The arts connect us with feelings and experiences. They amplify the power of our wisdom, but only when we open up to connect. It’s a two way street. To pave it, you have to lay out your raw vulnerable truth and let other people drive all over it. On Saturday, May 7, I’ll be speaking at the Menilfest/Gulf Coast Indie Book Fair on “Sharing Our Truths.” … Continue reading The World Needs Your Truth
This morning as the world is celebrating Resurrection, my thoughts are spiraling on the women of Nigeria, the heroes of Ireland’s Easter Rising and the role of art in elevating our world, our everyday existance. Art’s transformative power has never been more needed. Ephemeral images endure in our hearts’ memory: No matter how subtle: Sometimes we rise by stepping back: By defying expectations: … Continue reading Art Crawl: Resurrection
Those are words the publisher uses to describe Veils, Halos and Shackles, an international anthology of raw, powerful poetry on the oppression and empowerment of women. As a contributor, I have to confess that none of those things had anything to do with my creating the poem that went into it. Writers cannot always describe inspiration, but in this case, I can. When a tumor, … Continue reading Shock, Startle and Inspire
I’m still quite humbled to be included with the acclaimed poets in this anthology. The tagline is, “Words can kill, but words can also heal.” Conceived in response to a brutal gang-rape in India, it features the raw experiences of women the world over. Degradation, stoning, domestic violence and a widow’s ritualized suicide are just a few of the topics brought out by some of … Continue reading A Cover Reveal
From Kasva Press: Words kill…. But words can also heal. The December 2012 rape and murder of Jyoti Singh Pandey in Delhi moved thousands of people to pour into the streets in protest. Veils, Halos, and Shackles: International Poetry on the Oppression and Empowerment of Women was conceived in response to that vicious gang-rape and to the unprecedented public activism for women’s safety that followed … Continue reading Veils, Halos and Shackles
Lucie Smoker 