Friday sort of snuck up on me this week. I can’t tell if I have been sick or if it is just allergy season for me, but I’ve been in a bit of a fog . . .
Last Saturday my husband and I drove up to downtown Winston-Salem for the Bookmarks Literary Festival. Barnhill’s Books (and wine!) had invited me to meet and greet at their booth. They made us this terrific stickers with our names and one of our book covers (mine had “The Wait of Atom”). I had a chance to chat with lots of local writers such as Becky Gould Gibson whom I’m pictured with as well as Helen Losse, Richard Kraiweck and Malaika Albrecht. I saw at least one person pick up a copy of “Paper House” for purchase and I left several copies of “Fat Girl” as well as some of my last copies of the signature version of “The Wait of Atom.” It really was a nice event (although the sun was OUT) What a terrific event Winston-Salem has going.
Speaking of great events, I also read a Fat Girl poem on Tuesday night as part of the 4th anniversary celebration for Poetry Hickory. Main Street Rag who helps sponsor the event has put out an anthology of the Best of Poetry Hickory. I’m thrilled to be involved. My current work schedule has kept me from attending Poetry Hickory as much as I would have liked recently, but the spring will be much better. I’ll be back as a feature in February!
I managed to submit a few poems that were recently rejected as well as some recently new ones composed. I’m down to about a poem draft a week, and they aren’t all keepers. But, I’m trucking along!
I do have a poem for you today. I wrote it LAST NIGHT! This is my first typing up of it. The formatting is not going to look completely correct. The intent is that the words in parenthesis would be tabbed over some and that the last line would be tabbed over far to the right, but accomplishing that with my limited HTML skills is a bit more than I have time for this morning.
Gone poem!-
As always with any poem share portion of this: please share your own in comments and/or link to it. You can feel free to comment on mine or others (be honest, fair and kind). I will take down any poems posted (including mine) next Friday.
This week my classes had mock interviews, in class debates and peer review for first rough drafts. Next week we’ll be talking about revision, basics of argument essay writing and teamwork. For grammar I’ll be focusing on conjunctions. Have you given much thought to the power of and, but, or, so, although? Maybe that is your writing challenge for today. Play with words.
Always play with words 
-Quick add: I forgot to add this great poem by one of favorites Carl Sandburg that was on the poetry app!
Loving your challenge for us to always play with words. That stays within that old one of not running with scissors . . .play with words instead.
Okay, that was bad. Moving on . . .
I just keep reading your poem! I like the idea and how you convey it!
And I enjoyed hearing about the festival . . .what a wonderful way to support writing and writers.
Here is one I wrote a few weeks back and still revising! Still having title issues.
–poem is out of here!
(or maybe since I’m making up words again . . .
leave them looking good
unmatched.) ? ha!
Ha! Debbie, your so witty with words, creative license remember! We have a tennis court in my development, but I never see anyone but kids on it. I think you could go further with this one, add more, and I know that can be hard, but watch a tennis match one day and see what comes to play…ha a pun!
I meant to say more about the post, since Jessie works so hard to keep this up…I am jealous she has an intended poetry reading. We just have not gotten one going. Lots of round tables, but no readings, some are snobby if they do. I did read some new ones, they loved the fruit cocktail piece this Tuesday. I may have to move to your area!
The reading I tried to start didn’t pan out. The hickory audience is really amazing. You just never know when the right audience is gonna turn up
Debbie you poem has the right title! I’d drop the line about showing their strengths as it says more than shows. Otherwise I think it is already pretty strong!
Thanks Jessie! I appreciate your help so much! The right title? teehee! I’m kind of giddy over that . . .ha!
I like the way you play with words here in your poem Jessie.
I am not sure if I even have anything here, as I wrote this (first typing) while sitting at new open mic I visited on a historical farm near me…
–and another poem is pulled away
Oh, I think you definitely have something here!
I like it . . .I like it alot! The ending was awesome.
I really like the last two stanzas. The opening feels a bit like you are talking your way into the poem still. Stars twinkle for example is a pretty common phrase, right
I love writing at open mikes!
I was trying to frame the farm house which is what caught my attention and the rest just came. I know stars twinkling is a bit over used right!
Maybe just a little