Poetry 📓and Photography 📸 by JJZ. Explorations worldwide and within. Trying to be heard, stirred, and perhaps cured by life's many hidden images, and the written-spoken word.
We finished off January with an amazing gathering! Thank you again to everyone who attended MONDAY NIGHT POETRY!We’ll see you all next Monday.😊😊😊 . SVC presents : MONDAY NIGHT POETRY @spoken_views_reno . FOLLOW FOR MORE DETAILS @mondaynightpoetrynv . WEEKLY OPEN MIC (EVERY MONDAY NIGHT) . Venue: Shim’s Surplus Supplies Co. 125 W 3rd – Reno – NV *Use Back Entrance @shimssurplus . Host: Jesse James Ziegler @sidewayseightprojects . . 5:00pm – Venue opens for pregaming 5:30pm – Sign ups at the door/foot of stage 6:00pm – 8:00pm Open Mic w/ brief intermission . . . . . #poetry #poet #poets #poetrycommunity #spokenword #spokenwordartist #openmic #poetryshow #poetryevent #sidewayseightprojects #spokenviewscollective #brukapoetry #reno #nevada #biggestlittlecity #mondaynightpoetry #poetryisnotdead #goldenageofpoetry #shimssurplussupplies #poem #poems #stage #performancepoetry #performancepoet #collective #group #team #art #artist
NEW POETRY VIDEO: . FAITHFUL (3min.) . On the eve of the NFC Championship between the Los Angeles Rams and the SAN FRANCISCO FORTY NINERS I’m finding myself feeling nostalgic, excited, and of course #faithful. This poetry video entitled FAITHFUL is a testament to my love for a very particular team. Sending the players, coaching staff, traveling fans, traveling FAMS, and the medical staff all the love, safety, and focus the universe can muster up. GO NINERS!!! . Play with confidence. Play for each other. Play for fun. Play to WIN. Play for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the SUPER BOWL in a couple weeks. The entire EMPIRE is behind you.
FAITHFUL (poem text)
I remember running around the yard
as a very small child
arms in the air like Joe Cool under pressure
yelling out “We won! We won!”
For any onlooker it wouldn’t have been hard
to see my fanhood had truly begun
Jersey number of the mountainous name
matching the Roman numerals of the big game
shying away from instantaneous fame
becoming the Golden gate’s adopted son
Believing at an age very young
anything was possible
content to simply run
Not a care in the world
plenty for my team
come true dream
witness to the very first one
Stars in their search for more shine
The Catch, The Stop to stand, and the pass
over the middle to Taylor
cementing The Drive
No one but Prime in his time
was a match for the hands
of our Mississippi Valley savior,
the greatest receiver ever alive.
When run and gun Young got the monkey
and the ghost of the comeback kid
off his back against the Bolts
we became the First to Five
Re͏d and Gold until my head grows too old, and I’m dead and cold.
Until Roger Craig or Frank Gore bowl me over as though I’ve been steam rolled,
or Mostert leaves me dead in the dirt
unable to see what I hold
Re͏d and Gold, heart and soul,
forever faithful even when they were seven minutes
from a sixth Super Bowl.
Faithful when Rathman came from Nebraska,
And P. Willy came from Ole Miss,
Faithful in my love for Katie Sowers,
and when I pretend to give Kittle a kiss.
Re͏d and Gold in my heart I hold.
Forever Faithful at Keyzar, the Stick, and the home of the lucky Levi’s
Down with the young blood, proud to be enough for Lance, Warner, and Deebo my guys
though I’ve never gotten to put my bottom in the stands.
What do you do when the universe blesses you with an unexpected half day? You visit your favorite museum @nevadaart to soak in the current exhibits, your favorite bookstore @sundancebooksandmusic to pick up a couple of sought after volumes of #poetry , as well as taking in a lunch date with your favorite person @amandabrittney . Make sure to visit the roof deck at the museum for some glorious rays of sunshine and an incredible view of Mt. Rose. Highly recommend. 10 out of 10. . . . . . #nevadamuseumofart #exhibit #poetryisnotdead #artistic #sundancebooksandmusic #art #view #artist #halfday #lunchdate #sidewayseightprojects #sidewayseightpoetry #reno #nv #nevada #thirstythursday #beauty #love #photography #photo #poetrycommunity #localbusiness
COLLECTIVE BREATH SEASON 2 EPISODE 30 . . Week of Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 Starting at 8pm PDT Episode : 82 (of 104 overall) Writing Prompt: Imagine yourself as a tree. Which kind of tree are you? During what season do you picture yourself? Describe yourself inside and out. … . COLLECTIVE BREATH is a weekly wellness writing workshop. This ongoing event meets Tuesdays starting at 8pm. Each session or episode will consist of two portions. Step 1: 8:00pm – Tune in to Bruka Theatre of the Sierra’s Facebook Page to see the Poet in Residence, Jesse James Ziegler perform original pieces of poetry and speak about the theme/prompt of the week. (Personal Podcast Portion) Step 2: 8:15pm – Using the link provided in the Facebook Event “Collective Breath”, join on Zoom for the meeting to discuss and share creative output related to the Topic/Prompt. (Group Workshop Portion) . https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8127754640?pwd=RE41WS94RkVidUxERmxteXZTY3ZPdz09 . ‘COLLECTIVE BREATH’ @biggestlittlecollectivebreath . . . . . #poet #poets #poem #poems #poetry #poetsofinstagram #poetsofig #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #workshop #poemsofinstagram #poetry_addicts #poemsporn #brukatheatre #collectivebreathreno #bloggers #weekly #sidewayseightprojects #brukapoetry #sidewaseightpoetry #spokenword #spokenwordpoet #spokenwordpoetry #spokenwordartist #writer #writing #creativewriting #wellness #biggestlittlecollectivebreath #collectivebreath
NEW POETRY VIDEO: . ~ On The Horizon ~ . Title of Poem/Video is in reference to an excerpt from my reading, in homage to one of the greatest to ever touch stage, hearts, and the edge of transcendental art…Javon Johnson . “Slam and spoken word poets who search for something beyond are, on some level, always trying to move on to what is beyond, to what is on the horizon.” — Javon Johnson ‘Killing Poetry’ . ON THE HORIZON (2min.37sec.) Poem and Photography by JJZ . . . . . #poetry #photography #poet #photographer #poets #photographers #poem #photo #poems #photos #community #event #spokenwordartist #poetryvideo #spokenwordpoetry #spokenword #performancepoetry #poetrylovers #reno #nv #sidewayseightprojects #sidewayseightpoetry #writer #writers #writing #poetryisnotdead #poetrycommunity #poetlifeuniversity #creativewriting #poetrymovie
COLLECTIVE BREATH SEASON 2 EPISODE 29 . . Week of Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 Starting at 8pm PDT Episode : 81 (of 104 overall) Writing Prompt: Write about the number NINE (9) … . COLLECTIVE BREATH is a weekly wellness writing workshop. This ongoing event meets Tuesdays starting at 8pm. Each session or episode will consist of two portions. Step 1: 8:00pm – Tune in to Bruka Theatre of the Sierra’s Facebook Page to see the Poet in Residence, Jesse James Ziegler perform original pieces of poetry and speak about the theme/prompt of the week. (Personal Podcast Portion) Step 2: 8:15pm – Using the link provided in the Facebook Event “Collective Breath”, join on Zoom for the meeting to discuss and share creative output related to the Topic/Prompt. (Group Workshop Portion) . https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8127754640?pwd=RE41WS94RkVidUxERmxteXZTY3ZPdz09 . ‘COLLECTIVE BREATH’ @biggestlittlecollectivebreath . . . . . #poet #poets #poem #poems #poetry #poetsofinstagram #poetsofig #poetrycommunity #poetryisnotdead #workshop #poemsofinstagram #poetry_addicts #poemsporn #brukatheatre #collectivebreathreno #bloggers #weekly #sidewayseightprojects #brukapoetry #sidewaseightpoetry #spokenword #spokenwordpoet #spokenwordpoetry #spokenwordartist #writer #writing #creativewriting #wellness #biggestlittlecollectivebreath #collectivebreath
I have been open enough to pray for the eyes of God so that I may see what I’m missing and fully understand why it will never be my place to judge whether moments of experience take my breath away or cut it short altogether
I have been closed enough to pray for death so that I may end what I am feeling to cease what I’m seeing and fully understand why I will never be completely open without shattering an already broken vessel attempting to hold the summation of existence in a single breath
And so I remain A door half open held ajar by a singular glass seen from afar as half empty resting on the floor casting its gaze over the threshold longing to have its intention travel across time and breathe easy . . . . . #poetry #photography #poet #photographer #poets #photographers #poem #photo #poems #photos #community #event #spokenwordartist #hiphopartist #spokenwordpoetry #spokenword #performance #poetrylovers #reno #nv #sidewayseightprojects #sidewayseightpoetry #writer #writers #writing #poetryisnotdead #poetrycommunity #poetlifeuniversity #creativewriting #pagepoetry
Number of people attending Facebook (personal portion):
Number of people attending Zoom Meet (group portion):
Introduction:
Retiring Grid Iron
Willis, Webster, and Lewis
Pushing on till zone’s end
Could be the frequency
running through us
and NASCAR’s Means to an end
Fifty two floors in a wreck
Fifty two weeks in a year
Fifty two cards in a deck
Fifty two ways to see clear
Happy 4th of July to everyone at home and on the road!
A transcript of this segment and each subsequent session will be posted (for anyone interested) at http://www.sidewayseight.co which is my main outlet for personal poetry and photography: Sideways Eight Projects.
“My TV show had been cancelled; nothing else had gone anywhere; some alliances I had made petered out and nothing came of them and I was looking at a long, long year ahead of me in which there was no work on the horizon, the phone wasn’t ringing. I had two kids, one of them a brand-new baby, and I didn’t know if I would be able to keep my house.”
Hello fantastic people! My name is Jesse James Ziegler. I am the current Poet in Residence for the Bruka Theatre of the Sierra in Reno, Nevada. I’m a member of the Sierra Literary Cooperative and the spoken word/poetry contributor to Reno Arts News. I am an active poet, special event MC, principle photographer, special event series host, and now weekly wellness writing workshop host in collaboration with Spoken Views Collective of which I am also a Board Member.
This Weeks Writing Prompt:
This week’s Prompt : ‘A year in the life’
I want for this podcast style personal portion to contain information about famous writers and their quotes as well as, futuristically speaking, local guests to this program who help everyone involved gain a diversity of perspective and positively impact our individual process.
Quote(s) of the Week:(3)
I’m hoping this sharing and vulnerability I’m demonstrating will encourage others who love creative writing as well to open up, by sharing from their innermost, related to the topic provided. I’m hoping we all gain perspective, compassion, hope, and discipline through such organized sharing.
“Everybody wants to be famous, but nobody wants to do the work. I live by that. You grind hard so you can play hard. At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and eventually it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off.”
“My teacher told me I’d never amount to anything. I left high school at 15, after one year. But my real teachers were all the people around me. And I was a good listener.”
Which will also be posted across Collective Breath and Bruka Theatre’s social media platforms: respond to the phrase ‘A fresh start’
Shout Outs
The Holland Project
Spoken Views Collective
Bruka Theatre
Good Luck Macbeth Theatre
Reno Little Theatre
Sierra Arts
POTENTIALIST Workshop
Savage Mystic Gallery
KWNK Radio
UNR
Black Rock Press
Black Wall Street
Up in the Mix Podcast
Animarte’
Sierra Literary Cooperative
Reno Arts News
Closing Sentiments and an Invitation
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”
That’s it for my personal portion. If this is where you get off this train of thought, because you checked in to listen, thank you for tuning in and absorbing. I appreciate your time and consideration. If you are here for the Weekly Wellness Writing Workshop group portion via Zoom Meeting, please transition to that application now using the link provided in the details/description section of the Bruka Theatre Facebook Event Page for ‘Collective Breath’. The link to watch previous episodes is in the bio section of the Collective Breath Instagram page @biggestlittlecollectivebreath
‘Keep’ (my frictionless benediction)
Keep writing. Keep your heart open and your mind aware. Keep coming back for more. Keep going. Keep giving. Keep doing. Keep daring to believe in a better way of living. Keep loving and creating. Keep each other safe and sound. Keep it real, and keep the faith. I love you. Goodbye for now.
Number of people attending Facebook (personal portion):
Number of people attending Zoom Meet (group portion):
Introduction:
“I am homesick for a place I am not sure even exists. One where my heart is full. My body loved. And my soul understood.”
— Melissa Cox
A transcript of this segment and each subsequent session will be posted (for anyone interested) at http://www.sidewayseight.co which is my main outlet for personal poetry and photography: Sideways Eight Projects.
I’ve removed my tin foil hat for the broadcast as the glare was too distracting for the lighting. I am, however, wearing my roast beef t-shirt as featured in season 3 of Stranger Things, adorned by the character Dustin.
Hello fantastic people! My name is Jesse James Ziegler. I am the current Poet in Residence for the Bruka Theatre of the Sierra in Reno, Nevada. I’m a member of the Sierra Literary Cooperative and the spoken word/poetry contributor to Reno Arts News. I am an active poet, special event MC, principle photographer, special event series host, and now weekly wellness writing workshop host in collaboration with Spoken Views Collective of which I am also a Board Member.
This Weeks Writing Prompt:
This week’s Prompt : Write about Alien Life Forms
I want for this podcast style personal portion to contain information about famous writers and their quotes as well as, futuristically speaking, local guests to this program who help everyone involved gain a diversity of perspective and positively impact our individual process.
Quote(s) of the Week:(7)
“What most people don’t understand is that UFOs are on a cosmic tourist route. That’s why they’re always seen in Arizona, Scotland, and New Mexico. Another thing to consider is that all three of those destinations are good places to play golf. So there’s possibly some connection between aliens and golf.”
“There may be aliens in our Milky Way galaxy, and there are billions of other galaxies. The probability is almost certain that there is life somewhere in space.”
“I have always been a huge fan of Ridley Scott and certainly when I was a kid. ‘Alien’, ‘Blade Runner’ just blew me away because they created these extraordinary worlds that were just completely immersive. I was also an enormous Stanley Kubrick fan for similar reasons.”
I’m hoping this sharing and vulnerability I’m demonstrating will encourage others who love creative writing as well to open up, by sharing from their innermost, related to the topic provided. I’m hoping we all gain perspective, compassion, hope, and discipline through such organized sharing.
Which will also be posted across Collective Breath and Bruka Theatre’s social media platforms: respond to the phrase ‘A year in the life’
Shout Outs
To Spoken Views Collective and Iain Watson for letting me host our next open mic at the Holland Project on Wednesday, June 30th. Email svc-booking@gmail.com for details and a time slot
To Reno Arts and Culture Commission for allowing me to further audition and interview as a follow up for the beloved role of City of Reno Poet Laureate
Closing Sentiments and an Invitation
That’s it for my personal portion. If this is where you get off this train of thought, because you checked in to listen, thank you for tuning in and absorbing. I appreciate your time and consideration. If you are here for the Weekly Wellness Writing Workshop group portion via Zoom Meeting, please transition to that application now using the link provided in the details/description section of the Bruka Theatre Facebook Event Page for ‘Collective Breath’. The link to watch previous episodes is in the bio section of the Collective Breath Instagram page @biggestlittlecollectivebreath
‘Keep’ (my frictionless benediction)
Keep writing. Keep your heart open and your mind aware. Keep coming back for more. Keep going. Keep giving. Keep doing. Keep daring to believe in a better way of living. Keep loving and creating. Keep each other safe and sound. Keep it real, and keep the faith. I love you. Goodbye for now.
SIDEWAYS EIGHT PROJECTS 