spring around the bend

So it's a sunny, cold day in February and Spring is just around the corner. I know that winter this year has been a tame beast, but I'm ready for Spring. I am starting to think about my garden, and this season of Occupy, and of all things improving for the sake of more sunshine. I am also happy to be writing again! Its time to get some things I've been tossing around actually off the ground. It's funny, because winter is supposed to be the time we turn in and create our best work. But this winter was never that bad, the cabin fever never set it.

But I am happy to have some upcoming events to get ready for! For a busy bee like me, that is just the motivation I need to get some good work done.

I was just asked to "do a reading" at a Women's day event. I like the inaccuracy of that. I don't "read" the poems, I spit them at you. I shout and curse.

It's the stuff of open mic nights, not exactly a "reading", but in any case I'm excited.

I was also asked to do a poem or two at a fundraiser that MPAC (Minnesota Peace Action Coalition) is doing in April. It will be our usual gathering at The Black Dog cafe (good coffee and good politics) and the funds will go to sending people to Chicago for the NATO/G8 protest later in May. The only problem, really, is that i don't have any new material.

So good things ahead! Just got to sit down and write it.

An (amended yet again) Open Letter

In the latest version of my poem An Open Letter to the FBI I've included a quick remark about Ernest Hemingway. I did not mean for this to be some obscure gesture toward the fact that the FBI spys on our celebrities too. It is actually a recent article published in the New York Times by a close friend of Hemingway's, and I think it deserves mention. In July of 2011, A. E. Hotchner told us the truth about what happen to the famous writer in the last years of his life. (I strongly suggest that you read it for yourself: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/opinion/02hotchner.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all )
It tells of how Hemingway was hounded by the government for trips that he took to Cuba. That Hemingway knew this, and was paranoid and depressed, and eventually ended his own life. At the time no one believed him. But because of a recent FOIA request having gone public (that's Freedom Of Information Act) the whole thing turns out to be true!
It is disturbing and alarming that our government was and is capable of harassing a man into ending his own life. That it is a tactic that they use (as you may know, Dr. Martin Luther King also received phone calls from the Feds suggesting he give up now and take his own life).
But the other thing that really bothers me about this, is that it demonstrates how commonplace this kind of repression is. That this is how our government has conducted itself since the McCarthy era, and that to this day it continues.
Tonight is the Concert/Cd release party for the Committee to Stop FBI repression, and I am really looking forward. I am going to do this poem at the show (yippie!) and its ganna be great. But I do just want to take a moment to point out how serious the situation really is. We have to spread this message far and wide (before they scrub the Internet of its existence). This cannot be allowed to continue. We need to stand up to them. The people should not be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of its people.

5 good reasons why YOU should come to the show next Saturday

1. All of the coolest organizers in the Twin Cities are going to be there. The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is comprised of many groups, as well as ordinary citizens, who see these attacks of the anti-war movement as attacks on us all. Working for peace and justice is not a crime in this country. Yet, with the recent treatment of Occupy protesters, the passing of the NDAA, and the new laws in place in Chicago in preparation for the NATO/G8 protests this Spring, it is clear that state repression is a hot topic.
Come and support the national group that wants to put a stop to it.

2. We have an awesome line up and it is going to be an amazing show. This concert is ganna be a blast! Featuring Guante and DJ Shannon Blowtorch, there will also be performances by James Houck, Housepet, The Running Riot, Dead Skull and poetry by yours truly! I am so excited to be a part of this project and to have one of my poems on this album. I think that art and creativity are what makes our movements strong. And the chance to put all these things together like this is the reason I am an activist. It's the reason I write poetry. Music with a message, and a fun night out that makes a real difference. What else where you going to do this weekend?

3. The benefit album is so good, you want an actual copy not just the download. I mean, what's not to love? There is definitely something for everyone on this album. It features new music from local artists, who have all donated their talents to this cause. In fact, the whole production- from making flyers to finding a venue- has been an amazing community effort. Come celebrate the release with us, and help us raise some money for future organizing efforts. Besides concerts, the CSFR brings you more protests, community dinners, out reach and good old grassroots organizing. Not every CD in your collection can do all that.

4. Not only will the CD be there for sale, so will all our other merch! This is your chance to get CSFR t-shirts, hoodies, buttons and stickers as well! Remember this is a fundraiser, people. You definitely want to check out the table in the back of the room. We also tend to carry a lot of informational flyers, and you can get up to date on the case and all our upcoming events. Sign the petition and get on our email list (and you don't have to wait for the concert to like us on facebook!)

5. FBI repression: you could be doing more. The fact is, this is serious business. We wouldn't be here today without the support of our friends and community, and we need all the help we can get. Political dissent is not a crime, in fact, it is essential to a working democracy. Help us defend our rights to speak, assemble and associate freely. These 23 people standing up to the Grand Jury, are being targeted for their work as organizers, something that in times like these is desperately needed.
Together we can do something about it.
To do it together, we need you.


Now, don't worry. If you absolutely cannot make it to the show this Saturday, you can still download the album at http://www.stopfbi.bandcamp.com/
And, of course, you can always donate directly to us on our website http://www.stopfbi.net/
(Money helps, but we like volunteers more).
Hope to see you at the show!

Peace
Misty

Benefit Concert/album release for CSFR

Hey Folks!

So, my little blog has actually gotten some traffic lately, due to the new album we put together for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, and I thought I should at least mention the CD and the coming show.
So for anyone who is new:

Welcome!

I am really excited for this show. I have always believed that when artists and activists come together we are unstoppable. I am glad to be a part of this project, and that I get to perform at the show!!!

You are all invited, by the way.

It's going to be February 18th at the 400 bar in Mpls (8pm)
Come and support the cause, come and support the community
(and me).
It is going to be such a fun night.
I can hardly wait.

Peace,
Misty

P.s. Oh yeah! And go download the album at http://stopfbi.bandcamp.com

Opening day of MN legislator (speech)

Speech for the opening day of legislator at the Capitol, Jan 24th 2012
Anti-War Committee, as a part of the People’s Bailout Coalition

To the politicians: Politicians. I came here today with a message from the people. Now, you may not know who we are, hell, I don’t know who most of you are. I don’t honestly have much use for that information, because as long as I have been alive it has been true that politicians follow the money, they listen to their lobbyists, and they do what their friends in business want them to do.
And that they do not represent us.

It has been true, but I’m here today to tell you that things have changed.

I was here last year, actually. I stood right here on the opening day of legislator and I gave a speech on the interrelatedness of injustice and war and poverty- a year ago. So I can tell you that we are in a totally different political climate, just one year later. Because Occupy Wall Street is a wake-up call to all who choose to listen. And we, as a people, as a nation, are waking up. The 99% are coming to attention, they’re coming to actions. Its amazing.

For those of us who were singing this tune all along it comes as no surprise. If anything, it has been a long time coming. Until finally, we realized that the power of the people is greater than the dollar. We are stronger, our voices carry louder than the corporate controlled media can ignore. Which is why it is so important for us to be here today, to stand up and speak out and tell these politicians how we feel.

Now, I just want to back up and say that I am here today representing the anti war committee. The AWC has been a part of The People’s Bailout Coalition since it’s inception because we understand that there is a direct link between the War on Terror and the war that’s being waged right here at home on the poor people of this country, and of this state. And when we stand up for the quality of life of Minnesotans, struggling to heat their homes, struggling just to keep their homes,
we are also acutely aware of the quality of life for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan (or anywhere, really, that has something that our government wants) who
–just like us- want to live free of fear, and go to work and school and live in peace.

When we say End the War we mean cut the funding! Cause we know that for ten years and counting, this war has been costing us in so many more ways than money. But the war profiteers are still not satisfied. And while billions of our tax dollars are being spent on bombs that keep the peace, drone planes that supposedly miss civilians, and FBI investigations that destroy our civil liberties, the whatever's left is being parceled out to inadequate health care, overwhelmed public schools and all but derailed social services.

And we’ve had enough! Minnesotans want to see their tax dollars go to Minnesotans in need, not to kill people in other countries -just to line the pockets of the 1%!


Politicians, take heed. We are awake. And we are watching you too, now. Watching what you do, and where your values lie. We are here to tell you that we want an end to militarization. We want an end to poverty. If you’re looking for some money in the budget somewhere, I say TAX THE RICH! They got us into this mess. They have profited off of us for long enough, and we have had enough of it.

Mark my words. If we can come this far in one year, think of where we will be a year from now. And the year after that. The time has come, and we the people will change this world, with or without you politicians, things are never ganna be the same. My best advice to you is to get on board!

blog, bloggity, blog, blog

So, I'm going back and forth about the use I want to make of this medium. I started out just posting poetry- finished works that I wanted to have a internet sort-of storage for. But also, sometimes I ramble. And sometimes I want to go off about stuff that is very important to me (which looks odd next to the silly stuff). So, I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing, but whatever.
I just wanted to share the seed I have for a new poem! I haven't really written anything new in over a year, and with all the stuff that's been going on that is a damn shame. Well, I just started something that I think is going to be my next big thing, and I wanted to share.
So here it is (more to come).


I know one thing: Art heals
That's why I write.
I write because my heart is crying out
almost all the time, but without a voice
it would go unnoticed.
I am only speaking for it
a secretary taking notes, but art,
art sheds light on the dark things we bury
and makes us grow.
It demands the best of us,
consoles us in our misery,
rejoices with us when we are happy
(really, a true friend).



Well, that's all I have so far, but I'm thankful for a new start.

The rising of the tide

Everyone I left back in FLake is drowning.
I miss their phone calls and play back the messages.
It sounds like them, but in a container
their voices calling to me from under the water
and it’s bad news.
They want me back
but I don’t go (often).
They want me to stick out my hand and grab them,
but I know better.
I know that a person will pull you in with them
to try to save themselves
push your head under water
a panicked, thrashing, hysterical behavior
I know- I used
to live there too, in the blue.
I have since curbed my altruism.

I sailed to a new shore
and destroyed the ship when I landed.
Not a conqueror, a refugee.
I made a home and learned the language.
I made some new friends and I try to live
peaceably amidst this war
and to stand up for what is right and just
and for what I believe in.
Still, I think of my family out there,
broken fingers that don’t make a hand
symptoms of this greater struggle that we are all in
against poverty, against hatred breeding hatred, and the kind of
willful ignorance that war creates, I think about
the casualties of this economy that we have all become
(the whole world paying for it) and I hope to have
some kind of impact on the next batch of us
who dream of an impossibly beautiful and bright future
for fear that we cannot even save ourselves.