ash wednesday
Posted by Christina in Uncategorized on March 10, 2011
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.
lowercase tonight @ big bear
Posted by Christina in Poetry Room on January 5, 2011
The lowercase, a monthly reading sponsored by 826dc, is happening tonight at 7pm. Big bear cafe hosts (Bloomingdale) and with their brand-new liquor license will no doubt serve up something warm to drank.
Come out, and hear me open things up with one of the poems below. Put it up to a vote?
Rock Me Mama
To warm you up on a cold, snowy Friday.
Went to SOVA last night with my girl V and heard Second Strings & friends do a great cover of this that broke in everyone’s dancin’ shoes. This band + the Dark n’ Stormy’s = Love.
Choose your (mine) own adventure: Spencer Finch or Emily Dickinson?
Posted by Christina in Culture, DC, Poetry Room on December 14, 2010
Sometimes the confluence of cultural events in dc causes one to take a poll. There are two events tonight – one at the Corcoran, the other at the Folg – that if I could split myself I’d go to both.
Lucia Perillo
Spencer Finch
.
VS.
.
.
.
Who: Spencer Finch, talking about inspiration.
What: Lecture and Reception
Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 7-9pm
Why? Contemporary American artist who originally studied comparative literature, is most well-known for his exploration of memory and perception through light installations. Plus, snacks and dranks.
Contendre #2
Who: Emily Dickinson-cum-Lucia Perillo
What: Reading, discussion, birthday party
Where:Folger Elizabethan Theater, 7:30pm
Why? An audience with Perillo, a searing contemporary poet, who will help celebrate the foremost female American poet and recluse (that would be Dickinson). Also, there will be cake.
.
.
Without further adieu, here’s the poll. Perhaps I will choose a lucky respondent and allow them to escort me. Don’t all jump at once!
14 hours left to save BloomBars! Wait, what’s BloomBars?
Posted by Christina in Breaking News, DC, Poetry Room on December 10, 2010
Bloombars – a bar that serves art instead of alcohol – needs your help to keep its doors open to the community. Apparently, even community orgs need to pay the billz. Help them out and keep this space free and safe for the kidz!!!! Those kidz are reading tonight at an open mic ft. grammy-nominated, local hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon.
Donate through indiegogo … and if you donate enough, you can get some cool stuff. Silk scarf from Madagascar? Yes, please!
i owe lots of posts
Posted by Christina in One of those days, Poetry Room on December 8, 2010
on the following:
- byt at the newseum
- beltway slam with seth walker and lauren begent
- my latest poem, and oh, that essay I haven’t finished
but this is all I have to bring today: Emily Dickinson
It’s all I have to bring today –
This, and my heart beside –
This, and my heart, and all the fields –
And all the meadows wide –
Be sure you count – should I forget
Some one the sum could tell –
This, and my heart, and all the Bees
Which in the Clover dwell.
Android photo dump: Oct/Nov 2010
Posted by Christina in DC, Photos, Poetry Room on December 1, 2010
Flood (my basement)
Posted by Christina in Music, One of those days on October 19, 2010
Our basement flooded today … yessssssssssssssssss:
Suicide is an epidemic
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An average of one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes. (CDC, AAS)
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Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year.
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There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.
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Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-old Americans. (CDC)
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By 2010, depression will be the #1 disability in the world. (World Health Organization)
How many statistics does it take to convince people that suicide is quietly wreaking havoc in our families, communities, and schools? How many teenagers need to die making the statement that the only way to retaliate against tormentors is to make the greatest sacrifice of all?
Suicide has been a growing epidemic in this country throughout the last half of the 20th century. Initially relegated to men, college students, and the elderly, the societal impacts of suicide are trickling down to the most vulnerable and innocent among us: 6-year-olds have called suicide hotlines. The spate of recent suicides among LGBTQ teens in this country has brought us to a teachable moment. In one instance, it comes from Joe Burns, an openly-gay, married councilman from West Texas.
“It is never acceptable for us to be the cause of any child to feel unloved or worthless.”
While recent conversation surrounding suicide sprung from youth struggling with gender identity, it begs the larger question of how we can solve bullying among peers in our elementary, middle, high schools and beyond. Beyond suicide prevention advocacy, this heinous, preventable behavior is now on the dockets of our congressman.
To combat our growing lack of regard for each other, it is essential for individuals to change their rhetoric: friends are not fags, that stupid thing you did is not gay, and at the end of the day, I don’t really want to kill myself when life is overwhelming. The first step in changing a nation is changing our words.
I found this anonymous quote particularly poignant for those who are developing their hearts, minds, and destinies – whether they be 5 or 55. Perhaps it will remind us to live lives of dignity and respect.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Life may not get easier, but everyday it continues to get better.
