We loooooove April. Sure, the weather’s a little unpredictable and it’s allergy season for some, but it’s also National Poetry Month! Our friends at Poetry.org suggested “30 Ways to Celebrate“, and we’ve got our own way to honor the art, craft and joy of poetry. We call it 30 for 30 (Twitter hashtag #30for30), and over the course of the month, we’ll be posting one poem a day from community celebrities to poets with enduring legacies. Granted, we’re two days behind, but consider the Arabian proverb:

“All mankind is divided into three classes: Those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.”

 

DianaBui

So here we are, movin’, with our a-little-belated-selves. Today’s Poem of the Day comes from Diana Bùi, the featured poet at 14th & V for Tuesday, April 3, 2012:

This is my erotic
by Diana Bùi

Queer is my sacred
unwavering boundless self
This is my erotic

Erotic is my own
it is the thoughts of climatic touch
The primal innate lust
The tongue of pleasurable radiating communication
between another and self
The love that transforms the sexual into sensual
all over mind, body, and soul
The foreplay of accepting embrace
into mind-blowing all encompassing passionate

orgasms.

I would love to have orgasms
as my political power to my identity
In question
How many times have I’ve been ambushed by
self-righteous militants of homophobia
Invading my queer with fear’s artillery
Waging war on my sex
when my sex is necessary
when this is who I am

Queer is standing right here.

PHOTO 2024 02 01 07 10 14

For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

transitioning to vegan

Transitioning to Vegan with Senator Cory Booker, Andy Shallal, and more

The Transitioning to Vegan panel, hosted by the Congressional Vegetarian Staff Association’s Maureen Cohen Harrington and Adam Sarvana took place today at the Russel Senate Office Building. It was a packed house with some awesome vegan advocates and a great introduction to the upcoming DC VegFest celebration highlighting vegan businesses and products. The panel included: … Continued

holiday

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Gift Cards

Delight a friend, family member, co-worker or maybe even yourself with a gift cards to Busboys and Poets! Our gift cards can be used to purchase food (mmm sweet potato pancakes), drinks (Langston Cooler, anyone?), books and any other items sold at our bookstore. This includes Busboys merch, notebooks, cards and other fun gifts. Send a physical … Continued

Busboys and Poets Books Interview: E. Ethelbert Miller

Busboys and Poets Books Interview: E. Ethelbert Miller

February saw the release of If God Invented Baseball, the latest collection of poetry from DC legend and literary activist E. Ethelbert Miller. A devoted fan of the Washington Nationals, Ethelbert celebrates in the book the magic of baseball and its lessons for life.  In advance of the poet’s upcoming event at Busboys and Poets … Continued