Blog Posts for Jeanne Powell

Those Women in Veils

Jeanne Powell — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:42:55 -0800

Iranian woman protests in the streets of Tehran. (Photo: .faramarz / flickr) Afghani woman. (Photo: twocentsworth / flickrYou know those women in veils, who are the subject of patronizing soundbites on American newscasts? Those women in veils who frequently appear as exotic subjects in lurid emails circulated by American liberals, who think of them as domestic drones paperclipped to a kitchen ...

Capilano Canyon -- A Cautionary Tale

Jeanne Powell — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:49:00 -0700

People actually have asked me why I didn't call them when I was in Vancouver BC for a week, since they know I like to stay in touch. Well, I really did plan to call, despite the roaming charges my carrier would have loaded on the cell phone bill. There was a little problem, though. Our agile guide took 16 of us into the wilds of Capilano Canyon, an hour or two outside Vancouver. You get ...

Collages from Word Dancing

Jeanne Powell — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:29:27 -0700

All right, all right! Finally a few of my collages from WORD DANCING have been uploaded. Here are five images.

Rev. Jackson's Tears

Jeanne Powell — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:25:29 -0700

So much to celebrate last November 5th, the day after America's 2008 national election. The Chicago audience was giddy with excitement as the incoming president spoke. No reason to notice an older man standing quietly in the crowd, tears running down his face, features twisted with emotion. Once the photograph was published, though, responses were quick -- twitters, smug columns and lightweight ...

Did You Know?

Jeanne Powell — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:25:48 -0700

[Fruitvale BART station,Oakland CAJanuary 1, 2009]my country 'tis of theesweet land of libertyof thee I singdid you know before today a bullet fired in disdain,callous indifferenceinto a young father's backas he lies face down on harsh cementwill power through, race throughhis body pronebounce off the pavement coldand splash back into vital organslike the heart and spirit and soul,leaving ...

The Assassin

Jeanne Powell — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:06:59 -0700

Bay windows shimmer where he standson a picture perfect afternoonframed in flashpoints of sunlighthe is desperately in search of coveracross the living room she glowedexulted in his safe returnhowever unsteady his directionback in the world, walking pointfrom kitchen to backyard barbecuethick carpet, forest greenobliterates their teakwood floordisguises her barefoot stepsas she glides ...

The Walking Wounded

Jeanne Powell — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:22:45 -0700

Veterans deserve competent counseling and they need it now.Pressure the Pentagon and the VA, the President and Congress, until somebody listens.Increasing numbers of combat personnel are returning to the U.S. with ptsd; several have turned their weapons on strangers, colleagues, their families and/or themselves. Berkeley poet Julia Vinograd's powerful poem appears below.Instructions for ...

About War -- a place to start

Jeanne Powell — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:06:32 -0700

The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats [published after the Great War of 1914-1918]Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon can not hear the falconer.Things fall apart; the center can not hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate ...

My Big Adventure

Jeanne Powell — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:29:42 -0700

"Come up to Point Arena and read for me." OK, why not? Even though I have no idea where Point Arena is, I think it cannot be too hard to find. So I schedule this event in the distant future, and ask for a street address to post on Redroom. "Well, we don't really use street addresses here -- it's the red building with flowers in front. We only have one main ...

Prose, Poetry, Art -- where were you?

Jeanne Powell — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:31:24 -0700

If someone mentions art, slam poetry, fiction writing and live music -- you think of San Francisco, right? Of course you do, unless you're from Berkeley, but that's another story.However, if you are talking about the first weekend of April 2009, you would be wrong. Pleasanton -- yes, Pleasanton -- hosted its "8th Annual Poetry, Prose & Arts Festival" and you missed a lot of ...