Category: thoughts
interviewing the poet
i just found this video, some year or two after it was made. i had no clue i was online here. i don't even really remember this interview, but i do recall working with Sol y Soul. i hope you enjoy this little candid sneak peak at conversational jonathan giving terribly vague and weak answers … Continue reading interviewing the poet
youth poetry in dc
metro weekly at beltway slam
interview before the Beltway Poetry Slam at The Fridge, February 1, 2011. and check out more on Metro Weekly, and their Outspoken program here.
Slam of the Union: A Performance Poetry Showdown and Other Life Things I Do
after an extraordinary garden open mic last night at bloombars, featuring 16 year old Darian Jones, i hosted another packed house poetry slam at the fridge on capitol hill. the beltway poetry "slam of the union" included former DC/Baltimore Slam Team legends like Twain Dooley and Chris August, as well as IWPS and WOWPS contender … Continue reading Slam of the Union: A Performance Poetry Showdown and Other Life Things I Do
1.11.11 nikki giovanni looks me in the eyes
front row packed house blizzard brewing i sat enraptured captured not by the poetry but the presence of a legend looking me square in the eyes to make sense of the life encapsulated in her words opinions and wise words of advice analysis from a respected elder an aunt that will always give it to … Continue reading 1.11.11 nikki giovanni looks me in the eyes
Christmastime for the Jews!
this is so awesome. i want to hear somebody perform it live. check out this video to see what me and my people will be doing on this, and every December 25th.
Oh and he broke my pen in half
Matt slapped me 3 times and when I tried to write you a note he took it and put it in his mouth and spit it at me. He cursed at me when he saw that you gave me a gatorade and was hitting golfballs really hard around the house. Then after I told mom … Continue reading Oh and he broke my pen in half
congratulations, you are reading
i thought i would commend you for a job well done, thus far at least, with a small mention of your great accomplishment, as it has played out, this instant, in some trivial web reading. but alas, you are reading nonetheless! and in our day and age, well slap me silly and call me bob, … Continue reading congratulations, you are reading
matches + candles = happy holidays
as the sun went down on world aids day. chanukah started. wed. dec. first. otherwise referred to as yesterday. tonight is the second night of the jewish festival of lights and i haven't celebrated with anyone but myself yet. no worries though. i'm going home to be with my family tomorrow after work. if you're … Continue reading matches + candles = happy holidays
free lights at the top of the hill 11th street
as i turned from florida avenue hard right onto 11th street and began the ascent up the hill next to cardozo high, i had no clue what beautiful useful gift i would meet at the top. right there on the side of the road at the crest of the hill waba stood with cute little … Continue reading free lights at the top of the hill 11th street
T Street in November
this is the path i walk along everyday when i go to the post office and bank for my job. i thought you'd like to see this gorgeous tree. the leaves are changing colors and dying. students are studying hard and work is, well, work. luckily in my field even when it is busy and … Continue reading T Street in November
four days
my life is going to change in four days. i'm losing a very close friend. a lover. this will change things dramatically. still not sure in what direction i will go. my mood. my emotions. my actions. i don't wanna get depressed, but i can see rain clouds in the distance. it's gonna be crazy. … Continue reading four days
TASA opening retreat workshop
this afternoon i met with the students of TASA- Teens Against the Spread of AIDS, who i will be coaching on spoken word performance poetry and street theatre for the coming year. we wrote some together, performed, and discussed the relevance of poetry to peer education work. key word: connection. that's what we decided it's … Continue reading TASA opening retreat workshop
i better find your heart
being in a relationship and listening to the top 40 r & b radio hits, it seems like every song is about you. have you ever had that feeling? it can be very dangerous to listen to the radio, even when not in a relationship. just having a crush on someone and hearing these sappy … Continue reading i better find your heart
sunset on the train home
here i am at the united way of delaware's annual meeting. they invited me to come perform for them yesterday in wilmington, de to help re-inspire their board members and supporters. i'm sorta giving the "did you take the picture yet" face in this one. oh well. i had a great time and everyone loved … Continue reading sunset on the train home
11th hour
i made the dc slam team again this year!!!!!! it was super exciting. i don't have time now to recount the whole evening, but suffice it to say that it was a nail biter til the end. here is our team (from l to r): me, 13 of nazareth, pages, and rasheed copeland (the peeps … Continue reading 11th hour
slam slam slam slam slam slam slam
tomorrow night. dc slam finals. this is it, people! it all comes down to one slam. it's gonna be bananas and pineapples and a whole fruit salad mashed into your brain and then sucked out by the most beautiful wind coming out the mouth of dc's most talented performance poets (well, some of them at … Continue reading slam slam slam slam slam slam slam
JBT 