THIS BLOG IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. PLEASE ENJOY WHAT IS HERE, AND DO LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WISH. NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW POET LAUREATE IS CATHY SMITH BOWERS. SHE WILL SOON HAVE HER OWN WEBSITE THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA ARTS COUNCIL SITE. I WILL BE SHIFTING MY ATTENTION TO HERE, WHERE I AM, (SEE SIDEBAR)USING IT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO WRITERS WHOSE WORK DESERVES ATTENTION. I INVITE YOU TO VISIT ME THERE.

For a video of the installation ceremony, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xAk6fOzaNE.

HERE, WHERE I AM HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE 30 BEST POETRY BLOGS.

How a Poem Happens: http://www.howapoemhappens.blogspot.com/

Go to http://www.yourdailypoem.com/, managed with finesse by Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, who says, "Our intent is to make visitors to Your Daily Poem aware of the joy and diversity of poetry."

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Redheaded Stepchild e-zine



(When Redheads Take the Dance Floor, by Duane Kirby Jensen)

The new issue of Redheaded Stepchild is out---or I should say up. And it's well worth a click on the link.(http://www.redheadedmag.com)
One reason this zine is so good may be because it has our own Malaika King Albrecht as one of its founders and editors. Having Eric Helms as Associate Editor doesn't hurt either! Founding a zine for rejected poems was a brilliant idea, and I was honored to have two of my rejects published in the inaugural issue.

The Spring '09 issue provides an array of intriguing poetry. The NC poets included are Pat Riviere-Seel, Alex Grant, and Richard Krawiec. I was immediately caught up in Krawiec's poem. Let it be a teaser, despite subject, to go visit this zine's website.

Cancer

My mother was first,
a golf ball lump
blocking her throat.
The doctors claimed
it was allergy, the flu
until my brother screamed
"She can't breathe,"
and then they found it,
ambulanced her
at midnight
to Mass General
where a surgeon slit
a grotesque smile
from ear to ear
to open her throat,
remove the tumor
lymph nodes
her voice.

Ten years later
I drive my father
on his daily journey
for six weeks
to the clinic
where they dose
his prostate
with radiation.

The distant son,
I change my schedule
book flights
rush myself, my
prayers, beg God
to let them live
so I can hate
them some more,
hate myself,
the person I've become
running so hard
from them
that I run
smack into
their own skins.



Richard Krawiec has published 2 novels, a story collection, 4 plays and a poetry chapbook Breakdown (Main Street Rag). His poems and stories have appeared in magazines such as Shenandoah, Sou'wester, Witness, Many
Mountains Moving, and elsewhere. He has won fellowships from the NEA and the NC Arts Council.His website is http://home.mindspring.com/~rkwriter.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Love Richard's poem. Also love Redheaded Stepchild.

Kelsey the Ewok said...

I second Maureen and would also like to say I wish you luck after your time as our Poet Laureate is over.

~Kelsey =]

Kathryn Stripling Byer said...

Thank you Maureen and Kelsey. I'm hoping to keep poetic channels open in retirement! The blog will still be blogging! K.