SAL/ON

A Blog of Seattle Arts & Lectures

The Many Desires of Kate Baer

This essay is part of a series in which Seattle Arts & Lectures partners with Poetry Northwest to present reflections on visiting writers from the SAL Poetry Series. On Thursday, March 2, Kate Baer will read and discuss her work in conversation with Rebecca Hoogs at Rainier Arts Center, at 7:30 pm (PT). Tickets to […]

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“Cubism” by Zinnia Hansen

“With your pictures you apparently want to arouse in us a feeling of having to swallow rope or drink kerosene.” – Braque to Picasso Maybe it’s as simple as this: Maybe God’s hundredth name is His face. I try to paint it on the moon, but I can’t reach far enough to fill His craterous, […]

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“Don’t Worry, Ma” by Kyle Gerstel

He sits at the desk beside Teacher, scribbling words on the back of the coloring sheet while the rest of the class enjoys the playground and each other. His mom asks her maternal comrades what to do, if he’s okay, but he knows better. “Don’t worry, ma,” he says. “This is what I have to […]

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“Pesto” & “Toast and Other Things” by Bayla Cohen-Knott

Pesto She dances Whirs and grinds and her arms rise To ragged rocks of sea salt Where she sleeps She puckers up for a kiss Feels lemon when there is bitterness Goes dark when left alone A moldy solitude She duets with the plush Heel toe tapping Kitten heels staunch in their desire to step […]

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“Ideas in the Clouds” by WITS Student Flavia Sethy

Ideas in the Clouds Take me home ………what is that can we start ……….do we ever Why do you fly, not walk ……….Why do you walk, not fly Who are you ……….Who are you Why is the sky beautiful ……….is anything Give me an answer ……….are there answers Are we there yet ……….are we ever […]

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“Freedom Poem” by WITS Student Kai Ogata

Freedom tastes like a hearty soup, Warming the esophagus and stomach, Potatoes and herbs, soft beef, Freedom is a sour lemonade, The sugar sunk to the bottom, Crunchy ice, that good kind, Freedom tastes like fro-yo, Nilla wafers, popping boba, Gummy bear toppings, Freedom sounds like laughter, Not those forced ones, the ones with a […]

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“Lorelei” by Keegan York

I can’t tell you how it kills me. …..Song like the bleeding heart of fire ……….breeds the incandescent waver of ……………water rapt in wrapping ‘round ………………..the pearl. Invincible, the stretch and tear of blue on white …..seethes with the spirit of the moon. ……….I have a second sense for hollowness. ……………I receive the buoyant aura […]

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Introductions: Celeste Ng

By Rebecca Hoogs, Executive Director It is now my immense pleasure to introduce Celeste Ng. Every year we ask you, our SAL audience, who you would like to see on the SAL stage, and every year Celeste Ng’s name in the top ten most requested authors. It is thus a special delight to make your […]

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Introductions: Maggie O’Farrell

By Rebecca Hoods, Executive Director It is now my immense pleasure to introduce Maggie O’Farrell. Born in Northern Ireland and now a resident of Edinburgh, O’Farrell is the author of nine novels, a memoir, and two books for children. I came to her work first through her 2017 memoir, I Am, I Am, I Am: […]

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“Jen Wave” by WITS Student Markarius Paine

It was a cold and wet evening on January 5 just outside of downtown Seattle. There was an amazing baby being born on South Main Street in a small brick apartment building. In unit number 5, there was a small cry and a curious meow and at 5:47 that evening, Jen Aronian Wave was born. […]

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