30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth Awareness

Recap from 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness – Listen to Ananda’s audio blogs from April 24 – 30

Posted by Ananda Leekeon May 5, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

National Poetry Month 2010 was amazing! My 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness celebration gave me a chance to rediscover some of my favorite poets and poems. I also discovered new poets and poems. I had big fun recording my audio blogs and posting them on Cinchcast, Twitter, and Facebook each day. Just in case you missed listening to them, I have included a list of links for the period of April 24 to April 30 below. Enjoy!

Links for my audio blogs with poetry for April 24 to April 30:

April 24 – Listen to Ananda share Langston Hughes’ poem “Earth Song.” She also shares her poem “Let America Be Green America Again” from her new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/51699
April 25 – Listen to Ananda share Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem “Recommendation.” She also reads her poem “People of Color Sangha” in her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/52053
April 26 – Listen to Ananda share Margaux Delotte-Bennett’s poem “Crossroads.” She also reads her poem “Mantra Meditation” from her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/52591
April 27 – Listen to Ananda read Thomas Sayers Ellis’ poem “Stayed Back.” She also reads her poem “Episodes in the Life of a Brazen Careerist.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/52699
April 28 – Listen to Ananda share Yael Flusberg’s poem “optical illusions” and her poem “Life Outside of Starbucks on 16th & U on a Rainy Saturday.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/53110
April 29 – Listen to Ananda read Alan King’s poem “At Selam’s.” She also reads her poem “Love Cafe” from her new book That Which Awakens Me. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/53520
April 30 Part 1 – Listen to Ananda read Derrick Weston Brown’s poem “Ol’ Man Strength.” She also reads her poem “Our Kind of Blue” from her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/53988
April 30 Part 2 – Listen to Ananda read Toni Blackman’s poem “Freedom Piece.” She also reads her poem “21 Drops of Inspiration in My Creative Bucket.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/54137

30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness – Listen to Ananda’s audio blogs from April 14 – 23

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 23, 2010April 23, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

My daily practice of posting audio blogs and six-word memoirs for my online campaign “30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness” has been happening on Twitter and Facebook. Today, I decided to post links for the period of April 14 to April 23 on my author blog. Enjoy!

What are your favorite poems from my collection of audio blogs?

Are you reading any poetry and jazz this month?

How did you honor Mother Earth on Earth Day?

Do you have plans to honor Mother Earth every day?

Oh yeah, please share any six-word memoirs you have! I am going to post all of the ones I wrote so far this weekend!

Enjoy your weekend!

Links for my audio blogs with poetry for April 14 to April 23:

April 14 – Listen to Ananda read Tupac Shakur’s poem “The Rose that Grew from Concrete.” She also read her poem “Pac” from That Which Awakens Me. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/47090
April 15 – Listen to Ananda share Carolyn Rodgers’ poem “Breakthrough.” She also shares her poem “My Writing Life” from That Which Awakens Me. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/47747
April 16 – Listen to Ananda share Saul Williams’ poetry from his book S/He. She also reads her poem “electronic encounter” from Love’s Troubadours. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/48138
April 17 – Listen to Ananda share Wendell Berry’s poem “To Know the Dark.” She also shares poetry from her novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/48582
April 18 – Listen to Ananda share Tara Betts’ poem “Erasure.” She also shares her poem “Through My Black Girl’s Window” from That Which Awakens Me. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/48989
April 19 – Listen to Ananda share the poetry of Buddhist monk Thích Nhat Hanh. She also shares her poem “refuge3” from That Which Awakens Me. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/49611
April 20 – Listen to Ananda read Dehejia Maat’s poem “Om.” She also reads her poem “Labor Day Reflections from Oyster Harbor Beach in Annapolis.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/49900
April 21 – Listen to Ananda share poetry by author and professor bell hooks. She also shares her poem “Joy, the Psalm of Our Lives” from her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/50198
April 22 – Listen to Ananda share Anne Spencer’s poem “Earth, I Thank You.” She also reads her poem “My Green Living Journey” from her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/51060
April 23 – Listen to Ananda share the poetry of Jade Andwele. She also shares a poem that celebrates Jade’s artwork in her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/51226

30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating abolitionist & poet Frances Harper

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 13, 2010April 13, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Francis_Ellen_Watkins_Harper.24875013_std — Francis Ellen Watkins Harper

Click on the Cinchcast audio blog below to hear me read abolitionist and poet Frances E. W. Harper’s poem “Slave Auction.” I also read my poem “Ask the Troubadours Who Have Come from Those Who Loved” published in my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One.

Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Mine is: poetry.jazz.earth. beauty creates peace.

Enjoy!

Day 12 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating Langston Hughes

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 12, 2010April 12, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Listen to me share Langston Hughes’ poem “In Time of Silver Rain” on April 12. I also read my poem “Wake Up Call #24” from That Which Awakens Me.

Today’s six-word memoir is: poetry. jazz. earth.divine wakeup calls.

Share yours in the comment section. Enjoy!

Day 11 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating Lucille Clifton

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 12, 2010April 12, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Listen to me share Lucille Clifton’s poem “Generations” on April 11. I also shared my poem “wake up call #9” from That Which Awakens Me.

My Sunday six-word memoir was: poetry.jazz. earth. weaving creativity’s oneness.

Did you have one?

Enjoy!

Day 10 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 12, 2010April 12, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Click on the Cinchcast button below to hear me share Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem “Berrying.” I also share my poem “All Souls” from my book That Which Awakens Me.

Read my six-word memoir for Saturday: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Reflect. Rejoice. Reconnect.

If you have one, share it in the comment section. Enjoy!

Day 9 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating Sufi poet Rumi

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 9, 2010April 9, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Greetings,

It’s day 9 0f my 30 Days! So today I started my morning with yoga, meditation, and poetry by Sufi poet Rumi. Click on the Cinchcast audio blog to hear me read one of Rumi’s poetry about love and art. I also read my poem “Loving You” from my new book That Which Awakens Me.

Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Here’s mine: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Listen. Dance. Heal.

Enjoy your weekend!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Rumi’s love of poetry,

Ananda

Day 8 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating Poetry as a natural medicine

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 8, 2010April 8, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Photo Credit: http://njculibrary.wordpress.com/2008/04/page/2/

Greetings,

It’s day 8 0f my online campaign “30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness.” It’s turning into quite a journey. I am falling back in love with many of my favorite poets, jazz singers and musicians, and green living tips. I am also using this 30 day process to deepen my yoga and physical fitness practice.

What are you doing this month?

Anything fun planned?

Any new projects?

What about travel plans?

This morning I got up early to prepare for my author talk about “Poetry as a natural medicine for the soul” on Ananda Leeke Live via UStream.tv at 9:00 p.m. (EST) tonight. John Fox’s amazing book Poetic Medicine kept me company. Fox is the founder of the Institute of Poetic Medicine. I discovered his book and work during the 15th Annual Society for the Arts in Healthcare Conference held in 2006 at Northwestern University’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Both have mentored me as an artist-in-residence at Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts over the past four years. Last year, Fox visited Smith Farm and facilitated a poetry healing workshop for the artists-in-residence. It was so powerful. That experience convinced me to include a section on the power of poetry in my new book That Which Awakens Me.

After I ate breakfast this morning, I recorded an audio blog featuring an excerpt from Poetic Medicine. I also read a Navaho blessing poem and my poem “Poetry Thursday” from That Which Awakens Me. Click on the Cinchcast button below to listen to my blog.

Do you think poetry is a natural medicine for the soul?

Here’s my six-word memoir for today: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Phrases dance naturally. Please share yours in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the healing power of poetry,

Ananda

Day 7 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating the jazz music of Billie Holiday & poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 7, 2010April 7, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Greetings,

Today, I listened to some of jazz singer Billie Holiday’s greatest hits while I practiced yoga. What a sweet jazzy treat! Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” led me to a book of poety by Dr. Maya Angelou. I read Angelou”s poem “Africa” during breakfast. Click on the Cinchcast audio blog below to hear me read Dr. Angelou’s poem. I also share my poem “Luxor, Egypt” which is included in my new book That Which Awakens Me.

What does Billie Holiday’s music remind you of?

Have you ever traveled to Africa or visited a museum with African art?

Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Mine is: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Meditation. Melodies. Mysteries.

Read a poem, listen to some jazz, and find one way to honor Mother Earth. Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the wise woman Dr. Maya Angelou,

Ananda

Day 6 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating the sacred jazz of Alice Coltrane and poetry of Alice Dunbar Nelson

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 7, 2010April 7, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

ALice%20Coltrane — Spiritual Teacher and Jazz Musician Alice Coltrane

Alice_Dunbar-Nelson — Poet Alice Dunbar Nelson

Greetings,

Yesterday, I recorded an audio blog celebrating the sacred jazz music of Alice Coltrane and a new poetry anthology called Black Nature which features the poetry of Alice Dunbar Nelson. I read Dunbar’s poem “April Is On The Way” and my poem “The Word Green” from my new book That Which Awakens Me. Click on the Cinchcast blog below to hear my reflections. Enjoy!

What does the month of April remind you of?

Here’s my six-word memoir from yesterday: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Metaphors. Improvisation. Nature.

Do you have a six-word memoir to share?

Read a poem, listen to some jazz, and choose one way to honor Mother Earth! Enjoy your week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for nature poetry and sacred jazz,

Ananda