City January 30, 2010 11:38 AM

Lost, But Never Gone: Gabrielle Bouliane

Elena Cala Buscarino 3

This morning, Buffalo Rising learned of the death of one of our own from the not-so-distant past, Gabrielle Bouliane. Gabrielle was a poet and videographer with a tremendous life force. She was a force - a no-nonsense, shoot-from-the-hip, tell-it-like-it-is, real life woman - all wrapped in a sensitive understanding of the human condition.

Yeah, Gabrielle saw life for what it was, sometimes with a cynics eye, but she made it beautiful for others through her artistic talents.

Gabrielle was the champion of all poets and people, a worker of words. May she rest well and never be forgotten.

The following video, from an Austin poetry slam, tells the story of her recent trials - and offers advice - "from a girl who's already half angel."

Images: Self portraits by Gabrielle

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grad94

January 30, 2010 12:39 PM

condolences to all at bro.

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ilovemesomebuffalo

January 30, 2010 2:53 PM

what a beautiful inspirational human being.

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MC Vendetta

January 31, 2010 11:31 AM

THE GIFT OF GAB

“Don’t wait,”

She beams into the microphone
begging the world to look this gift
in it’s mouth, see it, taste it for what it is.

It’s been this craze to talk up your
“gift of gab”
pump your records and sell out,
never knowing about the real
gift of Gab—

The ability to grin in the face of cancer,
in the face of whatever tried to stand in her way
to release any anger and open-wide to love,
these are all gifts of Gab.

Certain sights will never sour,
instead sugar any day with her likeness.
Wavy red hair or a pair of bunny ears,
video cameras or cowgirl boots,
low-cut tops, over-loaded bookshelves,
pendant necklaces hung on nails on a bathroom wall,
a black beret and a hot red dress,
or the world.

There’s an urgency to our lives now—
break the walls, push the message,
rise above what holds us,
to do it and do it now.

You see, if it weren’t for her,
so many women wouldn’t have
the drive to scream
their lives into the mic until
their voices grew raw,
to take a sip of wine and keep reading.

If it weren’t for her,
I wouldn’t have the courage
to walk into a porno store
and buy myself a vibrator,
let alone figure out the best
way to write about it.

There are days when you will
receive words that crush your
breath and stop your songs.
And she will be the birds
that get you moving.

Those are the real gifts of Gab.

-Janna 'MC Vendetta' Willoughby
2010

There is an event at Nietzsche's on Valentine's Day 2-8pm, celebrating her life and raising much needed funds for her family. Please come out and show your love for her.

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