JEANANN VERLEE is a poet, prose writer, actor, activist, and former punk rocker who collects tattoos and winks at boys. Her work has appeared in various journals, magazines and anthologies, including The New York Quarterly, Spindle, "His Rib" and others. She is Co-SlamMaster of the Urbana Poetry Slam at Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, was member of the 2006 Urbana National Poetry Slam team, coach for the 2007 Urbana team, a 2007 LouderARTS Poetry Slam finalist and among her features is proudest to include both LouderARTS and the Nuyorican Poets Café. Jeanann lives in New York City with her best pal, Callisto, a 10 year old Border Collie-mix.
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My NEWEST book: BLACK POWDER - Available NOW!!
“Jeanann Verlee is an American woman. She is growing up and she's not always pleased about it. She's the skin-kneed girl at a carnival bug-eyed and in awe of everything around her, but the colors she reports, and the tales she tells of what she's seen there and how she's survived it all, are at once lurid and gorgeous. Excavating the worlds of mental illness, unrepentant sex and drug use, has seldom seemed both so visceral and lovely. She draws you into her imaginings and her several unrelenting pains, and through them the poems emerge as risky covenants of survival. They will heal and break you down. They will exalt everything in you.”
- Roger Bonair-Agard
“There are writers that provoke a spark and voices that burn down the building altogether. Both are necessary in the war of words. This woman on fire leaves foundations splintered, smoking and bare. She personifies courage and makes pain look beautiful in its startling color of truth.”
- Mahogany L. Browne
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My first book: SCRATCH MARKS
“Jeanann Verlee's smashing poetic debut will come as no surprise to those already addicted to her electrifying work on stage – in fact, these unflinching stanzas will only solidify her growing reputation and add to her devoted stable of followers. These pieces are fearless and deftly crafted, touting the sparkly bitchiness of a woman who has a lot to say and nothing to lose. Sure, any girl can grow up to be Jeanann – but only if she knows words for the blades they are, and only if she wields them fiercely.”
- Patricia Smith
"Jeanann is an amazing writer and performance poet who captures one's core condition by italicizing what it is to be human."
- Bruce George
"Jeanann is not one of those poets who can make a hard life sound beautiful. In her poems there really IS beauty, and it's not trying to sound like anything else. There is celebration for what is, what is no longer, and what never was."
- Taylor Mali
i'm a PiNK Rock Girl.
a surprise package. i like slam pits. tattoos.
and crappy beer.
i can do a plaid miniskirt with combat boots
and a little black cocktail dress with a glass of champagne.
i like darts and foosball and Irish pubs.
I like nice Italian dinners and Sangiovese.
i'm into summers. flip flops. painted toenails.
beaches. costume jewelry.
and laughing until my stomach cramps.
i'm a poet. an activist. a woman.
i have no tolerance for sexists. racists. religion-supremacists.
or people who abuse animals.
i'm silly.
i make funny voices. i have a sharp mouth and soft lips.
i type really fast and work way too many hours.
i always take time to talk to animals.
i always take time for a beer.
i sing songs to my dog. write love notes to my friends.
and give ugly nicknames to people i don't like.
i make up words.
cold weather makes me cranky. i love to cook.
i rarely wear makeup. rarely dust. and usually sleep in too late.
i have a mild addiction to office supplies and i hate doing laundry.
i talk back to the radio and TV.
i make friends with taxi drivers and bartenders.
i ignore people to who talk to me on the street.
and when someone gawks at me on the subway, i stare back until they look away. (boo!)
my patience is short but my capacity for forgiveness is immense.
Thanks for adding me....I loved the poem about your brother. That part...and I know I won't get the exact words...when you said "when I found out my brother had AIDS I lost my breath." That was, well it was just a kick in the stomach. Made me pick up the phone to chat with my sister, and she isn't even sick. I just wanted to tell you that. I'm glad I found your page.
Hey Jeanann, Thanks again for everything. Your poetry is hot. And I was looking at your other page as well. Jeanette Napolitano. Wow! I haven't heard from her in a minute but that song is pretty good. I used to cover Tomorrow Wendy which I'm not sure if Concrete Blonde wrote that or not, but it's where I learned it. Anyway, very nice meeting you and I hope our paths cross again someday. Peace, B
I followed the link to your page via Jamie Kilstein's and then your own profile and I must say, your words are so strong and powerful, so emotionally driven and emotion-stirring that I caught my breath. I love hearing poets speak their words, putting life into what was pen and paper and making their words breathe. Thank -you- for writing such amazing words to enjoy.
And the official foosball bragging rights have returned to their rightful champion...i'm studyin' up now girl, i know next time..you're playin' for keeps.
thank you thank you...it was awesome seeing you...and i dont know how it happened, but i managed not to hear a sinle birthday song all day! it was the best gift ever
