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For Baraka

the days run into each other like moving pictures
an arm becomes a pinwheel becomes animal
swinging from vine in a jungle, no, Baobab tree,
perhaps its the wine but there is a swarm of
monstrous bees exiting the hive we once called
your mouth, no, its your tongue sliding across
white snow, a cheek, a belly, soft pads of each finger
just so

I am not sure your name is really your name
I am not sure I care to know the truth of things
just tell me a story, fantastical, about two penguins
in love that bear our fake-names like crowns
tell me the secret you keep under socks
who is the girl in your ribcage?
she is broken, too. We are all a little broken.
We admit to this. But look how our hearts grow
watermelon seeds and reproduce like rabbits
look at all the thumping drumming from our flesh
the skin taut and stretched, would you look
at the way we dance?

What is a pint of blood for the offering
the sky is calling and we musn’t refuse
what are your wings made of?
pheasant or peacock or dove, you crack wide
open a grin, say, simple pigeon and
I understand your magic all at once
like a rush to the mouth, like a dive

Meet me at the top of a bell tower with
your notebook, or a dark cave lit by cigarette
you will fumble to catch my lips, the night’s on fire
as the camera rolls behind an old bowling alley
I’ll be in a dress from Africa, wearing sin
like rock and roll, I find you underneath
my fingernails, this dirt, boy, you’ve been wearing
the same shirt for days but smell like summer under
your sweater. The rain never comes here
but your song sounds like home.

It’s been awhile, good folks, but we are back! Of course, we’re back the low-budget way, using stills from the video because the LRS’ lil’ sis, Lindsay, was out of town with her digital camera that we usually steal for the sessions. But none-the-less, here we are! In all our flaws and smiles. And this time, we welcome MC/educator Hired Gun onto the couch.

Ok. So. I’ve known Hired Gun for a number of years now. Its been so long that I can’t put my finger quite on the nose of where and when we first crossed paths. But nevermind that boring story, now we’re co-educators and artists, deeply embedded in the same community and exchanging information like how to get the babies to write good poems and what makes a good artist. Speaking of which, Hired Gun is a stellar artist. His flow is off the meter and he’s got a heart to match. I don’t want to bother with too many intros for this one. The second video captures a dialogue between us that I think explains it all. Press play already!

But before you do, bookmark these sites so you can learn more about Hired Gun:

http://freshrootsmusic.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/freeradicalz

> Hired Gun shares a special POEM!

Click here to view the embedded video.

> Hired Gun & Caits dialogue on artist elevation & growth

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sunday, February 28, 2010, pull on yo’ mittens and come out for the mid-winter get down with artists Caits Meissner, ArinMaya and My Friend Other’s Toys and Tiny Instruments Orchestra at 169 Bar!

For a mere recession-proof $5, witness a night of poetry-song, nu-soul electrobeat and piano pop folk played by a nine piece band of… toys and tiny instruments (seriously, don’t miss this one!)

Sunday February 28, 2010
8-11pm @ 169 Bar
169 East Broadway
New York, NY

Bring a friend!

For more information on each artist, please visit:

http://www.caitsmeissner.com
http://www.arinmaya.com
http://www.myspace.com/myfriendother

Caits (Caitlin) Meissner

A Vessel of Love / (A Glass of Wine):
40 Day Vigil (2009)
A Book of 40 Poems by Caits Meissner

“When he has truly accomplished this (dawn of the final day), he finds the force of love has consumed his limited personality and all its desires, even the desire for God. He has realized that one cannot “master” love, one can only serve as a vessel of love (a glass of wine.)”
– Hafiz, The Great Sufi Master and Poet

digital download (free)

Friends & fam,
A mid-January update because there seems to be always much to share. You should start an email list, if only to step back and go, ah ha! So THAT is what I’ve been filling my days with! I’m glad to have you taking this ride with me.

Here is why I’m writing to you:

I have a show Friday that I’d love to see your fine lil’ face at. Maybe you can toss me a wink from the audience and make me feel cool. It’s at Le Poisson Rouge and I have a twenty minute set, alongside fabulous wordsmith’s Kelly Zen-Ye Tsai, Shanelle Gabriel and BYung.

In addition, I’d like to share the following:

1) An interview I did with Wrong Lips blog this month
2) An upcoming show with Bisco Smith & Core Rhythm at Santos Party House
3) A lesson you should steal to engage your youth with Haiti efforts
4) A project I lended my graphic efforts to that I deeply believe in, #dearbarack

Scroll if you have a mind to scroll, and ingest.I have a gift for you coming soon. Be patient. Please keep being fabulous and I will try too.

Hugs when you need ‘em and big cheek kisses,

MamaCaits
www.caitsmeissner.com
–

UPCOMING SHOWS:
> Jan. 29, 2010 Feature: The Inspired Word @ Le Poisson Rouge

FRIDAY JANUARY 29, 2010
THE INSPIRED WORD @ LE POISSON ROUGE

Caits Meissner will be featuring with a 20-30 minute set alongside friends & fellow poets Shanelle Gabriel, Kelly Zen-Ye Tsai & B(rook) Yung.

Date: Friday, Jan. 29th
Time: 7-10pm (really more like 7:30-9:30)
Place: Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012

–

> Feb. 6, 2010 Special Appearance: Santos Party House

I am so super honored to have been asked to write a collaboration piece to be unveiled at this show. Two of my favorite folks have just dropped CLASSIC albums (which you should cop, links below, trust me, I really do not say those words lightly) and they are celebrating on February 6th at Santos Party House. What are you waiting for?

1) Cop Bisco Smith: The Broadcast here.

2) Cop Core Rhythm: The Ecology here.

3) Come out February 6th:

–

INTERVIEW WITH WRONG LIPS BLOG

I’m so incredibly honored to be featured along side my sister Maya Azucena at my other sister’s, Sarah White & Lichiban’s Wrong Lips blog! Here are the answers to their lovely mad libs, and you should really visit their site live in action, because it’s packed with goodness at http://wronglips.blogspot.com.

–

STEAL THIS LESSON:
ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH HELPING HAITI

The earthquake hit Haiti during the last week of classes at Facing History High School. Knowing I’d get some grumbles, I decided to forgo a party, and take some action. With one class period of the semester left, it had to be something that could happen in an hour and 10 minutes.

I did some thinking about how to most effectively engage youth in relief efforts, knowing that:

a) most youth are not making much money and

b) won’t be traveling and

c) asking other people to donate is fine, but they are their own “target donation audience.” plus,

d) it is empowering to be able to make the contribution out of your own pocket, which often youth aren’t able to do.

Click here to see photos from my class & read the full lesson!

–

DEAR BARAK (WRITE YOUR LETTER!)

My good friend and visionary kahlil almustafa recently released a book called “From Auction Block to Oval Office,” and it contains 100 poems within the first 100 days of Obama’s presidency within its covers. This is my turn to brag! I designed the book and I feel deeply connected to the project. I also happen to believe that kahlil’s words are important and moving and that you’d think so too.

kahlil also just launched a project called “Dear Barack”:

“Dear Barack” is an invitation to the people of the United States to write Barack Obama a letter to open an intimate conversation between the president and the people who elected him. Our goal is to collect 30,000 letters and deliver them to the president, continuing the call for dialogue he began during his campaign. These letters are an opportunity to re-engage with Barack Obama, the president, with the same passion and purpose as we did Barack Obama, the candidate.

So, what I want you to do, in two parts:

1) VISIT THE DEAR BARACK SITE & WRITE A LETTER:

http://dearbarack.mvmt.com/

2) PURCHASE KAHLIL’S BOOK

http://mvmtbooks.eventbrite.com/

Big ups to the mighty, mighty MVMT! Love you all.

In love and light,
Caits
www.caitsmeissner.com

(& for now, I’m still keeping my daily personal reflections at this address: http://king-poetic.livejournal.com)

Pop it on when you’re doing something boring and let me talk to you!

“A day before my 24th birthday, I met with Caits Meissner to talk about inspirations, body image, vegan-sexuality and her initial thoughts about GrungeCake, the brand. To hear what Miss Meissner had to say, kindly press play. We’d love you to pieces.”

Check it here for the MP3 listen: http://www.grungecake.com

1) Cop Bisco Smith: The Broadcast here.

2) Cop Core Rhythm: The Ecology here.

3) Come out February 6th:

Here’s why:

Click here to view the embedded video.

http://wronglips.blogspot.com

–

Now next, we have Caitlin Meissner aka Caits. She is one of those women that you vibe with and know you’ve got a homie for life. In a world of bullshit, she is bringing something real and in the flesh. She is an amazing poet, community worker, performer, designer and also known to give you a kick in your ass if you need to get to work. I love this girl, and I’m glad to finally feature her. Aslo be sure to peep her livingroom sessions!

WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? Brooknam, heart of the city, Crown Heights, buk buk!

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? A small town outside of Albany, New York. Which pretty much negates all of that fanfare above and the truth is, my heart is often in the mountains, anyway.

WHAT DO YOU DO? storyTeller/magicMaker… which is a fancy way of saying a lot at once: poet, writer, performer, music-maker, teaching artist, graphic designer. Lover of mankind and red wine. Extreme day dreamer.

TRUE BEAUTY IS… Embracing your unique being, full of flaws and imperfections and sometimes wearing face paint and big ol’ fake eyelashes or just out of a bath naked, with those stubborn dry skin patches but my how fly you pull them off! Shining from the inside, didn’t yo’ mama tell you that one?

BEATS… are what I put words to, what I stream through my headphones, what I geek out with my friends to and make the ugly face and clutch at my chest, what makes life all red and hot and sweaty and puts the bounce in my step and flips up my heart on a bad day
.
TRUE SEXY IS… confidence, talent and owning your bad self ‘cuz that self is pretty bad, boy.

MUSIC IS MY… pulse, thanks to Dad’s record collection and schooling me from the time I was a baby on why sound can be more crucial than food.

ART DOES NOT… leave you empty or unchanged. It incites, encourages, moves, pushes you past the edge, fills you with love or hate or anger. It gets you. Or it does not get you. But it gets someone, or else it’s doing a lousy job.

MY NIGHTS ARE… extended into the morning, most days. Filled with solo creation sessions, dancing ’till my back breaks, laughing with my friends who’s smiles damn near fill up their entire face, having spiritual revelations, being under the fire of a warm mouth, being an insomniac. To be truthful, sometimes wasting time on the internet. But there is always a discovery.

THESE 3 TURN ME ON… being magnificent at what you do. Having a record collection that rivals my own and puts me on to some new thing that makes my belly turn ’cause its THAT good. And good rhythm.

SELF-KNOWLEDGE … is a never-ending journey and shape shifts just when you think you’ve got a good handle on the sucker and shouts, “aha! Tricked ya.” Other days, however, I think we are the very samepeople we were at age five. I made a lot of little arts and crafts gifts for everyone. I still do that.

ENOUGH OF … having haters being something to brag about. War. Greed. Jealousy. Bring on the light!

MY CREATIVITY IS… a tricky little kitten. Where is she hiding today? Under the bed? In the back closet? She do what she please and fancies herself the most beautiful muse, and the truth is, she is and I follow her all around the world and make myself all sick from airplane germs and not enough sleep but those red lips, ohhh how they pull the poems outta my deepest caves….

TRUE POWER IS… being able to say, “I was wrong, but I am committed to being right.” And not right, like, I got the answer to the math problem right, but like Tiny Tim right. Like good heart right.

LIFE CAN BE THE… sweetest song, if you slow down long enough to put your ears against its hum.

TO LOVE IS TO… be in your most creative essence, wide open. To feel where the blood pumps to and put that into your pen, your lips, your dance. Why are there so many songs and poems and paintings and films about love. What else do we live for?

I’VE GOT FLOW BECAUSE… I grew up dancing to James Brown in my parent’s living room. Cause, in inspired moments, I can be a fish. The ocean lives in my mouth and speaks for me.

WORDS YOU LIVE BY: “Well, that’s one for the memoir.”

NEW PROJECTS FOR 2010?
Writing for a short film /
Collaborating on music (still secret!) /
Meditations /
More Living Room Sessions /
Getting published /
Love

WHERE CAN WE REACH YOU?
http://www.caitsmeissner.com
http://www.twitter.com/caitsmeissner
caitlin@mvmt.com

SHOUTOUTS?
The MVMT team, who’ve put the fire under me for 2010
Always & forever my cousin Alec & lil’ Sis, Lins
Sarah & Lichi for this inspiring blog, of course!
And y’all who know me, know I love you and we can
do shout outs for days, but I hope I say “I appreciate you”
enough for you to know who you are.

–

(Cross-posted to http://www.caitsmeissner.com)

–

My response to the amazingly stunning Sallome Hralima’s
30 Day Good Excuse Goal challenge.

Here is her call. Read/watch more at her blog!

As a direct response to President Barack Obama’s Inaugural address, I have created iPromise. An online video campaign, iPromise encourages people to consider the “price and promise of citizenship,” gives a platform for them to articulate a promised action and to be held accountable for that action. A demonstration of our shared responsibility in reshaping the country, this collaborative effort will remind us that the revolution starts with each of us and attempts to focus our attention on the power we wield as individuals and communities – attempting to move away from a “savior-complex.”

–

And of course, now I’m totally humbled because she just posted this blog with the subject “Recognizing the REAL Source of iPromise” about ten minutes ago:

My girl, Caits Meissner, reached out at the beginning of 2009 with a question she wanted people in her life to ponder.

Thirsty to write and have my voice be heard I attacked the keyboard with such fervor that I felt I couldn’t really be responsible for whatever spilled out.

I hit send, putting it into the cyber world, with only a spell check. I knew that if given more time to think about it, I’d second guess myself. It was in this time of reflection that I came up with iPromise. I immediately called my closest girls and asked their thoughts on iPromise…

Thank you for being the catalyst Caitlin.

Read Sallome’s submission here.

And in case you forgot:

Click here to view the embedded video.

.

Friends & fam,

So here’s the thing.

I wasn’t going to send a New Years email blast this year, but the momentum of these very first days of the turn of the calendar has left me buzzing and with a deep desire to spread the information and fire placed in my (freezing) hands. Let’s start here:

Day two of 2010 was ushered in by the MVMT Brunch. If you aren’t in the know, I hosted a virtual breaking of breads and information share with fifteen folks in my home, facilitated via the interweb by my mighty, mighty MVMT team. What a beautiful concept!

Over 200 fly folk like yourself tuned in from someone’s living room, or their own personal computer, to absorb Rolando’s technOrganizing concepts, as well as Jullien’s answer to New Year’s Resolutions: 30 Day Good Excuse Goals. Both of these powerful tools are available in various forms on the internet and I encourage you to learn more by visiting these two links:

http://www.julliengordon.com

–

And now, after a book release that reminded me of the power of our individual purposes and a dance party/jam session that left the room vibrating with something holy, I am in a particularly ripe place for moving into the next. I hope you are, too. In the spirit of reflection and revisiting where we are now, I want to direct you back to a project I embarked on last January:

The Little Ripple Project.

In recap:

“It’s truth we’re after here,
hurting for, out in the streets”
–Yusef Komunyakaa, Safe Subjects

The Little Ripple Project started as a simple exploratory email from one struggling artist to her community about how to remain an honest and active participant in the broader global community. In response came a barrage of deeply moving emails and stories. She felt selfish holding them all in her small fist alone, away from the world. This blog is showcasing the real dialogues between people searching for truth and honesty through creative, artistic means. Read through the submissions and be inspired to keep pushing for change. Share your own story and become apart of the unfolding fabric. The little ripples that create waves, that change a nation, that ignite the universe. We’re looking for sparks.

Visit here: http://littleripple.wordpress.com to read the original call and responses for honesty in 2009. I encourage you to think about how to continue the pledge to continue living honestly in 2010. (Check the About page for the original loooong email and the video recap!)

And now for some shameless self-promotion now that the good hearted stuff is out of the way. I’m participating in two powerful nights of words coming up. I hope you’ll join me:
–

> Performance @ Listening Party for DJ IRS’ Forthcoming Album Jan 9th

Saturday January 9th, 2010 | 6-10pm
$8 donation

For Those Listening
Album Release for DJ IRS’ forthcoming album
Hosted by HBO Def Poet Big Mike
Featuring: Monique, Caits Meissner, Deathrow Toll
& Alexis Golden Lover

@ The Hub Teen Center
411 Joyce Kilmer Ave
New Brunswick, NJ

–

> Jan. 29, 2010 Feature: The Inspired Word @ Le Poisson Rouge

FRIDAY JANUARY 29, 2010
THE INSPIRED WORD @ LE POISSON ROUGE

Caits Meissner will be featuring with a 20-30 minute set alongside friends & fellow poets Shanelle Gabriel, Kelly Zen-Ye Tsai & B(rook) Yung.

Date: Friday, Jan. 29th
Time: 7-10pm (really more like 7:30-9:30)
Place: Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012

–

In love and light,
Caits
www.caitsmeissner.com

(This year is ours!)