by Portia Choi | May 17, 2016 | Events, Pictures
Photos by Martin Chang At each First Friday, poets perform their original works to standing room only crowd at Dagny’s Coffee located in downtown Bakersfield. Most months a poet or songwriter is featured sharing their original works, then the event becomes an open...
by Portia Choi | Dec 27, 2015 | Events, Pictures
This fall KernPoetry and Dagny’s Coffee held a Open Mic every First Friday. At the event poets and musicians are welcome to share their original work with the public. This fall a variety of talents shared their work. Every month poets and musicians are featured....
by Portia Choi | Dec 27, 2015 | Events, Pictures
There was excitement mixed with hesitation among the poets at Dagny’s, the hesitation in sharing one’s innermost feeling and thoughts in poetry with others, some who were friends and some who were stranger. Excitement also in that it was a contest with four poets...
by Portia Choi | Aug 29, 2015 | news
On September 5, 2015 Juan Felipe Herrera will begin his year-long term as the 21st U.S. poet laureate when he participates in the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington D.C. The selection of Juan Felipe Herrera as the 21st U.S. poet laureate was...
by Portia Choi | Aug 21, 2015 | Events, Pictures
Ebone King Ebone King Ebone King Carley Tolomei Kai Chu Benjamin Dunham Photos and story by Martin Chang On August 7th, many poets performed to a full room at the open mic at Dagneys. Above, a sampling of poets are pictured, below a little bit about each of...
by Portia Choi | Aug 10, 2015 | Featured Poet, Interviews
In this text interview we discussed with Don Thompson his favorite moments as a writer and his advice to other writers. Then we discuss his Historical Narrative poem Local Color. Portia Choi: Don, what were your most interesting moments as a poet? Don...
by Portia Choi | Aug 8, 2015 | Poems
When I was ten my art teacher said the pink and blue ribbons I loved were not beautiful, then showed us Mexican olla and said, “Now that’s beautiful!” and posters were beautiful. and vermillion with spring green. For years I bought ugly art and wore ugly prints that...
by Portia Choi | Aug 8, 2015 | Poems
(the woman asked the famed psychiatrist) The cat at night in Malibu Makes a soft sound As he moves along the ground, Echoes the rumble, the growl and pound Of the Cat to Cathay— When the Moon ruffles his fur In a silver streak down the dark, She is stirring, subduing,...
by Portia Choi | Aug 8, 2015 | Poems
Make me a poem A great white poem words full of rushing staccato measures patterns for flying and movement of grasses— or round, like the path of the tuning-fork’s sound, round and liquid and gold. Give me the voices of wandering people, let them incense me with...
by Portia Choi | Aug 8, 2015 | Poems
Do not remove the heart. Extract the brain through open nostrils, but leave the paradise within my heart of hearts. It is a point so hot it would burn your fingers. This pulse-point is the drum of Shiva calling Shakti –and when she dances my heart rises to the...
