St. Kilda

I am growng to love this place.
The flat is gorgeous. The people
love art. It is a win/win situation.
I am writing every day. And I had
my very first Aussie Burger.

It's a burger pattie, with egg, bacon
and cheese on top. Lettuce and Tomato,
obviously. But it wasn't as amazing as
I thought'd it be. No worries. We went
to Pelligrini's and it was insanely good.

We had a show @ "The Toff" which
features a green room full of penises.
No really, every poster in the green
room has a penis in a hand, on a tie
or near a mouth. Hand drawn. Except
for the nice big red penis painted in
spray can paint. The stage was miraculous
and the DJ was so flyy by introducing me
to a French DJ with a magnificent remix
of Nina Simone's Feeling Good. I will
share when I make it back stateside. Jive
Poetic and Ken Arkind killed the set. Along
with some hometown favorites, a man named
Felix was really great. Listening to an authentic
poem about Autralian life and the drinking
games was endearing. As was the short story
shared by a young lady from Sydney named
Zoe. Looks like I'll be able to run into her again
when we land in Sydney next week.

I have so many pictures and I can't upload
not one. But I will. And you will love them.
Time for window shopping the shoes. They
get it in out here!

Frank Ocean and Australia

Frank is saving my life right now. All of it. Australia is beautiful. And on the brink of
winter being over. This feels like winter is starting, to me. It is always cold and there is
a bone chill that sets in. The possum, not to be confused for our "o possum" are like cats
here. they are huge. and eat as much as raccoons. They look cuter than a rat, but I am certain
with all that cuddly looking fur, those pin button eyes and the little possum hands --  that i
still would have a bit of a problem with the homies jumping on my table and eating my
produce.

i've a long day today. longer than usual. jive and i will be teaching at Bundoora's Secondary
School then with Ken Arkind, one of my most hairy friends, will perform at Toff in Town
for an anthology launch! We met the hometown poets last night and ate a lot of seafood.
I appreciate that about the land. A lot of clean eating. And drinks. Lots of poetry and seafood
and drinks.

A Poem. St. Kilda to Irene

I am here. Staying in St. Kilda. I asked who it was named after and learned of the story of St. Kilda. The siren that sang men and their ships to their demise. I am having a wonderous time. Today is the first day of performances. After yesterdays photoshoot. Lots of great conversations, though I find myself finally falling into the groove. I get a bit tired at 5pm, everyday. Which is to say, it is 3am where I'm from. So this is normal. My internet is spotty at the flat. But elsewhere. I'm able to twitter and play WWF. This makes me uncomfortably happy. I am trying not to fall in love with this place so easily. I must admit. Its becoming a bit hard. For you -- poems. I have pictures. But my SD card isn't compatible with this world, for some reason. no worries. I'll post them ASAP. Until then. This poem.


St Kilda to Irene

i heard you were a twister of woman. that's
how they like to pin us ladies of disaster. as
a whirlwind. as tyrant. as torrential storm of
emotions. i sat on a island, like you, and turned
my throat into a bullhorn. the mates swiveled
their ships towards me and let the waves carry
them into the rocks beneath me. but you, irene, you
made a city that never sleeps, draw the shades and
pour a nightcap. you, stopped traffic in its tracks and
let the men wait on baited breath for your passing.
irene, i only called the sailors towards me for company.
i became siren of death. while men received awards for
missing my boulderous beginnings and others named
their ship after my waking disaster. they gave me every--
thing but their adoration, irene. such a cold shoulder to
a woman with a penchant for warmth and flowers and
you...irene,  what does it feel like to have someone step
aside to watch your beauty? you will become a wet
and familiar memory. your chosen will think of you
and remember the children they conceived, the art
they created and their friendships solidified after hours
of mulled wine and your song. at the sight of every
dazzling sun, they will remember you with loving hands,
irene...i envy you.

day 1 & 2

we hit the ground running

spent the first hour finding the beauty

of essendon.

our flat in the busy bustle of st. kilda

our bedroom overlooks the botanic garden

it smells like a dainty lady all of the time

first dinner scheduled is a feast of seafood

steamed and big enough to share with 10 people

pictures to come

first stop, sanctuary

Irene and Australia jitters

as i prepare to leave for australia. pack the sweater. the cute skirt. the boots. the books. the cds. the books. i receive a text about remaining calm and finding a safe dry evacuation space in new jersey. now i know irene  is enroute, and i'll be missing her with my flight to australia booked at earliest point of the evening. but now im scared for my entire house. my books. my daughter's new school jacket. my two cats. they've finally started to like me again, after that whole neutering situation. so here i am. thinking about the sanctuary i want to see in australia without minding the gnawing unknown for disaster that threatens my dear brooklyn. and my dear books. the renter's inurance quote from progressive insurance company was interrupted, as it said their company refused to aid the people in residing in my area code! the peanut brittle search i fell into this morning, during the hard and cold rain seems surreal. had i known that was a foreshadow, i'd bought an umbrella big enough for my books. my dear books. australia, it seems i need more than even before, eh?

see you tomorrow...

Bklyn Farewell

In 48 hours, I will be on a plane headed to Australia. This flight takes about 24 hours.
I know that there isn't enough books or sleep medication that can keep me contained.
So I decided I will blog my every Australian thought. Poem or otherwise. Why not. I'm
saying -- I do it for a living, right?