Memorial for Mutanabbi Street

(Click on the image to see larger version)

On Saturday, March 29, 2008, I'll be one of many performers to memorialize the destruction, a year ago, of Mutanabbi Street, which is Baghdad's literary and intellectual heart.

The event will take place from 3-6 pm at the Newport Beach Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach.

The event is sponsored by the Levantine Cultural Center, Newport Beach Library and the Mutanabbi Street Coalition, along with cosponsors Los Angeles Poetry Festival, PEN Center West, Red Hen Press and Writers at Work.

To memorialize the blast's wounding of Baghdad's cafes and bookstores, there will be live music by the Saadoun Al-Bayati Ensemble and readings by Beau Beausoleil, Doris Bittar, Michael Datcher, Sesshu Foster, Sam Hamod, Dima Hilal, Janet Sternberg and Carina Topal. A short documentary of Mutannabi Street will be screened and the event concludes with a light Middle Eastern reception.

Advance reservations are strongly suggested. Hope to see you there!

For those in Orange County, call 949/548-2411 to RSVP. In Los Angeles, call 310/657-5511. Or reserve in advance now by donating online.

WOWEE, I'M ON RAWI

Every few weeks, RAWI (Radius of Arab Writers, Inc) selects a poet to spotlight on their website. And I'm honored to be featured this go-around.

Check out the poems while they're still up on this featured writers page.

You can read four of my poems, including one I wrote for my darling nephew, whose photo is above.

Article on Women's Literary Festival

The Santa Barbara Independent published an article on the upcoming Women's Literary Festival, including a short interview with yours truly. You can read the article here.

Women's Literary Festival in Santa Barbara

I'm quite honored to be part of a lineup of amazing writers who are being featured at this year's Women's Literary Festival in Santa Barbara: DIMA HILAL * JACQUELINE HIGUERA McMAHAN * KATIA NOYES * CAROLYN SEE * STARSHINE ROSHELL * ALISA VALDES-RODRIGUEZ * REBECCA WALKER * JACQUELINE WINSPEAR.

This year's festival takes place on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.

You can click here to register and find out more.

This Saturday: June Jordan Tribute

My husband and I will be hosting a tribute to the late June Jordan at the Aliso Viejo Library this Saturday, February 3, at 10 am in celebration of Black History Month.

June was our mentor, teacher, friend, and the reason we met. As you can imagine, we owe her a great deal.

Please join us as we celebrate her life and words.

Free Admission. Donations accepted payable to American Association of University Women / Laguna Beach Foundation. All proceeds will fund a Saddleback Scholarship for a female re-entry student.

Location:
Aliso Viejo Library
1 Journey
Aliso Viejo, CA

"poem to you written in whispers" on YouTube!

Here is a link to a video on YouTube of "poem to you written in whispers."

The music is written by Erling Wold. Vocalist Dina Emerson and the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra performed this at the Capp Street Community Music Center a couple of years ago. The libretto is by yours truly.

"I Want George W. Bush" on KPFA's Women's Magazine

My recording of "I Want George W. Bush" (a poem formerly known as "I Want Bill Clinton") was used to open a show, Women's Magazine, on the excellent KPFA 94.1 FM in the Bay Area on Monday, August 14, 2006.

You can listen to it by clicking here.