Howdy my Friday friends! Have you been writing? Did you send any of your work out? Try any reviews? Here’s some recapping for me:
- Recently a “back story” blog I wrote for Rose & Thorn Journal appeared. Love this idea of giving the story behind the poem they previously published.
- I did submit my first set of poems for the year!
- My once (and future?) publisher Sibling Rivalry has several shout outs in the terrific Tuck Magazine. Ya’ll remember Val B Russell who used to stop by here? That’s her baby! The shout outs included a review of Fat Girl.
- I managed to draft one poem – which is below. Not sure why I am being so provocative lately?
- Also finished the print issue of UCity Review’s summer issue. I had two poems in the issue but big shout out to Jim Valvis who was a featured poet for the issue. I especially liked his poems “The Grindstone” and “The Golden Age.”
- Andrea Beltran (who sometimes stops by here as well!) wrote a short review for Goodreads after picking up the eVersion of The Wait of Atom.
- If you haven’t been reading Hippocampus Magazine, you should! Hippo . . . is an online non-fiction publication with terrific stuff.
- And last in this list is a poem I read in Poetry Daily.
- Otherwise – gearing up for the start of the semester on Monday. Hoping I have more time to write, submit my work, and promote my work this semester!
Here is my poem for the week.
–and that poem is down so I can revise it 
As always, I want to hear what you guys have been doing and I’m always open to comments on what I post here. All poems posted (my own and those in comments) will be taken down one week from today.
Happy poeming!
Jessie, I’m happy to read the back story of your poem in Rose & Thorn. I really loved this poem and I’m intrigued with how it came to be. Thanks for reminding us to have fun with our writing and take risks. Also, thanks for the shout out. I’m looking forward to more of your poetry this year.
Wishing all of you a happy weekend! Andrea
And here’s to you and your poems!
Great poem Jessie. I love the part about not turning the same color as the cucumber inside the sheath. Also, fantastic review of Fat Girl!
Thanks on both counts, Tammy
hope your writing life is going well!
–and that poem is gone!
Oh Tammy . . .I loved this!
thank you for sharing!
I’m with Debbie! This is great fun
Definitely submittable.
Oops! I commented Friday, but it didn’t show up. Sorry!
It’s one I did during your mfa program . . .thanks!
So great backstory . . .I love that idea . . .and love the reviews and congrats of first subs of the year and all the ways you keep us reading and learning.
Your poem kept me reading and the story was so unique! You’ve taught me those are good things. you’ve got your poem mojo going!
I submitted one poem to someplace new for me and it was accepted.
Here’s one I’m still thinking about the ending on . . .thinking about not telling the readers what to feel.
—another poem is down to be worked upon
There is some sexy mystery in that one! Cingrats on the acceptance. I’m having another small dry spell. Maybe something will come to me soon
Your reply about the sexy mystery really blessed me, because you took away something different from the poem than I was thinking . . .but trying not to tell you about. haha! Praying you get some ideas today!
You never know what your audience is thinking! Lol
JC I like the comparison to the smell of the mits to the class, I can remember that one. Heck I always like your work, such a good teacher. I need to get on an order for Fat Girls. My book allowance dwindled quickly, but its first on the list.
Debbie- I can see JC’s interpretation and yours. I like it, you could take it further and speak of birds gliding across the sky and resting on a tree, like our family trees and how we have lost those we love. Hmmm
Okay guys, seems like I can only get to this on Saturday late, or early early Sunday. Here is something I was playing with. Jessie once said referring to objects that are not really thinking feeling beings has me a bit cautious on this one. Needs more work of course.
Open for suggestions…or in a bad pun sort of way, let me know what grabs you LOL
–this poem is eating zombies . . .
I think you do have to be careful with over personification (or what some call the pathetic fallacy), but it works here because of the terrific wordplay. This is one that tastes delicious to read aloud
My book budget had to be reigned in as well. I still need to get several books from Sibling Rivalry that came out last year!
Oh, how I wish I could get as much done as you do!
Very vivid poem, it passes on that queasy feeling and the sense of smell.
I like.
P.s. I owe you a letter sometime in the near future catching you up on the many changes.
Yes! I have been missing you my dear cat eared friend