Publication: Does Size Matter?
No matter how big or how small the publication or paycheck, it feels great to be published. To know that there are a few people in the world that "get" your writing, deeming it share-worthy is like having a warm fuzzy in your soul. I haven't found a way to balance a rigorous teaching career and a rigorous writing career, but I do as much writing as I can. Part of me longs for a week-long vacation in a mountain oasis where I could soak in the stillness, pouring my words on paper...but, my reality is markedly different. That being said, I wanted to give a shout-out where I have had the opportunity of sharing my writing and thank those that see the beauty in my words.
Fall 2012: The Sigma Tau Delta chapter of Dixie State University sponsored a night of Women in Literature featuring the stunning photography of Katie Patterson Hullet and writings from several women who represented different subjects or ideas. Oftentimes, I feel that my background as a mother and wife, rather than a decorated scholar, has marginalized me. Some feminists are so caught-up in the promotion of women, in career and leadership that a woman who enjoys the "traditional" role is seen as less valuable. A lot of my writing is about hearth and home and I often feel there is no place for me in the wide world of academia. So, when Katie invited me to read some of my "mom" poetry at this event, I was really grateful. It was a great evening with beautiful photographs and words. I read from my collection that focuses on my experience as a mother coupled with nature. There is something about the evidence of creation in nature that deeply resonates with me as a mother. I've posted them all, but here is my favorite, a love letter to my oldest son.
Star Gazing
Fall 2012: The Sigma Tau Delta chapter of Dixie State University sponsored a night of Women in Literature featuring the stunning photography of Katie Patterson Hullet and writings from several women who represented different subjects or ideas. Oftentimes, I feel that my background as a mother and wife, rather than a decorated scholar, has marginalized me. Some feminists are so caught-up in the promotion of women, in career and leadership that a woman who enjoys the "traditional" role is seen as less valuable. A lot of my writing is about hearth and home and I often feel there is no place for me in the wide world of academia. So, when Katie invited me to read some of my "mom" poetry at this event, I was really grateful. It was a great evening with beautiful photographs and words. I read from my collection that focuses on my experience as a mother coupled with nature. There is something about the evidence of creation in nature that deeply resonates with me as a mother. I've posted them all, but here is my favorite, a love letter to my oldest son.
Star Gazing
“Hydra, right?” you smile.
Light from the full harvest moon illuminates your upturned face.
We trace our fingers on the giant V stretched over the dark horizon.
“Little Dipper,” you name with confidence.
Sprinkled stars shimmer above, begging you to name them all.
I take your hand, almost as big as mine now. When did you grow?
“ That bright one, a planet?", you struggle for the name.
I don’t look up, the solar system can’t compete.
You are all the wonders in the world, neatly wrapped
in a ten-year-old boy. Eyes bluer than far-away fiery cosmos, a mind
as big as the Milky-Way, and a heart where all my
love, worries, hopes and dreams orbit.
“Mom, which one?” you ask, gravity pulls me back.
“Jupiter, Saturn, Mars?” I name them, all miracles,
but none greater than you.
The majority of my poetry has been well-edited with feedback, but every now and then, I throw one out that only I have looked at. A big thank-you and shout-out to Dixie State University's "Southern Quill" who is publishing 3 of my poems in the 2013 edition. The Quill is a quality, local publication and I always appreciate the opportunity to be included. Here are the poems that made it this year:
"Balm of Gilead" which is a major overhaul of my 9-11 collection that has not been critiqued outside of myself. The idea kept coming back to me and I wanted to capture the hopelessness that many Muslim-Americans felt in the aftermath of September 11th. The sudden general distrust of this ethnic group really bothered me because I hold to the belief that there is more goodness in this world than evil and that many, many good people exist in all ethnic groups. Stylistically, I wanted to use more prose writing and create a longer poem with a meaningful story. The poem has everything from biblical allusion to Arabic and I loved seeing it come together. I can't get the format to do what I want, so here is the link:
"Balm of Gilead"
The second poem the Quill is publishing is another favorite, "Spooning with Loneliness". I love this poem for the imagery, personification, the sound and the emotion it captures.
The third poem is just a fun, simple haiku all about winter, kind of tongue-in cheek. Haiku writing is seriously fun and a challenge to stay in such a prescriptive form.
The majority of my poetry has been well-edited with feedback, but every now and then, I throw one out that only I have looked at. A big thank-you and shout-out to Dixie State University's "Southern Quill" who is publishing 3 of my poems in the 2013 edition. The Quill is a quality, local publication and I always appreciate the opportunity to be included. Here are the poems that made it this year:
"Balm of Gilead" which is a major overhaul of my 9-11 collection that has not been critiqued outside of myself. The idea kept coming back to me and I wanted to capture the hopelessness that many Muslim-Americans felt in the aftermath of September 11th. The sudden general distrust of this ethnic group really bothered me because I hold to the belief that there is more goodness in this world than evil and that many, many good people exist in all ethnic groups. Stylistically, I wanted to use more prose writing and create a longer poem with a meaningful story. The poem has everything from biblical allusion to Arabic and I loved seeing it come together. I can't get the format to do what I want, so here is the link:
"Balm of Gilead"
The second poem the Quill is publishing is another favorite, "Spooning with Loneliness". I love this poem for the imagery, personification, the sound and the emotion it captures.
Spooning with Loneliness
On nights when I hear shadows whispering,
when blackness swallows the moon; I
feel he is near.
He slips into my bed and I am
spooning with Loneliness.
“Hush,” he softly whispers, “I am here now.”
Wrapping his arms around me, he
holds me tight, caressing my shoulders,
coaxing out the chill long-settled
into my bones.
“You are not alone,” Loneliness speaks smoothly
into my hair,
“I’ll stay beside you.” His warm
breath strokes my bare neck as melting into
me, we lay together in the stillness.
Feeling his familiar
presence, I listen
to whistling wind and
rhythmic tapping of trees sounding on
glass window pane.
A glimmer of starlight
strains to shimmer, only to be
snuffed out by the deepening dark.
“Sleep now”, croons Loneliness. I shudder as
saltiness streaks down my eyes to his arms,
staining sheets with my pain.
Wiping away my tears, he softly
soaks moisture from my cheeks,
“I’ll never leave you”, his promise
stretching to fill the emptiness
in the bed next to me, staying with
me until dawn.
The third poem is just a fun, simple haiku all about winter, kind of tongue-in cheek. Haiku writing is seriously fun and a challenge to stay in such a prescriptive form.
Winter Haiku
Stark silhouettes are
slicing
into wide, blue sky.
Winter’s
dagger drawn.
Chill
seeping into
brittle
bones, freezing warm blood,
pilfering
my breath.
Sleeping
in icy
ground, weeds dream of
spring hijack,
conquering
my yard.
You have so many talents! Your writing is inspiring.
ReplyDelete