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 2 Comments
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...]
We might as well be on the moon or Mars
April 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment
I'm delighted to have a new poem included in Parks & Points' tribute to National Poetry Month, inspired by a trip my sweetie and I took to Yellowstone in 2015. Read "On This Uncertain Earth" … [Read more...]
In a city that loves the taste of marshmallow pies
January 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment
I'm honored to have my poem "As the Story Goes" leading Issue 5 of Forage Poetry Journal on the poetry of personal myth. My poem is inspired by and roughly modeled after Vandana Khanna's lovely poem "Insignificant Beginnings," … [Read more...]
In the dark may you see all you need
January 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Today I'm glad to have two new poems online in the O Winter! issue of The Wild Word. I wrote both of these poems during my recent residency at Rivendell Writers Colony, where I was inspired by winter walks in the woods and great conversations with fellow residents. … [Read more...]
Poetry in the Boro: Featured Readings, Open Mic, Community
July 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The poetry scene in the greater Nashville area is incredible. I'm convinced a poetry addict can find an event or two to attend almost every night of the week. But you know what else can be incredible? Nashville area traffic. For those of us who live outside Davidson County, getting to and from events in Nashville is an exercise in unpredictability. One day you can do it in 35 minutes; … [Read more...]
Talking Social Media at Collective Impact
June 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
I'm excited to be leading four sessions at Collective Impact, the conference of the Tennessee Arts Commission, coming up in Murfreesboro June 7-10th. Three of those sessions will be related to making the most of your social media presence as an artist, educator, arts organization, or other constituent in the arts community. … [Read more...]
