Pure Poetry Week:
#1 – 2/23/2011 – Intro & Def Poetry Jam, by Riese
#2 – 2/23/2011 – Eileen Myles, by Carmen
#3 – 2/23/2011 – Anis Mojgani, by Crystal
Anis Mojgani is a Portland-based poet who ignited my love for spoken word and poetry slams. He is a genius, he speaks with passion and honesty that makes my heart leap.
I find myself enamored with every word that tumbles out of Anis’ mouth, however there are 3 poems in particular that blow my mind: Direct Orders, Here I Am and Shake the Dust.
Watch Anis perform these poems below. You’ve been given a direct order to rock the fuck out.
Anis has also written two poetry collections, Over the Anvil We Stretch and The Feather Room.
Great choice. My favorite Anis Mojgani piece is “Milos”. “I’m unbuttoning my shirt/painting a circle over my heart./Please/just shoot straight.” And this man recites with feeling.
i am in awe. thank u crystal, thank u autostraddle.
Anis! I saw him years ago at the Cantab in Boston and he for reals changed my life.
“I was here, motherfucker, and ain’t none of y’all can write that in the spot that I just wrote it in.”
This was incredible. I loved every second.
ooo thank you so much. I love him this is amazing and without this post I never would have known. Thanks!
H
Dope.
shake the dust. oh god. the line “this is for the 2-year-olds that can’t be understood because they speak half English and half god.”
thank you ;_;
i like how it’s got the energy of rock music
Omigosh omigosh omigosh this guy went to my college. He was a student of my poetry professor. BALLIN :D
Anis performed at my college a couple of days ago and it was great. I had seen him on Youtube but in person he is so captivating. The auditorium was about 130 degrees and everyone stayed for two hours to hear him half-sing his poetry and make us laugh and cry.
This makes me happy.
Thank you so much for posting this. I am in awe.
he came to my college with buddy wakefield and timmy straw last year. absolutely captivating.
I’ve never heard of this guy before but I’m glad I have now. I’m also grateful for Autostraddle and the internet because I never would have heard of him otherwise.
Thank you for introducing me to Anis and thank you thank you thank you for this series.
“shake the dust” is phenomenal. thank you so much for sharing this.