Burying the Dead Twice

gum tree

I am honored and thrilled to share my latest published essay Burying the Dead Twice. https://underthegumtree.com/

The writers, artists and photographers featured in Under the Gum Tree are exceptionally talented, and I am humbled to be featured among them. This volume is breathtaking, the layouts sublime. Order your copy today. Under the Gum Tree is worthy of coffee-table real estate:)

Those of us living on earth generously acknowledge that no good work is created in isolation. To this end,  I give a shout out to my dear friend and fellow writer, Deb Levy, for her 1,000 reads and sage suggedits (as we kindly call them).  I also give great thanks to Under the Gum Tree’s fabulous editor, Dorothy Rice. Dorothy’s editing vision transported this piece to a more intense and clear-storied place.

Thank you,
am:)

It’s National Poetry Month!

Well, my friends – I stopped advertising my illustrated poetry collection a year after it came out. Like so many of us, I’m not great at self-promotion. Since we’re stuck between walls right now, I’ve adopted a devil-may-care attitude. At least for the moment😊

Just click on the pic or here and it flies you to Amazon for the ebook version and whatever remains of the printed version. (My book also rests on this blog’s first page) The bulk of printed books are sitting in boxes in my closet. My mother and I were planning to joyously peddle them at fall festivals. I haven’t had the heart to go at without her, though my lovely daughter has volunteered.

Once we all get through this insane period in time, and we will, I’ll peddle away come Autumn. ❤️

Stay safe🙏
Thanks and prayers to all those leaving the safety of their walls to help others. Thanks to those going to jobs that keep our world moving… Thank you and stay safe.

Blue Humor

So very honored to have “Blue Humor” published in The Stillwater Review

“The journal maintains a dedication to the lyric poem—musicality at the heart of it, the delicate ideas at work in the layers. Since that time our journal has published poets like Michael Waters, Judith Vollmer, Paul Genega, Adele Kenny, Robert Mitchell, J.C. Todd, Chuck Tripi, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Diane Lockward, Robert Carnevale, Jessica deKoninck, Edwin Romond, Lois Marie Harrod, and Roberto Carlos Garcia.”

what the hell did I make a book for

I created the print version in 2016, don’t really advertise it much, what the hell did I do this for? never about the $, maybe about the pride – the ebook came out in 2017. I gotta continue try giving it wings like the monarch – flies away🦋then returns –

Since creating the ebook version, I had the bulk of the print books sent to my home – my mom and I were planning to have a grand  time peddling, love of the monster, at fab autumn-fests throughout the Hudson Valley. Since my beautiful mom had a stroke – plans have changed. For now boxes will remain in my closet ’til my heart cheers.

the buck moon

I’m so very thrilled that a new poem of mine, the buck moon, was included in this wonderful magazine!
Into the Void, is available in both print and digital form.

Included in ‘Nine New Lit Mags You Need to Read’ as one of “nine new journals that appeared on the scene within the past couple of years and have already made their mark on the literary landscape” in the November/December 2016 Issue of Poets & Writers.”

the buck moon

there is a moon where newness emerges
from above the forward brow line
 placid black almond eyes
antlers and smooth skin twist
against harder things
strip away velvet underpinnings 

wrap the chilled arms of night air
forest canopy dulling shadow
 dancing silhouettes vague 
 and 
 slippery
vulnerable newness pressed to pounding chests
no light
 forecasting the future
suckle the dark together
escape 

 alone

new piece published, uneven candles, in Red Fez!

very excited to have my piece, uneven candles, published in Red Fez!
two candles flicker on my broken glass tabletop
duct tape challenges pieces from splitting apart
an out-of-control combine should they crack more
things will separate as they will
two sides, uneven halves
like the burning flames
in my candle jars
one new, its scent overpowering
the other nearly used up giving light to my selfish pen
lopsided breasts those candles
same purpose
the spent candle jar is mucked with wax residue
no easy task to clean for repurposing
when I have so many other jars in my home
loaded with containers, pots, dishes
from house moves
from other loved ones’ house moves
attics, basements crammed up with crap
and an inability to say ‘no’ to anyone
who adores their crap
just not in their home
in mine

illustration drawn a few years back using marker, prisma pencils, and good old crayola crayons

deliciously dark

DS Levy is one of those brave writers who pens the heart darkly. She transports you to uncomfortable places and makes you think, sometimes cry. This isn’t sweet and saucy fare. A Binary Heart is brutal emotion, honestly formed.
Just got my copy today!

festooned chaos

since Halloween is near and my soon-to-be printed (yea) book
is due mid-December or earlier (yea)
I’m posting the only verse in love of the monster
that pays direct homage to this most wicked and deliciously sweet celebrationfestooned-chaos-text-color

love of the monster, is a black and white illustrated book
color was added here to protect the innocent;)

Job Box

Long ago
letters were thoughtless
compartmentalized
in walls of wood
lined in metal
alone as they were
dull

strung together
blossomed
broad thoughts
narrow concepts
soft guilt
hard passion

letters
singular
sideways upside down
gathering residue
together
prescient

wipe clean
return home
job box
alone again
’til evenings events
rally
once more
job boxMay you dream of beautiful transient letters making gorgeous journeys…

Above: Long ago, individual metal letters for traditional typesetting were kept organized in job boxes. The boxes were actually drawers that slid into a larger metal cabinet. Today, these boxes are considered antiques. I was given a plain wooden job box in exchange for a painting I did for someone. I painted the box and added my kiddies plastic toys, when they no longer had need of them. 🙂