Mare Pacificum

Canada Come Home – Live in Victoria, BC

jeremyloveday — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:25:44 +0000

jeremyloveday — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:49:56 +0000

Quick Update:

jeremyloveday — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:57:13 +0000

December 10th – Solstice Cafe – I am featuring at Tongues of Fire. I am pretty excited to share my new work and some old favourites with the people of my hometown.

My poem Inwangsan is featured in the anthology Every Second Sunday published by the Seoul Writers Workshop. It is available at some English bookstores in Seoul or through the Seoul Writers Workshop. My poem is also on this blog in an earlier post so I suggest you just read it there if you want.

the subversive power of word

jeremyloveday — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:01:06 +0000

To understand the power of word I think we must examine why for so long and in so many places people have been denied the right of speech. The oppression under Mugabe in Zimbabwe is a glaring account of this but throughout Zimbabwe’s post-colonial history there have been outspoken artists who have shown a light on the issues at hand. In the tradition of Zimbabwean artists like Thomas Mapfumo two of Harare’s brightest lights and most subversive poets Comrade Fatso and Outspoken are beginning a tour of North America to spread word of the plight of Zimbabwe. They will be touring with a full band and will be rocking hip-hop shows, spoken word events, even leading debates and giving workshops.

Comrade Fatso gained recognition around the world for his protest poetry and the foundation of the House of Hunger Slam in Harare. Here is a clip of Comrade Fatso from that spoken word series.

Tour Dates
Boston, MA: April 2; 5-13; 24-26
Hartford. CT: April 3, 4
New York, NY: April 14, 15
Princeton, NJ: April 16
Washington DC: April 17-23

News – April 2009

jeremyloveday — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:28:16 +0000

It has been a long while since I posted here. Here’s some quick news to fill the void on this site. The arrival of Seoul Slam has come. Seoul’s first English Poetry Slam is being launched at Sensation Lounge on April 25. Presented by Word Food the event will be hosted by myself and Jeremy Toombs and it should be a blast. DJ Madrid will close the night by rocking the Word Full into a dancing frenzy till the wee hours. I’m stoked to be involved with some expat Slam action. Click here for the facebook event page.

Secondly, I am featured in the latest edition of the South African hip-hop and culture magazine FreeRiddim. Check it! I have been reading this magazine online for a while now and they always feature quality poets and artists with something to say.

peace.

The realest.

jeremyloveday — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:57:29 +0000

Every so often Youtube serves up some real slept on talent. The homeless beatbox king “Red” turned up behind the Heavyweight Art Gallery in December and has been an internet phenom ever since.

According to his latest video on Youtube he is getting his shit together and has a single coming out in February. Put me down for an album.

Listen to this one with your headphones on and the volume up.

Aid Gaza Benefit

jeremyloveday — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:41:47 +0000

This Saturday at Club 500 come check out this great event for an even better cause. I will be opening and closing the night with poems including a new one called “Griots Arise”. For more information check out the website for the event.

January 20th, 2009

jeremyloveday — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:17:06 +0000

Today, we stand naked before each other and throw our shoes at history.
Today, his words more true than ever we stop awaiting ourselves and start acting.
Today, the empire takes the flag off the mirror and stares.
Today, we see that eight years of brutality and lies were eight years of brutality and lies.
Today, more Palestinians will die.
Today, people will be force fed at Guantanamo Bay, the war will rage on in Iraq, the Taliban will regroup, and
Today, Obama you are accountable.
In your words, in our name, across the world we have smiled with you and given you your light.
Today, you find the limits of your power and depth of your ego.
and today the piggybacks stop and there is no honeymoon.
Today, you will begin to disappoint. But still
Today, we smile because America is a self-fulfilling prophecy
and even though the deepest river cannot bleed the cities of their tears
Today, the weather changes, underground or not and blows coal ash into your deep lungs. and
Today, San Francisco’s gay population will dance, naked and unmarried upon your nimble tongue. And
Today, Afghanistan will awake with a new landlord and 20 000 more troops securing a pipeline. and
Today, Obama, either you stick your flag lapel pin to your heart or to your tongue because
Today, you have the choice whether or not to bring justice to your land and call war crimes – war crimes.
Today, a black man is president and 1 million more sit in prison cells angrily awaiting Change.
Today, promises begin to be broken.
but today we smile, naked
and thankful because
Yes we can change the world
The wait is over
Today, we come alive.

Inwangsan

jeremyloveday — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:14:37 +0000

Inwangsan

He carries his typewriter to the tops of mountains.
Counting bugs and raindrops in search of inspiration.
The ancient eludes him as he imagines the smog to be ocean mist replenishing the city.
He sees a robed man praying with his back turned to ant farm Seoul and tries not to take a photograph.
He sneaks his camera out and snaps proof that he had seen zen and was close enough to touch it.
He wishes he wasn’t just running past
Alienated from his own dreams by the manic pace of his mind.

He hurriedly stuffs paper into the cartridge and writes
“I am Western Lion. I’ve come to feed on your women.
I am totem of tree rooted in stinky streets and spicy noodles.
Feed me world for I am hungry.
Feed me the freedom my people promised you.
Feed me the ancient ways you left behind.”

He is tired of the conformity of steel and concrete
but the alleys and empty lots are more like home.
He wishes he could spend out his days here above this city
that will never be his own.
Typing words about things he cannot capture in a language
not meant to describe them.

photo by Lisa Roscoe

The Festival of the Trees

jeremyloveday — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:00:22 +0000

Living in the endless city I miss trees more than anything else.

Silhouettes

Eyes search for the sky, lined with arches, creaking
the curved spines of cedars, reaching
with forgotten stories of ages undone.

We listen, from within the shadows of wisdom.

i dream of the
quintessential BC silhouette.
cedar balancing on cliffside
over relentless Pacific
growing towards the moons brother.
smoldering memories of countless unmarked others.

We only visit on weekends. tenting ourselves
from the raindrops and hiking
in lugubrious moss with mud
between toes softened by shoes and the city.

Like our grandparents in sterile homes
their stories going unspoken, lineages of knowledge broken
the trees circle inwardly, counting the years
since someone listened with the respect they’ve earned.
our elders lay in pale blue rooms counting the days until someone returns

To visit, for the weekend.

Sign a petition to stop the Logging of BC’s old growth forests – BAN RAW LOG EXPORTS!

photo credit: The singular tree photo was taken by Lisa Roscoe.