Pure Poetry #3: Anis Mojgani

Pure Poetry Week:

#1 – 2/23/2011 – Intro & Def Poetry Jam, by Riese
#2 – 2/23/2011 – Eileen Myles, by Carmen
#3 – 2/23/2011 – Anis Mojgani, by Crystal
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Anis Mojgani is a Portland-based poet who ignited my love for spoken word and poetry slams. He is a genius, he speaks with passion and honesty that makes my heart leap.

I find myself enamored with every word that tumbles out of Anis’ mouth, however there are 3 poems in particular that blow my mind: Direct Orders, Here I Am and Shake the Dust.

Watch Anis perform these poems below. You’ve been given a direct order to rock the fuck out.

Anis has also written two poetry collections, Over the Anvil We Stretch and The Feather Room.

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Crystal

Founding member. Former writer. Still loves Autostraddle with her whole heart.

Crystal has written 320 articles for us.

16 Comments

  1. Great choice. My favorite Anis Mojgani piece is “Milos”. “I’m unbuttoning my shirt/painting a circle over my heart./Please/just shoot straight.” And this man recites with feeling.

  2. “I was here, motherfucker, and ain’t none of y’all can write that in the spot that I just wrote it in.”

  3. ooo thank you so much. I love him this is amazing and without this post I never would have known. Thanks!

    H

  4. shake the dust. oh god. the line “this is for the 2-year-olds that can’t be understood because they speak half English and half god.”

    thank you ;_;

  5. Omigosh omigosh omigosh this guy went to my college. He was a student of my poetry professor. BALLIN :D

  6. Anis performed at my college a couple of days ago and it was great. I had seen him on Youtube but in person he is so captivating. The auditorium was about 130 degrees and everyone stayed for two hours to hear him half-sing his poetry and make us laugh and cry.

    This makes me happy.

  7. I’ve never heard of this guy before but I’m glad I have now. I’m also grateful for Autostraddle and the internet because I never would have heard of him otherwise.

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