taylor mali gratitude

i saw the poet taylor mali perform last summer; he’s a friend’s friend and favorite, and after that hilarious, enlivening night i favored him too. there was one poem that got caught in me, but i couldn’t recall the name, just a couple of lines and how it made me feel. (it would be cool if you could google your feelings–“seen” “awakened” “saucy” “yes”–and just the right thing would pop up.) i’ve been meaning to dig it up for a year.

i got to churning on it again when i saw this cool typographical video someone did with one of his poems, “totally like whatever, you know?” (below). so this weekend i emailed taylor, who has won poetry slams galore, and he was lovely enough to respond right away. “i want a woman,” the poem is called. (thank you, taylor!) it was instantly clear why it was still whirlpooling in me. (i haven’t asked permission to post, so google away–i found it on an ok cupid profile.) in my searching i also discovered he’s got a reading/book release party coming up on 9/9/09 at bowery poetry club. yay. wanna come?

anyway, below, video, for fun and inspiration on speaking declaratively, living declaratively (tho spell-check has decided that “declaratively” is not a word). it’s made me re-notice the absolute snowdrift of ums and likes and you knows and sorta, kinda, maybes i bury myself in to seem less threatening or potent and more cute and humble and deferential. which i’m like totally fucking not.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

here’s another you may have heard, “what teachers make”:

and finally, this, “when the monks came to chant at kripalu,” which is especially close to my heart for various spiritual and boy-related reasons.