WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.470 align:middle line:90% 00:00:04.470 --> 00:00:05.850 align:middle line:90% I didn't really practice. 00:00:05.850 --> 00:00:08.100 align:middle line:84% I don't know what kind of reading you're going to get. 00:00:08.100 --> 00:00:12.760 align:middle line:90% 00:00:12.760 --> 00:00:15.550 align:middle line:84% I didn't say this, but I got a BA 00:00:15.550 --> 00:00:19.180 align:middle line:84% from the U of A in oriental studies 00:00:19.180 --> 00:00:21.730 align:middle line:84% and master of fine arts and poetry 00:00:21.730 --> 00:00:25.460 align:middle line:84% from University of California at Irvine. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:27.265 align:middle line:84% I know they'd want me to say that, Irvine. 00:00:27.265 --> 00:00:37.390 align:middle line:90% 00:00:37.390 --> 00:00:47.840 align:middle line:84% I call myself Ai, [SOUND OF FEEDBACK] 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.650 align:middle line:84% because for a long time I didn't want to use my own name, 00:00:51.650 --> 00:00:56.040 align:middle line:84% and I don't like it and I studied Japanese. 00:00:56.040 --> 00:00:59.090 align:middle line:84% But I totally forgotten when I decided what name 00:00:59.090 --> 00:01:00.920 align:middle line:90% but it means love in Japanese. 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.519 align:middle line:84% But actually I was doing numerology and a means-- 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:06.710 align:middle line:90% is one and eye is 10. 00:01:06.710 --> 00:01:08.180 align:middle line:90% Together they make 11. 00:01:08.180 --> 00:01:10.010 align:middle line:90% And that means spiritual force. 00:01:10.010 --> 00:01:12.500 align:middle line:84% And so that's the name I want to be under. 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:16.070 align:middle line:84% And it also for me means impersonal eye. 00:01:16.070 --> 00:01:17.400 align:middle line:90% The eye of the universe. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:19.670 align:middle line:84% I was trying to get rid of my ego. 00:01:19.670 --> 00:01:25.280 align:middle line:84% And I can also write it as an Egyptian hieroglyph. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:26.210 align:middle line:90% Now I'll start. 00:01:26.210 --> 00:01:30.660 align:middle line:84% And you know my dress comes unbuttoned. 00:01:30.660 --> 00:01:38.690 align:middle line:84% So just let me know while I read. 00:01:38.690 --> 00:01:41.540 align:middle line:84% And just I want to mention one other thing. 00:01:41.540 --> 00:01:44.150 align:middle line:84% There's this magazine out now called Ironwood. 00:01:44.150 --> 00:01:45.620 align:middle line:90% It has some poems in there. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:48.980 align:middle line:84% I don't usually read poetry magazines, 00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:50.180 align:middle line:90% but it's really good. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:53.030 align:middle line:84% And if you see it, you should get a copy of it. 00:01:53.030 --> 00:01:56.750 align:middle line:84% There are some fine poems in there. 00:01:56.750 --> 00:01:57.650 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:01:57.650 --> 00:02:00.200 align:middle line:84% I don't like to read sitting down. 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:03.020 align:middle line:90% I don't know how this will be. 00:02:03.020 --> 00:02:07.820 align:middle line:90% And my poems are harsh. 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:12.830 align:middle line:84% But they're meant to show the truth which a lot of people 00:02:12.830 --> 00:02:14.090 align:middle line:90% are afraid to face. 00:02:14.090 --> 00:02:16.460 align:middle line:84% And then a lot of the poems are sort of just 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:19.850 align:middle line:90% psychological studies really. 00:02:19.850 --> 00:02:23.720 align:middle line:84% The first one is called "Abortion." 00:02:23.720 --> 00:02:28.640 align:middle line:84% "Coming home, I find you still in bed. 00:02:28.640 --> 00:02:32.030 align:middle line:84% But when I pull back the blanket I 00:02:32.030 --> 00:02:35.660 align:middle line:84% see your stomach is flat as an iron. 00:02:35.660 --> 00:02:39.680 align:middle line:84% You've done it as you warned me you would. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:44.990 align:middle line:84% And left the fetus wrapped in wax paper to me to look at. 00:02:44.990 --> 00:02:47.240 align:middle line:90% My son. 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:51.320 align:middle line:84% Woman, loving you no matter what you do, what can I 00:02:51.320 --> 00:02:54.200 align:middle line:84% say except that I've heard the poor 00:02:54.200 --> 00:02:57.500 align:middle line:84% have no children just small people, 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:00.920 align:middle line:84% and there is room only for one man in this house." 00:03:00.920 --> 00:03:03.560 align:middle line:90% 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:06.860 align:middle line:84% Now every-- people really like this poem. 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:12.920 align:middle line:84% This line second to the last line is from a commercial on LA 00:03:12.920 --> 00:03:15.320 align:middle line:84% television which says the poor have 00:03:15.320 --> 00:03:19.400 align:middle line:84% no children just small people so I stole that line. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:24.665 align:middle line:84% But I thought it was really nice commercial. 00:03:24.665 --> 00:03:28.880 align:middle line:84% The picture of the child on there was really, really good. 00:03:28.880 --> 00:03:31.980 align:middle line:90% 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:36.540 align:middle line:84% There's a few new poems in here and a few real old ones 00:03:36.540 --> 00:03:37.740 align:middle line:90% that I won't let people see. 00:03:37.740 --> 00:03:39.540 align:middle line:84% But I have this friend who's a poet, 00:03:39.540 --> 00:03:42.120 align:middle line:90% and he saves them, all my poems. 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:43.650 align:middle line:90% And he sends them back. 00:03:43.650 --> 00:03:44.580 align:middle line:90% And he likes them. 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:47.070 align:middle line:84% So I thought, oh well, so I looked over a couple 00:03:47.070 --> 00:03:50.550 align:middle line:84% and I revised them and I think they're OK. 00:03:50.550 --> 00:03:54.470 align:middle line:84% I'm going to try them out on you.