DIPSOMANIAC -- Tamara Oakman
I worshipped them,
my new deities,
Mr. Jack Daniels,
Uncle Smirnoff,
made an altar
with empty shot glasses,
gave money
to the church of Wine and Spirits,
and picked up Chardonnay,
cradling it like a rosary for hours.
In group therapy,
they asked my religion.
I said, “Alcoholism,”
and smiled.
They didn’t find it amusing.
I should have said Christianity
but refused to betray my gods.
Music
...and I loved you then, so wise from the shower, and I loved you many other times and I have been, for months, trying to drown it, to push it under, to keep its great red tongue under like a fish, but wherever I look they are on fire, the bass, the bluefish, the wall-eyed flounder blazing among the kelp and seaweed like many suns battering up the waves and my love stays bitterly glowing, spasms of it will not sleep, and I am helpless and thirsty and need shade but there is no one to cover me, not even God. --Anne Sexton
PURITY -- Tamara Oakman
Touched my hand to my mouth
Loving the metallic taste
Maybe I’ve just grown used to it.
This time he’s gone too far.
My father sits in his chair,
A comfortable green chair
He used to rock me in when I was younger
As I wish he would now.
I stand as still as he sits.
Cold air pours through the open window.
I am sizing up the damage.
He is looking me over.
Coldness pours from my eyes.
He is sizing up the damage.
He sits there silently
After so much rage
And hopes that time
Will cover agony like snow.
A clean, white slate,
Nullifying with its cold numbness.
But the snow on the ledge of the window
Has been tainted with blood.
Books
........>
Heroes
Tamara Oakman's Details
Status:
Single
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Hometown:
Philadelphia
Body type:
5' 8" / More to love!
Ethnicity:
Black / African descent
Religion:
Other
Zodiac Sign:
Pisces
Children:
Someday
Education:
Grad / professional school
Occupation:
Human
Income:
$30,000 to $45,000
Tamara Oakman's Schools
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA
Graduated: N/A
Degree: Master's Degree
Major: English
Minor: Writing
Clubs: Mad Poets Society
2006 to 2009
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Graduated: 2006
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: English
Minor: Writing
Clubs: Friends of the Elderly
About me: A graduate of Temple University, she has won awards in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and drama. She has been published by Many Mountains Moving, Philadelphia Stories, Mad Poets Review, and other journals; reads poetry and fiction everywhere in Philadelphia and the tri-state area; judged a fiction and drama contest for Hidden River Arts, and has completed her Master's thesis in English at Arcadia University. She has hosted at venues such as; Book Corner, Robin's Bookstore and Voices and Visions Bookstore. She created, coordinated and hosted The Light of Unity Festival, is currently leading The Business of Words poetry workshop at Upenn Bookstore for Mad Poets Society, created a chapbook called "The Business of Words," and hosted a Fringe Festival performance at The Rotunda called Arsenic Pizza. She wrote freelance articles for Uwishunu.com, hosts and manages The Light of Unity Artist's and Writer's Series 2009 at The Parkway Central Library where she showcases the talents of new writers and musicians at library branches all over the city. Her efforts have been documented in The Metro, Arcadia University Bulletin, and The City Paper. She has read poetry at Robin's Bookstore, Voices and Visions Bookstore, Caramel, South Cafe, Kelly Writer's House, Lori Cosgrove Design, Arcadia University, Del Co. Institute and many other places. She is the executive director of The Light of Unity Association and currently resides in Philadelphia. She says, "Whenever I read a work I don't get caught up on technique. Anybody can learn technique. Hanabi-Ko (Koko) the gorilla wrote Haiku's about bananas. What I like to read is something that cuts me up on the inside, makes me laugh, makes me see something in a different way, moves me. A poem could be about a stick on the ground and still be stirring. 'A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.'" Contact me at: thebusinessofwords@gmail.com.
HEY MS....THANKS 4 ACCEPTING MY ADD...IM AN UNSIGNED HIP-HOP ARTIST FROM SOUTH JERSEY....TRYIN GET MILLVILLE, VINELAND, N BRIDGETON KNOWN WIT MY TALENT...WHEN U HAVE TIME, CHECK OUT MY BLOGS AND MUSIC. ALSO COMMENT ON THE PICS AND LEAVE ME SOME COMMENTS ON THE PAGE......I HAVE AN ALBUM COMIN OUT N FEBRUARY....MAKE SURE U
Arsenic Pizza will be Thursday, September 4, from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is located in University City at The Rotunda on 4014 Walnut Street. All proceeds to this show will be donated to Germantown Poets and The American Red Cross. The tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and adults under 25 yrs.
The more money we raise, the more lives we change!
im not going to b able to make it but im might b down sum time this wk or next i want to c u guys b4 i leave heres my email kyla007@comcast.net i dont want to give me # out online n bc u have that damn away mess still up (jerk) i cant send it there lol love ya babe
Like Mrs. Roosevelt said "When you reach the end of your rope, just tie a knot and hold on... now I'm just trying to remember, cross, twist, tie or twist, cross, tie? Damn it I'll get it... Oh wait is the dental floss??????
I want to wish you an early Happy Birthday, in case I don't get a chance to log into MySpace or speak with you early next month. So, here goes...Happy Birthday!!!! Love you always :).
Online Now!
