As a white person, I've always felt a bit awkward writing about race and racism, but I've also been drawn to the subject. Poet Tiana Clark recently tweeted an excerpt from the essay Forging New Centers: Marginal Voices in Contemporary Poetry by Jodie Kahan. Here's what Tiana shared, quoting Kaveh Akbar: … [Read more...]
Scene Suggestion for Yet Another Hallmark Christmas Movie
December 19, 2017 By
Yes, Hallmark Christmas movies are predictable and sentimental—but aren't many aspects of the holidays? After what might've been a few too many nights on the Hallmark Channel last season, I wrote this poem inspired by the real-life man in my kitchen every morning. And then I helped him make sausage balls with our time-tested recipe below. … [Read more...]
Dorothy Jones Cantrell, Colonial Feminist Troublemaker
October 5, 2017 By Leave a Comment
To put a spin on a famous quote*, well-behaved women seldom inspire poetry. So meet Dorothy Jones! Dorothy was a Welsh girl of 10 when she came to the American colonies with her family in 1682. Their voyage, on a ship called Submission, was rough, and another child on board died during a storm. Maybe that experience gave Dorothy a "carpe diem" attitude. She grew into a lively young woman who married Richard Cantrell, a Philadelphia bricklayer, "out of church." In other words, she was Quaker, … [Read more...]
Finding connection at Poetry in the Boro
June 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment
May was our 10th month for Poetry in the Boro, and I continue to be amazed and gratified at the enthusiasm of our featured poets, our regulars at the open mic, our regulars in the audience, MTSU Write, and our venues like The Green Dragon Public House. … [Read more...]
Metaphor, otherwise known as pretend
May 15, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Mother's Day lasts all week, right? It's going to in our family this year, since today (the day after Mother's Day) I have a poem dedicated to my mom newly published by Mothers Always Write. Read "First Muse" … [Read more...]
