Poetry Friday: On my Skull

Creeping across my 

mind, mortality tip taps,

and I still can smile. 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2011

Poetry Friday: "A Fond Farewell" by Christie Waldron

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and my dear friend Christie, I'm reposting her poem she wrote the night before her bilateral mastectomy.

A Fond Farewell

At twelve you embarrassed me. I wanted to wish you away.

(I had grown up with brothers, after all, and wanted to go shirtless forever!)

But that was before.

Before I knew how fun it was to actually fill a bikini top. :-)

Before I knew how fun it was to bra shop. (NOT!)

Before I knew that when a woman sets out to lose weight, it usually starts with the boobs.

Before I was married.

Before I knew what it meant to be blessed with a body part that could actually sustain life.

Before I knew that someday I'd lose you.

And so, on this mastectomy eve, I will say "Thank You."
Thank you for appearing out of nowhere that summer before 6th grade.
Thank you for holding up my strapless wedding dress.

Thank you for faithfully producing life-sustaining, fat-roly-thigh nourishment to my three precious babies.

Thank you for pointing the way all these years. (Hahaha, I crack me up!))

Most recently, thank you for showing me what gravity actually looks like.

Thank you.
Though you never defined me, you did accent me.

I will miss you.

Poetry Friday: p*tag

Love, love, love this poetic post by Janet and Sylvia that Cynthia Leitich Smith was kind enough to post. Here it is again from her site. Happy Poetry Friday, everyone!

By Sylvia Vardell and Janet S. Wong
Photos by Sylvia Vardell

Who did we make P*TAG for?

P*TAG is for a girl who, like Marilyn Singer, sees a pier and hears "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay";

Or for a boy like Betsy Franco’s Ovid, who might drive on the beach some night thinking about a girl with piercings;

for Allan Wolf, who burps up kittens;

for Naomi Shihab Nye, who says:

            What if, instead of war,

            we shared our buckets

            of wind and worry?

P*TAG is for you if you are tired of aunts and uncles forever asking what you want to be when you grow up (David L. Harrison);

and for you if you can look at a crowd and see “spirits...being extracted from their bodies” (Lorie Ann Grover).

What are your wishes? Heidi Mordhorst asks: “What if there were a Come-True Tree somewhere?”

Do you have secrets?

           

            Random Buddhist manifestos.

            Tattoo designs.

            Erotic poetry.

                        (Tracie Vaughn Zimmer has mystery in her blood.)

P*TAG wants you to fall in love with a guitar player. (Kathi Appelt)

And:

           

            If some night you walk down a street

            so deep inside a chorus of sad voices

            that you cannot--simply can’t--look up,

            and it all seems impossible,

            . . .

            Take another step,

                 a slow step, another,

                        another,

                                    and another.

                                           (Helen Frost)

Play along with p*tag:

http://teenpoetrytagtime.blogspot.com

Read more about it:

www.PoetryTagTime.com

Buy it here:

Nook version: http://bit.ly/ncGiqo

Kindle version:http://amzn.to/nNsWPs

(also in the iTunes store)

Poetry Friday: Double Life

Double Life

Rising in darkness,

my soul glows inside today

lit blue by others.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2011

To Be Heard: Best Documentary of the Year, NYT

So much to say about this documentary To Be Heard. Justina Chen and I were privileged to be asked to screen the film and offer comments awhile back. It was a blast and very much like critiquing a novel. We felt at home with the producers and other guests as we dissected and discussed the early work.

The film was completed and eventually, we were guests at the Seattle Film Festival where the documentary ended up sweeping the awards. As the above poster shows, it's done the same in many cities. Here I am with Pearl, one of the three featured poets in the documentary. She's a resilient powerhouse! 

And now The New York Times just named To Be Heard the best documentary of the year! 

"Ultimately, though, the intimacy of the portraiture is so raw that it transcends sociology. These students — Anthony Pittman, Pearl Quick and Karina Sanchez — are three of the most authentic and complex young adults you’ll find in any film this year. And each is a genuinely great writer: technically accomplished and emotionally overwhelming. They aren’t just the subjects of “To Be Heard.” They’re its stars."

To Be Heard will be playing in New York City from 10/12 through 10/18 at the IFC theater and in Beverly Hills from 11/4 through 11/10 at the Laemmle Music Hall theater. If you are nearby, GO! 

Courageous Creativity: Joy in the Midst of Trial

I was graciously invited to contribute to Flying Chickadee's zine, Courageous Creativity, in the month of October. In their words:

"Through this zine we present stories of courage and creativity sourced from people like you and me, living, working, being courageously creative and changing themselves and others in our community. Our writers come from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life - they are small business owners, state employees, corporate CEOs, non-profit founders and volunteers, professionals, scientists, sociologists, artists, activists, mothers and fathers, and friends." 

The editor was kind to inquire about readergirlz and my personal life. My essay is entitled "Joy in the Midst of Trial." Take a look! The entire zine is created with such beautiful quality. Here is their Facebook page, as well. I know you will be uplifted by these "transcultural stories of courage, creativity and change!" 

Poetry Friday: Unmasked

Unmasked

Maybe this mask is

not a skin I put on but

a revelation.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2011