from dianediprima.com —

READINGS

Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m.
The Making of a Long Poem
In 1971, Diane Di Prima began writing Loba, an epic of the female journey.
Di Prima will read from the 500-page, 37-year work in progress
and talk about the creative processes and choices that arise in writing a piece
that extends over such a long portion of one’s life.
Excelsior Branch Library, 4400 Mission Street, S.F.
Free

* * *
Sunday, April 27 at 4 p.m.
A Benefit Poetry Reading
for Bird & Beckett Bookstore
David Meltzer
Diane di Prima
Michael McClure
Advance tickets — April 1
http://bird-beckett.com

WORKSHOP:

THE LANGUAGE OF ALCHEMY
Taught by Diane di Prima
Four Lectures
Dates, Location & Tuition TBA

Alchemical literature admits us into a magical universe of rich and bizarre imagery and sudden insights–dimensional shifts, but it is a universe in which we feel the need for some kind of map. In our century, this problem has often been solved by flattening the material: reductively reading the texts as either spiritual allegory, or a primitive form of “science”. But, in a correspondent cosmos, the process that is creative of soul is also creative of galaxies —
there is no need to reduce alchemy to psychology or chemistry.

These lectures will search out signposts in some alchemical texts: terms, ideas, methods whereby the particularity of the language itself provides the map for our reading of the material. Thus, this seminar lays the groundwork for comparison of widely divergent works, and is an invitation to enter the world of the alchemist “from the ground up”, by taking them “at their word”.

If you are interested in attending, send an email to
ddiprima@earthlink.net

REVOLUTIONARY LETTER #13 by Diane Di Prima
now let me tell you
what is a Brahmasastra
Brahmasastra, hindu weapon of war
near as I can make out
a flying wedge of mind energy
hurled at the foe by god or hero
or many heroes
hurled at a problem or enemy
cracking it

Brahmasastra can be made
by any or all
can be made by all of us
straight or tripping, thinking together
like : all of us stop the war
at nine o’clock tomorrow, each take one soldier
see him clearly, love him, take the gun
out of his hand, lead him to a quiet spot
sit him down, sit with him as he takes a joint
of viet cong grass from his pocket . . .

Brahmasastra can be made
by all of us, tripping together
winter solstice
at home, or in park, or wandering
sitting with friends
blinds closed, or on porch, no be-in
no need
to gather publicity
just gather spirit, see the forest growing
put back the big tress
put back the buffalo
the grasslands of the midwest with their herds
of elk and deer

put fish in clean Great Lakes
desire that all surface water on the planet
be clean again. Kneel down and drink
from whatever brook or lake you conjure up.