Performance
“Bull Snake Boogie” and a 6.5 part lecture on nonsense theory and praxis
This performance was a part of Jentel Presents, in Sheridan, Wyoming, 2024, alongside a majestic cohort of resident artists. We did, indeed, witness said naga nookie. Thanks to Lynn Reeves, Emi Whiting, the exhibitionistic bull snakes, and Jentel.
A Conversation with Spákonufell
A performance at the NES Artist Residency, Skagaströnd, Iceland, 2022. Spáukonufell is the mountain that broods over the northern town of Skagaströnd, where I spent two months leaning into the wind, gawping at the aurora, not sleeping, and chatting with horses and mountains. This conversation uses Tuvan kargyraa throatsinging, the style with which one speaks to mountains. I also incorporate a traditional Tuvan melody, taught to me by the group Alash. Mountains may speak different dialects, but I have a feeling they understand each other.
Performance of organ and didgeridoo
With Nir Jacob Younessi, in the Hólaneskirkja church in Skagaströnd, Iceland. 2022. This happened as a part of the NES Artist Residency. The footage of the rave we played has been censored in several countries.
Poems for children and other proliferating cytoplasms: “Body Strike” and “The Hat“
Published with audio, in The Dirigible Balloon. 2021
Full live performative poetry spronging with Joseph Thomas
As an offshoot of the Poetry International contemporary children’s literature feature, Joseph Thomas and I performed our poetry at the Pacific Ancient and Modern Literature Association grand spankum conference (now with new and improved terrifying clown theme!). This is in four chapters, in four part harmony, and is four-times-a-lady. It includes many nonsense pieces, a song, some collaborations, and a fourth chapter in the fourth dimension. 2019.
“Do not clothe gentiles in hats of white“
It may be useful, though I can’t imagine why, to listen to Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night,” first–and then come, fully charged and weepy, to mine. The text of this poem was published in Solstice magazine, here, but the audio didn’t make it in. Here’s a chance to right that wrong, now in full high-fidelity audio.
Ursonate, a fragment
On the breezy island of Eckerö, a clip from my performance of Kurt Schwitters, Ursonate–an iconic sound poem. If you’d like to see the performance that inspired me, check out Jaap Blonk here. Or Christian Bok’s version, with extra fumms! My own full version is in the works.
“Rub Meat” Long may it reign!
This was written for the slam poetry stage, during my tenure as the founder of the Berklee slam poetry program. If you have any trouble understanding it, be sure to read the essay that is attached on the FUSION website.
“Bisht Bosht Mudpies“
My poem from This Book Makes No Sense: Nonsense Poems and Worse (Scholastic 2012). Thanks to Joe Coroniti, Rekha Menon, and FUSION magazine.
“Goat’s Tail“
This is a musical adaptation by Michael Heyman (tabla, vocals) and Regie Gibson (percussion, vocals) of a 16th-century text by Tenali Ramalinga. This version comes from The Tenth Rasa, and is translated by Elchuri Muralidhara Rao. Dr. Rao, on the Solstice website, posted a great old-school version, in Telugu.
“Surface“
Oscar Wilde and I have a swim together in this little ditty, published in full static-charged voicemail, by Voicemail Poems, Fall 2019.
Talking About Nonsense
Mini-lecture: on nonsense, “nonsense parodies,” and nonsense perididdles
Aa studio talk as a part of the Jentel Artist Residency, 2024. I witter on about nonsense, my own nonsense parody form, and spit a few dope nonsenses into the wind.
Interview: On my Indian nonsense books: The Tenth Rasa: An Anthology of Indian Nonsense and This Book Makes No Sense: Nonsense Poems and Worse.
Judy Pinnolis of Berklee College of Music squeezes the rasa out of me in this interview, 2023.
Lecture: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: One Hundred Fifty Years Later“
A lecture at San Diego State University on the anniversary of Alice’s publication. Thanks to Joseph Thomas and SDSU. Stay tuned for a podcast from this time.
Interview: “Nonsenslitteratur og lydpoesi“
Need I say more? This interview was conducted when I was the Resident Artist at the Eckerö Post and Customs House, on the Åland Islands, in May 2017. Click on the arrow to hear. We talk about what brought me to Eckerö and some very basic definitions of nonsense. Make sure to ask Google to translate the page to English and you will discover that I am (and proudly so), a “mum infant.”
Podcast by Nathan Ober, Escucha, where I make a special guest appearance. Episode one. Click here.