Poetry and About Poetry

Secure the Shadow by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars “And I, as I have always known myself, am fallen away then from the present tense into reminiscence–the lucid was.” So Claudia Emerson wrote in this fine collection published in 2012, just a few short years before she did indeed become the “was” no longer lucid. Secure the Shadows is her way of taking stills of what has died, her father, animals, and her future self, now lost to us forever, except in the wonderful poetry she left behind. Her eloquence is in the exact word and image. Her emotion is never untrue but always real—and measured just enough to be contained within those words and images. Emerson’s poetry is very personal and autobiographical—but in her experience we read ourselves and indeed the universal human experience. Most of the great poets writing today are women. It is sad that we lost this one so very early in her life and with so much more we wish we could hav...

Secure the Shadow by Claudia Emerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars "And I, as I have always known myself, am fallen away then from the present tense into reminiscence--the lucid was." So Claudia Emerson wrote in this fine collection published in 2012, just a few short years before she did indeed become the "was" no longer lucid. Secure the Shadows is her way of taking stills of what has died, her father, animals, and her future self, now lost to us forever, except in the wonderful poetry she left behind. Her eloquence is in the exact word and image. Her emotion is never untrue but always real---and measured just enough to be contained within those words and images. Emerson's poetry is very personal and autobiographical---but in her experience we read ourselves and indeed the universal human experience. Most of the great poets writing today are women. It is sad that we lost this one so very early in her life and with so much more we wish we could have heard from her...

Dark Matter Journal will publish my poem “She Asks Me Inside” in January 2017

Dark Matter Journal will publish my poem "She Asks Me Inside" in January 2017 

Reading “is one of the few things you can do alone that can make you feel less alone.” Will Schwalbe

Vine Leaves Literary Journal in Australia has accepted 4 of my poems for its final issue in Spring 2017

Vine Leaves Literary Journal in Australia has accepted 4 of my poems for its final issue in Spring 2017 

“If you’re the only one taking your work seriously, you can do whatever you want. If no one expects anything from you, you can do whatever you want. If you’re underestimated, then potential is your greatest asset. Your art could be anything and everything. Your writing could be about anything and everything. No one expects a certain style or outlook.” –  Josh Spilker 

" If you’re the only one taking your work seriously, you can do whatever you want. If no one expects anything from you, you can do whatever you want. If you’re underestimated, then potential is your greatest asset. Your art could be anything and everything. Your writing could be about anything and everything. No one expects a certain style or outlook." -  Josh Spilker 

The latest Issue of The Hurricane Review includes my poem “Formulary”

The latest Issue of The Hurricane Review includes my poem "Formulary"

An anthology by Into the Void contains 2 of my poems and supports a good cause.

An anthology by Into the Void contains 2 of my poems and supports a good cause.

Latest print issue of Literature Today is on sale until Dec. 25 & contains my poem “The Nostalgia of Frisbees” (also in  Kindle edition )

Latest print issue of Literature Today is on sale until Dec. 25 & contains my poem "The Nostalgia of Frisbees" (also in  Kindle edition )

Dublin-based Into the Void has accepted 2 of my poems for publication in an upcoming anthology.

Dublin-based Into the Void has accepted 2 of my poems for publication in an upcoming anthology. 

Four of my poems are featured in the inaugural issue of Light: A Journal of Photography & Poetry . Audios of my readings are included in the online edition.

Four of my poems are featured in the inaugural issue of Light: A Journal of Photography & Poetry . Audios of my readings are included in the online edition.