Something Something Ides of March

Am I the only one who sometimes forgets the most important part?

Ah, Shakespeare. Always better than I remember.

Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look,
He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.

(Julius Caesar: Act 1 Scene 2)

Caesar was onto something (this is not about my taste in men. OK, this is not only about my taste in men 🤭). Cassius brought forward would probably be a looksmaxxing manosphere podcaster with a supplement deal and maybe a seat in the Cabinet. I’m struck by how much grander villains are in Shakespeare, even the stupidest, pettiest examples, than those we see in the world around us.

Maybe it’s the iambic pentameter.

I doubt it, though.

Reading Shakespeare sometimes requires a couple minutes to retune my inner ear to the language. Once it clicks, a scene or two in, I usually start over from the beginning. It’s remarkable how much beauty is packed into each of these plays, each way shorter than the average novel.

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Better Things 5x5 Reading & Open Mic, Tuesday, March 3rd, 7pm at Moon Palace Books, 3032 Hiawatha Ave, Minneapolis. Featuring five fantastic artists: Rosetta Peters, Ashe Jaafaru, Cecily McMillan, Lester Batiste, and Lt. Sunnie, followed by an open mic.

I’m hosting, joined this month by Zeke Caligiuri; both reading and open mic will feature ASL interpretation, and the event is free (with snacks!).

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I’m providing some opening poetry for Day of Empathy: Our Voice, Our Vote, hosted by Dream.org in partnership with Minnesota Freedom Fund at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday, March 12th, at 6pm. Free and with snacks! Register here.

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If you’re in Baltimore for AWP, first week of March, you can find me at the LGBTQ Caucus (Thursday, March 5th, 5:00-6:15pm, Room 307 at the Baltimore Convention Center). I’m also planning to stop by the Trio House 2026 Authors meet & greet. Stop by and say hi 😄. And I’ll be running around soaking up poetry & writing & panels & sights & I’ll have a notebook, a phone, and sometimes a camera. Wheeeee 😅

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BuckSlam Five Buck Finals, March 11th, at Indeed Brewing, Northeast Minneapolis. Hosted by the inimitable (and inevitable) Neil Hilborn! I’m not competing, but I’ll be there.

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Stay tuned for more details!

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Lots of things happening in April, too; more Better Things, of course, and a visual poetry workshop, and a workshop + sound garden, and more, and more news about the play, and… well. More about all that in a few weeks. Stay warm & salty ✊🏼