Poetry On The Porch

I had the honor of attending 'Poetry On The Porch' at the Alice Paul Institute, organized by Erika Kelly, a poet I met three or four years ago through blogging. She began working with me on my writing as an editor. Then we began to appear in local circles together. She is a wonderful writer in her own right and I am glad to be able to support her. Erika organizes this event-

National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern. We hope to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself in the many places where it is practiced and appreciated.

The Alice Paul Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It was founded in 1984 by a group of dedicated volunteers to commemorate the centennial of Alice Paul's 1885 birth and to further her legacy. The organization was operated by volunteers for more than a decade. Today, four staff members, as well as volunteers, oversee the daily business and special events at Paulsdale.

After Annmarie Lockhart, Joanie DiMartino, Paloma Amar, and Erika Kelly read I was given the chance to read. I chose a few new poems but decided to read a poem I had written when I was only 15 years old. A memory that stood out in my head still to this day, and had revised it a few times, but the original just works. Most of our mothers and grandmothers did not use dried seasonings, nor did we own any bottles. They used only fresh ingredients bought from the market, or used what they had on hand. It occurred to me my mom seasoned her food with 'Depression', something she suffered from her whole life, up until she passed away.

(Poems are removed after three days...)

Hello Again!

Yes, I have been busy. this is Annmarie Lockhart of Vox Poetica Poetry and Publishing (my newest poem 'Waiting' and 'Arch' were published on her site) helping me man the table- checking ID's for wine sales, so the other guys could have a break. Do I look sunburned- oh hell yes I am. I  had sun screen on, but it became over cast and this is not a good combination for a 'ghost white fair skin girl' like me.

I will be back this next week with poetry, photos and stories. WAMPP Festival is over until October 23rd at the winery and a few fundraiser parties people are throwing. Oh how I am ready to get back to the writing, and a little more serious about working out with Brian, my gym trainer- he let me have two weeks off to run around and get things together.

Oh and I have some news, I will upload video this weekend of my new group- Red Dashboard. Musician friends Eli and Flora are doing music with my writing in the recording studio, with my reading. Twice we have performed in front of the public and they really seem like what we are doing, so we will officially begin next week working on new material, and a CD release. Poor Annmarie had to be part of my performance art last Saturday when I did a piece called 'Summer Kiss'- but you will see that in the video. We had fun, oh what fun...sultry fun!

Hope all is well with you, and I am starting to have some free time to catch up with you all! Miss ya'll! I am ready for our trip to Spain too...life is good, hope yours is good too! Hugs to everyone!

Arch & MIA

I really have missed coming over here and posting my writing. I miss Friday Shoot Out. I miss so many things, but sometimes we have to move on to things to help improve our inner self. I am only posting once a week to set aside time for my busy schedule in the working world! Yes, it feels good to work out and be in the kitchen again on a regular basis, but I still miss things...like Toon Guy...and...Farmlady...so many of you!

I miss Dallas, my home, I miss St. Louis my second home where I lived for almost two years with my son after my father and mother passed in '04. I worked as a chef running a Bed & Breakfast kitchen off Grand, and at night ran an ethnic restaurant as manager and chef. Sometimes bartender if we were really busy on the weekends. Down in the basement we had bands come and play. Before I started there was Open Mic down there, but then people were not buying food or drinks, so the owner shut it down.

This is when I began to miss the scene and began writing again. I had only written one poem since Anelisa passed in '00, and it was hard. Now I am writing on a regular basis, learning from other poets, and getting published. I am also mentoring poets in Dallas now, to help keep the Open Mic scene alive for a few people down there.

Sometime tonight on Vox Poetica, Annmarie Lockhart/Publisher, on 'Today's Words' (and then 'Poemblog'; its permanent place) one of my new pieces will go up, officially published, and you can hear me read it and talk about its moving existence which was a doorway into my future. Arch is an obvious name and will be in my book 365DaysXTen due out March 1st next year.