This type station existed for two outdoor full moon ceremonies at my Nicaragua residency, and it was a standing invite to collaboratively create a line of poetry. The main prompt was to go back and forth between myself and the guest, adding one word at a time, though this could be flexibly applied. These lines are signed collaboratively, and are shared here under a CC-BY 4.0 Creative Commons license. I later created aesthetic line breaks and punctuation.
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Magic transition openness
anticipation love gift
(Jeff R. & ELE)
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Water deep inside welling, it rises into fountains
(Tuulia & ELE)
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Bursting into relation, rising together in support
(T & Tony contact dance words from ELE)
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Fuerte la luz sexual de la luna llena tranquilo
(Fenix y ELE)
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Stillness centered begins through a place of grounding
(Sophia & ELE)
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Grateful seeing you shining tonight within me, I am here – heartbeat yearning
A troupe of creative performers in training residency together with Momentom at El Pital-Ometepe-Nicaragua assembled a variety showcase cabaret. My writer’s role involved typing a few lines of poetry during each performance, and sharing these reflections between acts. This included a grand entrance: I was acrobatically lifted across the stage to my typewriter station. To begin, here is the poetry in abstracted nine-part form, with some lines in spanish:
Cabaret Poem
1. knowing understanding the breath, el fuerte interno holding the connection
2. contemplate, poder como el mar wild forces elemental in the warrior
3. sensual y ritmico the grace of feeling trabajo del corazon in rainbow light visiones del todo
4. from the shadows of thought climb, a libertad the being in wholeness la vida en el viento sparkle in the diamond
5. adventure espiritu con amigos
6. danger in extension la geometria orbiting the center returning to the self los circulos y espirales del tiempo
7. el hombre magico y mysterioso con los manos moving the world
8. la mariposa del muerte y vida the whorls of this galaxy’s flaming suns el sol y la tierra open the gates of possibility to infinity
9. a sense of purpose the staff of will luchar por el verdad with swords of integrity
These two pages were typed by people in attendance at the Commitment March in Washington D.C. on 8/28/2020, at the base of the Lincoln Memorial directly after speeches by Martin Luther King III and Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., on the anniversary of his “I Have A Dream” speech, at the height of the George Floyd Uprising.
Typed on my 1958 Hermes 3000 manual typewriter, incidentally of the kind popular among journalists at the time of the 1963 speech – not obtained for this significance, just the kind of typewriter that I own.
These two pages were made over just about two hours, masks worn, gloves offered, and keys sanitized between contributors. The typewriter was set up on a bench, in the kindly forfeited space of one person. Some of my neighbors helped invite others to write, and contributed additional sanitation supplies. People of many ages stopped by to satisfy their curiosity and come up with something to say, and I had to keep up with the enthusiasm.
This exercise, which I call Share Your Words (a succinct explanatory sign), brings forward voices often unheard, in exactly their words of expression. It’s not exactly an exquisite corpse, which has each participant continue the contribution of the previous according to rules, but a freeform collective page. Typewriter pages exist as created in the moment, lending a measure of trust to the messenger. I also love offering a moment where people can interact with this empowering technology, which doesn’t require electricity, creates instant transfer to physical copy, and is strictly for the creation of words and records. Every time I’ve shared my typewriter for a collective event, more often just for the fun of literary gatherings, it is someone’s first time using one. I’ve seen the spark of enjoyment light many faces, often people who didn’t expect their thoughts to be carried to an audience or become part of a record. Just the appeal of a novel experience invites people to try it who may not see themselves as writers, and the casual nature of bystander freeform contribution allows people to express themselves without the pressure of importance. Lightheartedness ensues, as well as raw honesty.
The Commitment March pages were initially quick-shared on my main project website, bonesofstarlight.com, and my own facebook feed. Now they’re getting a post on this author website with searchable text transcriptions, a spot where they can stay. I also intend to make its own facebook social media page, as I did for Standing Rock. The page images are welcome to be shared anywhere, by anyone, under CC-0 open copyright.
The original images are included below with both a transcription edited for clarity, and an exactly-worded transcription.
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-P1 EDITED TRANSCRIPT-
– This page began on 8/28/2020 –
– on the anniversary of “I have a dream…”-
This is the world now. We will live forever.
The pain is very real… you don’t have to justify it.
Action NOW!
All I want in this world is for the next generation to have the same opportunities as everyone else.
BLACK LIVES MATTER = BRAIN MATTER….VOTE COMPLETE THE CENSUS GET INVOLVED
This generation will change the world. We are sick and tired of being underestimated and watching oppression.
Stop the Abuse in the military against men and women, and write our Black History in the History Books. Women Veterans and wives helped win all the wars in and for America. Queen Feisal
I hate that we have to come together like this, but I am happy that we can come together. Black lives matter. Love, Alex Moore
Luke Stewart’s life mattered. He was murdered by a Euclid police officer in Euclid, Ohio. We want justice for Luke. Terra Stewart his sister, and family want justice.
“The human experience is a delusion of egocentric society, and the people who are empowered are the poison that needs to be rooted out. Our value is based on how someone else sees our worth, instead of basing our values on what we individually bring to companies and our community.” [transcribed ELE] tanya burgos, msw
Racism is a Public Health Issue. It deserves an ICD Classifiication Code.
WORDS MATTER! The Narrative Matters. White youths are troubled. Black youth are criminal. White addicts have a disease, Black addicts are criminalized.
–
–
-P1 VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT-
– This page began on 8/28/2020 –
– on the anniversary of “I have a dream…” –
this s the the world now.we will live forever
the pain is very real… youdont have to justify it
Actii Action NOW!
all I want in this world is for hethe next generation to have the s same opportunities as everyone else.
BLACK LIVES MATTER = BRAIN MATTER….VOTE COMPLETE THE CENSUS GET INVOLVED
This generation will change the world.wwe are sick and tired of being underestimated and watching oppression.p
Stop the Abuse in the military against men and women. And write our Black History in the History Books. Women Veterans and wives helped win all the wars in and for America. Queen Feisal
i hate that we have to come together like this but i am happy that we can come together. black lives matter. love alex moore.
Luke stewart life mattered he was murdere by an euclid police offic e i neuclid ohio we want justice for Luke Terra Stewart his sister and famiky wants justice.
The human experience is a delusion of egocentric society, and the people who are empowered are the poison that needs to be rooted out. Our value is based on how someone else sees our worth, Instead of basing our values on what we individually b bring to companies and our community. [scribed-ele] tanya burgos, msw
Racism is a Public Health Issueb It deserves an ICD Classification Code
Wod WORDS MATTER! The Narrative Matters. White youths aretroubled, Black youth a
are criminal. White addicts have a disease, Black addicts are criminalized.
– – –
-P2 EDITED TRANSCRIPT-
– page 2 on 8/28/2020, march on Washington D.C. –
– Get Your Knees Off Our Necks – -say anything you think or feel today-
Today is a day we can start anew. To see the different beautiful faces brings hope.
As Queen, I was very pleased with the outcome of this movement.
Stop seeing us as our black skin. I am human, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am an auntie, I am a sister, I am a daughter, my blood is red. My heart breaks.
I love you, please learn to love yourself. KO
I’m tired. AC Pope
Black trauma – the pain, this should not be a thing for every generation.
I am here today not for myself, but for my generation and the generations to come, to know that we stood against injustice and for equality. – Justin Agudosi
Enough is enough is enough. The time for change is not in the future, it’s now.
From Javier Chicas – What a learning and deep experience it was today, with the whole Black Lives Matter movement, today on August 28 2020.
Our freedom cannot be accomplished under capitalism. Free the people, free the press, and then we see economic and social liberation blossom.
I am pregnant, and scared for the world my baby will live in. Hopefully, we can get our shit together in time.
A little bit of faith goes a long way. R Adrianna Children don’t deserve to suffer.
BLM – always has and always will. Fe Bri Jessica Niki 2020
–
–
-P2 VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT-
– page 2 on 8/28/2020, march on Washington D.C. –
– Get Your Knees Off Our Necks – -say anything you think or feel today-
oToday is a day we can start anew. To see the different beautiful faces bt brings hope.
this march www as queen i was very pleased with the outcome of this movement
Stop see ing us as our black skin. I am human, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am an auntie, I am a sister, I am a daughter, my blood is red. My heart breaks
i love you plase learn to love yourself ko
i’m tired acpope
black tramna the pain, this should not be a thing for every generation.
I am here tdy mot for ,yself but for my generation and the generations to come to know that we stood against injustive and for equality – Justing Agudosi
enough is em ouegh is enought the time for change is not in the future its now.
From Javier Chicas, wha a learning and deep experience it was today with the whole bl Black Live Matter movement today on August 28 2020.
fr d Oir freedom cannot be accomplished under capitalism. Free the people, free the press, and then we see economic and social liber ation blossom.
Comr tohether right now peace
Free Dr. Cosby Free R. Kelly (?) [scribed ELE]
i, p r
i am pregnant and scared for the world my baby will li eve in hopefully we can get our shit together in time
alittle bi o f i a little bit of faith goes a lon way r adriann a s. children don’t de servet to suffer children don’ deserve to suffer
lm blm always has and always will fe bri jessica niki 2020
The human and humorous angles on sensitive and fervent social topics are satisfyingly multifaceted and relatable! The cadence of narration suits me. A staunch four-story bulwark. #radicalized@doctorow@torbooks#sciencefiction#book#review
[also posted to @primalspiral twitter, Amazon, BN.com, and Goodreads]
I want to worry about these kids, but they won’t let me. They could kill me. They’re alright, even when they’re really not. It gets a little wrong: working as intended. #deadlyclass @Remender #comics #review
For the last Full Moon Gathering of 2019 at CoSM: Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NY on Dec. 14 2019, I set up my Hermes 3000 (TRIS) and did something new for me at this event. People were invited to sit down at my station to write a line of associative poetic wordplay, going back and forth with me, which we then cosigned and they kept. Didn’t really have a name for what we were doing at first, but found the easiest way to explain it on the artifact was “words between.”
I guess I was finally ready for this. Ready for my notions to be disabused and then magically rebuilt. For the disillusionment to turn back around on itself into another fulfillment, breaking expectations in order to deliver. Life’s complicated. There’s the human perspective, which can’t be abated for meta-awareness because that’s what it’s built on. Frank Herbert, people. Dealing with the hard stuff. It’s still so beautiful while it’s so dark, beautiful in its otherness. Science fiction.
I stationed my typewriter at my autographing space during the 2019 Los Angeles Nebula Awards Conference Mass Autographing at the end of last October. Since there would be many people circulating with books, I decided to offer a 3-line composition from any book someone handed to me. Above is one example of the bunch; there were many enjoyable surprises.
Captivating and deadly! An indomitable spirit of due justice moves against heart-clenching struggle in a culmination of ancient mysteries. Characters of deep psyche in a finely envisioned setting.
(review added to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads)
It’s a dadaist philosophical ramble that lovingly reshuffles all idols and ideals with a slew of good laughs and intense abyssal gazes. An artistically faithful reproduction of a legendary underground primer & zine art classic. I traded a poetry broadsheet for my copy at Barter Faire. Mmmmmmmm. This edition via Last Word Press.
