A Poetry Benefit Event For Stray Hearts of Taos, NM

Featuring Rumi, Hafiz, St. Francis, St. Teresa & Others

The International best-selling poetry of Daniel Ladinsky

by Daniel with Melissa LaScaleia

This poetry benefit will feature the works of some of the greatest poets & saints in history, who have spoken very directly at times about the wonders and our need of animals. And too, we will present poems that might help all of our "Stray Hearts!"

What is a stray heart? It is someone who has not laughed that day, danced a bit— if only in their eyes; or given to someone or something, via a soft sound, a kind movement! A sweet look!

In some ways, we are all such new golden birds in this world, our wings have yet unfurled enough to caress the cheek of the Sun. We need each other for that! And the great gift— and great value & utility in art.

We are so lucky to have Rumi and Hafiz and St. Francis on our side; like when Rumi says, via to me, a big glass-clink after-hours in the bar with Buddha or Carl Jung, or such— via this fine, freeing, down-to-the-bone wisdom, that goes:

Things are such, that someone lifting
a cup or watching the rain, or petting

a dog, or singing, just singing, could
be doing as much for this universe as

anyone! Cause my dears— things &
love are such!

— Rumi

And then a bit more on the wild, avant-garde side of the coin, we have Tukaram (1608-1649) the great ecstatic poet from India, though not well known at all in the West, saying…

I could not lie anymore, for I started
to call my dog— God!

First she looked confused! But then
she started smiling; then she even
danced!

I kept at it! Now she won't even bite.
Sooo now I am wondering if this —

might work even on people! Telling
them the Truth too!

—Tukaram

There is a Penguin Random House publication titled, Darling, I Love You, that both Daniel & Melissa contributed to. And is illustrated by the world-famous animal cartoonist—Patrick McDonnell, of the renowned comic strip MUTTS. This book will be featured at the Event, and several copies given away for free in some playful trivia games. Like for example... who first sang— You Ain't Nothing But A Hound Dog! It wasn't Elvis! But glad he did! And so helped our Jailhouse Rock!

Hope to see ya for the Event. And help us bark & howl & Rock! And raise money for a great cause! The furred angels!

SHOWTIME
Sun, Dec 6, 4pm - 5:30pm
$5-$20 sliding scale. All proceeds to benefit Stray Hearts.

PRESENTED BY
Daniel Ladinsky