PBS FAMOUS

good news plus a poem

The idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times.

- Patti Smith

Y’all,

I’m watching the snow fall while I switch between practicing reading for the upcoming Body Language show in NYC and freaking out about the upcoming Body Language show in NYC. The really excellent news is that all 160 tickets have sold out, and we’re going to be joined by PBS arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown and a crew to record for an upcoming feature on the nationally syndicated PBS NewsHour. That’s right, ANTIFA’s self-elected poet laureate, your girl, Elizabeth Bayou-Grace, is going nationwide.

Excuse me while I imagine everything that could go wrong, including but not limited to forgetting how to speak English mid-read.

There’s no space in this brain to write something new, so here’s a throwback in which I erased the acceptance speech from NYC’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani. I like to think of this erasure as my song of hope.

EVERY CITY IS THIS CITY

I remember their hands, fingers bruised, 
palms calloused, knuckles scarred, our hands.

Turn and change and thank, promise 
we will because we are you. We. You. I.

Every city is this city. People love. People hunger.
We are the more. We will love and live again.

The air cannot afford to exhale so we are breathing 
in the city and hope. Hope despite attack. 

Hope together. Hope over tyranny, over money, over crisis.
Hand in hand, we. We will. We love.

Your struggle is this city. Compassion is people,
a nation. The city is not only for you. 

Our city will remain a city of us. You. We. I.
Every tenant. Each together. Together.

Together. Together. Together. 

---

I’d ask y’all to tell me to break a leg, but I’m worried this disabled baddie might take that too literally.

Here’s my latest embroidery, in honor of Renee Good.

Plus, here’s a beautiful organization I just learned about, Haven Watch, which among other important services will meet recently released victims of ICE at the gate with hugs, coats, phones, and rides.

Keep showing up with love in the face of hate.

I love you,

EBG