POETRY & WRITING
VIDEOS
Click each image to visit the link to the video!
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jazz, a fat and cute human with light skin and dark hair is shown performing at Malvern Books. They are wearing glasses, silver leaf earrings, and a sleeveless dress with white and dark blue horizontal stripes.
Hazem Fahmy's "Red / Jild / Prayer" Book launch -- Malvern Books (2018). CONTENT NOTES: brief mentions of sexual assault and rape, mentions of medical trauma, sexual content, and silly puns. I use the term "dumb" between poems in a way that I now know is based in ableism. ACCESS NOTES: Auto generated captions are available.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jazz, a fat and cute human with light skin and dark red hair is shown performing at CUPSI 2016 in front of a microphone. They are wearing glasses and a black tank top. Their hand is outstretched.
"Little Lies"- Button Poetry (2016). CONTENT NOTES: detailed descriptions of childhood sexual assault and rape.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jazz, a fat and cute human with light skin and dark hair is shown performing a group piece in front of two microphones with A.W. at CUPSI 2016. Both performers have one hand around their neck. Jazz is wearing glasses and a black dress with bright orange flame designs. A.W. has brown skin long dark hair. A.W. is wearing a white sleeveless top with dark pants. Both are performing in front of a black curtain.
"Resurrection", group piece with A.W. Button Poetry (2015). CONTENT NOTES: descriptions of childhood sexual assault, misogynistic violence, intimidation, and harassment.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: An image of an instagram live with three panels. The top panel shows Sage, the bottom left panel shows Caroline, the American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, and the right bottom panel shows Jazz. Sage has light skin and dark shoulder length hair, is wearing a white top and glasses. His hands are clasped together and their eyes are expressive, as if thinking deeply. Caroline, a person with long straight hair and light skin, is in the middle of signing. Caroline is wearing a black short-sleeved top. Jazz is a fat and cute human with light skin and dark hair in an updo. They appear to be in the middle of speaking, and they are wearing bronze eyeshadow, bright orange lipstick, and peach emoji earrings.
"Connecting Intersections of Queer Identity, Disability, and Rope/ Kink: Discussion & Poetry Reading" -- Shibari Study (2021). CONTENT NOTES: Poetry reading begins at 36:53. Poems contain sexual content, kink content (rope bondage and masochism) mentions of rape and sexual assault, mentions of medical trauma, mentions of suicidal ideation. ACCESS NOTES: This video is an Instagram Live video. There is some audio feedback in the background throughout the video. There is a portion of the talk where there are technical difficulties from 19:45 - 21:17. ASL interpretation is available in this video. Captions are not available on this video.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jazz, a fat and cute human with light skin and dark hair is shown performing at Malvern. They are wearing glasses and a dress with white and black swirling designs.
"Nancy Huang's Favorite Daughter Book Launch"-- Malvern Books (2017). CONTENT NOTES: descriptions of rape and sexual assault, suicidal ideation.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jazz, a fat and cute human with light skin and dark hair is shown performing a group piece in front of two microphones with Joshua Nguyen at Write About Now. Both of their hands are hovering over their heart. Joshua has light skin and short dark hair. He is wearing a light v-neck top.
"Ghost Songs", group piece with Joshua Nguyen-- Write About Now Poetry (2016). CONTENT NOTES: descriptions of repeated rape and sexual assault, descriptions of childhood sexual assault, descriptions of trauma responses.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Jazz, a fat and cute human with light skin and dark hair is shown performing in front of a microphone at Write About Now. One hand rests on their chest. They are wearing a black tank top and geometric patterned pants.
"Trees"-- Write About Now (2016). CONTENT NOTES: Suicidal ideation, imagery related to suicide. Bad puns. Includes a joke that I now know is rooted in fatphobia.
Selected Accomplishments, Residencies, & Fellowships:
Selected Publications
Four letters from my mama
Muzzle Magazine (Summer 2019)
The Seven Necessities
Dialogist (Oct 2019)
The Disabled Sub Redefines Pain
Nat. Brut, issue 11— Beyond Resilience Folio (Fall 2018)
Interview with the city of Austin, TX
Kweli (Dec 2017)
To be a Monster
Monstering Mag (2017)
i ask when trans day of remembrance is and siri says i don’t know what that is
Beestung (Winter 2025)
Make-up: A COVID-era Healing Ritual
Just Femme & Dandy (Feb 2023)
Things KB Did for me During the Pandemic
QT Voices (Feb 2022)
COVID-era Aubade
QT Voices (Feb 2022)
Selected Features, Performances, & Experiences:
Nancy Huang: “Favorite Daughter” Book Launch:
Malvern Books (Sept 2017).
Poetry Reader
Bat City Review (Fall 2017)
Writing Advisor
Barrio Writers (2017- 2018)
Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam
Jazz competed in Rustbelt Regional Poetry slam in Summer 2016.
Spitshine Poetry
Jazz was involved with the poetry organization at the University of Texas at Austin from 2014-2020, eventually serving as the organization’s co-president. Jazz led many poetry workshops on UT’s campus and in the broader community. Jazz also organized open mics on the campus. Jazz both competed and coached teams at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, the premiere collegiate level slam at the time. Jazz performed with Spitshine many times. Jazz has performed in shows with Sarah Kay, for various UT Austin events with organizations (such as the Native American & Indigenous Collective, the Gender and Sexuality Center, and Voices Against Violence), and in venues across Austin, Houston, and the Central Texas area.
Invisible Poets Collective
Jazz will compete at Midwest Poetry Mashup in April 2026 as part of a team of disabled poets called the Invisible Poets Collective.
Staceyfest Performer
Summer 2024
Fresh AIR Residency Showcase:
Dada Lab (Oct 2021)
KB: “A New Relationship to Pain” Book Launch:
Libro Mobile (June 2021).
Proud Voices Audio Festival:
Thee Gay Agenda (Summer 2021).
Hazem Fahmy: “Red/ Jild/ Prayer”: Book Tour Feature
Malvern Books (Sept 2018).
Poetry Reviews & Recommendations
“Jazz Bell is a careful writer. Their poems are interested in clarity, both clear representations of life in our current world and clear visions for a better, more accessible future. Jazz’s work cuts to the heart of the matter, reminding the reader of what’s at stake. This is not flowery language, though they do harbor an appreciation of the natural world. When reading Jazz’s work, one is tasked with bearing witness to the cumulative violences of white supremacy, ableism, fatphobia, and cisheteropatriarchy. Jazz’s insistence on honesty coupled with their clear, powerful voice, offer readers a testimony rooted in ancestral strength, liberated futures, and the medicine and people that keep us alive in the meantime”.
—Ariana Brown
Visit Ariana’s Website