I think I have quite a few good links to share with you today as well as a poem in progress.
- The new issue of Wild Goose Poetry Review is up. Like Referential you can comment on pieces posted in Wild Goose. Most author’s also leave an author comment so those are fun to read. I’m linking you to a poem I particularly enjoyed.
- Speaking of Referential but did you know we had a non-fiction winner for the Best of the Net 2011? We had a previous poem finalist but having a winner is just awesome!
- Other publications with new issues online include blue fifth review
- Also online, but not a literary magazine per se, is an article by Charles Simic about why he still writes poem. Love this.
- As a writer, I had a shout out the other day from one of the winners of the Poetry Book Giveaway. Kathleen Kirk talks a little about The Wait of Atom and avocados on her blog.
- Last on shout-outs etc list is a note about my latest chapbook An Amateur Marriage. It isn’t on Amazon yet but I just added it to Goodreads. I’m not using Goodreads as much, but it is still a great location for reviews. My publisher also puts reviews up on their website from time to time, but I don’t have any reviews yet! I’m willing to give a copy or two of the book away for purposes of reviews if send me a proposal for where you might be putting the review. Just drop me a line if you are interested.
And now how about some poem share?
–time to work on the poem!
Feel free to comment on my work in progress and/or to post your own. I will take down my work and any left in comments one week from today. I have some reviews and other sundry things to work on for next week. And, perhaps, I’ll do another one of those hour by hour posts I used to do for those who have wondered how I work so much in one day – small bites is the secret to everything – small bites 
It’s the key to balance in all areas of our life…food and everything!
I like the poem Jessie. I cannot imagine it needs any tweaking. I enjoyed once through, and want to read it again.
Will post something later. I’m sneaking in a break comment, as I am sitting with a friends daughter.
Look forward to reading what you’ve been up to
This one has been through more revisions than a lot of the things I post on here!
Hi Jessie, and all
Wild Goose Poetry Review sounds interesting. I’ll be checking that out!
I’ve got loads to read over the weekend now. thank you!
Congratulations to Referential though! That’s so cool!
Wow so many interesting links!
I love this poem. The precision in it is amazing, how you describe the creation of the mask. Great work as always.
I totally agree with you and E–small bites is definitely the way to go. That’s why I like doing the dishes. It’s the perfect activity for in between drafts.
Finally, before I share my efforts for this week, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of you who commented on what I posted last week. I know I should’ve posted to say that then, and I apologize for
not doing so, but I’m so slack/lazy sometimes it’s incredible–no excuses.
Well, I’ve been pretty lucky as far as writing goes lately. I bought a book on iBooks–Wingbeats: Exercises and practice in writing poetry by Scott Wiggerman–and it seems to have really opened things up. This thing is a result of one of the exercises there.
Almost.
–the poem is looking for some more light
That book is great. I’ve been having a great time doing the exercises, and something, even if it’s just a line, or a skeleton for another poem, always comes out of it.
I really like your poem. I like this: “Now it’s different with the darkness comes sleep and no control over what is said in dreams” measured against the rest of the poem.
Okay Simon, now you have me wanting to check out that book too!
Loved this . .. love the lines about the voice that could persuade a lion to bleet and birds to bark. . .and just the whole poem altogether is so well executed. 
I need to keep learning how to do this, start out in one place and then go somewhere else and end up in still a different sphere.
I want to check out thar book, too! Such great specific detail here, Simon! I don’t have much to say cause it was such a great read
Simon…such a strong beginning! I’m not sure if Jessie agrees, but I felt it could use some trimming on ‘the’
‘with darkness comes sleep
and no control over what is said in dreams.’
I read a blog just yesterday on this, I will try and find the link- using less ‘the’s and that’s…and replacing a variety of words with specifics but not names…
I spent the day following a precocious four year old around trying to read something called ‘The Poetry Anthology’…or something like it…and educational poetry sites on my phone LOL my own nightmare mixed with insomnia
Hey everyone, happy Friday!
Wow, Jessie, your poem just had the most unexpected emotional reaction from me. They often do that, though. Okay, deep breath.
I also read the poem on Wild Goose that you link to and I like it also. I keep thinking of Cartoon Physics by Nick Flynn though. Only because the idea that “cartoon physics” have been brought up, the poems are completely different.
I stilll need to check out your other links.
Well, I didn’t write anything new this past week. I’ve been a bit preoccupied lately, with something important and not pleasant coming up next week. I started re-writing a short story that I actually began like two years ago…..I threw about 90% out and basically started over, so trying to make it into something. It’s a creepy one. But yeah, as far as poetry–nuttin. So I guess I will share with you this one that I wrote a couple weeks ago. I hope I didn’t already share it–I don’t think I did.
Well cut and paste is screwing the lines up. some of the breaks are wrong, but you get the idea.
–and this poem is taking flight
Okay, Val . . I haven’t read this one here before. I think I stopped breathing while reading it. Or maybe my heart stopped for awhile. It was that good. The line breaks were amazing to me, the images and the emotion they poured out, drenched me. And . .. now I don’t want to post mine. haha!
Oh, thanks! I am so glad you did post yours though!
Hope things ease up for you! This poem is simply gorgeous!! My poetry count is low as well and several of mg pending projects are just daunting. Me. You guys are making me so proud today! !!!
Thanks, and thanks!
How cool on both Simon and Val. I wish line breaks and form came to me more easily…jealous here you guys!
Thank you, Jessie, for another great Make Friday Write! Congratulations on having a best of the net winner in Referential! That is so wonderful! And thank you for all the links. I’ve gotten to some but not all yet.
Your poem is amazing. There is really so much said in it, to make me think. About looking the same , but being different . . loved the line about she trims off the tip of one ear, because balance is rare. And the end . . .wow! Evening out her design of tattoos and scars.
I keep plugging away. Most of what I have right now, came from a burst of writing . . .but needs lots of work. The idea is there, but it is always the matter of getting it expressed just right!
–this poem is out digging around
You guys are killing me tonight in the best way! Such awesome awesome work. This flows so expertly. OK tearing up!!!
I love this one Debbie!! It reads great, and is so poignant!
Okay, now I am under pressure LOL Debbie! Wow!
I’m diving under the wine cabinet at my friends house, after shrinking; taking the cheerio hiding behind its leg and rafting in and out of the dust bunny molding
My brain is still drafting this poem, and how the nine year old son came home and told me his mom rushed to clean up since it was my first time over in a long time… since they were much smaller…it was funny when I noticed the cheerio’s and thought “if I were a bug!” …rather than about cleaning practices…if you haven’t had kids, you just never will relate LOL
I’ll try and post something, but if I don’t…be forgiving…I adore you all!
That sounds awesome….and it’s okay, we know you are busy with zombies and cowboys!
I can soooo relate. haha! I loved Val’s comment about you being busy with zombies and cowboys. So here’s my question for you . .. ever written a poem about zombie cowboys?
Take care and be nice to yourself!
I hope this works…my poem bounces on the page…
–the poem is bouncing away
this has a real shel silverstein feel to it
i could actually see the way it was spread out in my inbox since I get all the comments. Yay for adventurous forms!
Yes, I can see him in this
Are there any ‘for children’ poetry ezines? Hmmm, and no I’m not going to start one LOL but maybe someone should!
You are right, there should be! There are print ones for kids
It didn’t work. Poo(h)! Okay imagine words moving on the page like wobbly eyes…
E
I loved it and can see it wobbling in my imagination . .. which kind of wobbles too!
The ending was wonderful!
the words are out of order in the middle, due to placement for the bounce LOL so it may not make any sense…and ‘they’ is suppose to be ‘then’
Oh well…
I really liked it too! My daughter loves Shel Silverstein and I could see her liking this too! Jessie’s right, I saw lots of children’s poetry magazines in the Poet’s Market book.
Instead of multiple comments for each reply I want to make here, I figured I’d put it all in one. Here goes!
Thanks so much Val, I’m really glad you enjoyed the poem. Yes, Wingbeats is marvelous, fair play. I too, have got so much out of it. Worth every penny. I really enjoyed Orbit. So much energy it’s amazing.
Debbie, thank you so much! As for shifting focus, believe me, you already do that in your poems. I love your work, and Cited is no exception. Great portrayal of what the speaker sees versus what others see.
Wow thanks so much Jessie. Yep I strongly recommend the book. It’s got some great exercises in it for group as well as solo work.
E, thank you so much for the advice. I’m going to give that trimming you suggested a go. I’d love to read that blog article if you are able to find it–not to worry if not, of course. Also, hope the insomnia is banished now.
I love this poem. I’m not sure how it looks on the page, but the alternating line lengths sure made it bounce when my screenreader read it. I love the image of scrambled words on ‘paper toast’, too.
Thanks. You’re right, I loved everybody’s poetry this time around. BTW, I’ve been enjoying what you’ve been posting on your blog too. I especially like hearing you recite them on audioboo. I hope you do more.
See you and all you guys tomorrow, right here!
Simon, that is interesting about your screen reader. If you were reading directly from a subscription by email I think the line breaks and such did work!
I will check them out Val in my poetry book.