My performance of "The Dead: A Stream of Consciousness"

A performance of my original poem "The Dead: A Stream of Consciousness" was recorded on July 10, 2020, at the What Matters Now live, global, online event. You can watch it through this link.

The statement below is a transcript of my introduction to the poem (which you will also hear on the link):

I wish I could make words as instantaneously descriptive as images, which of course they can never be. But words are what I've got. I'm asking you to fill in the blanks.

"The Dead: A Stream of Consciousness" consists of words that I've been experimenting with during the ongoing protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police.

The words are inspired by the righteousness and manifold beauties of the protesters and by their courage, strong against the backdrops of a global pandemic and continuing state-sanctioned, state-sponsored violence against people of color.

I want to remember those who've died during this dark time, and those who live on, hoping and working and fighting for a future time of light.

I wish for us to be in solidarity and to share strength with one another.


Please check out the other amazing What Matters Now speakers/performers here. I wrote a short post about the program here.

What Matters Now

A couple of days ago I mentioned that I would be reading a poem as part of the What Matters Now online, global event.

UPDATE: It happened, and it was fantastic!

Not only did I have a blast sharing my poem, but every single talk and performance in the program—I think there were 18 five-minute presentations in all—was compelling and inspirational.

Topics ranged from innovative programs to keep library patrons engaged during COVID to native, perennial food production in the Sahel region of Niger; Wikipedia's response to COVID to decolonizing museums; fighting against disinformation in advance of the US's upcoming presidential election to uniting the divided island of Cyprus through music; and so much more.

You can watch the talks and performances here.

What Matters Now?

On July 10, 2020, between noon and 1 pm. EST, I will share my new poem "The Dead: A Stream of Consciousness" as part of  What Matters Now.

What Matters Now is a free, online, global event to address our options and obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing protests against systemic racism and police brutality.

All are welcome. I hope you can join us!

For more information, and to register, please follow this link.