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Like most folks, I have my handful of New Year's Day traditions. I simmer up black-eyed peas with greens for luck. We make a batch of Bloody Marys. I update my address book, write cards, and maybe have a few friends come by. I also look around my one-bedroom apartment, in which my writing desk has to double as our dining table, and think, How can I clear out to create space for the new year? If you're a writer, journal subscriptions are probably part of your world. We buy them to show our support for the editorial aesthetic, or because of an exceptionally fine bit of AWP swag, or because subscribing was built into a context fee. I get a half-dozen literary journals at any time, with slight variations from year to year--Gettysburg Review and Gulf Coast one year, AGNI and Georgia Review the next--plus comp and contributor copies. That's a whole lotta paper that comes marching into my mailbox. When to read them all? The truth is, most of my favorite journals are too bulky to grab for a Metro ride or stick in a carry-on bag. At the end of a long day, I'm more likely to reach for Real Simple, Washingtonian, or one of the other glossy mags that live on our coffee table. Sunday mornings are reserved for the New York Times. I have two books to read for teaching to students, another on the horizon for book club. I say to myself I want to save that issue for when I can give it the time it deserves. So, the stack grows higher. And higher. Eventually, the prospect of reading transmogrifies from "anticipatory pleasure" to "looming guilt trip." A few years back, I decided enough was enough. Here's my strategy: -On or about New Year's Day, I round up all the unread journals in my house from the year before. There's usually at least six, and as many as ten. -I give myself permission to leaf through, to skim, rather than reading everything. But when I find something I particularly love--an essay, poem, or short story--I flag it. The goal is to find one piece per issue, two max. Then I use the Contributor's Notes to find an email address for each of the authors. Sometimes this isn't possible, but there is usually an academic or other professional affiliation mentioned. -The note! This is the best part. I keep it short and sweet, because I don't really know anything about this person (and vice versa). But I take the time to say I loved your piece, and maybe here's why. I say If you come to DC to read, please let me know. I say, particularly if it isn't someone with a book out yet, Please keep writing. Sometimes I never hear back. Sometimes it is exactly what that person needed to hear. Sometimes quick notes turn into real, substantive correspondences. The bonus: I can give myself permission to scootch these journals out the door, because I have honored the work. Which makes room for a new year of journals. There's much meditation, at this time of year, on how we spend our time. I see a lot of people swearing off the internet, or turning email auto-replies on. But my online silences of the year past (some involuntary, some intentioned, some accidental) have only strengthened my sense of being a writer who thrives on engagement. Thanks for keeping an eye on this space. A flurry of end-of-year emails is just one small way I can give back to a community that offers me so much in return. One other thing: Don't forget the jalape?o in the black-eyed peas.
There are many reasons to celebrate at this time of year. Whether you celebrate winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Pancha Ganapati, Ramadan, Eid-al-Adha, Omisoka, or simply being alive on Planet Earth, the staff of Poets United wishes you and yours only good things as this year draws to a close, and a new one gets ready to begin. At this time, we wish to thank our staff and community members for a year of sharing and enjoying poetry. Thanks for sticking with us. We will be back on January 3rd with the Poetry Pantry, and we look forward to sharing with you our love of the written word in 2016. We leave you with this beautiful song, sung by Ta'Kaiya Blaney when she was just nine years old. Ta'Kaiya is of the Sliammon Band. She lives in North Vancouver, B.C. She is thirteen now, and is a well-known environmental activist, an eco-warrior who speaks and sings all over the world. She is one of my heroes. Her beauty and innocence, along with the images of the earth and water as she sings this song, always brings me to tears. May all be well with you and yours, my friends, during the festive season. Blessings to all the beasts and the children.
Greetings, Friends! For many of us this is a busy time of year, but it also is a good time of year to reflect upon the past and be grateful. The staff of Poets United - Sherry, Susan, Rosemary, Sumana, and I - would like to wish each of you who celebrate a Happy Holiday. Also, we'd like to thank you for sharing yourselves and your poetry with us so generously week after week. After today's pantry we will take approximately a two-week break. I think we all may need time to rest up and recuperate and renew. (I know I do...smiles.) We will resume our regular schedule again beginning January 3, 2016 with the first Poetry Pantry of the new year. But now let's share some poetry. Link your poem below. Stop in and say hello. And visit the poems of others who share their work. Mr. Linky will stay 'live' until 1 p.m. tomorrow Eastern Time. I will see you with a new Pantry in the new year.
of their own like ours. We watched them all collapse --
until our two began to feel the guilt.
Finally, tears led them to the secret shown,
and queues of kids requesting photo-shoots --
posing in our castle grounds, and even on
the battlements. Then when the sea came in
all helped it lay siege to The Castle Cheat.
For many of us (depending on our country and culture) Christmas is coming up � a time for family holidays, and also for remembering loved ones no longer with us. Dave King lived in the UK, so the beach occasion described would not have been associated with Christmas for him, but here in Australia it is very much so. And the family fun he depicts can be translated to any place or season.
He was a lovely gentleman and lovely poet. He may not be 'living' in the sense of more famous dead poets, but for those he touched with his poems, and with his thoughtful comments on our own, he lives in fond memory. His work, too, remains alive at his blog, Pics and Poems.
For people new to our community, let me explain that he died a little over two years ago, of prostate cancer which spread to other areas of the body. His son Gavin posted to his blog on October 9th, 2013 to tell us Dave's death was peaceful.
He wrote some astonishing and beautiful poetry as he faced the prospect of dying. All his poems were worth reading. Do have a look at the blog � whether to refresh your memory or discover him for the first time.
For several of his best poems, plus details about the man, I refer you to our Mary's tribute to him in 'I Wish I'd Written This' on October 10th, 2013.
Of course it is sad to think of a friend and fellow-poet who has left us � but my intention in sharing this particular poem is to give you, via Dave King, an experience of joy. (There is more joy coming, in Sherry's post of 21 December and Susan's of 6 January.)
Poems and photos posted to 'The Living Dead' for purposes of study and review remain the property of the copyright holders.
2015 was a more complicated year than expected. Everyone in my world was doing the heavy lifting of preserving finances, battling illness, and trying to focus plans for the future. I didn't spend time where or how I thought I would. Some things fell through.
I refuse to be permanently daunted. I might sleep in a few days more darkened winter mornings than necessary. I might fall off the internets for a month or two. But my takeaways to 2016 include a happy, healthy kitty (at last!); a collection of poetry bound for paperback; and a busy schedule of spring readings and travel.
I want to write essays. I am ready to write essays. But first and foremost, I will always be a poet--and I'm so, so grateful to everyone who spent time with Count the Waves this year. That includes the painter who sent me a snapshot of my book sprawling on his Persian rug, and another of his "inner flamingo" navigating the palm fronds outside his home.
That includes the incredibly talented cartoonist down in Florida who sends funny, empathetic stories, who has shown me how poetry touches a life shaded in hardship. It has been years since I had a pen-pal. (My last official pen-pal-ship ended badly, when I tried to send her a gift--a hand-wrapped, decorated pencil--which got caught up in the USPS machines and shredded. Took two months for it to bounce back as "DAMAGED." She didn't realize I'd tried to reply and, hurt, fell into silence. I was 12.) That also includes the US Army JAG officer who, because he is used to the strange angles and compressions of writing in code, was drawn to the Traveler's Vade Mecum series. "I am [5450]," led off his note.
That includes the community of the Southern Foodways Alliance, which has been publishing my poems about Southern culinary traditions in their quarterly journal, GRAVY, which was honored with the 2015 James Beard Foundation Award for Publication of the Year. Our found rhythm includes working with artist Natalie K. Nelson, who has a great sense of humor. Her illustrations illuminate. The downside is that sometimes I worry that the "poetry world" doesn't realize I'm even writing poems. The upside is in October, I went down to Oxford, Mississippi, and read for an audience of restauranteurs, chefs, farmers, food purveyors and lovers. The experience was honestly the highlight of my year, entirely outside of any literati-industrial complex.
If there is a writer who has meant something to you in the past year, I can't say this loudly enough: reach out to her or him. Let authors know how their work, old or new, touched you. Sometimes such notes can be the lifeline in an otherwise impossible day.
I had a conversation the other night about that haunting question, "What's next?" We always hear it as judgment, e.g., What you've done so far is not enough. But it really is a vote of confidence. What's next? Everything. One word at a time.
Following up Sumana's color motif from last week, let's tackle design. I design midweek motif prompts as collages to stimulate a diversity of responses. Besides writing poetry, I love designing window displays and conferences, websites and embroidery patterns. And I love reading between the lines to discover the intent of another's design.
What do you do by design?
Your Challenge: Please write a brand new poem about design or about how a specific design succeeds or fails.
At this time of year, when many cultures all over the world are observing celebrations honouring light, love and peace, it seems fitting to offer three beautiful poems for peace, written by our own Mary Kling, Loredana Donovan, and Anjum Wasim Dar. I hope they resonate with you as much as they did with me, each one coming from a heart full of love and goodwill. May they blow through your heart like the winter wind, leaving everything fresh and new. Enjoy these poems of peace, my friends, an early gift to add to the many of the season. Mary, who writes at In the Corner of My Eye, was very moved by this video, which went viral right after the tragic events in Paris in November. Do enjoy the music and its message, and Mary's beautiful poem in response. Paris is a city she has visited, that is dear to her heart.
Sherry: The combination of the video and your poem is very moving, Mary. And the idea of peace drifting ever further away is saddening. Sigh. Tell us a bit about what was going through your heart as you wrote. Mary: I wrote the poem �Imagine� the day after the terrorist attacks in the city of Paris. I had been watching on-site journalists from CNN report on the situation, and one of them mentioned that behind them there was a man on a bicycle pulling a piano. The reporters then mentioned that he set up his grand piano and began to play outside the Bataclan Theater.And the song that he played was John Lennon�s �Imagine.�I found myself listening to that song again (on Youtube) and was then inspired to write my poem.
At first the name of the pianist was not known, but eventually it was disclosed that he was Davide Martello, and he is known for traveling to areas of conflict and playing his piano. If you visit my blog post you will see a video of him playing. I am very much moved every time I listen to him.
As far as the style of my poem, I decided to repeat the word �imagine� in most every verse, to stress the importance of the word for me and, in a small way, to pay tribute to John Lennon�s song and to Davide Martello�s rendition of it in the face of such tragedy. The message, I would say, mixes hope for peace with my own personal disillusionment that it is possible.
I do keep seeing peace drift further and further away, as I express in the last stanza. We do, however, somehow have to keep hope alive. We must continue to imagine��...
Sherry: Yes, against all odds, we must. It is only through our desire and demand for a peaceful world, that it can ever happen. Now let's look at Loredana's poem, which was also inspired by the tragic events in Paris. Loredana writes at Blogging Away.Her poem also reads like a song, bringing light to our spirits, which may be hanging a little heavy in such times as these.
Sherry: This is very moving, Loredana, as was the response of people around the world, unity in response to terror. "We grieve, but do not fear" and "we are Paris" - so powerful. As is the encouragement to "fall in love again", as life goes on. Tell us about this poem, Loredana. Loredana: Thank you, Sherry. I'm deeply honored and humbled that you're featuring my peace poem. The poem came to be the night I heard about the terrorist attacks in Paris. I was so saddened by the awful news, and it immediately brought back memories of 9/11. I work in New York City and I feel that by the grace of God, I was spared, as I was not in the office on that fateful day. I thought about the innocent victims, their families, the emotional pain, the devastating loss of loved ones. All I could do was pray, and the poem came to me in the form of a prayer. Paris is known as the city of lights, and while they turned off the lights on the Eiffel Tower, many famous sights around the world turned them on in solidarity. Even the Empire State Building was lit up in red, white and blue. And the beautiful light emanating from the stained glass windows in my own Church was inspiring. So light became a metaphor for enlightenment, solidarity, spirituality. And I wanted to send a message of love and light and peace to Paris, to the world, in my own humble way, with my own little poem that came straight from my heart. Wishing all my poet friends at Poets United a peaceful and blessed Holiday Season! Sherry: What a beautiful story, Loredana. And how close to home the attack in Paris must have felt, as you were closely connected to the events of 9/11. I, too, was moved by all of the red, white and blue lights, lit in solidarity. Thank you for this beautiful prayer. I was struck by Anjum's passionate prayer for peace, at her blog, Poetic Oceans. It is a strong, stirring plea for a peaceful world. Let's take a look.
at the foot of Margalla Hills, so others see, that
are home to them, nations of the world who
live, breathe, and fly freedom flags unfurled
let all be within their own beloved land
green colorful peaceful and grand
Oh My City Dear, send full peace everywhere
we all live on one Earth, planet created
for us all, let us not be oblivious nor close
our eyes, time flies, life dies,
save All,
forgive All
Truth will triumph not Lies
Come peace peace peace for All
Spread strong covers
let Light shine bright, tranquility descend
remove all dislike, drench all anger
drown all hate,
Let Goodwill stand tall.
Sherry: A cry straight from the heart for peace. Beautifully done! Anjum, what was going through your mind as you wrote this poem? Anjum: Thank you very much for selecting my Peace Poem. I feel honored and am deeply grateful to You and All at Poets United for your profound encouragement and support.
For quite some time, my heart has been heavy and the spirit laden, though life is blessed with comfort at home. Yet when I see deception,injustice,depression,poverty and inequality in my nation, I am grieved to the soul. I realized that all this has increased all over the world also.
Added to this is the killing of innocent people, dying for no fault of their own, for no purpose and for no crime. When more than 100 children were killed in a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, the grieving heart could not bear anymore. What can I do to lessen this evil killing? what effort can I make for tolerance and peace? While I was still thinking,more innocents were killed, more blood spilled, more mass graves dug...my native land, Kashmir, is bleeding, bleeding for peace...If I cannot leave the house, the least I can and should do is to give a Voice to my Pen and be brave enough to Call Out Loud for Peace.
And then came Divine Guidance. Words came and this poem was formed with a Call for Peace to All Humanity living on the same planet Earth. And above All, Poets United is the Sacred Gateway that leads us ahead and helps to manifest the best that is written. Thank you Poets United.
Sherry: Wow. Thank you, Anjum, for caring so much, for finding these strong and beautiful words, and for your kind message to Poets United. I know that Kashmir is described as a 'Heaven on earth' for its beauty. Your heartbreaking phrase "bleeding for peace" stirs my soul. So many places in the world now lie bleeding, even though most of the citizens of earth long for peace. We must remember - and insist - that Peace is Possible. If humans can make war, they can make peace.
It is good to contemplate peace, at a time when the world has never needed it more. I love Anjum's question, "What can I do?" Our words, prayers and energy, added to those across the world, hopefully will help turn the tide towards peace on earth that most humans want so much. One can only hope. Thank you, Mary, Loredana and Anjum, for adding your voices to the cry for peace.
Next Monday will feature our announcement of a winter break at Poets United, with best wishes to all citizens on earth, in whatever events they may or may not be observing. In the New Year, do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!
Greetings, Friends. Today I am sharing photos I took last weekend in downtown Chicago. Every year the Macy's Store (formerly Marshall Fields) decorates its windows with beautiful decorations. I have shared only a few of them, and my photos do not do them justice. One of the themes of the windows this year involved the 9 planets. I have only shown "Mars" and "Earth" above. There were also a few Peanuts character scenes, perhaps because of the recent Peanuts movie. I have inserted my favorite above. These windows have been a Chicago Christmas tradition (and tourist attraction) for decades. Each year they are different. I enjoyed having the opportunity to see them this year!
We had a good week at Poets United--from Sherry sharing the poems of three poets last Monday to Sumana's theme of colors at Midweek Motif to the poem Clovers Rosemary shared for I Wish I'd Written This.
On Monday, return to see the 3 peace poems (by three different PU poets) Sherry is highlighting. On Wednesday Susan's Midweek Motif theme is design.
As I mentioned last week, Poets United will be taking a short holiday break so that both staff and other poets have a bit of time to relax during this time. Poetry Pantry will be held as usual next Sunday, December 20. The break will take place between December 21 and January 2. The usual schedule will resume again on Sunday, January 3, 2016, with Poetry Pantry, when we all hopefully will return recharged and refreshed. Smiles.
With no further delay, share your poem using Mr. Linky below. Stop into the comments and greet your fellow poets. Visit the poems of people who write. Do have a good week!
