62 Philly Poets (including me)

Join me for some poetic cheer for the Moonstone Book Launch and holiday fuss this Sunday, December 14th beginning at 1:00 pm at Brandywine Workshop, 728 S. Broad Street.  The book and reading showcase Moonstone's featured poets from the past year and it is a great line-up.  One poem a  poet . I am right in the beginning so don't be late!  The event is free but if you can't come, you can still buy the 2014 Anthology of Featured Poets here.

Not So Dull At All!

I love used books stores.  No surprise there.  But wandering through the Friends of the Free Library bookstore at 20th and the Parkway, I saw this Modern Physics book from the 1920's.  Which of course, I also loved and was ready to snatch up for $3 when I noticed the author was...

CHARLES E. DULL!

A descendant or cousin of the Charles B. Dull for whom I wrote a poem this summer?  Perhaps I will call Laurel Hill cemetery and ask them.

Apparently, physics in the 1920's was not so far off.  If you check Amazon, this book is still in circulation.

What a deal!

Catch some RetroLove on October 12th!

I am jazzed to be included in an upcoming poetry reading taking place as part of Green Street Artists' participation in POST (Philadelphia Open Studio Tours) on Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 pm, 5225 Green Street in Germantown Philadelphia.

The afternoon is hosted by poet Trapeta Mayson and will include readings by Thomas Devaney, Nzadi Keita, Yolanda Wisher, and yours truly.  Stroll the artist studios in the neighborhood, then add some words to top off the afternoon.

Hope to see you there!

Word Warm Ups for Summer!

Thanks to everyone who turned out to see the Bartram's Boxes Remix exhibition and maybe even bought a copy of Solace (still available here -- hint, hint)

So what's up next?  During my annual beach sojourn, I decided to do some 'warm-up' poems just for fun without some huge project in mind...yet.  Kind of  like doing your stretches and cracking your knuckles to do some future heavy word-lifting.

A few years ago, I wandered around the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia and snapped shots of headstones for people whose names were also nouns or adjectives.   This one certainly begs the question: Who would name their child "Charles B. Dull"?

So with no aspiration for historical context, a warm-up poem from the word...

DULL

No luster or reflection

or nuanced conversation.

No animation or edge of irony.

No twinkling of eye

or curve of lip in a wry smile.

No sharp wit or curiosity.

What is dull, in fact,

is your lack of interest

      

in me.

(c) Beth Feldman Brandt 2014

July19th-Poetry Reading and Closing Bartram's Exhibition Event!

The journey is ending!  On Saturday, July 19th at 4:00, I will be doing a poetry reading and book signing of the Bartram's poems as part of the closing event for Bartram's Boxes Remix at the Center for Art in Wood.  The show is heading off on tour but this is your last chance to see it here in Philadelphia.

The boxes (pictured above by my collaborative partner Claire Owen are stunning and it has been quite the ride for the past three years as we worked toward this exhbition.  The other artists' work in this exhibition is breathtaking so, even if I was not doing the poetry thing, I would say, you gotta see this!

Come join us to celebrate and here some cool words in a cool space!

Spoken (Bartram's) Words! Push PLAY.

During the Bartram's Boxes Remix exhibition, we have had the good fortune to be followed around by videographer John Thornton who was kind enough to make this short film of me reading two of the poems from Solace on the steps of the Bartram family home.  Anyone looking for an art-loving, right-priced video guy for their artistic endeavors can connect with John through me.  Just shoot me an email and I will hook you up.




The exhibition runs through July 19th at the Center for Art in Wood for you Philly folks.

And, of course, if you want some printed words, you can still buy the book here!

Now PLAY!

Support your (favorite?) Poet? New Book!

As part of the opening weekend of Bartrams Boxes Remix, now on exhibition until July 19, 2014 at the Center for Art in Wood, I had the privilege of reading my Bartram poems on the steps of the original Bartram house!

And yes, that is a book in my hands.

"Solace" the book of poems about trees and the Bartams and journeys and caretakers and storms and the unknown Bartram women and crocodiles and slavery and Quaker disownment and... and...and...

Click and buy the book here for a mere $10 and choose to have it shipped or have it personally delivered by your (favorite?) poet. All come gratefuly inscribed by yours truly.

Thanks for the support and I hope you love, love the poems!

Finally Bartram's Boxes are here!

See the show!  Buy the book!

It has been years in the making but Bartrams Boxes Remix  opens this Friday, May 2nd at the Center for Art in Wood, 141 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia and continues through July 19, 2014.  Check out an article about the exhibition which features over 20 artists, including yours truly with my art partner, Claire Owen, in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Not in Philly this weekend?  You can still buy Solace, the collection of my poems about the Bartrams and trees and journeys and storms and caretakers and...trying to find meaning in loss.  See some of the poems and order the book published by Greenleaf Poetry Press here. Order now and your book will be lovingly inscribed by the poet!

Hope to see you here or there. Philadelphia springtime is beautiful!

Bartram’s Boxes

We travel at risk of health and untold loneliness

to uncover what has been seen only by Creek

or crocodile among the brambles.

How we love each fruit or flower for its singularity,

the way we love a wife’s touch, a son’s quick mind,

a daughter’s attentiveness.

Ours is the commerce of curiosity,  seeds gathered,

sifted, tenderly nestled in moss, until with sunlight

and breath, each will spark like tinder,

reveal its secret – beauty, fragrance, usefulness –

brilliant as sunset, dark as coffee, a balm –

sent to bloom across oceans like the children

who blossom in our absence.

We are men of science.  Men of faith.

This is our praise.

                              - Beth Feldman Brandt, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day! Watch some RetroLove on YouTube!

It has been a cold, snowy, sleeting, jeez-enough already, winter here in Philadelphia.  Hopefully, you are finding ways to keep warm -- some of which may include your own version of RetroLove.

If you missed my reading at Moonstone, here is a two-minute RetroLove date for you and your sweetie, your kid, your best friend. Remember what it was like to try to remember those precious details about your new love before you could look up their whole life on Facebook?

Watch it here and share it with the one(s) you love...hope it helps keep you warm!

Come Support Las Gallas! And hear some RetroLove

My buddies Julia Lopez, Magda Martinez, and Michelle Ortiz,  otherwise known as the Las Gallas collaborative have the chance to perform in Cuba!

I am so honored to be asked to do some RetroLove poems as part of their fundraiser this upcoming Wednesday night.  They have an amazing line-up planned including Sonia Sanchez, Pablo Batista, Chuckie Joseph and more.  Tickets and more info here.  Join us for a great night of arts, passion and a funky good time!

Change of Venue for January 8th Reading!

My reading of RetroLove will still be on January 8th at 7:00 PM but will take place at the Brandywine Workshop, conveniently located at 728 South Broad St, not Fergie's Pub.  Nice spot although without the stale beer aroma.

Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel.

See you there, perhaps!

We have a winner!

Thanks to all those who got out the vote for my haiku and those Philadelphians are quite good at getting out the vote. Enough said. All of you put me on top for the 2013 Haiku-Year-in-Review!  Here I am with the final broadside featuring my poem and three others plus art.

(By the way, the most orderly, civilized place in Philadelphia is people taking pictures in front of the LOVE statue.  Go try it some time.)

Now comes your part of the Broadsided Press experience.  

1. Click here and download a copy of the completed broadside.  You can read more about the project (including some sassy observations from the poets) here.
2. Print it out.
3. Post it somewhere in your world.  Like your library or a bus shelter or the grocery store or a coffee shop or your office water cooler or your laundry room. 
4. If you are so inclined, take a picture of where you post it, with you in it if you like, and send it to me or to Broadsided.
5. Poetry in the streets in 2014!  Let's go people...

And if you are really in the poetry mood now, join me next Wednesday, January 8th at Brandywine Workshop, 728 South Broad Street (not Fergie's Pub as originally scheduled) in Philadelphia at 7:00 when I do a 15-minute set of my new poems, RetroLove! All the details are here.

Here's to a groovy, creative 2014!