Notes

Not everyone is keen on poetry and I realized that almost as far back as I became aware of poetry. I guess when I first learned of it realizing what it was, I would hear people from time to time dismissing it as boring, or irrelevant, or too hard to understand was maybe the most common.

Obviously over the years none of this dissuaded me. I crossed over the bridge from being a reader to being a poet as well as a reader myself. So this weekend I was sitting here with things flowing through my head as the tend to do on weekends, and I wondered how many could say that they have read a poem that truly changed their life. If that is the case for you, I'd love to hear about it. What the the poem and how did it change your life?

Since most of my readers are poets themselves, My second question is, have any of you written a poem that changed your life? This could be changing your attitude of life in such a way to modify your life in some way. I suppose it could be a poem you wrote that won a prize and how that might have impacted you.

Anyway, don't be shy. Le's give it up for poetry-- What's the poem that made a difference to you. Even if it was one of your own poems.

#poemschangelives #lifechangingpoems #poetry

How can anyone NOT be inspired by Neruda? I am always astounded by the simplicity of his language and the depth of feeling his images convey.

Are there other poets who do the same for you? Tell me about them. Let's start a dialogue,

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New Poem This Issue of Hellbender Magazine

6/5/2024

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My poem “Ode to the How” appears in the latest issue of Hellbender Magazine - a big Thank You to Poetry editors: Pilar Randolph, Winner Olubunmi, Ella Wisniewski as well Editors-in-Chief Kelly Ward and Elise Zukowski. This issue is filled with exceptional curated work.
Page 158 Ode to the How

HELLBENDER MAGAZINE <== Magazine linked just click

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AWP24 - KCMO - As I Experienced It

2/12/2024

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2024 AWP Conference review
Tie for best thrown together display on Bookfair tables,
Homemade sign for a Lit Journal table that read, “Most of our poets are not dead.”
Another was a table in which the cloth covering was anchored down by two 5 lbs bags of C&H Sugar, primpting me to ask, “Why graze from table to table on the free candy, when you can just infuse 5 lbs of sugar here?”
Other fun stuff- a metal box with window, random word magnets -complete your best poem in 6 to 8 words. They you have them framed in a little framed window box.
Keynote address by poet Jericho Brown was awesome. He was funny, charming, and raged against the danger and stupidity of book banning.
Biggest downfall of conference - no bags at registration, no program books. Signage about the convention center was poor/lacking which was exacerbated by not having the program books this year.
Persons I missed seeing Mary Biddinger, who was in attendance but elusive, Susan Rich, also present but I missed. Kelli Russell Agodon, who cancelled at last minute, Katie Manning, who I missed to see a competing poetry reading and now wish I had gone to the one she was having. Amy Leigh Davis, who I heard was coming but I did not see, and a host of others that I often get to see only at conference.
It was especilly nice run into Erin Schaaf Robertson, another alumnus if the Spring 2017 Writer to Writter Session and catch up on her work.
A mammoth thank you to Peace Keenen for all her work on the Writer 2 Writer Conference reading.
New poet’s work I was introduced to: Elise Paschen. Her words rang with a cadence that not only touches you, but clings with you long afterwords. I hope to see much more of her in the future.
Overall, the conference was positive, though it did feel a lot different than in the past. Maybe some of that was that I was in my home turf. Hard to put my finger on it for sure.
#AWP24. #AWPKC

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Submissions - January 2024

1/11/2024

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Today got a rejection letter. Ho-hum. I turned around and sent 3 more pieces out. I think that's how this is supposed to work.

In other news, the weather has sucked here the past three days. Cold and Snow. Supposed to get colder tonight.

#submissions #poetry

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IF YOU ARE COMING TO KC FOR AWP24

11/28/2023

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The main branch of the Kansas City Public Library might be a place to stop by. This is the Parking garage. The library itself is a gorgeous building. This is in the Down Town area and not far from the Convention center.

I will be posting other attractions over the next few days.

#AWP24 #KansasCity #ComeSeeUs

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Be Kind to Those Who Are Down— SAD (Blue Days Are For Real)

11/7/2023

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This is the autumn that forebodes the winter which will surely bring cold nights and days of treacherous winter driving.

The multi colors in yards and hanging preciously from trees will give way and at some point, snow will fully usher in winter. Already the mornings are lighter, and dark become my journey home.

This is the time of introversion — not just being alone, but solace.

By winter the quiet will remind me just how along I am most of the time. Snow can be so beautiful but so stark at the same time.

I like quiet time, but I can get lost in too much of it. My heart and my soul ache at such times. The quiet I sometimes enjoys turns on me and I feel quite small and inconsequential.

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poet notes

Has A Poem Changed Your Life?

Simplicity & Depth

New Poem This Issue of Hellbender Magazine

AWP24 - KCMO - As I Experienced It

Submissions - January 2024

IF YOU ARE COMING TO KC FOR AWP24

Be Kind to Those Who Are Down— SAD (Blue Days Are For Real)

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