schof.org A journal of learning and doing

So I was sitting on the beach in Playa Del Carmen with these three German girls me and Paul met there and we were passing a joint back and forth and when Anna was dragging deep these two undercover narcs came up to us and shined flashlights in our faces …

Went to the reading at Midnight Special Bookstore yesterday. It's interesting how each reading has a different character, even when some of the same people attend. The MS has has a generally older crowd of readers -- with the average age in the 50's or higher -- with a surprisingly young crowd …

Went to "Green" at Tanner's Culver City last night -- was somewhat disappointed. This is the third time I've been to Green, and the first two were absolutely incandescent, fiery nights of rockin' poetry. Last night's was good, no doubt about it -- the equal to many other readings in the city …

I received a very interesting e-mail from someone today taking me to task for "sitting in judgment" on other poets and "saying such negative things about them."

She also said, quite memorably, that "The thing I find most disturbing is that you were paid for your performance and you still …

Just got back from the reading at "Mia." This was my first feature in almost four years -- my first feature since rejoining the poetry world for real in November 2001 -- and it felt great to be back in the saddle. I did 20 minutes of material -- at least I was …

Went to a reading at Rapp Saloon in Santa Monica last night. It's just around the corner from Tanner's, where I'll be reading tonight, but it's surprisingly hard to find. It's one room in a youth hostel, and the front door to the room is locked -- you have to avoid …

Went to "Mia" at Tanner's in Santa Monica last night. Fairly decent reading -- it was a mixed bag, with some earnest but really bad poetry, and some really rockin' stuff. Standout was the feature, Jelena Andjelkovic, who did a really solid 20 minutes. Nice hosts (Charlotte and Michelle) who did …

1. There are no great performances without great audiences. A great performance is a collaboration between the speaker and the listener. Performers should view the attention, silence, and appreciation of the audience as valuable gifts that should not be squandered.

2. Only perform works that you like. It doesn't have to be …

Walking down Winston St. one night, Moses with the limp and the smoker's
cough saved my ass. Started walking next to me and introduced me to this
six-four big motherfucker. Moses leaned over and whispered that the guy
was gonna jack me, and Moses escorted me, we all three walked …

From the grip of fingers on a steering wheel;
the line of a closed mouth;
the precise angle of eyelashes —
I can divine sorrow — anger — love — rage;
all the varied flavors of silence.

I have been trained in this since birth;
a disciple of a stern faith.
I can express …