you.

Anyone check out my lame ass website lately, I got cool robots on it... I'm a total dork... someone should kick my ass, hard.

what up y'all...long time since i been on here...hope everyone had a good turkey day and hopefully the rest of the holiday season treats u right...tomorrow night $100 slam @ Cafe Reggae, starts @ 9....thanks to Isis for putting out info about simplebutdope.com, next SOUL FUSION, Dec. 18th @ Cafe Reggae I promise it will be THE event to get you all in the holiday mood...we gon' do it Nat King Cole-style ...peace out folk

Xero,What is a this next Tuesday? Is the slam this Tuesday 11/30/04 or next Tueday
12/07/04 or both?

Hey yall, long time no entry. I'll try to stop blushing long enough to let you guys know about the big slam coming up this next Tuesday at Cafe Reggae. First prize in $100! Second prize is the oppurtunity to get so close to the $100 that you can smell it! The slam starts at 9:00 pm. Get there early if you want to compete. Oh, and it will also be the first time I host a show in the nude. Well, if my girlfriend says it's O.K. Peace, poets!

To the few who will not be in New Orleans this weekend, there is a CD Release Concert for Jazz Trumpeter Extraordinaire Kafele Bandele (Crazy Man's Brother). Also Featured are Fred Jackson, sax; Brian Coogan, piano; Simon Lott, drums; Chris Frazier, Bass. Held at Cafe Reggae, Friday, 11/26/04, 7 PM, Tickets: $12.

None taken, Queen. For further information about "Soul Fusion" and "The Listening Lounge" check out www.simplebutdope.com

Hey Isis, no disrepect, my sister. I meant only to inquire for the purpose of groups and teams in B.R. and in N.O. area. Also if he or anyone else knows of any chill places to go. Hey Mike V!! Give your girl a holler! When's "Soul Fusion" and the "Lounge"?

Yes liatyme, I agree there are some great poets here in BR. You should also check out "Soul Fusion" and "The Listening Lounge" But however inspired/impressed/and/interested you may be, I've had my eye on Xero for the past two years. It's now my turn you'll have to take a number and wait in line. Peace!!!

Hey Baton Rouge...this is the prodigal son himself, Larry Knight. Good to see that everything is going great there. It is good to know that in my hometown are some of the most talented writers, poets, slammers, and free thinkers.
Fellow artists, I need your help. Being that I am out here in Jacksonville, Florida, I am somewhat out of the theatre loop that exists in BTR and surrounding areas. I have co authored a play with two amazing writer/performers (Al Letson and David Pugh)and we are looking for places to put up our show, 'Griot: He Who Brings the Sweet Word'. We have taken it to Baltimore (Theatre Project...theatreproject.org) for two weeks, performed here in Jacksonville, and in Feb. 2005 we will be returning to B-More for a week and bringing it to the Baruch Theatre in Manhattan for a week as well.
I, as well as my collaborators, would LOVE to bring it to BTR and surrounding areas. However, as I said, I am out of the loop. The show runs about 88 mins, and it falls in the catagory known as choreopoematic, meaning it incorporates poetry, theater, choreography, etc. It retraces the steps of the West African griot and how the storyteller has manifested itself in every form of American culture, from the slave trade, to blues, to Great Migration, and eventually to the birth of hip-hop (uh, pre-pre-pre-pre Nelly...if you get my drift). It is simply a three man gig, with no intermission, and multiple costume changes. Reviews can be found on the net.
If you know of anyone who may be interested, please, please, please send me an email. Thanks in advance, God bless, keep creating....and most of all just BE!

Hi Everyone! New to the website, and so glad I found it..."let go and you shall find." I've been to Cafe Reggae the past two Tues. evenings and have decided to go every Tues. from here on out. Amazing how I had to leave my hometown to find it in my hometown. So many poets have impressed me greatly. Props to all of you!! Some I'd like to get to know a little better. Anyone knows how to get in touch with Xero? I'd like to hear more of his poetry since he seems to be one of the Masters. One Tues. I'll get enough courage to read some of my work, but patience is key. Thanks for reading! Peace & Blessings

sea salt

wounds deep
the lash falls

ever men driving men
forward

you rub the flower of the sea
deep into my flesh

I know you mean to

the pain of seeing you again

a bouquet of little sea flowers
for the helpless

the thing you taught me
was how to do it to myself

remembering the first spoonful of red pepper sauce
is not so difficult
it is the thousandth one that fails memory

I watch through the window of the cafe where
you sit in expectation of my entrance
sizing you up
wondering if this hatred is real

no matter what I do to cause you pain
it will never be enough

and it will always be too much

You smile at the waiter
and the deal is sealed

I forgive you
let me forget you

ted

fleur de sel

the sea is my mother
i roll from her hips
and wash upon the shore

my father was a coin
in the mouth of a fish

the messiah paid taxes
with him

my father was
in the palm of his hand

my father made the rounds

he found the collector
matthew and the bottom
of the king's bucket

down the long road
my father traveled
until the magdalene
placed him in the right
eye of the dead messiah
where he perched
like a golden bird
like a door towards dawn
and when the glory came

my father fell to the earth

and i was nothing
but bones on the shore
fluer de sel

sitting in a window of a Spanish Town house
she plays The Smiths over and over again
the mortal remains of her Vietnamese potbellied pig
eyeing her from beneath a celtic cross covered with confederate jasmine
go back to sleep, piggy, she'll be alright

someone please a few lines of poetry--everyday i check in and no words --ted you out there? how about a poem. woof-man where are you ? did you fall off the end of the earth? cosmo are you still out there?

hey ray if you get this there will be a new student transfering into your class at broadmoor her name is Taisha. for the time that ive known her she has writen some pretty good poetry considering she is only 11. most of it is pretty close to what most of us write. talk to her see if she is intrested in reading andmaybe you can help her out and to everyone else ill see y'all later

POETRY SALAD!
10 POETS, 10 MINUTES EACH

the best of baton rouge
in conjunction with the louisiana bookfest

red*star bar (downtown on 3rd and laurel)
sat nov 6, 6pm, free of charge

hosted by dr. madelyn hatter

featured poets are:
xero skidmore
donnie brasco
taj freeman
roger kees
beth foos
ava haymon
laura mullen
brooke chapagne
plamen arnaudov

Greeting Everyone!!
I want to thank the Baton Rouge Poetry Alliance for inviting me to become one of its newest members. I am honored to be among such great people and great poets. I hope to form bonds and friendships that will help me as well as my poetry to grow.

e-mail mona at monarwebb@yahoo.com

Peace Poetry Family i'm in California and just wanted to say there's no place like our poetry home and i just wanted to say I appreciate each and every one of you out there. E-mail me I'll be away for a while I'd love to here from ya'll

well squirel everything was going well in my life up untill last friday when i wrecked my car which meant i had to quit my job at the capitol...|:( but other then that i am pretty happy with my life right now how about everyone else?

roger kees e-mail rkees@cox.net

CALLING ROGER KEES. roger--call me at 847-894-0380. or, if anybody knows his number or email address...etc etc...

DESPERATELY SEEKING XERO SKIDMORE AND DONNIE BRASCO. if you boys could call my cell (847-894-0380) in the next 48 hours, that'd be beyond swell.

I forgot to mention that we have an amazing feature coming to Cafe Reggae on October 19th. His name is Joquin Zihuatinejo. He was on the Dallas Slam Team last year and is one of the best poets I've ever seen in my life. He'll have books and CD's to sell also. Trust me. You do not want to miss this guy. His writing is superb and his performance is electric. He's like a Chicano Reggie Gibson with a touch of Taylor Mali. The slam is at 9:00pm and the open mic is at 10:00pm. He'll do a set at each event. Peace, poets and patrons!

Hey Trey and Cosmos, nice to see you guys are still among the living. Cosmos I recently had a conversation about the probability of the slam becoming a televised event. I personally think it would have to be on some cable channel that specializes in arts related programming like The Indepentent Film Network, The Sundance Channel, or Bravo. The language of free speech is to racey for ESPN, especially since Nipple-gate. The FCC is penalizing networks very heavily these days. Anyway, these are the days that will always be special, before the slam free agents, before the lucrative contracts, before the super-model girlfriends, back when poets slammed only for the love of the game. Oh... I almost forgot, I gotta call my manager back. Peace poets!

HEY RAY!!! How is everything ???

Greetings, On Oct. 13,2004 on the campus of Southern University we will be holding our weekly wednesday night poetry reading in the mocha room of the Smith-Brown memorial union. The open-mic reading begins at 7pm. We welcome you to attend.

squirrel girl! sure have missed you.

Yes, there is still a poetry Slam. It takes place at Cafe Reggae every Tuesday night at 9:00 pm till 10:00 pm. :). Oh, everybody it's Squirrel, hope everything is grooving in your world :)).
Peace and Blessings
Exodus-Loki

well everyone its been a long time sense ive spoken with any of you. between work and my senior year im just so freaking tired. do they eveen have the slam anymore?

GREETINGS! YES! i'm alive! sorry to disspoint. They don't let me out much! plus i can't get around much.

ANYWAY! saw on ESPN they had the National Scribble Championchip. Intersting, maybe next year National Poetry Slam will be on ESPN with commentary.

cuckoo

the bird in the clock
is old and wooden
with big moon marble eyes,
every hour on the hour

the bird in the clock
wobbles oddly out
on humorous yellow feet
wearing an orange vest
with wings thick as whales

the bird in the clock
was my father's
and his father's

greetings to you all. there is a poetry reading tomorrow night at albasha on bluebonnet. it starts at 7:00 p.m. the subject is louisiana and at least 3 of the backroom poets will read.

Ted,Xero,Bandini - thanks for the various insights. You guys ground me. I feel a little bit of hope knowing there are at least 3 people that have brains in the world. I was beginning to worry.
Here is my political poem "du jour":

i eat the president's liver
it's all hard and dry
tasting of overpriced gin
uncut coke
and vinegar arrogance

Y'all have a good week!

continuum

age old the contest
wills arising

masters of all we survey

aloneman must work
to eat
to sleep
to live

pairedcomes spare time
for reflection
for poetry
idle time

in the millions
comes time for tyranny
having conquered all there is
but man where shall we turn our attention?

reflective objects of our desires
God's inalienable righted turned into property
oppression the natural attitude for someone with too much time on his-her hands

so the challenge of our selves
not saving the whales or the earth
the whales come and go
the earth will recycle in any of a million ways
but our imagination
when its perspective is impassion
building for the sake of the buildings
serving ideas never ideas serving us

given all things some still yearn -intolerance : abusing the right to be right
hatred : the passion to move mountains for spite's sake
greed : the relentless surge over all the world when too much is not enough

we are here
the bridges bombed behind us
we can only go forward

or be destroyed by our own success

between them and you
who will it be?

between me and them
it will be me

forgive me if I am low on trust

I will just have to learn to live with the guilt

the plains rise and fall
the rivers run to the sea
with or without permission

all in all

life is just a symptom of a much larger problem

copyright 2004 ted baldwin

by the way ted, i'm not in kerry's camp. it is i think a tale of two cities after all--to be honest i don't care a fig about politics, except as noted and already said that i was disappointed about the gay marriage law. personaly i think everything is moving towards a major event and that the world must take a certain course for it all to go down. i (sigh) render unto ceasar his ever increasing portion and go about my buisness. i think there is a thin red line that weaves through it all. by that i mean that God raised up a pharaoh (romans 9:17) in egypt long ago to oppose his own people and then turned around and knocked him down for His own reasons. bush may be after all an instrument, only not in the way that he thinks. as far as jimmy swaggart is concerned, i think he is full of figs and spirtually blind as is most of mainstream christianity in this age--(what the palmer worm has left the locust ate and what the locust left the cankerworm ate and what the cankerworm left the caterpillar ate. (joel1:4)

I am wicked, Xero -

A wicked poet ------ bwaaaahhahahahahhaaha!

ted

Hey yall, this is xero. Ted, keep your head up. Religion has always been twisted to justify various prejudices, but it always eventually gives way to the most persistent. Their cause is one of convenient choice. While you on the other hand, cannot change what you are. Your identity as a gay man is stronger than theirs of denomination. Denominations are changed all the time, usually because of popularity or fear of being ostricized. They are simply afraid of what they have been trained not to understand. They believe you to be wicked. Keep proving them wrong and victory is yours..and ours. We all win when we are all treated as equals.

gee bandini

sounds like a John Kerry position paper!

ted

"it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair . . . " (dickens)

Everyone was surprised that louisiana voted in a horrendously anti-freedom amendment?
Hey - it's not just for gay people any more!!!

It does not just zap gay marriage, it invalidates ANY arrangement between unmarried individuals - gay or straight.

Before the US Supreme court acted a year ago July, this God-forsaken slab of mud had felony laws against gay sex. Also against certain male-female acts. 5 years in proison for love-making.

Well, they don't have that hanging over gay people's heads anymore. Who can blame the religious Right for using lies, fear and discrimination to enact a "protection amendment".

After all, according to some of the political poetry I have heard around here, taking an outraged yet unfounded stand against a cause is justified if you get what you want. Why can't the Right play by Poet Rules? (Look that up under "Does Truth matter?"...)

It is funny, because the Xtians are bearing false witness, which is one of the commandments they hold dear. They cannot cite one study that shows gay people are anti-family, anti-marriage, or even anti-commitment. Criminy, why would anyone anti-commitment get married? To emulate Britney?
But they whip up the lies and "conventional wisdom" about gay people. And most people swallow it like a prom queen. (No offense to Prom queens, notice it wsas lower case and not inclusive of all prom queens, just a sub-genre of looser prom queens, a subset of all prom queens.)

Gay sex is not mentioned in the commandments. So to quash what they can only cite as a minor sin, they commit a major one? Burning the village to save it.

And where were the poets protesting this amendment, where were the (un)righteous demonstrations?? (Sorry, just a riff on righteous)?
This poet organized resistance in a gay group that had given up, assisted another one in preparing tv spots, wrote to his church, got a small grassroots e-mail effort going, and for the aforementioned group prepared and distributed via disk and e-mail three tv spots alerting straight people to the rights they were about to lose.

One thing I have noticed here - there seem to be very few gay people in the arts or advertising or theater. At least few who are willing to admit it, publically.

Fear of, what? Swaggart's insensitive posturing? Work-related harassment?

Or have all the gay people left town? Check out Splash on Saturday nite - guess not.

And hearing the reading of some of Ginsburg's up-it-sideways poetry is always in vogue, but listening to a real and present gay man read personal true love poetry (not just acting-out-rape-fantasy blather) makes them squirm like catholic girls in Health Class. Which is funny from behind the mic, if you want to know why I am constantly smirking.

But the religious right was smart in framing this power grab as an anti-gay vote by pretending it wasn't an anti-gay amendment, therefore directing all of the attention on proving it would hurt gay people while totally ignoring how it would affect unmarried straight people. Now if a nice, normal heterosexual couple wants to have any protections - forget domestic partnerships, civil unions, etc. Forget partner benefits. Those could be considered "incidents of Marriage", now banned by constitutional law in Louisiana.

To get anything, you have to get married - which strengthens marriage by numbers. This will also strengthen divorce, but who cares, that is material for another amendment.
So the right exercises its authority, and wins big, and everyone cluck clucks - what can you do? Not much, now.
The rights repealed will not be seen in some huge 9-11 the towers come down spectacle. it will be small decisions in family court about who gets custody, in matters involving insurance benfits at work, lame stuff, individual stuff, small potatoes. Collecively it will be a catastophe, but it's like slowly boiling a frog - you'll never notice.
Then when everyone is accustomed to playing by their new rules, they will come up with another reasonable-seeming amendment, and anyone with herpes will go to a camp.

Looks different when it affects you personally, I guess...

just some anger-filtered observations
Ted

PS Your local HR Catholic Church was heavily involved in this too, inciting the parishoners about the need to stop homosexuality - making sure marriage was needed (first of all) and exclusively the province of heterosexuals (and forgetting to mention how this affects straight's rights).

hello mike--since you mentioned it. i will go ahead and say that i'm disappointed about the way louisiana voted against gay marriage. i think it was about 80 percent against. as far as i'm concerned its discrimination plain and simple against tax paying citizens who should be entitled to the same privileges as everyone.

Taaj is in the play too!! We still need four guys (especially older guys) but we have the best cast I've ever started a play with.

Why the silence on the guestbook? Surely someone has something to say. Here we are, six weeks from picking the new king of the USA. The quagmire in Vietnam Iraq is getting deeper and stickier. Louisiana can be proud that it just outlawed gay marriage. Yet, still, no word on the guestbook. Wish I was there to hang out with y'all and get some face-to-face feedback on all this. As it is, I'll just go out in the field behind my house and fling cowshit at the stars. All the best...M.

Hello Everyone, Our audition for "As You Like It" went well last Saturday. Many of you will be excited and as happy as I am to find that Mike Vincent will be studying and performing the lead male role in this production. We still have several parts left open, especially for males (two female parts). If you are interested call me 634-7611. We have an amazing cast so far. peace/love

Dr. Madelyn - I've put the info up on the home page. Pls check it out and let me know if anything needs to be added or corrected. Sorry I can't be in town for the show, it sounds grooooovy.

there's a reading tonight at albasha on bluebonnet at seven.

hey all. the VERSATILE THREEWAY show drew such an enormous crowd in lafayette last month that myself, beth foos and danielle alexandra decided to bring our collective poetry project to baton rouge so those of you who couldn't make the drive can hopefully make time for this gig right here in town. VERSATILE THREEWAY will be at cafe reggae, thursday the 23rd of september. the show starts at 7pm, and it is absolutely free of cover charge. this performance is unquestionably the most exciting work of collaborative poetics i've ever been involved in--it'd be silly to miss such a big event. hope to see you all there!

p.s. mike, if you could put the details on the moonlark homepage, i would be most appreciative.

Auditions for Shakespeare's "As You Like It" will take place in Ethel on Saturday, September 11th, 6-9pm. For more information call me, 634-7611. peace/love

mike v. what's deal brother? man u gotta fall back thru cafe reggae, in case you aint know you were and still are the universal homie...hope to see ya dude....everybody else y'all be cool, the slam will be back soon...we (simple but dope productions) got a few things in the making, and you know tuesday nights are bringing the heat w/ spoken word....it's time to bring it back to baton rouge's hey day as far as this poetry thang and those who been around know what i mean...ray sibley what's up...y'all be cool..i'm out

hey taaj
man good to see your still typing!!
missed you
i keep saying i will be at the ecclectic truth reading every tuesday--don't hold me to it
you might see me you might not...
i will be back soon
when was the last time you performed??
when's the cd droppin'?
when's the book comin' out--i know ya'll are busy but come on--we ain't gettin' any younger out here in cyberland...

HEY MIKE(VINCENT)!!! MAN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOUR NAME IN HERE!!! THOUGHT YOU HAD JUST UP AND MOVED AWAY OR SOMETHING, GLAD TO KNOW YOU'RE STILL AROUND. CONGRATULATIONS, XERO!!! YOU DESERVE IT!!!

Congratulations Xero. We are all very proud of you and what you bring to our community. peace/love, Ray

congratulations xero!!!
no one deserves the opportunity more...i wish you the best and have fun in the big apple

Hello, you darn poets! This xero, the new artist director for the Baton Rouge chapter of City At Peace, which is a youth based organization that uses the performing arts to teach and promote cross-cultural understanding and non-violent conflict resolution. I was only able to get this job because of people like Ray, Mike, and Becky. Through the slam my life has changed. I hope that I can change someone else's through what I've learned. I'll be in New York for the next week being trained for my position, but while I'm there I may try to drop in on one of those big city poetry readings and show them what we're made of. On another note, I must address in issue that has presented itself quite often in the past few days. Eclectic Truth is not a "black" poetry reading. The Poetry Alliance is not a "black" organization. The social segregation that we all have grown up in is what makes it hard to step out of our comfort zones. It forces us to try to label everything in terms of black and white. I'm grateful to the many of you who have been brave enough to be the only black or white person in the room at some of Baton Rouge's events over the years. I'm also grateful to the event organizers who have bent over backwards to diversify their events. There is still much work to do, but you guys are moving in the right direction. I love yall. Peace!

Dr. Madelyn, I hope you don't mind, but I put your reading @ the Gallery on the Moonlark home page. I miss the Gallery readings. Give my regards to City Park. Mikevincent, I feel your pain. I live in an area completely dominated by ClearChannel radio, so the only thing on the radio is watered down pop drivel. I find solace in internet music, such as www.radiopardise.com. A lot of artists are giving away tunes on the internet, too, as a marketing tool. Hope to see all of you soon.

OK, I'm in . Love you Mike .

hey all. i'm one of several readers at the baton rouge gallery's regular spoken word series, this sunday the 22nd at 4pm. it's free and open to the public if anybody's interested. also reading will be beth foos, who many of you know. hope to see you there!

Wow this is a fab new guestbook,Good job mike :s),Congrats to the BR Nat Slam Team.I'm quite sure you all had a good time and done your best.Keep them words flowing ladies and fellas hope to see yall soon.

hey everybody--love the new guest book
just checkin in with yall
its been a while--hope everybody's good
i know i am late but let me congratulate our slam team for another courageous stand at the national poetry slam in st. louis

you guys are some of the best poets/people anywhere (and need to start realizing it if you dont know it yet)

anyway
really been missing the et readings on tuesday nights (i always leave feeling inspired to write)yall should be seeing me again very soon

glad everyone's been getting along lately --
let's keep it that way
let's continue to spread love like the lusty marriage of starkist tuna and hellmans over a ritz cracker during a midnight snack

okay before i go i have two questions...well
three and please everyone please feel free to chime in

i am a real music fan--but i can no longer stomach most music
what has happened to my beloved hip hop leaves me longing for better days

we went from krs-one, de la soul, eric b and rahkim (sp.), public enemy, mc lyte, queen latifah, tupac, kool moe dee, etc. to jah rule, 50 cent(i am sorry--in comparison he is a joke), chingy, etc.i am not saying there is no more talent
but what i am saying is that the message is definately lackingeverything is just so diluted
i know
i know it happened to rock and roll too
but let me ask yall something
if your best friend jumps off of a bridge...?

i will listen to everything except country--well let me not say that--- if the lyrics are good i will even listen to country

because it is really all about the lyrics so thats my first question
wheres all the good musicwho writes the best lyrics
secondly
whats a good place to go and take in some nice artwork, hangout, discuss some issues, write and share some poetry (nothing really official or structured-- structure often obstructs

i am at a point where i want to take my writing a little more serious and i know that inspiration and feedback from others is the best way to grow so holla

lastly there have been some messages on this page concerning the slam and a potential change of venue
what is really going on
not complaining --just dont want to walk into the wrong venue one week

yall stay cool and continue

oh and i hope everybody out there is registered to vote cause yall think yall got some material to write about now--
if governor bush gets elected by the american people (for the first time) in november we are gonna have a whole lot more to write about and worry about
nuff said
mtv575

Damn! This is so 2005! Good work Mike!

Thanks for the nice comments. The new guestbook should be more spam-proof than the old one. In addition, when you post poetry, you don't have to do anything special to put line breaks:

Just write a line
hit the enter key
write another line
everything is fine
now i'll have some wine
and eat turkey

Dude, teh guestbook is nice! Missin ya'll

The new guestbook is "smokin'" Good job.

Poets do it better.

Cool deal here, mike go with it.

yes
yes
yes

Hello. this is the first posting on the new guestbook. Ain't I cool? I even edited my message!!!!