Category: Poetry

About Writing, Essays, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Poets, Quotes, Read Women, Women, Writers11 Comments

15 Amazing Stories to Read by Women When You Need a Break from the Festivities

Charlotte Hamrick

Those who read this blog regularly know how much I enjoy sharing other writers writing. I try to do that from time to time. Lately, I’ve read some astounding stories via poetry, flash fiction, and essay that I want to share with you. They’re all pretty short and only take a few seconds to a few minutes to read but, oh, such power in these words! I’ve added a snippet to each selection to give you an idea of the wonderment in store when you click over. These stories are great for taking a slice of quiet time from all … Continue reading 15 Amazing Stories to Read by Women When You Need a Break from the Festivities

About Writing, Books, Poetry, Poets, Pop Culture, Read Women, Writers6 Comments

3 Books, 3 Poets

Charlotte Hamrick

The last three books of poetry I’ve read couldn’t be more different. Two of them, “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur and “Good Bones” by Maggie Smith, came to my attention on Twitter. Did you know there’s a vibrant poetry community on Twitter? Actually, there’s a vibrant writing community there. I’ve found some fantastic books, poetry, flash fiction, short stories, nonfiction, etc., there and, these days, it’s the only reason I’m still hanging in. The only reason. Anyway, I digress. The third book, “From Every Moment a Second” by Robert Okaji, came to my attention from Robert himself. I read … Continue reading 3 Books, 3 Poets

Morning Meditation, Poetry1 Comment

Morning Meditation: Of Tom and Hawks

Charlotte Hamrick

“A red-winged hawk is circling” Tom Petty 1950-2017 He glides towards me face to face at eye level on my morning walk, swoops into an old magnolia. He settles his feathers and returns my gaze, eyes shining a message of light and life. l smile,thinking of Apollo, music,and a golden-haired man learning to fly. *** Sources: Tom Petty on writing “You and I Will Meet Again”  Video of “You and I Will Meet Again”. Hawks in mythology and folklore. Photo via Pinterest. I tried to trace the source but was unsuccessful.  Continue reading Morning Meditation: Of Tom and Hawks

About Writing, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Women2 Comments

My Prose in Flash Frontier Tribute

Charlotte Hamrick

I met Sally Houtman via Fictionaut, an online community of writers and readers. Before that time, I really didn’t have any writing buddies. I was writing singularly, without encouragement or input from anyone within any writing community. I took the plunge of submitting my poetry and prose to this community of fledgling and accomplished writers. I just closed my eyes and jumped in, so to speak. Sally, along with Matt Dennison and Frankie Saxx(thanks, y’all!), made me feel  welcome and valued. They encouraged and critiqued. Sally had a gentle way of making her points that I appreciated. She let me … Continue reading My Prose in Flash Frontier Tribute

Essays, Flash Fiction, Photography, Poetry, Poets, Read Women, Women, Writers2 Comments

Focus on Four: Reading Women Online 

Charlotte Hamrick

There are some fantastic women writers writing interesting, enlightening, bold stories online but, sometimes, its not so easy to find those voices among the cacophony that is the internet. So. I’m going to share four women whose stories and poems stood out for me recently. Oh, I could share so much more but, if you’re like me, posts with a long list of  “what I read online” can be daunting. Why not focus on four gorgeous women and their writing? First up is Lori Sambol Brody, a writer of incredibly good flash fiction that I discovered this summer. Lori has … Continue reading Focus on Four: Reading Women Online 

About Writing, Poetry, Poets, Women, Writers3 Comments

Happy birthday, Lucille!

Charlotte Hamrick

Lucille’s mother was a gifted poet with only an elementary school education. Her poetry was offered publication but Lucille’s father wouldn’t allow it and forced her to burn the poems in the fireplace. It’s said Lucille never forgot it and I’m sure it shaped much of her own poetry. About the incident, she wrote a poem called “fury”: “her hand is crying. / her hand is clutching / a sheaf of papers. / poems. / she gives them up. / they burn / jewels into jewels.” She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for two separate books in the … Continue reading Happy birthday, Lucille!