“BRING IN ALL THE POETS” by Stephen John Kalinich

Foto by L. K. Thayer

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

RIDE ON THEIR VERSES

WALK DOWN AND UP THEIR WORDS

PICK THEM UP OUT OF THE GUTTER

THE ONES WHO WRITE WITH THEIR FLESH

WITH BROKEN STEPS AND GESTURES

WITH THEIR LIVES AND SUFFERING

THAT LIVE THE POEMS

WITH A LARGE SWOOP

SCOOP THEM UP IN A LOOSE NET

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

KISS THEM

LOVE THEM

PASSIONATELY

BREATH THEIR INTENSITY

INGEST IT INTO YOURSELF

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

THOSE THAT TOUCH YOU

THOSE THAT AFFECT YOU

THOSE WHO POUND INTO YOU

MAKE YOUR HEART BEAT FAST

THOSE WHO MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

THAT ARE JUST UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE

ON THE EDGE

AROUND THE CORNER OF YOUR SUPPRESSED IMPULSE

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

WITH YOUR TRUMPET BLOW THEIR BRAINS OUT

WITH KINDNESS

PLAY WITH THEM

SING ALL ALOUD SIMULTANEOUSLY

IN THE SAME MOVEMENT

SCREAM FROM THE WOUNDS OF THE EARTH

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

THEIR VERSE MAKES YOU ALIVE

AWAKENS THE MUSIC

THAT HAS BEEN LYING DORMANT

WITHIN YOU FOR CENTURIES

THAT STIRS THE SLUSH THE MUCK THE MUD

THAT MAKES THE TRIBUTARIES AND ARTERIES

THAT CLOG UP IMPURE

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

AND TOGETHER LET THEM

MOW DOWN THE OPPRESSORS THE TERRORIST

WHO TRY TO HOLD US ALL IN CHECK

WHO MAKE US PUNCH THE TIME CLOCK

WHO TELL US WHAT TO THINK AND FEEL

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

BRING THEM FAST

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

BEFORE THE BOMB IS INVENTED

THAT WILL EAT THE WHOLE WORLD UP

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

WHO ARE ALL COLORS

WHO HAVE BEEN HIDDEN

WHO CAN TRANSFORM

AND TRANSCEND

THE LIMITATION

THIS MUTED STRIVING

LOOK TO THE DAY

WHEN THEIR POEM

WILL BE LOVED LIVED AND FELT

WHEN THEIR NEED TO EXPRESS THE POEM

WILL BE SILENCED

WHEN THE ABUNDANCE

WILL BE THE ORGASM THE CLIMAX THE OXYGEN

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

THAT WILL OVERTAKE THE GALAXY

THE UNIVERSE

WHEN THEIR STANZAS

AND RHYMES

AND COUPLETS

WILL RESONATE FROM STAR TO STAR

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

STRETCH AND SEND THEM TO

BANGLADESH TO BOSNIA

TO NEW YORK

TO LOS ANGELES.

TO EUROPE

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

HAVE A BEER WITH THEM

OR A GLASS OF JUICE

SHARE A SANDWICH

DO NOT LOOK FOR A RESTING

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

UNTIL YOU FEEL THE WINDING DOWN

THE REVERSE

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

PULL THEIR WORDS OUT OF BOOKS AND PAGES

PULL THEM OFF

SEND THEM BACK TO THE POETS’ PEN AND FINGERS

BACK INSIDE HIS BRAIN AND EXTREMITIES

SEND THE VERSES BACK INTO HIS BODY

LET HIM ABSORB THEM ALL AT ONCE

AND START AGAIN

LET HIM GO BACK IN TIME

BECOME A CHILD

GO BACK FURTHER STILL INTO THE WOMB

BACK INSIDE HIS FATHER BEFORE SPERM

UNITED WITH HIS MOTHERS EGG

LET HIM GO BACK FURTHER STILL

TILL BEYOND THE BEGINNING

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

UNTIL YOU ARE

THE AWARENESS OF THE ONE POET

THE WILD UNTAMED LAND OF THE SELF

THE UNCONSCIOUS WHERE WE ALL MERGE

AND UNITE

CROSS AND INTERSECT

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

WHAT CAN EVOLVE

WHAT CAN WE BECOME

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

ON SURFBOARDS

IN CHURCHES

AND SYNAGOGUES

IN MOSQUE’S

AND TRAIN STATIONS

IN HINDU AND BUDDHIST TEMPLES

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

ALL THE RHYTHMS

VOICES

SOUNDS

PULVERIZE THEM CRUSH THEM

CRUMBLE THEIR BONES INTO ASHES

PUT NEW WINE INTO THE VESSELS

ROUTE NEW BLOOD IN THE VEINS

LET THEM COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR PEACE

A WAY TO

DISSOLVE DESTRUCTION

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

HANG THEM OUT TO DRY

TURN THEIR POCKETS INSIDE OUT

SPEAK THEIR POEMS OUT LOUD

RECORD THE PERCUSSION

THE WIND TONES

THE SHEER FORCE

OF ALL THE WORDS

EXPANDING

THROBBING

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

THE ONES WHO HURL THEIR POEMS

LIKE A JAVELIN

LIKE A SPEAR

LIKE THE SHOT

OUT OF A BAZOOKA

LET THEM PIERCE YOU

WITH THEIR LOADED WEAPONS

THEIR IMAGES AND THOUGHTS

UNTIL YOU ARE HEALED

GO INTO EVERY CREVICE

EVERY BLOODSTREAM

REVERSE THEIR IGNORANCE

STOP THEM BEFORE THEY STOP YOU

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

TO THE BANQUET

REJOICE

SHAKE

TREMBLE

WEEP

DANCE THE ECSTATIC GALACTIC SYMPHONY

LET IT PENETRATE INTO EVERY PAIN

EVERY MARROW

EVERY CELL

EVERY TISSUE

UNTIL THERE IS NO ONE LEFT

UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE WARS

AND THERE IS NO MORE HATRED EXPRESSED

BRING IN ALL THE POETS

STEPHEN JOHN KALINICH

Stephen John Kalinich was born in Endicott, New York, America he is a poet. He has also collaborated with many musicians including P.F. Sloan, Art Munson, Kenny Hirsch, Randy Crawford, Mary Wilson of the The Supreme’s, Odyssey, Clifton Davis and Diana Ross. He wrote several songs for The Beach Boys including “Be Still“, “Little Bird” and “A Time to Live in Dreams” with Dennis Wilson. And most recently two songs on Brian’s Gettin’ In Over My Head album, ‘ A friend like you featuring vocals from Paul McCartney, Brian also recorded their 1970’s collaboration ‘California Feeling‘ on a recent classics compilation. Also, having been lost for 40 years the album Stephen worked on with Brian Wilson in 1969 finally saw the light of day, A World of Peace Must Come, a classic 60’s album of poems with musical baking by Brian. Stephen has recently spent a great deal of time in Brighton, during which time he has worked with some great British Musicians, resulting in two great cds, Galactic Symphonies and South Downs Way, both receiving great critical success! Recently Stephen read ‘If You Knew‘ in Washington DC as part of a weekend for Children Uniting Nations whose founder is Daphna Ziman. She asked Stephen to come to Washington and recite his poem to many members of the House and Senate and all who came received a copy of his book ‘If You Knew’ around 500 copies given. He did the program with Goldie Hawn, Chaka Khan and Lili Haydn. He met Nancy Pelosi and many other senators and congressman. Daphna is a close friend of Hilary Clinton who also received the book.
Your favourite virtue?
I would say the pursuit of truth and honesty
The expression of love.

Your favourite qualities in a man?
Kindness, generosity of spirit

Your favourite qualities in a woman?
Stillness and sweetness
Being a good listener.

Your main characteristic?
I do not know I guess trying to be as caring kind being as best I can.

What draws you most to your friends?
Lately I am seeking solitude more but what I most like in a friend is unselfishness and the ability to wait and not rush to conclusions.

Given the opportunity what would you most like to change?
I would like to soften the hearts of men and woman and the inclinations towards violence and hurtful actions.

Who would you most like to take out for dinner?
Maybe Diane Lane or Paul McCartney or any good friend.

Your idea of happiness?
Being still and knowing that joy and happiness are within and not something you can attain by achievement but an inner realization.

What is your favourite way of spending the day?
Going the Beach Walking contemplating visiting sick friends and encouraging people

Whose life other than yours would you most like to have lived?
I would not trade with anyone I am is all I know All I want and whatever life I live I want it to be mine because through me all is available as through you..

Where would you most like to live?
California and Maybe Italy so far but I still want to see new places. I am more geared towards Europe for travel….

Who is your favourite author?
T.S Eliot. Walt Whitman, Rilke

Who is your favourite poet?
Rilke

Your favourite heroes in fiction?
Jean Christophe by Romaine Rolland

Your favourite heroines in fiction?
Some of the characters in Little Women….

Your favourite painters?
Matisse, Renoir, Seurat, Cezanne, Renee Ciral, Marti Jones,
Klimt

Who is your favourite composer?
Beethoven

Your favourite food?
Fruit and vegetables, Olives and Olive Oil

Your favourite drink?
Water with Lime.

Who do you most admire?
Anyone who can face reality and still be happy and express Joy.

What is your present state of mind?
Restless, Peaceful constantly changing on a sea a multitude of emotions and feelings.
Happy sad.

For what fault have you most toleration?
Impatience

Your favourite motto?
Seek your own in another’s good
Rejoice in the blessing of others

Stephen’s Wares:

Book:
If You Knew

Recordings:

A World of Peace Must Come

South Downs Way

Galactic Symphonies

Review of
The Galactic Symphonies

Beauty holds me in its hand
and hugs me more
than I thought possible
I am not alone
The spirit graces me and touches me every day
with gratitude
underneath the yearning is a peace with no name
that surpasses the senses
the source of all art and poetry
the creator of all
It caresses me.
©SJK

***

Helen Keller

She touched me in stillness
no sounds could she hear
no stars could she see
yet she smiled as she walked
as if something within gave her eyes
gave her ears
gave her hope
and i who could see the morning sadness
the morning sunshine
the ripples in the gentle stream
hear the winds passion and grace
brushing the branches
of trees
did not see in life
as much as she
Could not hear the many silent voices.

***

Inspiration can potentially reverse some of the somatic and balance the
pain with thoughtful consideration.

***

The role of the Artist is to be an
agent for change to serve society and help them to reflect and bring
into actuality a more involved caring consciousness on this planet.

***
More than success on the material plane one needs wholeness as a being
and the decisions that concern us all must be made from this position.

***

Many have come with good tidings and plans but once they become
stagnant and think only they have the answers to all that is wrong and
there is no other formulation possible they begin to erode and decay.

***

We must be agents of workable change anchored in reality.

***

Awareness and
alertness of the thought process and how we convert our feelings and
ideas into action to benefit all people is the key ingredient in
creating a sustainable alive future and a meaningful present.

***

Any
system that favors one class of people over another in the long run
will break down.

***

The oppressed will always rise and take the power
from the established ways and eventually if they do not grow with
their new realizations they too will have to be replaced.

***

Neutrality
leads to passive participation in the destructive pattern

***

Only by
standing and moving into an upward arc can change be created and
manifested.

***

There is no room for non involvement to not be involved is
death to aliveness.

***

Happiness can not be achieved by arriving only by
living within it can we know its true effect upon us.

***

Only by letting
go of every attachment to a set expectation can we experience true
freedom and joy.

***

Each new morning brings with it the opportunity for
transformation.

***

All the blocks are in place. The gates are wide
open. We have to walk through them and the worlds possibilities will
present themselves.

***

A restructuring of the fundamental approach to
life is demanded.

***

Merging into each other daily we engage in the ever
present symphonic progression of turning the chaos and the randomness
into constructive activity and viable existence.

***

Radical Reform is
called for- Great measures are essential to usher in the reformation
of new ideas and establish an equitable life and planet for all
beings.
Where one does not dominate the other and we live in Harmony
and peace.

***

We are the Artist of today and the future and we see the
artist in every woman and every child.

***

We are the ones to change the
World. One step at a time.

***

One breath and one heart beat That beats for
all. ”

***

To me
the definition of success is
how many lives have you touched with a
genuine sincere caring.”

Stephen Kalinich

Candy Face Lane Remix

Ocean

Bring in all the Poets

America I Know You

Child of Winter

Links:
stevekalinich.com stephenkalinich.com

ReplyReply All Move…

7 comments

lkthayer · November 20, 2009

I love this anthem so…thank you Stephen. Write On! -LK 🙂

Leslie Thayer Mann · December 1, 2009

I am so blown away by this poem!! I think it’s one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever read and agree that it is the answer and antidote for our times!!!
Bring it on, all you beautiful poets!!!….

With great respect, love and admiration,

Leslie Thayer Mann

lkthayer · December 5, 2009

Thanks Stevie,
You keep me on the road.
you lift me up out of the gutter
with your writing from the flesh
my broken steps are now gestures
for the ones who live their life in suffering
the ones who live the poems
SCOOP THEM UP IN A LOOSE NET

BRING IN ALL THE POETS!!!

Terry Emm

lkthayer · December 7, 2009

I just listened to Bring In All The Poets on the Richard Durrant/Steve Kalinich CD. IT’s fuckin’ awesome dude !! Absolutely genius !

So impressed all over again. I’d love to do a RE-mix of it with phat drums n shit and Tommy.

Really exciting piece of work mate xxx

Ralph surfin’

Ralph Brown

Lordy · December 18, 2009

That’s one hell of a long read for Lordy!! I will come back to this. If I like the first 100 words then all will be top notch!! And I did manage the first 100 words or so!!””””””””””””””””’Looks like a true hero

Robert Young · January 24, 2010

Stevie does it again ! Bring In All The Poets and get them against the wall and see who amongst them shines as bright as SJK. It’s always good to be drawn into another dimension – and then be shot out through a cannon afterwards, back into our own reality, with the clinging tidbits tugging at our sleeves every now and then. Life is a wonderful ride because of poets like Stevie.

lkthayer · January 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Stevie, I love you, you rock!!! Lisa 🙂