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OPENUP!! openup hope-ope-open hopenup
Here joined in the salmonfull
luminous animal
nightbesotted anti-school
where the audience reigns
not to mention the participants
but also to mention rain
This is it the Big One World Heavyweight Championship Poetry Bout 2000 as you’ve heard mentioned previously, Mr Rabbit and Mr Bryant having so eloquently hyperbolically informed us about mmmm
so we might as well get started, haven’t we already started? the poems started long ago when the first poets crept into Taos under cover of darkness to burn the light off Pilar run away to join the Circus The Poetry Circus
Annie MacNaughton’s sweet hot coffee at Mexican Bob’s Poetry Camp Amalio Madueño Poetry to celebrate participate & cultivate at any rate perpetuate tonight in the Camisa Room Sagebrush Inn I’m talkin zip code 87571
At this point yr probably wondering what is this guy into
nuff already with the intro let’s get on with the poemmmmmmmm
So I hope it won’t be upsetting if I say I’m Bob Holman and what you’re hearing is my first poem
this is Praise Poem for the Bout for poetry for poets for us -- that’s where I start we are all poets I just thought I’d mention that
Personally I’m just back from Africa I’ve been studying with a griot -- a keeper of the oral traditions -- Alhaji Papa Bunka Susso’s teaching me how music and poetry originated as one & it’s part of the poet’s job description to inaugurate events with a praise song celebrating those who make it happen
So Hear now the praises of the places and dayses amazes Taocentric generous folk in high place(s) 6997 elevation
Now charitable bountiful munificent and liberal are not things we talk about these days without embarrassment considerable
Ya ya I’ve borrowed this praise chant from the Family Dembele of the Djibasso region of Burkina Faso
And now if I keep going on like this
you’ll have a first hand experience
of why the oral tradition probably died out in the first place
Or maybe tonight we’ll survive it revive it make it live it pass it on and leave this Bout humming hmmhmmhhmm
So I guess I can stop this singing that is if you call this singing though personally I just call it “Reading the Poem”
HERE WE GO
Gary Glazner, Margaret Victor, Juliette Torrez, & James, Rich Forrester, Abraham Smith, Bob Fullerton his new wife Robin (they met at Burning Man) & their 4 mo. old Aila Mariposa
Back at the camp my buddy, Joyce Star Beader & Adam, hi Brandon, Julep Hi dove, Diane, Catherine, Carlos Torterrici, not to mention Aaron Yamaguchi and camera David Hong, Anya, Carla, Barbara, Susan, Matt at the door, Haridass, Chairman Brigette my dancing partner, I hope this is crrazy
We got Bill and Linda on sound -- thank you! Kenn Rodriguez, Esther Griego, Jim Nave, Tamra Nichol, Danny Solis, Sonia Feher -- congrats!
DJ Murph, Genoa, Oryen, Rachel, Tessie. Elizabeth Lorenna Susanne, Rick Diane & Ryland buy books! How bout the Youth Slam! Lettering in poetry at Taos Hi! Erin Bad Hand, Sexy Sherman Cortes my man, Juan Concha, Anna, “Taos! Seattle! Taos Seattle!” Tiwa, Keres, Lakota in the house
Philip the Rappazappa, Scott & Dale Harris thanks for the juniper salve for my burn, Lisa Gill, Judith Hill, Jan I love yr hot tub, Donna Snyder, Jesus Guzman, Miriam Sagan, Mitch Reyes, Robert Masterson, Joan Longhe, Laurien Cook, Joanne Young and Marilene MM, Laurie, Melissa, Ian, Matthew, Gwendolyn, Nyla the snake woman, Star, & Rima & Julia Roberts you look great on yr big blue tractor,
The visiting slammers! Noel Franklin, Corby, David Huang, Victor Infante, Leah Deschenes, Paula Friedrich, Big Popa E & Spam & Scott who left Matthew John Connelley in Minneapolis, Gee Murray Thomas!
Rudolfo Anaya, Joy Harjo, Margaret Randall, Tony Maras, Patricia Smith and the other Patricia Smith, John Crawford, Arthur Sze, Carol Muldau, Denise Chavez, Jimmy Baca, Levi Romero, Mark Rudd, who I went to college with -- hey back in the day
Maria Leyba, Kell Robertson on his big horse, Keith Wilson, Denise Chavez (I owe her), Besmila Brigham in her Alzheimer’s, Lee Bartlett, Alex Jacobs I produced his video, Lana Norta, Aaron Bradley, Margerita Ortega, Dennis at the General Store who gave me the Open Palm Good Luck Stone, and dear 12 year-old poet of the future Grace, goodnight Gracie
I’m part of this with Sherman, with John Trudell Jerry Rothenberg Ismael Reed Nanao Sakaki, the poetry firm of Jacobus Simmons & MacAdams the list goes on& on&on-ony-on and for those who think this is just one big ass-kiss poem I say Praise to you too this is praise poem for all of us --
Let’s praise Max Finstein, he was nuttin’ but a poet and his spirit soars on as the trophy of the Bout
This tribe’s grown too damn big these lights are too damn dim besides they only give me ten minutes for each of my poems (5? omagod I must be over already)
In Africa the griots get paid off by cash on the forehead -- here we do it with applause
Think of each clap
closing a gap
bringing us together
I’ll take the rap
There’s a ton more names to mention most of them are Indian so I think I’ll cede the floor to my most esteemed friend and champeen
Besides I have sit down and write my next poem
So a round of thunder!
(each clap
closing the gap)
thunder for the wonder --
praisers, stargazers,
trailblazers and hell-raisers --
applause for us all
who answer the call
© 2000, Bob Holman
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