9-Year-Old Singer Rebecca @ The Inspired Word NYC Open Mic Joint

Her first live performance!



The Inspired Word's NYC Open Mic Joint
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
One and One, Nexus Lounge
Manhattan, New York City

Jesús Papoleto Meléndez of the Nuyorican Poets' Movement & Erotic Poet Aimee Herman + Open Mic - Thursday, June 30

Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word features poets Jesús Papoleto Meléndez (of the Nuyorican Poets' Movement) and Aimee Herman + a 15-slot Open Mic open to ALL types of artists.

Hosted by 3-time HBO Def Poetry star Gemineye.

ARTIST BIOS:

Jesús Papoleto Meléndez is a performance and visual poet, and one of the remaining original founders of the Nuyorican Poets’ Movement. His poetry publications include Casting Long Shadows (1970), Have You Seen Liberation (1971), Street Poetry & Other Poems (1972), and Concertos on Market Street (1994). His play, The Junkies Stole the Clock (1974), was the first production of Joseph Papp’s Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival’s Nuyorican Playwrights’ Unit. He also formed “Nuroyrican School Original Poetry Jazz Ensemble” with Americo Casiano.Meléndez has received “The Rev. Pedro Pietri Hand Award in Poetry/Playwriting” (2006); “The 2004 Louis Reyes Rivera Lifetime Achievement Award” from Amherst College; a 2001-NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts) Fellowship in Poetry; the Artist for Community Enrichment (ACE) Award from the Bronx Council on the Arts in 1995; and a COMBO (Combined Arts of San Diego)-NEA Fellowship in Literature. He has performed his poetry with El Reverendo Pedro Pietri at the Folger-Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. " My poems are written in a stylized technique of word-visualization, which I refer to as 'Cascadance,' because the words seem to cascade down the page in a form of dance," he says. "The words 'play' with their associations to the words around them, becoming a visual statement that the words are making as images upon the page; a kind of visual poetry."



Aimee Herman is a performance poet who has been featured at various NYC reading series including In the Flesh Erotic Salon, Hyper Gender, Sideshow: Queer Lit Carnival, and Red Umbrella Diaries. She can be read in anthologies such as: Best American Erotica 2010 (Cleis Press), Nice Girls, Naughty Sex (Seal), hell strung and crooked (Uphook Press), and Focus on the Fabulous: Colorado GLBT Voices. Beyond poetry, Aimee edits erotica for Oysters & Chocolate and also has a column called: notes from a dirty young woman. She is deeply inspired by Charles Bukowski, gender deconstructors, and alphabetized book shelves. She can next be seen at the HOTT festival in July at Dixon Place.



*****

When: Thursday, June 30, 2011

Where: One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NYC
Phone: (212) 598-9126

Doors Open for open mic sign-up @ 6:30pm

Showtime @ 7:30pm

Cover Charge: $10

NO AGE LIMIT.

"The Inspired Word isn't just a series, it's a movement."

Bomb Lager Joins The Inspired Word Family!

Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word is proud to announce that we've added Bomb Lager as a new platinum sponsor!

Please check out Bomb Lager's website @ http://bomblager.com/

And follow them on Twitter @ bomblager and Facebook.

Big Apple BAP: NYC's Best American Poetry Poets - Group Pic

The Inspired Word Presents Big Apple BAP: NYC's Best American Poetry Poets
One and One, Nexus Lounge
Manhattan, New York City
Thursday, June 16, 2011

Featured Poets: Mark Bibbins, Jennifer Michael Hecht, David Shapiro, R. Erica Doyle, Jerome Sala, Elaine Equi, Michael Cirelli, Stacey Harwood, George Green, Carly Sachs, Matthew Yeager, Amy Holman, Vicki Hudspith, and David Lehman (Big Apple BAP host and founding editor of The Best American Poetry anthology).

Photo By: Raymond Hamlin

Poets Nathan P. & Tantra-zawadi + Special Guest HBO Def Poet Regie Cabico + Open Mic - Thursday, June 23

Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word features two of the legendary spoken word poets on the New York City scene - Nathan P. (making his first feature performance in 5 years!) and Tantra-zawadi - and special guest appearances by HBO Def Poetry star Regie Cabico and two of Manchester, England's best slammers, Rod Tame and Dominic Berry.

If that weren't enough, you also get one of the most awesome open mics you'll find anywhere (15 slots open not only to poets and spoken word artists but fiction/nonfiction writers, comedians, monologists, singers, and musicians).

Hosted by 3-time Def Poetry star Gemineye.

*****

ARTIST BIOS:

Soulful and sublime, the poetry of Tantra-zawadi explores love in all its forms; from the rush of the first kiss to the bittersweet. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Tantra uses her voice to support the empowerment of women and has performed at venues as far away as South Africa, London, Germany and Toronto. She is a 2010 Pushcart Prize Nominee for her poem"Girl,"and a recipient of the Kings County District Attorney's Office Women’s History Month Award for her artistic contributions to the borough of Brooklyn. Tantra, who is a mentor for Girl-Child Network Worldwide (GCN), is donating partial proceeds from her latest book of poetry “Gathered at Her Sky” (PWP Books) to GCN. She is also the author of “alifepoeminprogress” and her poetry has appeared in Essence Magazine. Known for being on the cutting edge as an artist and for speaking out about issues such as HIV and AIDS awareness, Tantra’s poem and video “Scarlet Waters,” was featured on the Product(RED) video wall and her short documentary, “A Silent Genocide ~ A Brief Insight into HIV/AIDS” takes another look at the impact of this disease.



Stepping to the stage in his trademark suit, cufflinks and fedora style hat, poet Nathan P. became the poster child of style, grace and class on the slam circuit in early 2000. With a voice that resonates bass, the sound of his words were as captivating as his words themselves. This talent and stage presence enabled him to become a Nuyorican Grand Slam Finalist in his very first year on the circuit. He ultimately became the host at the Nuyorican Poets Café for seven years. He's been in two off-Broadway productions: “Be Beautiful” and “An Evolution in Reinvention,” produced two books of poetry: “Madness” and “The Colors of My Mind," appeared on numerous CD’s, most notably his solo project “Chalklines on Black Asphalt." He is host of The Inspired Word’s Tuesday Night Open Mic Joint.



*****

Special Guests:

Regie Cabico



Rod Tame



Dominic Berry





When: Thursday, June 23, 2011

Where: One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NYC
Phone: (917) 703-1512
Doors open for open mic sign-up @ 6:30pm
Showtime @ 7:30pm

Cover Charge: $10

NO AGE LIMIT!

Tuesday Night NYC Open Mic Joint - Comedy, Music, Poetry, ANYTHING!

Join us for a night where ANYTHING can happen!

The Inspired Word's NYC Open Mic Joint is a weekly Tuesday night series open to all types of artists - comedians, musicians, storytellers, singers, poets, fiction/nonfiction writers, playwrights, spoken word artists, performance artists, dancers, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

The legendary Nathan P., the smoothest, coolest, best-dressed man in spoken word, hosts.

25-30 slots, 5 minute time limit

So get your open mic groove on!

The venue: One & One (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 E 1st St (corner of 1st Ave)
Manhattan, New York City

Phone: (917) 703-1512

Doors open for signup @ 6:30pm

Showtime @ 7:30pm

Cover charge: $10

NO AGE LIMIT!

and follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/NYCOpenMic

LOVE the poet @ The Inspired Word NYC Spoken Word Poetry Series

LOVE the poet @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, May 19, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

Michelle Antoinette Nelson, also known as LOVE the poet, is a prominent poet/author on the national performance and literary art scenes, and in the field of creative writing education. She has appeared on CNN as a speaker at the Jena 6 rally in Washington, D.C., co-produced and appeared in "Passion Fruit Tea" (a short film based on her poem with the same name), released multiple spoken word CDs, and has performed on college campuses nationwide. Michelle is also an active member of the Maryland Speaker's Bureau, a member of the Punany Poets (as seen on HBO), the creator of Live Lyrics! Creative writing workshops, host of BE FREE Fridays, and an active member of Poetry for the People Baltimore. For booking and more information visit http://www.lovethepoet.com/

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner.

Filmed and Edited by: Laurence Wallace
http://www.laurencewallace.com/

Music by: Oveous
http://www.mocaarts.com/

HBO Def Poet Big Mike @ The Inspired Word Spoken Word Poetry Series

HBO Def Poetry Star Big Mike @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, May 19, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC. Hosted by Nathan P.

Big Mike has appeared on Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Season 6, episode 39 and was a member of the 2005 Nuyorican Slam Team. In 2002, he read his first spoken word piece at Serengeti Plains in Montclair, NJ. Since then he has performed at colleges and universities up and down the East Coast, at the National Poetry Slam and the Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam. In 2008 at the 16th annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam, He placed 1st in the Individual Poetry Slam Competition, and the New Jersey team placed 4th. He has been teaching elementary school for 16 years and is currently a 3rd grade teacher who uses the power of poetry to help his students, not only to write, but express how they feel. He has conducted creative writing and poetry workshops for students from grades 3 to 12 and is the founding father of the NJ Youth Slam Team. He also runs open mics and poetry slams for youth poets all over NJ. Big Mike the Home Movies DVD not only focuses on his poetry, but welcomes you into his home where anything and everything can happen. Bitter Married and Bald, his self-published book, is another journey into his poetry and the stories behind them. His debut CD Reality Bytez was released in 2004.

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner.

Filmed and Edited by: Laurence Wallace
http://www.laurencewallace.com/

Music by: Oveous
http://www.mocaarts.com/

Gordon Gilbert - Poem "Don’t Turn the Lights Off ’Til the Poetry Is Done!"

Don’t Turn the Lights Off ’Til the Poetry Is Done!

Don’t know where to go tonight
To hear some poetry?
Can you spell poetz with a “z”?
Let Jackie show you at poetz-dot-com:
Select the calendars, then NYC.

Don’t turn the mic off ’til every word is spoken!
Don’t turn off the lights ’til the poetry is done!


Monday at the Yippie’s where
You’ll often find Big Mike and Puma
Stripping words down to their bare essentials.

And Gordon monthly celebrates the Beat Gen there,
Ensuring that what’s read is consequential.

First Monday of the month, for something different,
Not usually poetry, but lots of fun,
Tulis hosts at Monologues & Madness,
Downstairs at the Cornelia Street Café,
Always entertaining, without fail.

And every Monday now for many years,
With mostly poetry, but sometimes music,
Su keeps the Saturn Series going at the Nightingale.

Don’t turn the mic off ’til every word is spoken!
Don’t turn off the lights ’til the poetry is done!


Then once a month on Tuesday,
Pattie does her Brownstone thing at Tillie’s.
(You take the train across the bridge to Brooklyn.)

In that same boro, once a month, on Wednesday,
Cindy joins with Evie hosting at the Green Pavilion.

Other Wednesdays (first and third),
You can find Ronnie hosting
On the west side, uptown, at Tract 187.

Don’t turn the mic off ’til every word is spoken!
Don’t turn off the lights ’til the poetry is done!


On Thursdays, you will find the Word Inspired
(And Tuesdays, just as well, as I’ve just learned)
At One and One, downstairs with Mike,
Where poets go to get their kicks.

And at Cornelia’s, also on a Thursday, once a month,
Brant and the Ne’er DoWells do well.
Drop a quarter in the Jukebox
For poetry with music in the mix.

Don’t turn the mic off ’til every word is spoken!
Don’t turn off the lights ’til the poetry is done!


Third Thursdays are when Jack and Evie
Host below Canal at Poets on White.

On Fridays, first and third, down in the village,
You’ll find Kat’s riding pony at Cornelia’s:
An open mic with crickets and a feature,
As well as someone special to spotlight.

Every Friday, Viviana keeps it STARK in midtown,
And Saturday’s when Josh Meander’s monthly with the Choir.

First Saturdays in Brooklyn Heights
It's Pattie's Brownstone once again,
At the Park Plaza Restaurant this time.
Order lunch with poetry, if you so desire.

Sadly Lee is gone, and Smalls poetry on Saturdays as well.
We need someone to take his place, somebody good,
Who has the time to give hosting a try there.

Don’t turn the mic off ’til every word is spoken!
Don’t turn off the lights ’til the poetry is done!


Every Sunday on east 4th, David does his Jujo-jitsu:
Watch the features read, each playing off the other,
At this Mukti lounge and tea saloon.

And usually the second Sunday, each month, in the afternoon,
Alan hosts along with Robin (welcome back) at Kairos,
And if Paul is there, you’ll hear him tickling the ivories
After he reads a poem, improvising jazzily
Upon a Gershwin tune.

Finally, in Washingon Heights, another once-a-month event:
Patrizia hosts Sunday Best with Peter’s help (and others),
No open mic, but you will hear good writers read their stuff!
A lovely way to spend an afternoon!

Don’t turn the mic off ’til every word is spoken!
Don’t turn off the lights ’til the poetry is done!


Now these are just the people and the places that I know
For spoken word performance, all the places where I go,
But this is only my third year of digging this cool scene,
And the calendar lists many places I have never been.

Some place is always cooking ’cross the river from Hoboken,
So don’t turn the mic off ‘til every word is spoken!

Please use this info I’ve mapped out, you’re sure to have some fun!
And don’t turn the lights out ’til the poetry is done!

- Gordon Gilbert, June 14, 2011, NYC

An Open Letter to Our Inspired Word Fans - Help Us Keep On Keeping On

An open letter to our Inspired Word fans -

I get notes all the time saying, “Mike, I really love what you’re doing. Loved being at your show last night. Please let me know how I can help. I’m willing to do anything."

I ultimately answer these notes, all of them, individually, but I thought it would be a good idea to post here today what I've written privately so many times.

Here are the five best ways you can help us:

1) You can post the event page links on your Facebook wall or share the event details through your Twitter account, or your blog, or any other social media.

2) You can spread our series by word of mouth and better yet by bringing a friend or friends with you to our events.

3) You can connect us with great artists that might be off our radar screen – poets, singers, comedians, etc. – or other talent, such as videographers, photographers, etc. We're always looking for new creative blood.

4) You can volunteer to be a part of our street team to hand out flyers event night. For that, we'll comp you that night and another show of your choice.

5) You can tell people to join our Facebook group, follow our Twitter account (@InspiredWordNYC) or blog, or send their email to us for our mailing list.

All these things will definitely help sustain this wonderful series and allow us to grow into something even greater.

If you’ve attended our nights, there’s no need to sell you on us. You know the heart and soul of this series. You’ve experienced the inspiration, felt flushed with good feelings afterward, were dazzled by the talent we presented on stage.

And if you haven’t been to our nights yet, well, I dare you to try us once and not to be moved. In fact, I double dare you.

Whatever you can do would be most appreciated. Truly.

Things is, we love what we’re doing too and we want to continue doing it for as long as we can.

We promise to repay all the love sent our way by putting on the best shows we possibly can every Tuesday and Thursday night, to keep building a supportive writing community, to create something beautiful and epic.

Thanks so much!

Be blessed and stay positive,

Mike

TedxNashvlle - Poet Tyehimba Jess - Syncopated Sonnets

Poet Tyehimba Jess, who appeared @ The Inspired Word in Feb. 2011, tells the story of the McCoy Sisters who were conjoined through the hips. Each possessed her own arms, legs, and respiratory systems. They were born into slavery, rented out as freak show attractions by the age of 3, kidnapped to Britain, and then returned to American slavery. After the Civil War they traveled around the world as multilingual dancing, singing, piano playing stars.

The Best American Poetry Blog: "Inspired by The Inspired Word's Michael Geffner" by Stacey Harwood

This appeared yesterday on The Best American Poetry blog:

Inspired by The Inspired Word's Michael Geffner
By Stacey Harwood

I caught up with Michael Geffner recently, which, if you’re a facebook friend or are among his 8000+ twitter followers (@MikeGeffner), you know is no small feat. Geffner is founder, producer, and director of “The Inspired Word” (@TheInspiredWordNYC) series and as such he puts together a show every Thursday night, year round.

We met because Geffner is the mastermind behind this Thursday’s “Big Apple BAP: NYC’s Best American Poets” at One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge) 76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue) Manhattan. (Phone: (917) 703-1512. Cover charge is $15.) The program begins at 6:30 PM and brings together a blockbuster lineup of new and established poets, all of whom have been included in at least one volume of The Best American Poetry (Mark Bibbins, Jennifer Michael Hecht, David Shapiro, R. Erica Doyle, Jerome Sala, Elaine Equi, Michael Cirelli, Stacey Harwood, George Green, Carly Sachs, Matthew Yeager, Amy Holman, and host David Lehman.)

How did this award winning sports writer and journalist become a poetry impresario and what does he bring to the experience that sets his series apart from others?

Though he has a life-long love of poetry, Geffner was not part of the poetry scene until 2009 when he became involved in organizing shows for a restaurant in his Queens neighborhood.  When the restaurant closed, he decided to keep at it and scouted locations in Manhattan. At the same time, as he attended many readings and surveyed the landscape of NYC poetry, his vision of a successful series sharpened...

Please read the rest of the post by clicking here.

Poet Beau Sia - A Video Poem "Memory Sucks"

Beau will be appearing @ The Inspired Word on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. If you'd like to support what he does and download the audio to this poem, please visit http://beausia.bandcamp.com/

Poet t'ai freedom ford @ The Inspired Word NYC Spoken Word Poetry Event

Poet t'ai freedom ford @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

She is a recovering slam poet who was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Louder Arts/Bar 13 National Slam teams. Having retired from the scene, t'ai has taught high school English for the last 7 years, but, like any recovering slam addict, she occasionally finds herself in dusky bars with a mic in her hand, fiending for applause. For more info, please check out her site http://www.taifreedomford.com/

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner.

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music: 1 HORN LOVE 86BPM Keen Entertainment
http://www.keenentertainmentgroup.com/

Big Apple BAP: NYC's Best American Poetry Poets - Thursday, June 16!

The Inspired Word Presents a SPECIAL EVENT - the first of what will be a regular feature of its weekly Thursday night series: Big Apple BAP: NYC's Best American Poetry Poets.

It is a night celebrating this city's finest poets, whose poems over the years have been honored with inclusion in the highly respected annual anthology. http://www.bestamericanpoetry.com/

The debut lineup includes a dazzling array of poets: Katha Pollitt, Mark Bibbins, Jennifer Michael Hecht, David Shapiro, R. Erica Doyle, Jerome Sala, Elaine Equi, Michael Cirelli, Stacey Harwood, George Green, Carly Sachs, Matthew Yeager, Amy Holman, and David Lehman (who will also host the event).

Each poet will read the poem or poems appearing in BAP, as well as something new.

Please join us for what promises to be an amazing night of poetry.

*****

Produced by: Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word

When: Thursday, June 16, 2011

Where: One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NYC
Phone: (917) 703-1512

Time: 6:30pm

Cover Charge: $15

Must be 21 years of age or older. Please make sure to bring ID.

*****

BIOS (in alphabetical order):

Mark Bibbins is the author of The Dance of No Hard Feelings and the Lambda Award-winning Sky Lounge. He teaches at The New School and Columbia University, and edits the poetry section of The Awl. His poems were included in the 2004, 2009, and 2010 editions of Best American Poetry.



Michael Cirelli was born in Providence, RI in 1975. His newest collection, Everyone Loves The Situation (Penmanship Books, 2011), deconstructs MTV’s hit reality show, Jersey Shore, flipping the cultural zeitgeist on its (gelled and sprayed) head. He is also the author of Vacations on the Black Star Line (Hanging Loose Press, 2010), which was named in About.com’s Poetry Picks “Best Books of 2010,” and Lobster with Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Hanging Loose Press, 2008), which was a NY Times bestseller from an independent press and was featured in the “Debut Poets” issue of Poets & Writers Magazine. His work has appeared in The Best American Poetry, Hanging Loose, Texas Review, World Literature Today and King Magazine, among others. He is the Executive Director of one of the nation’s largest youth literary arts organization, Urban Word NYC, and has authored two poetry curricula, Poetry Jam (Recorded Books, 2010) and Hip-Hop Poetry & the Classics (Milk Mug, 2004). He has also appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and Brave New Voices. He appears in the 2011 Best American Poetry.



R. Erica Doyle was born in Brooklyn to Trinidadian immigrant parents, and has lived in Washington, DC, Farmington, Connecticut and La Marsa, Tunisia. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in Best American Poetry (2001), Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writing from the Antilles, Callaloo, Ploughshares, Best Black Women's Erotica, Bum Rush the Page, Bloom, and from the Fishouse, among others. She has received grants and awards from the Hurston/Wright Foundation and the Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund, and was a New York Foundation for the Arts Poetry Fellow. She is also a fellow of Cave Canem, and her manuscript, proxy, was a finalist for the 2007 Cave Cavem Poetry Prize, selected by Claudia Rankine. Excerpts from proxy were also published as a Belladonna* chapbook. She received her MFA in Poetry from the New School, and lives in New York City, where she teaches in the NYC public schools and facilitates Tongues Afire: A Creative Writing Workshop for queer women and trans and gender non-conforming people of color.

Elaine Equi is the author of many books including Ripple Effect: New & Selected Poems and most recently, Click and Clone, from Coffee House Press. Her work has appeared in The Nation, The New Yorker, Poetry, and several editions of Best American Poetry (1989, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010) She teaches at New York University and in the MFA programs at The New School and City College.



George Green received an MFA in poetry from The New School and currently teaches poetry courses at Lehman College, CUNY, in the Bronx. His poems have appeared in various journals and in the anthologies Poetry 180; 180 More Poems; The Best American Poetry 2005; The Best American Poetry 2006; Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems about Birds; and The Swallow Anthology of New American Poets. In 2011 a selection of his poems will be included in an anthology of six American poets published by the Anvil Press in Great Britain.

Stacey Harwood's essays, poetry, and journalism have appeared or are forthcoming in Michigan Quarterly Review, Lit, Women's Studies Quarterly, Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, Saveur, Time Out New York, the Los Angeles Times, Poets.org and elsewhere. She is the managing editor of the Best American Poetry blog and appeared in the 2005 Best American Poetry.

Jennifer Michael Hecht is the author of award-winning books of philosophy, history, and poetry. She has appeared in two editions of Best American Poetry, 1999 and 2005. Her Doubt: A History (HarperOne, 2003) demonstrates a long, strong history of religious doubt from the origins of written history to the present day, all over the world. Hecht's The End of the Soul: Scientific Modernity, Atheism and Anthropology (Columbia University, 2003), won the Phi Beta Kappa Society's 2004 prestigious Ralph Waldo Emerson Award “for scholarly studies that contribute significantly to interpretations of the intellectual and cultural condition of humanity.” She earned her Ph.D. in the History of Science and European Cultural History from Columbia University in 1995 and now teaches at The New School University. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband John, and their two children.



Amy Holman's poem "Man Script" was published on the cover of Literal Latte flanking a photo of a naked woman with henna tattooes and spotted by Robert Bly when he was lunching in The Noho Star. He added it to the 1999 Best American Poetry anthology. Jennifer Michael Hecht posted "1,500 Parakeets Rescued From 2-Room Apartment" ten years later on the Best American Poetry Blog. Other than that, she has a collection, Wrens Fly Through This Opened Window, published in 2010 with Somondoco Press, and a chapbook, Wait For Me, I'm Gone, which won the 2004 Dream Horse Press annual prize. Her poetry has been in Archaeoogy Magazine, American Letters & Commentary, Barrow Street, Failbetter, Gargoyle, The Potomac Review, and in the anthology Token Entry: NYC Subway Poems. She writes, fiction and nonfiction, and is a literary consultant.

David Lehman is a poet, writer, editor, and teacher. He launched The Best American Poetry in 1988 and continues as the series editor of the acclaimed annual anthology. His own books of poetry include When a Woman Loves a Man (2005) and Yeshiva Boys (2009). The most recent of his seven nonfiction books, A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, won the 2010 Deems Taylor Award from ASCAP. Lehman has edited The Oxford Book of American Poetry. He teaches in the graduate writing program at the New School in New York City.



Carly Sachs is the author of the steam sequence, winner of the 2006 Washington Writers’ Publishing House Book Prize, and The Why and Later (Deep Cleveland Press, 2007), an anthology of female authored poems about rape and assault. Sachs was awarded an Arts Fellowship at the Drisha Institute in 2007, and her poems have appeared in The Best American Poetry 2004, Alimentum, Another Chicago Magazine, PMS, Court Green, and on National Public Radio. She currently lives in New York City and teaches writing and yoga workshops to help victims of trauma. When not writing or teaching yoga, you can find her making everything from martinis to homemade granola.



Jerome Sala’s books of poetry include Spaz Attack, I Am Not a Juvenile Delinquent, The Trip, Raw Deal and most recently Look Slimmer Instantly (Soft Skull Press). His poetry and criticism have appeared The Best American Poetry 2005, Pleiades, Conjunctions, Rolling Stone and many others. He has a Ph.D. in American Studies from New York University. His blog is: http://www.espressobongo.typepad.com/



David Shapiro is an American poet, literary critic, and art historian. He has written some twenty volumes of poetry, literary, and art criticism. He was first published at the age of 13, his first book was published when he was just 18, and he was a finalist for the National Book Award at 24. Shapiro is one of the most prolific and important figures of the second generation of the New York School and has appeared in six editions of Best American Poetry.



Matthew Yeager's poems have appeared in Best American Poetry (2005 and 2010), Bat City Review, NY Quarterly, Gulf Coast, and others. His short film "A Big Ball of Foil in a Small NY Apartment," was an official selection at eleven film festivals in 2009-2010, picking up two awards. Other recent accolades include the Barthelme Prize in short prose. He is the co-founder of Chicken Truck Productions and lives in Brooklyn, NY.



*****

Mike Geffner
Founder/Producer

Marvin Mendlinger
Assistant Director

David Lehman
Host/MC

New Video! Suheir Hammad - Into Egypt

Official video for the poem Into Egypt, written and performed by Suheir Hammad. Hi-res download available at:
http://www.freehabib.com/work/into-egypt/

Credits:

Director: Waleed Zaiter
Director of Photography/Editor: George Cox

Starring: Paragini Amin, I'in P. Cox, Nisrin Elamin, Mona Eltahawy, Ayesha A. Grant, Suheir Hammad, Marwa Helal
Composer: Daniel Freedman/wickedmusic.tv
Animation/Design: Waleed Zaiter
Additional Animation: Christopher Palazzo
P.A.: I'in P. Cox
Arabic Translation: Tarek Aylouch
Audio Mastering: Jean-Luc Sinclair

The Poetess LadySilk & Ncydus Thelastexhile: Poem "Harbor Hearts"

It creeps in darkness does but I shine all the more brightly. I'm a constant beacon for those whose life boats are weary hearts near the rocky shores of their emotions. It sneaks in compassion does but I hold on to my heart more tightly. It invites me to jump overboard into the human condition that is as changing and deep as the ocean.

Like a fog soaking up the dull & damp sky. It twists & turns towards its beacons glow brightly lit from deep within; seeking companionship to whom shall travel with, no matter how slow. A voyage into the human state where shadows creeps amongst a dampened face; embraced up against the rocky shore feeling gently the sway of a natural caress full with admiration; and wet; Its adored…..

.....and most wanted most longed for most remembered in wave after wave time after time. Muscles strain and glisten with anticipation for a treasured destination, a familiar taste. Oh, sails hold true the wind our help oh, ropes and wood of maritime; Though Neptune fights me she invites me to the port of bliss in yonder place…..

……..that’s thine; icy crystals of solitude and silver white. Sunlight, yellow pale in a silent sky or a darken night; Drift together weather tied; cold and wet crystal clear as the cool blue sky; tis calm as maritime; yet purified its soul denies…….wearing wedding white garments beneath the clouds above high; light scatters her confetti petal blossom into summers night rays while wanderings, squandering her days lazily in watery waves filled with sunshine, forever passing time.

It creeps in darkness does but I shine all the more brightly. I'm a constant beacon for those whose life boats are weary hearts near the rocky shores of their emotions. It sneaks in compassion does but I hold on to my heart more tightly. It invites me to jump overboard into the human condition that is as changing and deep as the ocean. Oh, sails hold true the wind, tighten ropes and wood of maritime; Though Neptune fights me she invites me to the port of bliss in yonder place, that‘s thine…..

Far the distant; for deep and wide becomes ones soul laid before them are emotions priced high as gold. I am the goddess of the sea; the guiding light of which many disenchanted nucleus has sort, of this I am told for “it creeps in darkness does; but I shine all the more brightly” for I am the constant; the beacon; that symbol of hope, I am the vessel that harbor the hearts; that sail along with me nightly

© 05 15 2011 All Rights Reserved
The Poetess LadySilk & Ncydus Thelastexhile

Gemineye's NYC Birthday Bash Slam for Spoken Word Poets, Actors, Storytellers - Thurs, June 9

Come join Inspired Word host and 3-time Def Poetry star Gemineye celebrate his birthday @ the third leg of the Slam Master Jam!

This is the third of 5 Inspired Word slams in 2011. The winners in each of the first 4 slams will be eligible to face off in the championship finals in Dec. for $500 in total prize money: $300 (+ paid 2012 feature spot) for 1st place. $100 for 2nd. $75 for 3rd. $25 for 4th.

Note: No $$$ prizes awarded for THIS leg of the 5-leg series.

Open to poets, actors, spoken word artists, and storytellers.

Time limit escalates from 3 minutes to 4, then to 5, as one advances.

*****

When: Thursday, June 9, 2011

Where: One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NYC
Phone: (212) 598-9126

Time: 7pm (sign-up starts @ 6:30, first come, first served)

Cover Charge: $10

NO AGE LIMIT.

*****

20 slots, three rounds:

First round - 20 (3-minute time limit)

Second round - Top 4 (4-minute time limit)

Third round - Top 2 (5-minute time limit)

Strict Guidelines: strict time limit each round (though there's a ten-second grace period; if the person goes over time, points will be deducted from the total score), must be original work, must be a different piece each round (so MAKE SURE you bring THREE pieces).

Of the scores the person receives from five judges, the high and low scores will be dropped and the middle three get added together, giving the person a total score of 0-30. The highest scores in each round advance.

Video - Musician Robin Andre & Poet Erica Miriam Fabri @ The Inspired Word

Musician Robin Andre & Poet Erica Miriam Fabri (The Robin & The Lady Poet) @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

The Robin and the Lady Poet are a hybrid-mix of music, poetry and performance. Robin Andre (musician, singer/songwriter and performer) and Erica Miriam Fabri (poet and performer) are NYC-based artists and partners in love. Their work embraces romantic and political storytelling and a touch of sexy humor and genuine heart goes into all that they do. For more info, please visit http://ericafabri.wordpress.com/.

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime writer/journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner and hosted by 3-time Def Poetry star Gemineye.

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music by Toni Blackman, "Ha Ha."
http://www.toniblackman.com/

Video - Actress/Poet LaTonia Phipps @ The Inspired Word

LaTonia Phipps @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, April 7, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

Phipps, actress, spoken word poet and educator, received a MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and was last seen in "With Aarons Arms Around Me" at The Cherry Lane Theater. In 2010 Phipps debuted with her solo performance project, written and performed by Phipps, titled "Fishing in Brooklyn," last seen at the highly acclaimed Theater Row, featuring slam poetry, dance, drama and 16 humorous characters. Phipps is currently working on a book of poetry and short stories titled, "My Words Heal." To stay informed on "Fishing'In Brooklyn," or any upcoming projects email fiblatonia@gmail.com.

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner and hosted by 3-time HBO Def Poetry star Gemineye.

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music by Toni Blackman.
http://www.toniblackman.com/

Video - Poet Eliel Lucero @ The Inspired Word

Poet Eliel Lucero @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

Lucero is a native New Yorker of Afro Dominican descent. He is a poet and a DJ. His work appears in the International Poetry Review (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro ) and in Barber Shop Chronicles (penmanship press). He has performed his work, all over NYC, The Bay Area, Eugene Oregon, Baltimore, D.C. and Honolulu. He has served as co-editor of the Acentos Review, an Urban Word Mentor, a facilitator with the Alzheimer's Project, Production Manager of the Bowery Poetry Club, and DJ/Poet/Series Consultant for The Inspired Word.

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime writer/journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner and hosted by 3-time Def Poetry star Gemineye.

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music by: Toni Blackman, "Ha Ha."
http://www.toniblackman.com/

Poet Charan P. Morris @ The Inspired Word

Poet Charan P. Morris @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music by Oveous - "Never Stop" (w/ Quetzal Guerrero)
http://oveous.blogspot.com/

Video - Poet David Lawton @ The Inspired Word

Poet David Lawton @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, April 7, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

Lawton is an actor, singer, and performance poet who is the curator/host of The Inspired Word's sister series. the JujoMukti Tea Lounge Spoken Word Sundays. He studied theatre at Boston University, and appeared Off-Broadway in "Aven'U Boys" and "Goose and Tom Tom." For ten years he sang backing vocals with the legendary downtown band Leisure Class. He participated in the inaugural performance at the Yippie Museum Cafe with John Sinclair, Mulligan's Underground WordRock Fest, the first Inspired Word Night of Stars, and as co-host and producer of "Downtown Does Huncke for His Birthday."

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music by: Toni Blackman.
http://www.toniblackman.com/

Performance Poet Ayo The Nigerian Nightmare @ The Inspired Word

Spoken word artist Ayo The Nigerian Nightmare @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word, Thursday, April 7, 2011 @ One and One Bar/Restaurant, Nexus Lounge, Manhattan, NYC.

Ayo is a dynamic performance poet/musician living in Brooklyn, NY. He has two albums available on iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/3y4bnv8. For more on Ayo, please visit http://www.ayoinmotion.com/

The Inspired Word is New York City's hottest new spoken word poetry series happening every Thursday night in downtown Manhattan, produced by longtime journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner.

Videographer: Elaine Delehant

Music by Toni Blackman
http://www.toniblackman.com/