Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

Since closing the doors of Listen & Be Heard Poetry Café, I have given much thought to the Listen & Be Heard website. The site has been serving several functions, including serving the arts community by publishing announcements, reviews and opportunities, and promoting the events we produced at the café. We also publish poetry on [...]

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The review of “Sound Poems” by The Word-Music Continuum began in San Francisco’s China Basin at McCovey Cove. It was carried by a reviewer into a building at Pier 48. The planned route along the Embarcadero was not used.
The above-mentioned reviewer emerged from the building joined by two other reviewers. Both of [...]

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April 18 will be the opening night for the BENICIA OLD TOWN THEATRE GROUP presentation of “Sugar Babies” at the BDES HALL. This is actually a revival of sorts as the BOTTG originally performed this show 20 years ago. Done in the old Vaudeville and Burlesque style, this will be an evening of [...]

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for Barry

way out in space
out so far
that if a man went that far
& came back
to talk about it
he’d be younger
than his grandchildren
…that far out in space
a red giant implodes
slow grey clouds rumble
in gale-warning wind
over the lens of Palomar
but when the game isn’t televised
there’s always the radio
play-by-play
& if perchance we fall asleep
listening to the twink & [...]

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dust devils dance on
the floor of decayed chicken houses
kicking up heels of white feathers,
the smell of the daily grind
that had encyclopedias calling
this place: The Egg Basket of the World
Captain Bill & Billy Ralph stand, crow bars
in hand, ignoring
the growth of golden rolling hills,
eucalyptic sprouts…
40 feet high, sway & creak—
spearheads spiral down from their limbs
to [...]

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                            Unscrunched –
At-a-pinch an illusory surface.
Rucks are crushed points, downstream.
An air-oozing atlas
Of fingerprints, smears.
A bubble ground to its pinpoint
In some see-through, unrevealed way.

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April 13 the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS will hold its Annual Garden Tour. This year the tour will be in memory of SANDY OLSEN, a popular League member. The tour runs from 11:00 AM through 4:00 PM. There will be seven “luscious” gardens to tour and light refreshments at the FISH-RIDDELL [...]

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This production deserves nominations for the Solano Community Theatre awards of this season. I definitely plan to return for its final weekend with friends and my little tadpole. But, you do not have to be a child to enjoy the benefits of the productions. I sat next to a group of professional [...]

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…is Vallejo still at the point of having to declare bankruptcy, which has been blamed in large part due to its union-negotiated contracts with the police and fire departments? Why is there no ongoing mention of it in local, state, or national media? With the exception of the ongoing reports posted by the Vallejo Independent [...]

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Local Community Colleges Shine with Great Musical Productions
 
Setzer gives a performance worthy of standing ovation. His solos are heart felt. His singing is brilliant. He gives Nathan Lane a run for his money.  
Jennifer King, head of the Theatre Department at Napa Valley College, directs a family musical of a different feather. [...]

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It’s over but it’s not over.
It’s ending but it’s beginning.
Nothing ever changes
and nothing stays the same.
Truth is in the moment
and encompasses everything
that is transforming
as we participate in it.
With ups and downs of
being who we are
working with what we have
moving toward what
we will become
small changes may go
unnoticed by all but a few
until the vision is complete [...]

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growing up inadequacies
motions slow unbalanced questioning
clouds moving far grasping grays
is it better to know or flow with blind hope
to follow each day’s residue until maybe’s tomorrow
but a kite can fly only with its steady anchor
as the leashed can never be lost
free as one can be- cautious hesitation, contemplation feels key
to be unwatched- thrilling
and looking behind [...]

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What do I do when I don’t have a clue?
sit here, and I wanna be angry,
but it’s so hard tonight.
There are so many reasons to cry,
tonight,
not one can I find.
not a reason.
Wonder Why…
I don’t hear an angry word
all I see is beautiful
everything is dissolved in the night,
it could be ’cause I hear you…
or maybe I [...]

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Brocade in ivory and foam-flecked cream,
Your robe-de-chambre has arrived.
Many-sidedly turned out (by hand).
The smocking at T.G. Jakobowicz’s
Is The Biz for the hob-nobility.
Assume the cutter’s scruples with lace
For the floppy bodice, pique at the ruffle,
Two square yards of netting
Under cute queenly ormshells.
Trip-up velvet skirting,
Angelhooded, slight-skein sleeves.
As if narcotics yoked a driven ecstasy,
A translation of shadows,
A butterfly’s [...]

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The gates are open,
and she comes through;
embellished
by the moonlight.
His attempts,
bring back hopes
of a forgotten promise,
he shines.
Remembering her attempts
he is strengthened
in silence, he holds
for she reigns in his province.
And this night is different,
and he remembers
the slight nuances that take shape
in the moonlight, their lives are embellished.
And all that happened
is theirs to know;
and what will be,
is a [...]

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