After all that high art discussion in my last post (pfft!), I’m proud to present my first poem available in an online publication!
My poem “Cankerworms” is in the newly updated issue of storySouth.
And while you’re there, also check out six poems by and an interview with my former writing teacher and mentor, Cathy Smith Bowers.
Lots of other good stuff – poetry, fiction, and nonfiction - in there, too!
the evening did not go as planned last weekend because I left my day job with a serious anti-social mood and talked Lindsey into skipping the poetry reading and heading straight to the Dish to brainstorm names for our group instead. A quesedilla, Jack & coke, beer and about 7 cigarettes later, we had about 25 possibilities and no firm decision. I found myself discouraged and went home.
Then this week, Lindsey came down with a flu-like illness, so she couldn’t meet with Century lady nor our professor friend to talk about workshop strategies. And I couldn’t fill in because of my job schedule, plus I’ve spent every night this week and last working on stupid freelance stuff in the evenings.
So, not only am I behind on writing/editing poetry and working on school applications, but now we’re both behind on our big poetry group project. Not as productive as I thought!
However, this is not getting me down. Yesterday, I received my complimentary copy of Main Street Rag’s Fall 2007 issue, which includes my poem “Rabbit Hunting” (submitted and accepted this time last year,) so that was a mood-booster. Also, finally getting some alone time to myself this weekend is helping me clean up my life. I’ve been pulling out fall/Halloween decorations right and left and everyone knows that holiday accessories puts a smile on this girl’s face. My last room to organize and clean this weekend is the one I’m writing from now – my bedroom/office. And once that’s out of the way, I feel like the fire can be lit under my ass to move full speed ahead on all projects. A clean and organized home makes a more productive writer/professional/world leader pretend.
Last night I had the pleasure of reading at Iodine Poetry Journal’s spring event. This was my first time as a featured reader, versus the girl from the back corner stepping up to open mic. I was honored to be among other featured readers who had work in the newly released Spring/Summer 2007 Iodine: Kim Garcia, Beth Cagle Burt, Genie Cotner, Marisa Rosenfeld, Terri Wolfe, along with Leslie Rupracht and Jonathan Rice, editors of Iodine Poetry Journal. The group was diverse in style and subjects, but we all oddly had one poem that complemented the next reader’s, and then the next, and so on.
Since in you could consider this a debut for me of sorts, I was nervous about making a fool of myself (but I guess one would always be nervous at these things.) I was expecting to turn red in the face, like I do at all public speakings, and follow that with unnecessary blabber and shaking hands.
But, I prepared. I read my poems to my bedroom wall the night before. (I started to read to the cat, but he pulled my piece of paper down with his paw.) Earlier this week, I also stumbled across this bit of advice from Patricia Smith on the Poetry Foundation blog. I took Patricia’s tips to heart — and made sure to take my time, not sway my legs or move my feet a lot, and to save everyone a lengthy introduction.
The results?
To quote Brian, who came up to visit all the way from Spartanburg, I was “cool as a cucumber!”
I also got rave reviews from other lovelies in attendance: Scott, April and Elliott.
And I was deeply touched to hear nice things about my work and my reading from fellow poets at the event, who seemed genuinely interested and encouraging. I won’t go into all of what they said to me since I’m trying to kick this blushing habit, but it made me feel pretty special.
I told Scott later that the whole event reminded me of how important it is to interact with people who share your interests and passions. It’s kind of like going to the gym — you dread it all day (or all week,) but once you put in your part, you feel much more energized and better about yourself (and your work, and why you do it.)
