RetroLove News and New Poem!

Q:  How do you take 12 minutes of RetroLove poems and turn them into an evening-length show?
A:  Hook up with Philly Jazz Project, add music, stories and more poems to the mix!

Just back from a great residency at the Ragdale Foundation where I had time and space to work on creating the concept and new work for the RetroLove show slated for June 2016 in Philadelphia.  I will be updating you as we go along on this jazzy journey and save July 8 at Fergie's Pub when I take some of the new work out for a spin.

Did you know that songs lyrics are copyrighted but song titles are not?  Here is just one of the new RetroLove poems I wrote while I was away.  Do you remember this one?

you send me

flowers when it’s not my birthday

  and on valentine’s day, a nice ripe peach

mail that isn’t bills

  though everything I.O.U.

  I couldn’t repay even on lay-away

you send me

sympathy when I’m blue

  and kisses, bittersweet

sharp looks when I am unkind to

  someone who deserves better

  which I do sometimes

you send me

secret wishes

  when we blow out the candles

send me

  to places I can’t find alone

  even with a map

  and I wouldn’t want to try

you send me

away

  for my own good –

  but I always, always

  come back.

Beth Feldman Brandt

2015

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!