Tag: poetry

2010s · Poetry

Sonic Screwdriver

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

for Josh

I wish I had a sonic screwdriver
I wish I had a magic wand
I wish I had a time machine
or pixie dust or a book of spells

I wish I had a genie lamp
I wish I had the holy grail
I wish I had a flying carpet
or a portal or an Atlantis key

I wish you were three
in the back seat of my car
singing an 80s Cure song

I wish you were sixteen
driving with me to open mic
singing an 80s Cure song

I wish my love was enough
I wish you weren’t there
I wish you and me were anywhere
far and away, anywhere else

Originally published in Carnival Lit Mag, 2014

2015 · Publications

velvet-tail

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

Elephant on Velvet-Tail This is a poetry website unlike any other I have seen. The editor, Canese Jarboe, creates handmade collages to compliment the poetry she showcases on the site. She has graciously accepted “Elephant”, a poem of mine, and created a beautiful frame of leaves and flowers. She feels the leaves evoke the texture of elephant skin. The photo here is merely a glimpse. You need to visit velvet-tail.com for yourself to see my poem as well as other pieces displayed with her creative vision.

Events · Feature Readings

Moon Pixel Open Mic on February 27th, 2015

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

10915227_777724065608035_3081797914912405273_n On Friday, February 27th, I will be featuring at a wonderful new monthly reading series, Moon Pixel Open Mic. I am especially excited because my dear friend and kick-ass assistant editor of CadenceCollective.net, Raquel Reyes-Lopez is hosting. As if that wasn’t enough, I will be joined by the sultry dream weaver, Elmast Kozloyan. There will be a musical feature and an open mic list. It will be at Half-Off Books in Whittier, which has the most incredible selection of new and used books, comics, and even music! Plan on arriving early to sign up beginning at 6:30 and the reading will start at 7 pm.

Half-Off Books 6708 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, California.

2010s · All the Tiny Anchors · Poetry

Westwood Boulevard (Why I Can’t Go Back)

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

I.

because I’d have too many questions
like does her husband know
have you ever met her children
do your parents know about her
does she hate your new car
or your new 60-inch TV
does she love the extra 20 pounds
I left behind

II.

because I know exactly
how small your ass really is
how you taste in the shower
how your eyes are lost
first thing in the morning
how you loved those thin pillows
from World War II
how you bought a fat one
just for me
how I know you really meant it
at the time

III.

because I’m still counting days
they are all anniversaries
of first times, of last times
of times we drove for no reason
my calendar dates lay over
like a transparency
so it’s all how-long-since
how-many-days-until-it’s-been
and every case on People’s Court
mentions November and Hurricane Sandy
then we’re standing there on the Boulevard
you said we need to talk
find some place for dinner
we missed our movie
I could unmake plans with you all weekend
it was cold enough to wear a sweater
I can almost count the hours

IV.

because I forgot to hate you
though you really wished I would

V.

because I told everyone
with eyes or ears near these words
I spoke you out loud
I own my story—this is mine
I will love it long after your scent
is rubbed off my page
 

First published in Tic-Toc Anthology (Kind of a Hurricane Press).

2015 · Events · Publications · Special Projects

Like a Girl: The Pre-Show!

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment
LaG The Pre Show
Cover art by Fernando Gallegos

For the last several months, my poetry partners, Nancy Lynée Woo, Terry Wright, and I have been working on a project very near and dear to us, Like a Girl: Perspectives on Feminine Identity. This second anthology from Lucid Moose Lit received almost 800 submissions of poetry, prose, and art. We struggled to narrow that number down to an amount we can work with, so a grand alternative was found! We created a zine version, Like a Girl: The Pre-Show!, in time for release at the LA Zine Fest on February 15th. Debbie Cho, who helped inspire the project, joined us to help design and layout our precious creation. We are a proud family giving birth to a beautiful zine full of the words and art of many members of our community. I even have a little piece about those silly jelly shoes! You can pick up a special limited release version at the LA Zine Fest or other local events we will be participating in. Perfect bound editions will soon be available on Amazon and in local indie bookstores. To find the most recent information about this or other related projects, go to LucidMooseLit.com!

 

2010s · Conversations with Gravel · Poetry · The Unnamed Algorithm

View at 4 A.M.

Sarah Thursday1 Comment

You, a landscape sloping
down into soft valleys
where I trace your bare
terrain outlined in moonlight,
I rest on your dark side
how you speak clearest
in silence still as mountain tops
I, lying in your slant night,
an eager traveler pulling
at your dawn, sunrise us—
turn and move earth in me.

First published in Cliterature.

Events · Feature Readings · Special Projects

2015 Pasadena Author Fair

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

10603542_10152713670788049_6368402782676550302_n

On Saturday, February 21st, my poetry partner, Nancy Lynée Woo and I will be joining authors from all around Southern California for the 2nd Annual Pasadena Author Fair. We will be talking on a panel about our books and offering our insights about this surreal journey we’ve been traveling. The Fair is from 10 am to 2 pm at the Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA. You can follow the Pasadena Library page on Facebook to find more information.

 

Events · Feature Readings

San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival!

Sarah Thursday1 Comment

10482287_10152293583316829_1523140988931874523_nI’m thrilled to be a part of the annual San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival! Last year, I attended this festival and not only discovered many new poets, but made many new friends. My dear poetry mother, Ricki Mandeville, made a prediction that I would be featuring in the next year. This year, I am honored to be reading among many poets and authors I admire and respect. The two day festival, February 21-22, features writers from all over Southern California and beyond,  held at the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona.  I’ll be reading on Sunday February 22nd, at 4:30 pm. There will also be open reading time slots, so bring some of your own words to share. Check out the SGVLF Facebook page for more details, a full schedule, and updates. You can also RSVP on the Facebook event page.  They could also use your donations to help cover the costs of this amazing free event. Go to their website SGVLitFest.com for more information.

2010s · Anchors (Poetry with Music) · Poetry · Recordings · The Unnamed Algorithm

If I Ever Have Children

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

If I ever have children
they will never know me in my thirties
the woman checking it off
all the things-to-do
like a master’s degree
and home buying
like falling in love completely
and writing a book of how it ends
finding new community
and loving her whole body flawed
flinging open all the doors
and surrendering to the unknown next

If I ever have children
they will never know me in my twenties
the woman fighting against it
to save her own soul
find her own belief in God
and lose her given self
venture out from community
live alone, love alone
sort through the old baggage
give them names and abandon them
find focus for talents and energies
and heal the damage at all costs

If I ever have children
they will never know me in my teens
young girl trying masks
on and off each year
like too many friends
and partying far too young
like black dyed-hair and boots
sinking down through the cracks
sharp turn into a Christian life
and a radical-faced community
stepping through the windows
where she’d press her face to the glass

If I ever have children
they will never know me as a child
a broken girl holding
a green Picasso heart
running with one parent from the other
always leaving school early
memories in paper bags stashed
in the trunk of a broken-down car
with walk-in closets for the skeletons
and attics for hiding and running free
words swallowed in torn pieces
forcing her destiny as a poet

 

Originally published in The Mayo Review, also included in The Unnamed Algorithm.
Listen to the poem on SoundCloud, from Anchors CD.

Events · Feature Readings

Power Of Words Open Mic

Sarah ThursdayLeave a comment

541588_853164078069905_8444287811066025492_nOn February 5th, I get to read poetry with some of my favorite people at this really great venue, Manazar Gamboa Theater in Long Beach, hosted by Felicia Cade. The P.O.W. (Power of Words) Open Mic will have my two favorite things: poetry and music. I’m planning on a special set of poems for the month of love. You are all invited to come down and share a song or poem of your own. 1323 Gundry Ave. in Long Beach. Begins at 7 pm! Including performances by JL Martindale, Keayva Mitchell, Alex Hattick, Fernando Gallegos, and more!

RSVP on Facebook