Happy National Poetry Month and Happy Earth Day!

When you keep showing up and unexpectedly earn titles like best female director for animation, poet laureate, and griot, it’s life affirming in the month of April. Check out my acceptance speech at Poppy Jasper and my interview on the Jazzline at KPFA 94.1 FM.

Last year during the month dedicated to poetry, Steve and I were busy posting haikus about peace daily on Instagram. Very few people acknowledged the tenacity, and often before and after I’ve had to remind myself that I don’t do this for praise and to keep going. It’s a year later, and I’m the recipient of three awards acknowledging my poetic narrative turned film entitled, Lil Red is Riding the Wrong Way in the Hood. Plus, last weekend I was given an award in the name of all griots or storytellers past and present. I HAD NO IDEA when I showed up, I’d be honored for anything. I guess the lesson is to keep showing up.

I was still producing the movie last April, and unsure if I’d ever find a consistent mentor during the making to guide me through the process as a first time filmmaker. But WOW, I made it to the other side with God’s unchanging hand.

Here’s a link to my impromptu acceptance speech last weekend at the Granada Theatre in Morgan Hill, where shero, festival organizer, and “Woman of the Year” Mattie Scariot, presented me with the Best Female Director for Animation to name one of three.

And this weekend Afrikhan Jamal Dayvs honored, Julian Carroll, my fellow poet and I with poet with JaZzLine’s BAJABA Griot Award for our work as cultural ambassadors and storytellers. The gesture was so heartfelt that my eyeballs started sweating. You can find us with new titles as poet laureates and holding down the Poetry Corner over at the JaZzline Institute .

When you listen to the most recent episode of JaZzline on KPFA 94.1 from 4/20/24, you are sure to catch a groove and cosmic conversation. Julian and I shared some love poems and I intro myself around the :44 mark meanwhile tributing Mother Earth, simultaneously.

Given the date, I want to acknowledge Venus to Earth, as one of the best debut poetry collections ever, and I published it in 2003. I chose to go in Retrograde 20 years ago and offer remixes including live readings per request. You can still order it or the original in celebration. You’ll be glad you did.

Where is Lil Red headed next?

The Poetry Film Festival this weekend in Venice, California

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Thank you for your ongoing interest and/or support. If you know someone else who enjoys spoken word poetry you can feel, feel free to share art that’s activism for as low as $1 a month at: https://www.patreon.com/venuslovejones/

I welcome your questions and comments.

Let’s keep looking up and keep looking out.

Venus 🌍

“A star that’s down to Earth”
Visit venusjones.com