hoisanpoet – Nellie Wong

Nothing Like Freedom Bookstore Launch

By hoisanpoet | November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 by hoisanpoet

Reading by Nellie Wong, with special musical guest Destiny Muhammad Wednesday, November 6th – 7pm – 8:30pmBird & Beckett Books and Records653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, CA 94131 Chinese American revolutionary feminist poet Nellie Wong, joined by special musical guest, singer and harpist Destiny Muhammad, will read selections from “Nothing Like Freedom” at a bookstore launch event held on Wednesday, November 6th – 7pm at Bird & Beckett Bookstore. For additional information, please visit https://birdbeckett.com/ A Glen Park…

Not Once

By hoisanpoet | October 25, 2024November 1, 2024 by hoisanpoet

poem two / Nellie Wong at Ninety NELLIE WONG celebrates her ninetieth birthday with the publication of Nothing Like Freedom, her fifth collection, after Dreams of Harrison Railroad Park (1977), Death of Long Steam Lady (1986), Stolen Moments (1997), and Breakfast Lunch Dinner (2012). “Nellie Wong at Ninety” is a digital companion project centered around nine poems, chosen by Nellie to represent each decade of her storied life. Web Gallery Nellie at Great China Restaurant…

Activism Feminism Mentors Musings Poetry Work

Asian American Literature Festival 2024 Keynote Address

By hoisanpoet | September 14, 2024September 18, 2024 by hoisanpoet

Chinese Culture Center San Francisco, California September 14, 2024 Nellie Wong If art cannot engage with life, it has no future —Ai Weiwei The literature, poetry, art, songs of Asian America sail and float throughout the cosmos, indeed on earth through workers’ hands, their compassion, survivors’ instincts, their respect for the living and the dead, for permanent revolution, our communal search for bread and roses, for beauty. Our voices may tremble or shout, murmur, somersault,…

Poetry The Memory Palace Work

Webster Street Moon

By hoisanpoet | September 14, 2024September 23, 2024 by hoisanpoet

poem one / Nellie Wong at Ninety NELLIE WONG celebrates her ninetieth birthday with the publication of Nothing Like Freedom, her fifth collection, after Dreams of Harrison Railroad Park (1977), Death of Long Steam Lady (1986), Stolen Moments (1997), and Breakfast Lunch Dinner (2012). “Nellie Wong at Ninety” is a digital companion project centered around nine poems, chosen by Nellie to represent each decade of her storied life. Web Gallery The Gee Wong Family (1944)…

Calendar Poetry

Rivertown Poets & Aqus Café present

By hoisanpoet | March 26, 2024 by hoisanpoet

Nellie Wong + Vincent Kobelt Monday, April 8th at 6:15 p.m. an online reading via Zoom Rivertown Poets is a first-Mondays poetry series that has been hosted by the Aqus Cafe in Petaluma, CA since 2013. Vincent Kobelt has written poetry for the page, stage, and the mic. His early work explored the murals of the Mission where he grew up, the music of jazz, a cry for justice, the birth of his daughters, milkweed…

Calendar Poetry

Poets! Every First Thursday @ Bird and Beckett

By hoisanpoet | March 25, 2024March 26, 2024 by hoisanpoet

Featured Poets: Nellie Wong and Robert Eugene Rubino Thursday, April 4, 7pm – 9 pm Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, CA 94131 On the first Thursday of each month, Jerry Ferraz and Michael Koch host a poetry reading that showcases local legends, poets passing through and folks from around the Bay — typically two featured poets followed by an open mic. We can count on a warm group of…

Poetry Work

When A Woman Tells the Truth

By hoisanpoet | February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 by hoisanpoet

“When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her.” ― ADRIENNE RICH This new anthology, When a Woman Tells the Truth: Writings and Creative Work by Women Over 80, edited by Dena Taylor and Wilma Marcus Chandler, will be published in the spring of 2024 by Many Names Press. The national book launch for the 80’s anthology, which includes poems by Nellie, will be held at Bookshop Santa Cruz on…

Activism Feminism Movies Reviews

Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space

By hoisanpoet | February 1, 2024 by hoisanpoet

A Movie Review by Nellie Wong | February 2024 “A woman by herself is a beautiful thing,” intones the narrator of Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space, a two-hour documentary produced in 2023 by PBS for the American Experience series. This vibrant film speaks well about a heretofore under-recognized anthropologist, playwright, novelist, and researcher. The viewer sees Hurston “claim her space” by doing the work she wanted to do: to tell the stories of Black…

Calendar Poetry

“Poetry in Chinatown” Double Feature at Clarion

By hoisanpoet | January 31, 2024February 8, 2024 by hoisanpoet

“3rd Saturday Poetry in Chinatown” Feb 17, 2024, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Clarion Performing Arts Center, 2 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA Encounter poets and poetry in a cozy space every 3rd Saturday of the month, 1-3 pm. We begin with a toast of plum wine or tea, and proceed to two hours of expressive audio pleasure. Curated by Bay Area poet Greg Pond, there are two features and an open mic.…

Feminism Mentors Poetry Recording The Memory Palace Work

Ironing, Ironing

By hoisanpoet | September 3, 2023September 3, 2023 by hoisanpoet

IRONING, IRONING (For Tillie Olsen) Like a drunken fool I pick out the wrinkles linen and shirt, the foam-green dress, the black, long sleeve T and I drink ice cold glasses of lemon tea as the temperature lingers at 90 plus degrees. When I ironed as a 12-year old, I listened to the radio. Imogene Coco and Sid Caesar battled in their boisterous humor, the Lone Ranger and his faithful companion, Tonto, rode in clouds…