dyke!” My dad was basi-
cally just proud that he
had a daughter who wrote
a book, and so he was
gonna sell it.

People in Indiana are
really blunt, and they tell
the truth. They’re like,
“Well, I didn’t like all of
it, but I read it. I’m glad

you wrote it. I didn’t

understand that part about
God, but you know girl,
you from the neighbor-
hood, I’m so happy you
wrote it.” I’m like, you
know, you all are crazy,
and I love you.”

OITM: So what will
you be doing at the
Outvvrite conference this
year?

with Minnie Bruce Pratt.
We’re talking about poli-
tics and poetry. I haven’t
formed all the stuff I’m
going to say, but one thing
I know that I will say —
the fact that I write means
that I’m alive, means that
it’s political, means that
it’s dissident. The things
that the poets that I like
say, are things that in any
other country, people
have died for...Love
poems are political. Being
able to write is political.
To talk about political
prisoners, and to talk
about hunger, and power,
and all those issues, is
absolutely necessary. The
people that I like do their
work regardless of what

the consequences are
going to possibly be. A lot
of times, we don’t get as
much money as every-
body else gets, we are
starving poets...

OITM: What do you
see yourself doing in the
future? .

LN: What I want to do
in my life, is to continue
doing this, and to have an
urban organic farm. I
teach a lot of little kids,
and they _don’t know
where the heck milk
comes from. They don’t
know where paper comes
from. And that is the ulti-
mate danger for us to be
that separated from our-
selves, and our own bod-
ies. V

LN: I’m on a panel.

9”

    

I found out my dad had sold
my book; everybody was

saying, “   . 
and I thoug , 

 
   

‘. x.~2: :1 L. 7: ~ - — :1.‘ -:7: :7‘. :3’. 2:: '1:

Telling It Like It Is

a review by lenna cumherhateh

   
  

lune. letta lleelrl
llllilrlheart Press

y first experience with Letta NeeIy's poetry

was at a Middlebury College reading. I was

impressed to see this black woman up on
stage, but when she started to read, I was mesmer-
ized.

I expected no less from the book, which I ordered on the spot. It
did not disappoint.

Juba is Letta Neely's third production piece, a collection of pieces from her previous these chap
books and some additional pieces.

Neely is not afraid to tell readers off. She speaks with a firm, powerful voice on a variety of top-
ics: being black, being a lesbian, the environment, the president, and even Iatchkey children.

Juba begins with a state-of-the-world address and a statement about societal priorities: “...we
strip trees, dye them the color of leaves, and put white men’s faces on them, to pay for places to
sleep...’’ This realism draws the reader in.

The book rises in intensity as she gets more personal, delving into her own experiences and
taking the audience along with her. This poetry is very personal and emotional; it comes out raw,
and gets under the skin. And while listening to her poetry adds one aspect of the intensity, it hides
the visual layout of her pieces. On the printed page, the fonnatting of the words is part of the expe-
rience of the poem. Emphasizing particular words, ideas and feelings, her layout style adds to the
overall feeling of non-confonnity in her work. ' . A 

Her eloquence is seen in simple yet powertul word choice. In “Mostly we Merge"' she lays out
honestly the perils of loving the person you want to love: “...Afraid that if we touch here — hand to
hand over cement — we will be killed / this is a hazard of our love." These poignant words make
this poetry reach thereader in an honest, empowering way. Emotions, expressions, and images are
laid out in words and language that are unmistakable. -

The beginning of the end comes with an observation, a “Harlem Haiku." Neely merely takes a
look around and states it as it is. Before an orgasmic conclusion, she attacks politics and the media
and the almighty president appears even here, but then we are put back to rest by the title piece,
a love story that is the final work. There is no better way to end such a passionate book than with
passion! ’

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local qewspapevs.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend thanks to every-
one‘ who hebed make the holidays’ events so enjoyable.
 Together we collected eight shopping bags of food and gifts
forthe Sara I-lobrook Center. R
I'm also happy to say that Womyn’s Dance will now
have a"brother” - Men’s Dance - starting Saturday, February
 6. What's the attraction? Eye candy! Come on down for a
' drink, some lood, and the chance to show the hunks what you
like. The festivities begin at 6pm. .
Keep your Valentine’s Day calendar open for the Winter of Love Weekend. Friday night
is Glittefs presentation of”Whatever Happened to Baby Jane”at 8pm; Saturday night is the
Winter is a Drag Ball at HigherGround [8pm - 1am]; Sunday there will be two fundraisers
forVT PRIDE '99, B_rUnch from 1pm-3pm and a Tea Dance 3pm-7pm, both at 135 Pearl.
Enjoy Safely!

Donald G. lmgram (General Manager]

 |lEm“_ Buffet Upstairs iv 35 Cover

at Dancing Downstairs ~k
at Eye Candy @ 8pm! ~k

Featuring the Northeast Calendar Men

PRESENTS...

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