Welcome to my new blog! Though I have always found the word “blog” rather ungainly. I prefer to think of it as a public diary, an interface between my heart and yours. And for the die hard fans, the past fifteen years of entries – through tours & babies & various adventures – will live on here.

High summer and fruit is everywhere. Here in Portland, measuring by berries: the strawberries are done, the blueberries are in full swing, the raspberries are winding down, the blackberries are just getting started.

Meanwhile, news:

I am honored to have seven poems in the current issue of American Poetry Review – including this one.

They’re all from my new manuscript about the (incredibly odd, sometimes psychedelic) experience of pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood. This one’s about turning forty, doing a semi-dangerous ritual to celebrate, and hoping the moon likes it. I hope YOU like it.

Last month I got to teach a couple sessions of songwriting at Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls – where the teen girls co-wrote an amazing song about a gay dragon who just wanted to be loved. And also to give a reading for the teen writing camp of the IPRC, show:tell. Teens are the best.

Speaking of tour vans, I’m in the earliest stages of planning a November Northeast tour in the weeks before Thanksgiving. If you are in Massachusetts, NYC, Philly or Baltimore and want to host a poetry reading, Girls in Trouble performance, workshop, or hybrid magical event this November – let me know!

Earlier this spring, I was thrilled to compose and record music for Hadassa Goldvicht’s gorgeous video installation, House of Life, exhibited in conjunction with the Venice Biennale and featured in the NY Times.

The exhibit is up through fall, if you happen to be in Venice.

Finally, I had the honor of singing the national anthem at a citizenship ceremony last month in honor of World Refugee Day. Eleven new citizens from different countries, some of them refugees, received their citizenship and I thought of my great-grandparents who came here from Eastern Europe.

I sang the anthem holding in my heart the highest and best ideals of this country, for all the times we fall short. May we find our footing and be a land of safety and peace for all.

All genders. All ethnicities. All beliefs. All people.

Love to you all,

Alicia