Women's History is World History

In the history of the world, where would we be without women?

We've brought everyone here who ever came into the world. Carried them in our bellies, in our arms, and on our backs. Throughout history, we've worked to feed and clothe and protect them. Women have been the glue that has kept the world together and the starch that gives it backbone.

So this Women's History Month, celebrating women's accomplishments is fine, but a whole lot more celebrating and acknowledgement could be happening--throughout the year.

We do see abundant appreciation of women's, especially mothers', influence and sacrifices when their youngster makes good and is successful. And I'm sure many of us show gratitude, outside of the public eye, for those women who came before us.

In honor of the women who created the history of my life and set me on my path, I'm sharing a poem of gratitude and commitment.

The Gift

My grandmothers' shoulders were broad
Cream-colored, sepia, walnut, and black
Sometimes ridges, like the edges
of the furrows they tilled,
Ribboned their backs and shoulders
They supported the known world
like Atlas held up the heavens
they stood proud and strong

On the broad shoulders of these wide-hipped women
my grandmothers and their grandmothers,
On their convictions
Their work
their dreams
I stood

Now I'm one of the grandmothers
It's my turn to support the tribe
be here
strong, balanced, braced
so on my shoulders
others can stand

We, the women, all of us, are the history makers every single day.

~ xoA ~



"The Gift" appears in my poetry collection, You Can't Have It All

We Are In Love

Amanda Gorman, with her eloquence, assurance, freshness—and her words—captured our hearts. And now, we’re in love. The whole nation, and I dare say, those watching the Inauguration of our 46^th President, Joe Biden and Vice President, Kamala Harris from around the globe are utterly smitten with this young poet.

At our house, it was all eyes and ears intent on her face and her message. Our backs inched forward, tears flowed, and hope filled our hearts. This National Youth Poet Laureate reminded us of who we say we are. She shined a light on who we’ve shown ourselves to be and declared who we need to strive to be.

To youngsters who may have had no interest in poetry or writing poems, she demonstrated the power of the pen and mastery in delivering one’s words with such clarity and force. For we oldsters, Amanda’s skillful, impassioned recitation renewed our faith that young Americans can and will prevail.

In that five-minute recitation, Amanda Gorman galvanized the country and thrust poetry into the limelight. We’re ready to show her we ARE “brave enough to see the light/brave enough to BE the light.”

~ xoA ~

PS: To experience more of the sunshine of Amanda, see her recite her poem “The Miracle of Morning”. Thanks to my friend Millie McCoo for sharing this with me.

 Photo: Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

When a Promise Becomes a Reality

Excitement built when the proof copies of my book arrived at my daughter and son-in-love’s address in Washington, D.C. With Asila and David, Judy, and friend Michelle as my first audience, I read aloud. I found a few things I wanted to change during the proofreading phase—spacing, words to be added or eliminated, and resizing the cover fonts.

Then I pressed the “Publish” button. In that exquisite moment, my shoulders dropped from my ears and an audible breath released from my lips. My book was on its way. Within 24 hours, Amazon notified me it was live on their site. Just in time for the Writers of Kern Spring Conference and National Poetry Month (aka April), my book is a reality.

You Can’t Have It All: Poems is a collection of poems written over a number of years. It includes poems of memories, feelings, reflections, and observations as well as poems based on ideas and stories from conversations with others, and “poemoirs,” memoirs in poetic form.

A collection like this doesn’t happen without help, encouragement, and input from others, and I am so grateful to all who supported my writing—Judy, my family, friends, Writers of Kern critique group, writing groups, and even folks I’ve never met who commented on the poems I shared online.

From the overwhelming, positive response the book is receiving, I am buoyed, appreciative, and humbled. And curious. I’m curious about which poem(s) resonate with people, what strikes them and why. If you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you.

Hugs and thanks,

~ xoA ~

When a Threat Becomes a Promise

For several years, I’d threatened to produce a collection of my poems. At first, I thought it would be a chapbook, a small, pamphlet-like book of 20 pages or so.  I started gathering the poems I’d written over the years. Then I wrote a bunch of new poems. Yikes, the chapbook was growing into an actual book!

Two summers in Oregon I began in earnest. I dedicated library time, a thumb drive, and a second laptop only to fall off the wagon or become derailed by life circumstances. But, in the fall of 2018, I made myself and Paul, the Coos Bay librarian, a promise that I would be sitting up front in the Myrtlewood Room at the author table for the library’s 2019 Authors Day.

My friend and fellow writer Joan issued a challenge: Have it finished by the Spring Conference in March. Then, Dennis voiced his encouragement and confided, “I heard about the challenge.”

My daughters, both coaches, chimed in. “What’s keeping you from doing this?” Asila asked. “Mom, you’ve got this,” Amina said.

And then, of course, I received regular encouragement and feedback from Judy as she listened while I read individual poems aloud. This was a great help in making my language more succinct.

So it took a village that included Matthew, a creative writing instructor from our local university, various Writers of Kern members and friends who answered questions, taught me new skills, and listened to me read. And, I can’t thank everyone enough!

I’m now awaiting delivery of the proof copies before my book is on the market.  Following a reading or two and making changes, it’ll be thumbs up and ready to print.

My threat became a promise to myself and others and is soon to be a reality. In the next post, I’ll let you know the title and, if you’d like to do so, how you can read these “Poems that celebrate and remember. Poems that observe and question. Poems that honor life, love, and friendship.”

~ xoA ~

Putting it Out There

“Rejection letters are badges of honor.” That’s a favorite slogan at Writers of Kern. We celebrate rejections because when writers receive rejections, it means they are writing -- and submitting to publications.

Recently, some of those responses have been "Yes."

Over the years, I’ve amassed a body of work -- short memoir pieces, poems, personal essays, and snippets of possible stories. And lately I’ve been trying my hand at fiction. I’d had pieces published before I became “serious” about writing, but submitting my work for consideration didn’t happen much until 2015. That’s when I gathered the courage to dust some of these pieces off, polish them up, and send them out into the world.

The result has been affirming , gratifying, and exciting. Published in print and online journals, my work is being read by an even wider audience.

It took some prodding and encouragement. The taste of acceptance came when the online journal, Yellow Chair  Review , picked up my first poem, “Talk,” for its Inaugural Issue in May 2015. That sent me scurrying to my computer and practice notebooks to look for more poems. At the beginning of this year, Scarlet Leaf Review published my first fiction piece, “The Blessing,” and a few months later, several poems.

Sure, I’ve received rejections -- and wear them with pride. But, remembering those decisions are subjective, I may rework the piece, ask for help from my critique group, or just send it out to the next publication I think might accept it. It’s a matter of persistence and luck. Writers must connect with the journal whose style and subject matter fit with theirs.

Since I’ve been putting my work out there, this spring a number of Acceptance letters flew into my Inbox. Most recently, a flash fiction piece called “King of the Playground” was published on a local online zine site, The Kit Fox. My poem, “Porcelain Smile,” went up on Bitchin’ Kitsch. And, arriving in my US Mail box, was my contributor’s copy of the 6th In the Words of Womyn (ITWOW) InternationalAnthology with my poem, “When Did I Get Old?”

In April, I was honored to write two poems and read them at the California State University, Bakersfield library along with a dozen or more other local poets. This event was one held to celebrate National Poetry Month. Students, faculty, community members, and Don E. Thompson, Kern County’s first ever poet laureate,  read their poems on the subject of Drought. Organizer, professor Matt Woodman designed a beautiful keepsake chapbook containing all the poems. 

Because these poems and stories got out, rather than remain stashed in their file folders on my computer, my life has become even more rich. Not with money, of course, as most of these journals do not pay, or pay very little. But rich with the knowledge that my words are being read and folks are enjoying or relating to them.  That’s a great feeling, a good reason to continue to write and submit my work. 

~ xoA ~

YCR's first anthology included "Talk"

Poem in Your Pocket

Atlantis Books, Oia, Santorini, Greece

April 30 this year is Poem in Your Pocket Day. It’s a day set aside, during National Poetry Month, for a special celebration of poetry. 

Here’s how it works. You choose a poem -- or write one -- and carry a copy of it in your pocket. Throughout the day, take it out and read it aloud to random people. No, they won’t think you’re crazy. They will love it.

Poem in Your Pocket Day originated in 2002 in New York City by the mayor’s office. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets took it national. Today, folks all across the country -- in parks, schools, libraries, offices, all over -- participate in this joyful celebration. Let’s face it. People enjoy sharing and hearing poems.

One year, I made extra copies of “Blessing the Boats” by Lucille Clifton. “Hello. It’s National Poetry Month and today’s Poem in Your Pocket Day. I’d like to share a poem with you.”

The answer was always, “Okay.”

       blessing the boats  by Lucille Clifton

may the tide

that is entering even now

the lip of our understanding                                               

carry you out

beyond the face of fear

may you kiss

the wind then turn from it

certain that it will

love your back   may you

open your eyes to water

water waving forever

and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that

After reading the poem, I’d hand her or him the copy to keep. Their faces would break out in wide smiles. “Really? I can keep this?” I’d nod and smile back, my heart radiating warmth.

Look up your favorite poem online, read it aloud, and then copy it to share on April 30. Or, be creative and write your own poem. I have an appointment at the beauty salon that day. Boy, are they in for a treat.

Who is your favorite poet? What poem do you remember being read to you as a child? Poetry is a fabulous way to communicate.

~ xoA ~

New Challenge

It’s interesting how a challenge can produce awareness and growth. My latest one comes in the form of October Poetry Writing Month (OctPoWriMo). The challenge is to write a poem each day for 31 days. 

The rules are easy: 1) Write something. 2) Choose your own form. 3) Choose your own topic, or use a suggested prompt from the organizers. 4) Share if you wish. 

Participation is expanding my world by introducing me to poets and writers from around the globe as we read each others’ work.  We learn about writing and about the human condition. We inspire; and, we become inspired. 

So, I will share a couple of poems from the first four days. If you want to read more, you can periodically stop in at my new poetry blog.

~ xoA ~

October 1, 2012

Beginnings

I love beginnings,

expectations looming ahead

I surrender to

whatever comes

Knowing it is all good,

Serves a purpose

Sharpens senses

Renders me

 an adventurer

explorer

excavator

Treasures ahead.

October 3, 2012

Still Here

A petal hushed,

almost hanging

in air,

drifts from faded bouquet

Soft pink remnant settles

onto mirrored bronze table

among two just like it.

Though showing its age,

bouquet’s young beauty lost,

life remains.

Faded,

but still glorious.