Wordy Wednesday Poems

I'm mentioned in this book of poems: "Wednesday," by Cassie Premo Steele, along with 300 others. The concept for this book is amazing-what a way to use Facebook! From the book description on Amazon:


"Since June 2010, Cassie Premo Steele has been inviting friends, fellow artists, clients, and colleagues to join her in a poetry writing collaboration. Every Wednesday she asks friends to add a word to a Facebook thread and constructs a poem that weaves the spirit and intentions of all those words into one piece of writing. The result is this book. In it you will find a wide range of subjects and ideas contributed by more than 300 people from all around the world. It is an exploration on collaboration and on the artistic task of creating one song out of a multitude of different voices."


The poem I participated in is on page 135, "A Deeper Independence." You can read more on the book-and see a featured poem from it-at Cassie Premo Steele's website. Grab a copy here, if you wish.

Guest Post at Metre Maids

I wrote about celebrating National Poetry Month locally over at Metre Maids featuring the PoemCity'13 event in Montpelier, Vermont. Take a look and comment if so inclined! Thanks to E. K. Anderson for inviting me to post.

The "Sometimes Single Mom" Situation at The Broad Side

Sparked by an article at The Broad Side on being a "sometimes single mom" and the Michelle Obama video, I wrote an article in response on the site.

From the article:

"The term ‘sometimes single mom’ is inaccurate. 

Single moms don’t say, “I’m a sometimes single mom.” True, some have the support of their exes, financially or otherwise, but many just do not. They are actually a single parent in the true sense of the word. They are responsible for a child or children they are raising alone. It seems as if those who call themselves ‘sometimes single moms’ are usually the ones who are actually married with a husband who is sometimes there."

Thanks again to The Broad Side for posting it! Read, enjoy and share your thoughts on the post, if so inclined.

PoemCity'13 Poem Displayed at Chill Vermont Gelato, Montpelier, Vermont

Here is the poem that is displayed in PoemCity'13 at Chill Vermont Gelato in Montpelier, Vermont. PoemCity2013 (previously PoetryAlive!) has been happening every April for the past three years in celebration of National Poetry Month in conjunction with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier Alive and several other local businesses.

There are exhibits, a full text display of nearly 200 poets throughout town at various stores, readings, workshops and poetry related events the entire month of April. All events are open to the public and free of charge.
Find out more about PoemCity/MontpelierAlive! here and be sure to check out their blog.

To see the poem from last year, "The Last Pregnancy," go here. 

Read the text below.

About the Jewelry-

On receiving a box of my Grandmother’s jewelry a year after her death

I sold your rings.
I hope you aren’t too bothered by that
Or the fact that it was mere days
Before your birthday.
But, what was I going to do
With fifteen different rings?
And grandiose ones at that.
I did, however, keep
Four of them-
Simple, unobtrusive, small things.
Our style was never quite the same.
You might be surprised
I still have your Peridot ring
Given to you by your black-sheep uncle
When you were thirteen,
Passed on to my mother,
Then to me,
To my own daughter eventually.
It’s still in the same setting
As far as I know,
But needs a good cleaning.
I wore that for years.
You never knew.

(Please don't repost/reprint without permission)

PoemCity2013 in Montpelier, Vermont

PoemCity2013 (previously PoetryAlive!) will be happening again this April in celebration of National Poetry Month in conjunction with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier Alive and several other local businesses.

They will have exhibits, a full text display of nearly 200 poets throughout town at various stores, readings, workshops and poetry related events the entire month of April. All events are open to the public and free of charge. You can find a list of events and other information here.

My poem, "About the Jewelry," will be at Chill Vermont Gelato in downtown Montpelier, Vermont.

Thoughts on VCFA's MFA in Writing Residency 2012-13

I wrote a post about the recent Vermont College of Fine Arts winter writing residency, which ended last week, at the VCFA blog. I had a lot of fun writing the post and love being able to be a part of Hunger Mountain/VCFA. Read to get a glimpse of what happens during a VCFA residency!

Poem in The Barefoot Review, Winter 2012

I have a poem in The Barefoot Review Winter 2012 issue. Thanks again to the review and enjoy!