Bedtime Story Conservatory 39 04/05/2020

Hello everyone,

Things are moving oh so quickly, the minutes go slowly, the days go faster, the weeks go like lightning, and the last month feels like it didn't happen. Reminding you all that you are still here, on the ground, you're not lost in the crowd, in the ether, in the air, you're skin is holding your bones together still. At least we can find some sort of comfort in that.

I would also like to point you towards Robert Shields, who spent 4 hours a day documenting his life every 5 minutes. The result is a 37.5 million word diary. This is not saying we should aspire to be more productive, but instead admire another manifestation of existing, and of grounding oneself in some action outside of the body.

"Shields holes himself up in the small office in his home, turns on his stereo, and types."

Today's reading is Jayne Cortez's poem Don't Ask/1980 2009.

"Jayne Cortez was an African-American poet, activist, small press publisher and spoken-word performance artist whose voice is celebrated for its political, surrealistic and dynamic innovations in lyricism and visceral sound."

She was a key part of the Black Arts Movement (BAM) in the 60's and 70's. The poem is violently sensory, throws you around, grabs things, presents them to you, you can't look away. 

Here is a link to today's reading-

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BaTctvekk-zZiDMMlvEOB6Pr5zuZ0BqR

And a link to all previous readings-

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t4v042zpGgwI7KN6_ST_tAthqm63J22V

Warmest wishes, warmest love,

Sam