Heads up! Thomas Park is having his book launch at Robinson Ferry Restaurant on Friday, Sept. 23 starting at 7:30. I can hardly wait for this historic event! It’s gonna be a good one!
Category: Poetry
LOOKING FOR ‘CUDA BROWN by Thomas Park- book review
This collection of extraordinary poems tells the story of vivid, African-American characters who have passed through the life of the author in a small, rural town in the South. Sometimes they entertain and sometimes salty tears burst, overflowing the eyelid wells, for the terrible tragedy of a life. Park has reached deep into his soul to let you know that these people lived and died and mattered, without any judgment from him. If these characters were not noticed in life, they will remain with the reader for a long, lingering time.
In all his honesty, Park reports on events that happened . . . and didn’t happen. When dreams blossomed with hope for a community and were taken away leaving disappointment for many who worked hard, giving their all, to bring about ideal living. The author exudes love of his community. He shows this caring by continuing to encourage the arts, the love of words and writing to anyone who wants to participate. I love this book.
MYSTICAL AVEBURY, ENGLAND
Poetry from Life & Labyrinth: Continue reading “MYSTICAL AVEBURY, ENGLAND”
DANVILLE, VA BOOK FAIR FESTIVAL coming up. . . .
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for Saturday, Sept. 24th! A BOOK FAIR FESTIVAL at A Brewed Awakening Coffee& Book Shop, 610 Craghead St. Danville, VA. Please come out and say “hello”. !0 am to 2 pm on the sidewalks. Come hungry for books and for some good foods! The event is hosted by Bonnie & John Hale. They host a BOOK FAIR FESTIVAL twice a year, spring & fall.
I’ll be there with books in hand, enjoying the day, talking about ghosts and whatever subjects come up. COME OUT AND SEE WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!
LOVING WHAT I DO
LOVING WHAT I DO
Arlene Sandra Bice
Finishing my memoir-interviewing for the next ghostly book-reaching for submissions for this year’s anthology-seeking recipes for the cookbook, accepting stories for the grandmother’s book-writing lesson plans for the writers’ groups-formatting a teaching program-planning a new poetry book-publishing books for others!
STOP!
It’s about to drive me over the edge
there are not enough hours in the day, yet
I love what I do
I
cannot give up
cooking/eating
time with friends
reading
sleeping
I
will not give up
yoga
meditation
Tai Chai Chih
volunteer work
I love what I do
I’m full
of gratitude for it
thankful for it
so there is no answer
I just love what I do.
A LONELY LEAF IN SNOW
Arlene Sandra Bice 2016.1.26
How is it, when I step out the day after
when everything is still covered by 6 inches
of snow
this solitary leaf
dressed in autumn colors
lays above it all
How does that happen on this day
it sinks into the wet stuff uncovered
by snow
where has it come from
this lonely leaf
bold to be alone
How is it making a mark in this life
leaving an imprint when I pick it up
the snow
doesn’t touch the veins or the tips
yet lays everywhere else
I cannot put it down
the leaf comes inside with me.
SNOW & READING. . .
If you are planning to cozy up with a good book after a day of creating snow sculptures, here is a brief excerpt from THE AFTERNOON CROWD.
THE HORSEY SET
Arlene S. Bice © 2016.1.24.
they came with bruised, calloused hands coarser than sandpaper
to lift a shot of whiskey chased by a cold mug of beer, a reward
for hard work done out in the elements, thanks not given, except
what they gave themselves; not a lot of time to linger; even on
Christmas Day horses had regular schedules to keep and these
workers were there to keep ‘em
they came from all parts of the country, from Canada, and the
Caribbean, landed here in the center of New Jersey, to work on
one particular horse farm or another; how did they find us,
I wondered
some from the west or mid-west; wasn’t that a
reversal of history?
They came as owners
foremen
trainers
drivers
jockeys
walkers
water boys
stable hands
more on the list
of guys & gals
hard working
no shifting duties
either you were good
carrying your own weight or you were out
the owners came more often in the evening, for dinner
when the daytime bar folks did not; or they came for a
few celebratory drinks after the races were over
one trainer/owner
who I happened to like above others
usually a pleasant fellow
a common sense guy
never nasty or stupid
always came in alone;
this day he came in, dragging
he carried the look of the lonely on him
I knew he was married and I knew not happily
and I knew this day that his trouble was the
wife, not the horses;
a man has a certain look about him when it is
a woman that weighs on his mind; my heart
went out to him as my ears just listened, that
was all he wanted and couldn’t get anywhere
else to go along with his shot and beer
a year later, when he came in our positions were
reversed;
“good god, you look terrible!” he said, “what’s
happened to you?’ etc. etc. etc.
SNOW, NO HYPE, JUST BEAUTY
It’s been a few days now, that we have been snowed in. Isn’t it lovely? Once you know you can’t get to the workplace, you can relax and enjoy it. I hope you have. Here is a little poem that reflects how I learned to accept what Mother Nature sends to us, since I moved to the forests of North Carolina.
Arlene S. Bice © 2016.1.22.
It was only last year
the nine years previous, too
when I looked at the sky to know
that it was going to snow
and when I woke
the ground covered in white
peace blanketed the entire day
lovely to spend it this way
no need to run out
for eggs, bacon, and bread
the fridge is full, pantry, too
no emergencies to do
so I can use the day
with music thru the house
making biscuits, lots of butter
writing words to softly mutter
a day of staying in
enjoying it without the stress
just gazing out the window
reading, singing, about snow
without the TV hype
the day shows up different
positive, homey, no employ
a day of beauty to enjoy.
ATTENTION ALL WRITERS
WARREN ARTISTS’ MARKET
2014 & 2015 ANTHOLOGY
SEEKING SUBMISSIONS FOR 2016 ANTHOLOGY
The Warren County Anthology (working title) submissions considered are: poetry, and personal impression. Only one prose piece will be accepted per writer; the maximum is 1500 words per piece. You may submit up to 3 poems; maximum-30 lines per poem. Include a bio up to 75 words. Submissions must meet our guidelines to be accepted, include a bio.
Write about anything relating to Warren County, North Carolina i.e. about your living here, having family here, visited here, been impressed by reading about it, or seeing it through the eyes of another.
The anthology is open to all writers. Place your contact information in the upper left hand corner of each page submitted. Name, address, and email.
Deadline for submissions is April 30, 2016. You will be notified of acceptance by June 30. The anthology will be available for purchase by Nov. 15, 2016.
Mail your submissions and inquiries to: haywoodpark@yahoo.com or arlenebice1633@gmail.com
The Warren Artists’ Market; Arlene Bice, Thomas Park, Sterling Cheston, Vernita (Nana Vee) Terry.
GREETING CARDS SAVED IN POETRY
It’s time for greeting cards to be sent out. It matters not which holiday you celebrate; Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Chanukah, Happy New Year, and maybe others that I am unfamiliar. I save most of the cards I receive (all with the hand-painted envelopes) and enjoy them again later. . . maybe even years later. Here is my take on it all.
Greeting cards from long ago
written by a familiar hand
declaring feelings of
someone now gone
Cards with a personal note
wonderful to read years later
encouraging, reassuring
remembering dear friendships
Note cards with thank you
sent for some little thing
or maybe some thing big
a long-forgotten thoughtfulness
Hand-made cards sent
designed with loving care
expressly with me in mind
treasures to keep forever
Cards spark memories
always dear, loving, caring
before good times turn to bad
or in times of sorrow, so sad
I remove cards from the box
sketch the graphics
into my daily journal
re-living a happy moment
And then there is Celeste
who paints the envelope
to match the card inside
giving the carrier some cheer
and me over and over again
It isn’t whether the cards are large
fancy, or expensive
it’s always, it’s the words
written from the heart
communicating sentiment