BELTWAY POETRY QUARTERLY FEATURES "THE PROFILES ISSUE"

BELTWAY POETRY QUARTERLY FEATURES "THE PROFILES ISSUE"
Fall 2006 Issue highlights the achievements of poets with strong ties to Washington, DC both past and present


www.beltwaypoetry.com

The Profiles Issue features essays and interviews highlighting poets ranging from former US Poets Laureate, to editors of pioneering literary journals in DC, to tributes to poets who recently passed away. All have contributed to the lively and diverse literary community in the nation's capitol.

Table of Contents

Three DC Editors: Profiles of Caresse Crosby, William F. Clare, and Merrill Leffler
by Richard Peabody

In the Magnificent Region of Courage: An Interview with Louise Glück
by Grace Cavalieri

Leda in Red Sneakers: A Remembrance of Mona Van Duyn
by Andrea Carter Brown

Just Like Old Times: An Interview with Ed Cox
by E. Ethelbert Miller

Smoke in a House on Fire: A Profile of Gloria Oden
by Julia A. Galbus

Robert Sargent: Remembering a Friend and Poet
by Hastings Wyman

Cloaked Silences in Reetika Vazirani's Poetry
by Jane Alberdeston Coralin

Poet, Translator, and International Man of Intrigue: The Rod Smith Interview
by Daniel Gutstein


Read Beltway Poetry Quarterly at http://www.beltwaypoetry.com

Happy Birthday, John William Coltrane!!!

VISUAL GRIOTS OF MALI in memory of Nestor Hernandez

VISUAL GRIOTS OF MALI
An Exhibit of Photography by African Youth
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The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Nestor Hernandez, creator of Visual Griots.

The Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Ave., N.W. - on the
National Mall

Opens: October 2, 2006 - Closes: April 29, 2007
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except Christmas
The exhibit is located in the Baird Ambulatory Gallery on the ground floor
Admission is free

The Malian sixth graders photographs are the result of the Academy for Educational Developments Visual Griots project, a series of interactive workshops in Mali led by U.S. and Malian photographers that empower and engage youth in a powerful process of self-exploration and expression through the lens of a camera.

Learn more at
www.aed.org/visualgriots

last few days...

Although i still had to work on Friday (and had quite a busy day at that!), Highlight No.1 (in order of happening not necessarily of significance): So i am chilling on You Street (between 13th and 14th) on Thursday with Alan and DWB, and it's the usual, spoken wordists spitting, people and varying states drunkness slurring and stumbling, and Cafe Nema was levitating from all the groovin high (The Young Lions and DJ Undadog) that is going on in there, JUST BCUS.


Upon returning from a brisk walk up 18th to see what was happening up there although there were loads of people out and about, but none of us were really inspired to stick around, so we head back down to You St. At this point the spoken wordists had stop spitting for the night, but Nema was still cookin' so we dip in for a second. As usual a second turns into few minutes which then turns into about an hour or usually more, but this evening i would be in for an even bigger treat that usual. First of all, as soon as we walked up on Nema i heard the tail end of Devonte "the other real McCoy" McCoy's solo, he plays trumpet. As we step further in I hear Kris "E-A-D-G and a beck's" Funn hitting the bass line of Duke's Caravan...i was trapped. At about the 30 minute mark, i am looking out the front door from my seat along the wall and i see Herbie Hancock.


At this point i am thinking to myself damn this cat represents almost 50 years of music and has been a part some of the most pivotal music moments, definitely in American musical history and arguably in the world. So I am thinking he is just passing through You Street and that his handlers will quickly shuffle him off to his hotel, i was wrong. This cat strolls into Nema cool as Miles and sits down at a table behind me. I am still thinking to myself "damn this cat represents almost 50 years of music". Before long, the initial crowd that swamped him when he came in the door subsided and a whole new crew of admirers were greeting him at his table; beckoning him to play something (Which he quickly yet graciously dimissed with "I am here to hear Allyn play") . A few minutes later he glides from the table behind me to a seat at the bar right behind Allyn Johnson, the man on the keys for the Young Lions. Allyn Johnson starts off the head of a Cole Porter tune called "I Love You", which Trane made famous of his album Lush Life. So the Lions rip through two choruses of the song and on the 3rd Herbie stands up and taps Allyn on the shoulder as if to say "Lemme get some.....", immediately the every nerve in the place was on fire people were standing on chairs, crowding the bandstand, snapping cameraphone pics and video, folks even put there drinks down for a second to marvel, it was indeed a historic moment.


So Herbie lays it on us...before i go any further let me say this...Allyn is a DOPE piano/keyboard player and scholar, I love his artistry and craft, but when Herbie sat down at they keys it was like he was playing a different instrument, as if Herbie walks around with his equipment hidden in the inside pocket of his tux. Herbie hit a note i did not think was possible on a keyboard. Needless to say Herbie shout it down for the night, I left right after Herbie played but i think that was the last tune of the night. I am glad that i was there to witness that little bit of history. It's kind of wild because when i heard Herbie say " I am here to hear Allyn play" to those beckoning him, I felt like that was a changing of the guard, not that Heribe is going anywhere soon, but just the fact that he came in to check out a young player doing his thing and to give that kind of acknowledegment and respect in the face of his own accomplishments and fans.


NOTE#1: This is the first time this has happend I was sitting in Nema one night and Delfayo Marsalis (Trombone) came in and blew the roof of the sucker after the Young Lions set it on fire. Also, i was sitting in HR57 once and Wynton came through to blow for a bit.
NOTE#2 I think Herbie Hancock was in town for the The Thelonious Monk Institute 20th Anniversary Celebration and International Jazz Piano Competition
Highlight No.2: Seeing Kenney Garrett and the legendary Pharoah Sanders, i have not totally recoverd from this show, but needless to say that were on another level...i did not know that Kenny Garrett was like that, I should have know...i need to do better home work. The rest of the personnel he had with him was not joke either Kris Funn (Bass), Benito Gonzalez (Piano) and Jabari (?) Williams (drums).
Highlight No.3: I had a reading at BusBoys at 4pm for a "young poets" showcase. I read fairly well, some of the pieces i read were kind of new, meaning i have never read them out before so stumbled a bit but for the most part i did ok. the thing I was really proud of is i was able to get through all my poems without explaining and leading the audience before actually read the poem. ("READIT!" as Medina would say or "Just read the damn poem" as Steve Cannon would say). Also getting a chance to hear Kyle Dargan, Brandon D. Johnson read was a pleasure. For extra kicks hollybass was there, she did not read but it was still and always is nice to see hear. Brandon has new collection called Love's Skin , which you can get here ; i cannot wait to get into it. Big ups to Mignonette Dooley who did the cover of Brandon's book too, check her out here
chew on that...more later...

Patricia Smith, the queen of poetry slams says...

from her blog,read it here
"I knew the names of "important" poets, but not necessarily why they were important. (Pick up Ed Hirsch's book "Poet's Choice," and that's all I'm gonna say about that.) I totally ignored form and structure (wrote my first villanelle today!), even when a poem cried out for a life other than the one I'd given it. I broke a line when it was the same length as the one above it, not caring if the word at the end of the line was weak ("a") or strong ("puttanesca"). I didn't explore the genre's rich history and contributions from other cultures. Reading Neruda or Lorca or Fish Vargas doesn't count."

As i read her new book "Teahouse of the Almighty" i find myself a little confused, partially because she already such and awesome poet, so to hear her talk about her lack of knowledge is some what confusing because it does not show in her work. Her poems are very powerful, images are very layered and the poems breath with you. I view her work on the order of any other poet out there, check her book out and judge for yourself. Further proof of here strength as a writer is that the Cave Canem Retreat /Workshop had her as a workshop instructor, if you don't know about Cave Canem go here .
Dr.Tony Medina always says that "poets are not made they are born", I would modify that a little bit and say that some poets are made in MFA programs and workshops, but some of the best poets are born poets; it appears that Patricia Smith is the latter.

check out her book here

coming soon

Come Join Thad Wilson and his Quintet as he Debuts his latest project.

This Film "Elevator to the Gallows" was originally scored by Miles Davis.
Thad and his Quintet will perform his new soundtrack "Live" to be run with the film at:
"87FLORIDA" Gallery
87 Florida Ave. NW
Performances run: September 22-24.
Friday September 22rd - 8pm-9pm
Saturday September 23rd - 6pm-7pm
Sunday September 24 - 2pm-3pm
(reception to follow each performance)
Donation: $15.00
For further info please contact: 202-258-4321 or email: wilson(dot)thaddeus(at)gmail(dot)com

Rally at the Anancostia Public Library

Rally at the Anancostia Public Library
Thursday, September 7, 2006
5:00pm to 7:30pm
WHERE:
Anacostia Public Library
1800 Good Hope Road, SE (18th & Good Hope)
(the 92 bus stops directly in front of the library)
WHEN:
Thursday, Sept. 7, 5:00 to 7:30pm

Rally at the Anancostia Public Library
Thursday, September 7, 2006
5:00pm to 7:30pm

We were rained out last week, but we won't be deterred by the weather this week so we can standup and demand that Anacostia Library be reopened NOW!

Anacostia Library History >> http://www.dclibrary.org/branches/ana/history.html

As long as it is closed, City leadership should realize the educational outcomes of our young citizens will be jeopardized and the opportunity for our adults to get accessible GED, literacy training, and career empowerment simply does not exist.

TWO YEARS IS TOO LONG!!

Come on out to rally for the immediate reopening of Anacostia Library and bring your friends and children...

Keynote speakers
Children's activities and reading-time
Food and beverages will be served
Open mic for ALL - step up to the podium and speak!

WHERE:
Anacostia Public Library
1800 Good Hope Road, SE (18th & Good Hope)
(the 92 bus stops directly in front of the library)

WHEN:
Thursday, September 7, 5:00 to 7:30pm

**
VOLUNTEER
We are looking for organizing assistance as well. Can you help spread the word by email, flyer? Can you help read books to kids or do you have a car? Contact >> Robin Diener, 202-387-8030, rdiener(at)savedclibraries.org

**
FOR MORE INFO
http://www.savedclibraries.org
Contact >>
Robin Diener, 202-387-8030, rdiener(at)savedclibraries.org
Joy Pinkney, 202-889-7581, joy(at)joynet1.com
Parisa Norouzi, 202-234-9119, parisa(at)empowerdc.org

NGUGI WA THIONG’O @ Howard Sept 14

HOWARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN STUDIES TRANSAFRICA FORUM
present
NGUGI WA THIONG’O
Author of the new novel
WIZARD OF THE CROW

DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
TIME:6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
PLACE: AMOUR J. BLACKBURN CENTER AUDITROIUM
Howard University, NW, Washington, DC 20059.

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o is Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Director of the International Center for Writing and Translation at the University of California at Irvine. A Kenyan writer, Ngugi is the author of novels such as Weep Not Child (1964), The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967) and Petals of Blood (1977). In 1980 Ngugi published the first modern novel ever written in Gikuyu called Devil on the Cross. Ngugi's critical works include Homecoming (1972), Detained: A Writer's Prison Diary (1981), Decolonizing the Mind (1986) and Moving the Center (1993). As a novelist, playwright and critical thinker Ngugi has dealt with the concerns most affecting his native Kenya including issues of Colonialism, Nationalism and Post-Colonialism.

Co-Sponsors: Department of English, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, For more info, call (202)223-2473 or (202)238-2324

4th Annual Sterling A. Brown reading in Brookland

September 6
Brookland Reading Series: the 4th Annual Sterling A. Brown Invitational Brookland Poetry Festival
Wednesday, 7:00 pm
Free. Brookland Visitor's Center, 3420 9th St. NE, DC. (202) 526-1632.