author, poet, teacher, and performer
I recently had a wonderful, far-reaching conversation with my friend, the poet, artist, speaker, and curator Shin Yu Pai. Our talk explored embodiment, mothering, teachers, and the practice of devotion, and was published today in The Rumpus:
Talk delivered on February 15, 2020. Organized loosely around exploring the relationship between the Cascadian bioregion as it intersects with Zen ideas, practices, and aesthetics, Seattle University hosted a diverse group of writers interested in exploring the question of “What is Cascadian Zen?” through their poetic and/or philosophical writing.
A poem about gratitude and transformation by the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar. From her collection, “The Word that Endures.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles
During the month of May I’m honored to present several online performances.
Cozy Grammar is offering free access to these two shows for the entire month:
You can learn more and access the performances on Cozy Grammar’s Free Resources page.
And if you’d like to share them with friends, please feel free to pass this information along.
I’m also happy to announce that the NPR recording of my January talk at Town Hall Seattle has been posted to KUOW’s website:
A world where poetry meets magic and wonder | John O’Brien
You’re welcome to share this as well or simply enjoy the recording in a spare moment should you so desire.
Last, in a new experiment for me, I’ve been asked by Atlas Obscura‘s “Wonder From Home” series to present a live event from home on Sunday, May 17th.
It’s called The Magic of Words in a Poet-Magician’s Yurt and will be an hour-long online interactive presentation and workshop, similar to one I recently offered at the Sahrdaya Foundation in Chennai, India.
Tickets are $10. You can read all about it on Altas Obscura’s website.
How can poetry expand our understanding of civic life? Poet and former Town Hall Artist-In-Residence Shin Yu Pai invites us to the first of her Lyric World discussions, exploring the role of poetry as it stokes our curiosity and gives voice and attention to the human experience.
Joining in conversation with Seattle-based poet Melanie Noel, Pruiksma illuminates the ways that different languages alternately obscure or reveal truth. Together they ask us to suspend our judgement and embrace the not-knowing that defines these art forms.
Before their discussion, experience a performance by kora player and griot-trained jeli Ibrahim Arsalan. In West African society, the jeli preserved ancient stories and traditions through song, throughout the generations. They are believed to have deep connections to spiritual, social, and political powers.
I’m deeply honored to help inaugurate Lyric World: Conversations with Contemporary Poets, a new event series sponsored by Town Hall and curated by Shin Yu Pai.
On January 30, 2020, I’ll be reading and speaking about poetry and wonder. Jali Ibrahim Arsalan will also perform West African kora music and the poet Melanie Noel will facilitate an on-stage conversation.
Kai Curry of the Northwest Asian Weekly recently featured the series in an article:
“Town Hall Seattle and KUOW series highlights AAPI poets”
The Seattle Review of Books also featured the event on their website:
Literary Event of the Week: Lyric World at Town Hall Seattle
And Paul Nelson of Seattle Poetics LAB recently interviewed me and curator Shin Yu Pai. You can read the interview in the South Seattle Emerald:
Shin Yu Pai’s Poetry Series Gets a Dose of Magic With Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
You can watch a video of the interview here:
Oberlin’s wonderful local bookstore, MindFair Books, will be hosting a reading of my new book, The Safety of Edges, at 1pm on Sunday, October 13, 2019. It’s a particularly delightful honor to be able to read in the town where I went to college.
You can read more about MindFair Books on their website and read more about the book on mine.
I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
The venerable Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle will be hosting a reading of my new book, The Safety of Edges, at 7pm on Saturday, June 15, 2019. I’m delighted and honored to present my work at a bookshop that from the time I was a child growing up in Seattle epitomized the best of literary havens.
You can read more about the reading on the Elliott Bay website and read more about the book on mine. There’s also an article in the June 6 edition of the Seattle Gay News.
I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
