#letterstoourcity

[mikethepoetla]

Here's the link to get the 2nd edition of

#LetterstomyCity

“Mike Sonksen aka @MikethePoeTLA is an L.A. treasure. He’s the best kind of booster, someone who celebrates the good without erasing the bad, and who loves this place with his whole soul. You can see that love in Letters to My City, his joyful collection of poetry and essays.”

—- Steph Cha, Author of Your House Will Pay

#letterstomycity #la #poetry #letterstoourcity #books

[mikethepoetla]

“Mike Sonksen is a walking encyclopedia of LA history, culture, poetry, community and the list goes on. Letters To My City is a brilliant homage to the greats, the hidden gems, the poetry and the complexities of Los Angeles - an essential part of the LA literary canon.”

——traci kato-kiriyama; author of Navigating With(out) Instruments

“The eye of poet and professor Mike Sonksen beholds and maps the rich totality of life in our beloved City of Angels - every form, color, and texture comprising the lush ecosystem of art and empowerment that’s flourished since he first participated with our community of writers decades ago. To engage his work - plain yet lush, intricate while always welcoming - is to behold the mirror-reflection of the best in all of us and what we, by divine nature, can contribute to a better world.” 

——Allan Aquino, poet and professor for the Department of Asian American Studies at Cal State, Northridge

#letterstoourcity #letterstomycity #la #poetry #books #creativenonfiction

[mikethepoetla]

When atmospheric rivers hit California and damaged parts of the state earlier this year, many people were hearing about these destructive rainstorms for the first time. Not me, however. I learned about them way back in 1997 while studying under Mike Davis at UCLA. Weather was one of countless areas of knowledge Davis explored in his writing decades before the world caught up to him.

#la #letterstomycity #books #letterstoourcity #mikedavis #mikesonksen #mikethepoetla

[mikethepoetla]

Beat, Not Beat is a dynamite anthology. I had a ball reading at the book release party last night @storiesbooksandcafe #Letterstoourcity #books #LA #poetry (at Stories BooksandCafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck14AXkpiwz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity #books #la #poetry

[mikethepoetla]

My prose poem for Mike Davis in @altajournal Thanks to my editor Blaise Z & Matt Haber. #Letterstoourcity (at MacArthur Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cks4lZWrMgq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity

[mikethepoetla]

No matter where I paint a mural, visual art is a universal language that needs no translation,” says Man One, a.k.a. Alejandro Poli Jr. Man One lives to transform public spaces into sacred ones with murals. He’s painted them all over the world, from the 72nd floor of the U.S. Bank Building in downtown Los Angeles to locations in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Mexico and, most recently, at the United States embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, for two weeks in December, where he also taught workshops with local artists.

#la #street art #publicart #murals #letterstoourcity #books

[mikethepoetla]

I’m late with this because the semester just started again but my latest essay for @altajournal was on Will Alexander. A true purveyor of Sonic grammar the poet goes intergalactic like Trane on the saxophone. His newest book on @citylightsbooks “Divine Blue Light,” celebrates John Coltrane. Terry Robinson aka @hymnalpoetics & I interviewed Will also for @dublab two weeks ago. See the last frame here to watch Will & Kamau Daaood go back & forth with their respective Coltrane poems last week at Beyond Baroque. #Letterstoourcity #sonicgrammar #poetry #LA #books #afrofuturism #traveler #rocknroll #soul (at Beyond Baroque) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoCmmakLODr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity #sonicgrammar #poetry #la #books #afrofuturism #traveler #rocknroll #soul

[mikethepoetla]

I’m hosting a writing workshop & open mic this Monday night at the Cerritos Library. We will be writing about California State Parks & location. Come write with us! #letterstoourcity (at Cerritos Public Library) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFSo06PnvJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity

[mikethepoetla]

Congratulations to Alan Nakagawa on the release of his new book from @writlargeprojects. A.I.R.HEAD: THE ANATOMY OF AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, (1ST BOOK) 2022 A.I.R.Head: the Anatomy of an Artist in Residence, 2022 Available at Writ Large Projects and Amazon Within a short amount of time, Alan Nakagawa found himself in the midst of several artist-in-residence opportunities. It started with the Getty Villa and then the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Within a few years, Nakagawa had a half of dozen completed or in the mix. And then the emails started coming. Alan and I had a coffee yesterday on Washington @fence_coffee which is right across the street from Ray Charles longtime studio at Westmoreland & Washington. Alan grew up near Pico & Crenshaw & he’s more Los Angeles than the La Brea Tar Pits. I am already 70 pages into his book & he breaks down the community arts in Los ANGELES with the insight only a true insider could give. He is embedded in the most authentic way. I first met Alan with Alessandra Moctezuma & Mike Davis almost two decades ago. He’s the one on multiple levels. Follow him @nakagawa2015 & pick up his book. #Letterstoourcity #oralhistory #collageensembleinc (at Ray Charles Enterprises) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmR2GiXPQOz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity #oralhistory #collageensembleinc

[mikethepoetla]

I’m hosting at Downey Central Library in November on the 19th at 3pm. #Letterstoourcity (at Downey Library) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkhBQtaPQIC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity

[mikethepoetla]

Flashback shot of @thechrissiders & I in 2014. This was the night I read at Cal State Monterey Bay. Chris was in his senior year. We’ve been jamming together in one way or another since December 2007 when I first came as a guest speaker to View Park HS. I’m very proud of Chris & how Focused he is as a poet & community builder. We will be reading together at Long Beach Central Library next week October 22nd at 3.30pm. #Letterstoourcity #LA #Longbeach (at Billie Jean King Main Library) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjpL34duNAm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#letterstoourcity #la #longbeach

[mikethepoetla]

I’m hosting a literary lounge in the LA River in honor of Lewis this Saturday evening. Been meaning to post but have been swamped with teaching & my son’s soccer team. Repost from @frogtownarts • During our 2020 Virtual Artwalk we held several presentations on Zoom. One that we are most proud of is "Reading the River: the Poems of Lewis MacAdams. . Friends, family and fans of the late poet, activist and founder of @folarorg read his poems and discussed his life and work with @rexweiner moderating. . For this year's artwalk, we're doing it in-person with Stories, Poems & Songs: a Literary Lounge by the LA River-dedicated to the memory of Lewis MacAdams. . Again friends and family will read some of Lewis' work as well as their own in a garden setting along the LA River Bike and Pedestrian path. The evening is MC'd and curated by Lewis' friend @mikethepoetla . Enjoy poems read by Phoebe MacAdams Ozuna, AK Toney, Steve Abee, Linda Ravenswood, Adolfo Guzman Lopez, Rocio Carlos, Dion, Lee Boek, Maestro Gamin and more. Big thx to Michelene Cherie. Make S’mores with us and listen to poetry. #lewismacadams #lewismacadamsriverfrontpark #lariver #losangelesriver #losangeles #folar #poetry #poet #poems #poetsofinstagram #spokenword #mikethepoetLA #Letterstoourcity https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3oztRJVpN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#lewismacadams #lewismacadamsriverfrontpark #lariver #losangelesriver #losangeles #folar #poetry #poet #poems #poetsofinstagram #spokenword #mikethepoetla #letterstoourcity

[mikethepoetla]

Just finished guest speaking at Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School on 52nd & Towne. Shout out to Ana Tenorio, 1 of the best teachers in LAUSD. She starts every class by having students tell he where there head is. She asks: “Are you in?” Her compassion and kindness establishes trust & then they write what’s on their heart. I led her class in two writing prompts & then they shared out. #LA Guest speaking is one of my favorite pastimes. We write together & learn. #Letterstoourcity (at Dr.Maya Angelou Community High School) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3jQ-WPlYS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#la #letterstoourcity

[mikethepoetla]

Tony Pierce did one of my favorite interview/podcasts I have ever done about my work. We spoke about a lot of topics from #Bukowski to LA neighborhoods to eateries to teaching to the different perspectives of what #poetry is. Tony’s podcast “Hear in LA,” is the truth. He’s covering every district in the city. The link is in my bio. Thx again Tony! #letterstoourcity #letterstomycity #LA Repost from @hearinla • Mike the Poet living up to his name. Feel that love. Soak in his spirit. Listen to his beautiful words. (at St Andrews Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChaPbSYJU7C/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#bukowski #poetry #letterstoourcity #letterstomycity #la

[mikethepoetla]

I wrote about six outstanding indie eateries for LA Parent. Out in print now. Here’s some shots from the essay. @laparentmag @theparksfinest @bachanstakeout @blossommarkethall @chilijohnsca Spoon House in Gardena & 4th Street in Long Beach. (4th is a corridor to explore.) Each of these spots go & if you don’t know search them up You’ll be glad you did. #food #foodie #letterstoourcity #SFV #LA #LBC (at Spoon House) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgo9RCGr8IN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#food #foodie #letterstoourcity #sfv #la #lbc

[mikethepoetla]

Huge thx to Cory Cofer aka @besskepp_ for speaking with my students yesterday. I have been working with some Italian students teaching them English this last week. Cory inspired them with several poems and then gave them a writing prompt. Follow @besskepp_ #amicanddimlights #letterstoourcity #poetry #spokenword #word (at Fullerton Loop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgmduRQLYHT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#amicanddimlights #letterstoourcity #poetry #spokenword #word