Sashana Proctor, David Madgalene and Steve Shain at Friends House, Thursday, August 10th, 2017 7:15 pm

Friends,
please join us at Friends House

THURSDAY, August 10, at 7:15 P.M., IN THE LIBRARY

Friends House,
684 Benicia Drive,
Santa Rosa, CA

Write Series Hosts Clare Morris and Vilma Ginzberg

 "This month, the Second Thursday Poetry-Plus evening will feature two very dynamic poets, from dissimilar backgrounds and using different poetic voices, who nevertheless share a deep belief in the basic triumph of the best in human nature.  David Madgalene's epic poetry, accompanied by bassist Steve Shain, echoes jazz and gospel musicality.  His most recent epic poem, "Call Down the Angel," was made into a gospel-based musical this year. Sashana Proctor's poetry, recounting human struggles and joys, emerges, like her collages, from an ecology-based spirituality. Recently, she has turned her attention to writing about getting older, which she muses, "beats the alternative."  Another poetry-plus evening not to be missed."

Hoodoo Girl by Ed and Justin Coletti

For more videos from "Call Down the Angel" please go to John Christian's YouTube channel at John Christian

Mike Tuggle

Mike Tuggle was a poet of the first caliber, and a marvelous, wonderful human being. He will be greatly missed. I had the honor of publishing Mike’s poem, “Dance of the Blind Pig” in the 2011 anthology, Continent of Light. Sadly, perhaps Mike’s poem is more relevant now than when it was written.

Dance of the Blind Pig

No thank you, Mr. Bomb,

we don’t need your help.

Our blind, headlong fecundity

has engineered it on its own—

      we’ll soon be gone.

And what of it?

Who do we think we are?

So many kinds have left

this earth before.

Who said we were entitled

to forevermore?

Ah, but we blind pigs can dance!

Ah, but we blind pigs can sing!

Ah, but we blind pigs can think!

     We blind pigs do everything!

For a little while.

 

One is always taking a great risk when publishing one of one’s own poems beside a poem by Mike Tuggle. However, in this case, I’ll risk suffering by comparision. I wrote this poem for, and not about, Mike (Anyone who knew Mike knows that!). And I realize now that I never got the chance to share it with him as I’d hoped to do.

La brisa del mar

(for Mike Tuggle)

He drove to the coast

and he walked along the beach

and among the rocks

and over the cliffs

and he looked out across the flat sea…

Later, he went to the restaurant

                on the bay.

She was there, waited on him,

            as he’d wished she might.

Their conversation was limited to

his order; he communicated

            his wishes clearly and succinctly.

            Her service was brisk and efficient.

The food was good; the view of the bay exquisite.

            As she handed him the bill,

            their hands touched, and he felt the jolt.

            He tipped her the fifteen percent

(something he rarely did)

and as he drove home, night swallowed the sea.

Call Down the Angel June 3rd 2 pm Occidental Center for the Arts

Saturday, June 3, 2017. CALL DOWN THE ANGEL. Music and Poetry featuring Susan T. Mashiyama, Kirk Lumpkin, Ed Coletti, Justin Coletti, Kirk Charles Heydt, Steve Shain, Nico Morris and David Madgalene. Free and open to the public. Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental, CA. 2:00 to 4:00 PM. 707-328-3325.

Call Down the Angel is a journey through the spiritual desert of contemporary America, simultaneously individualistic and evocative of the collective subconscious. Susan T. Mashiyama, Kirk Lumpkin, Ed and Justin Coletti, Steve Shain, Kirk Charles Heydt, Nico Morris and David Madgalene present original songs and poems in this heartfelt love letter to “the black and unknown bards” who created the roots gospel blues music of the Southeastern United States.

Susan T. Mashiyama Call Down the Angel June 3rd 2 pm Occidental Center for the Arts

Susan T. Mashiyama is a Bay Area harp player and singer/songwriter whose pieces have nature and mythological themes that are influenced by traditional and Celtic music. She was trained classically in piano and violin, and later became introduced to Irish music and the Celtic harp. She also plays the Irish fiddle. Her debut album of harp and song Dance of the Fairies is a collection of original pieces about fairies and other mythological creatures, as well as some classic favorites such as "Ave Maria" and "Danny Boy." Her second album is a collection of favorite Christmas carols and her future plans include a holiday collection of songs and pieces from different religious traditions. Susan has played for a number of years in local Bay Area venues and serves as the Music Director for the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, a church that welcomes all faiths that have love as their basis, and also welcomes agnostics and atheists, and encourages individual spiritual exploration. Susan also makes music videos that tell the stories behind the songs and music. She hopes people can feel the peacefulness and joy she feels when she plays music.

Nico Morris Call Down the Angel June 3rd 2 pm Occidental Center for the Arts

Nico Morris was born 1947 in Washington,  D.C., and raised in Mexico and California. Since early childhood, Nico has been exposed to many musical traditions with their roots in indigenous culture. A student of many forms, teacher of some, and master of none, he’ll try to get out of the way and let the music/spoken word say the rest.

Saturday, June 3, 2017. CALL DOWN THE ANGEL. Music and Poetry featuring Susan T. Mashiyama, Kirk Lumpkin, Ed Coletti, Justin Coletti, Kirk Charles Heydt, Steve Shain, Nico Morris and David Madgalene. Free and open to the public. Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental, CA. 2:00 to 4:00 PM. 707-328-3325.

Call Down the Angel is a journey through the spiritual desert of contemporary America, simultaneously individualistic and evocative of the collective subconscious. Susan T. Mashiyama, Kirk Lumpkin, Ed and Justin Coletti, Steve Shain, Kirk Charles Heydt, Nico Morris and David Madgalene present original songs and poems in this heartfelt love letter to “the black and unknown bards” who created the roots gospel blues music of the Southeastern United States.