Talicha J

Poet of the Month: Talicha J

2017/07/01 — Leave a comment

This month, I celebrate Talicha J, one of the first poets I began to follow after I started actively writing poetry again. I don’t remember where I first encountered her work (it’s been about four years, after all), but I appreciate her ability to get to the heart of whatever she is writing about. Numerous times I have read something in one of her poems that perfectly captures something I have experienced.

Talicha regularly participates in slam competitions, and last year did her first tour (I was lucky to see her read at Everett Poetry Night in May 2016, and finally meet her in person (after having already been connected for a while on social media).

To date, Talicha has published one book of her poetry, Falling in Love with Picking Myself Up, and one poetry album, In the making (click on the bandcamp link below).

I strongly recommend you check her out. You won’t regret it.

Talicha J website: https://talicha-johnson.squarespace.com/

Talicha J YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbP6BNSxJvMksiY2Qa0PyA

Talicha J In the making poetry album: https://talichaj.bandcamp.com/

(1 July 2017)

Cafe Zippy and Talicha J

2016/05/28 — Leave a comment

Thursday night, I went to Everett Poetry Nite at Cafe Zippy for the first time. I’d been meaning to head up there for over a year, but had never got around to it, as the thought of fighting rush-hour traffic was totally unappealing. On this occasion, though, one of my online friends, Talicha Johnson, was the night’s featured reader, so it was time. Continue reading

I read We’ve All Got Eyes, Man for #BlackPoetsSpeakOut

2014/12/17 — Leave a comment

Truth from one of my favorite poets, Talicha J.

Talicha J.'s avatar

I wanted to get out there and DO something, participate in the change, lift the weight of the onslaught on justice with my own bare hands. But I didn’t know how. I kept asking, “What do I do?” and everyone kept telling me the best place to start was my talent, to raise my voice. In The Issues, Sharon Olds writes, “Don’t talk to me about Politics. I’ve got eyes, man.” That line plus the current state of our nation sparked this poem. So I thank blackpoetsspeakout for creating a place for us to make noise and demand change in a positive way. This is my voice, this is me saying I will not be silent. I will use my words to assist our cause.

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Empty vases on the window sill (a poem)

2014/07/31 — 1 Comment

Today’s poem was inspired not by a prompt, but by a line in a new poem posted today by Talicha J, Something has tried to kill me and failed… My poem is not as evocative, nor is it a response to Talicha J’s poem; it’s an impression based on a photograph I made yesterday. Either way, the line in question, “I gave him hours he didn’t deserve”, had me rushing to pen and paper…

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