Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me…. Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. –Shel Silverstein Continue reading Inspiration Monday: Shel Silverstein
Patient., by Bettina Judd, and published by Black Lawrence Press, is a poetic historical account of the experiences of black women as subjects at the hands of male gynecologists. The poems tell the stories of Henrietta Lacks, Anarcha Wescott, Saartjie Baartman, and others who were “patients” of J. Marion Sims (creator of the speculum) and others as well as subjects of P.T. Barnum. Ms Judd’s own experiences at a teaching hospital adds a contemporary voice to the heretofore unheard voices of black women who historically suffered under the banner of medical treatment. Having worked for many years in the medical … Continue reading Review: Patient. by Bettina Judd
The days are hot and languid and I find myself reluctant to go out past 11:00 a.m. I get up around 8:00 and do my outdoor chores: feed the cats, water the plants, do a few snips and sweep in the garden. I walk the dog around 9:30 through the silence of a neighborhood where most people have gone to work except for retirees and the occasional stay-at-home parent. Even the kids out of school for the summer are either still in bed or sent off to some camp or other by their frazzled parents. It’s a 20 minute … Continue reading Hot Reads for June 24, 2015 + My Latest Published Work
Peggy Sue April has come and gone and nothing about it turned out as I’d planned. I had to drop out of PoMoSco because life got in the way. Real life, nuts and bolts and shit happens life. But I did get in a few poems and I think with some editing I’ll have some decent work out of it. I didn’t even start a poetry online course I’d signed up for, which makes me sad, but at least I did read some good poetry in between all the running around I did before falling into bed each night, usually well … Continue reading Hot Reads and Peggy Sue
she was astonished to have written seven poems, thanks to PoMoSco. I wrote about my trepidation earlier on joining this project but I needn’t have worried. It’s proving to be a good boost for my creativity plus I’ve “met” some nice people and talented poets. I’ve written about everything from unicorns to the hurricane. Here’s my page, if you care to check it out. The only down side is that I have less time to read my usual sites and blogs but don’t think I’ve forgotten you, bloggers and writers! I’ll be back to visiting and commenting regularly next month. … Continue reading And on the seventh day…
Yep. I’ve signed on it, virtually speaking. And now I’m getting the jitters and doubts and semi-regrets because, as much as it pains me to say it, I’m not a joiner. But recently I’ve agreed to do several things, join things, show up, participate, chime in, stretch. The closer the start time gets, the more I think about pulling out and so I’m trying really hard to convince myself that I can do these things, that I just have to organize and structure my time effectively. April 1 is the beginning of National Poetry Month (NaPoMo) and I’ve signed up … Continue reading The Dotted Line
It’s a gorgeous day in New Orleans – feels like Spring! I’m thinking about going to the river and snapping some photos but, honestly, I’m feeling quite content puttering around the house and yard and doing some online reading. I have a few links to share today of good reading I’ve done lately: a couple of Flash pieces, a few poems, and some blogs new to me that piqued my interest. Enjoy! First , the blogs: Leaf and Twig is a blog that combines two of my favorite things: poetry and photography. What could be more perfect? The poetry is original and … Continue reading Hot Reads
I always chop the olives by hand. I like a rough chop that says someone still cares about the preparation of food instead of settling for little identically square bits popped out by a steel thing attached to a cord that gives it life. The knife and I give new life to these olives; messy, uneven life such as it is. The earthy texture of the black and the pungency of the green will soon mix with onion, pimento and the special piquant of a home-canned Gardiniera. Aaron Neville croons “Tell It Like It Is” in my ear as I … Continue reading Live Luscious
Inspired by The Tavern Lantern’s “Year End Top Ten” feature, which I’ve been enjoying very much, I decided to make my own Top Five Lists. Consisting of five instead of ten items because I’m into shorter, smaller, more minimal. And I think some list posts are too long. (Not counting TL’s.) So, here we go. 5 Lit Journals and/or Zines I Read Regularly in 2014 Literary Orphans Connotation Press Blue Fifth Review: Blue Five Notebook Series Whiskey Paper Luna Luna 5 Blogs I Read Regularly in 2014 Roxane Gay’s Blog (Although, lately there’s less blogging and more linkage to her … Continue reading 5 Catagories of 5 Things That Rocked My 2014
