Daphne Gottlieb: 15 ways to stay alive
People in San Francisco are afraid to get out and do things. Involvement can be frightening; feelings of self doubt enter often when one is alone in society. What is the general consensus on my persona? Can I fit in here? Presence, the word alone is almost an unachievable challenge to drop the camera and give up the lens, to stop living through glass and actually use your eyes. Be here. The full presence of a person can change the universe; we as human beings are all so capable, but rarely do we tap into that raw energy that is our source. On April 21st at City Lights I attended a reading by Daphne Gottlieb to celebrate the release of her new book of poetry, 15 Ways to Stay Alive (Manic D). Daphne is certainly one of those rare present chicks.
Upon entering I walked through the always quiet store to find an even more quiet room—a room of people silenced in pure anticipation of what was to come. There are but a few ways to become invincible and Gottlieb gives a poetic sound to them all, with cynical but somehow reassuring advice: “1. Offer the wolves your arm only from the elbow down. Leave tourniquet space. Do not offer them your calves. Do not offer them your side. Do not let them near your femoral artery, your jugular. Give them only your arm. 2. Wear chapstick when kissing the bomb.”
Hear snippets of Daphne’s conversation below. Join, and you will feel the need to create. Present yourself. Check out more at her website. Read The Rumpus Interview with Daphne, and now read the original Litseen interview.
“Adage”
“Sexy Balaclava” + “Where He’s Been”
Final
[…] Daphne Gottlieb is the author and editor of nine books, winner of the Audre Lorde Award in Poetry and the Firecracker Award, has performed cross-country with the likes of Lydia Lunch, with Slam America and Sister Spit, at South by Southwest, Lollapalooza (when it was worth claiming) and so many others, was the poetry editor of Lodestar Quarterly and Other Magazine, and her work has been adapted into theater and mixed into music. She is an institution of revolution. Recently, she released her latest book, 15 Ways to Stay Alive (Manic D Press)—you can watch footage from her release party here. […]
[…] Daphne Gottlieb is the author and editor of nine books, winner of the Audre Lorde Award in Poetry and the Firecracker Award, has performed cross-country with the likes of Lydia Lunch, with Slam America and Sister Spit, at South by Southwest, Lollapalooza (when it was worth claiming) and so many others, was the poetry editor of Lodestar Quarterly and Other Magazine, and her work has been adapted into theater and mixed into music. She is an institution of revolution. Recently, she released her latest book, 15 Ways to Stay Alive (Manic D Press)—you can watch footage from her release party here. […]
[…] edition of (New) Poetry Mission, featuring author of the new Manic D book 15 Ways to Stay Alive Daphne Gottlieb. Young poets signed up early and walked proud to the microphone, each voice conveying proof of […]
[…] if you enjoy the following videos of Daphne Gottlieb, you may enjoy footage from her release party at City Lights and this in-depth chat we shared last […]