Poetry and About Poetry

Tales from the House of Vasquez by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland My rating: 5 of 5 stars In “Tales from the House of Vasquez,” Raquel Vasquez Gilliland melds autobiography with myth and fairy tale to create a feminist history of the women of her family and her personal crisis–and an archetype of the human. At times surreal, at times poignantly real, these poems dance with energy and hope in the face of death and the oppression of the male priests of the mundane and spiritless “real” world. In the end, the feminine wins by persisting in seeing with “all four eyes…opened like stars.” View all my reviews

Tales from the House of Vasquez by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland My rating: 5 of 5 stars In "Tales from the House of Vasquez," Raquel Vasquez Gilliland melds autobiography with myth and fairy tale to create a feminist history of the women of her family and her personal crisis--and an archetype of the human. At times surreal, at times poignantly real, these poems dance with energy and hope in the face of death and the oppression of the male priests of the mundane and spiritless "real" world. In the end, the feminine wins by persisting in seeing with "all four eyes...opened like stars." View all my reviews

Prolific Press will publish my chapbook, Final Inventory , a collection of poems about my mother, her death, and my mourning and remembering her. Thank you Glenn Lyvers and the staff at Prolific.

Prolific Press  will publish my chapbook,  Final Inventory , a collection of poems about my mother, her death, and my mourning and remembering her. Thank you Glenn Lyvers and the staff at Prolific.

Prolific Press will publish my chapbook, Final Inventory , a collection of poems about my mother, her death, and my mourning and remembering her. Thank you Glenn Lyvers and the staff at Prolific.

The use of humility words, like modesty, fell by 52 percent over the 20th century. Compassion words, like kindness, dropped by 56 percent. Gratitude words, like thankfulness, declined by 49 percent. And courage words, like bravery, plunged by 66 percent. — Read on theweek.com/articles/791795/death-sacred-speech

The good news is more younger people are reading poetry. Study finds fiction reading down, poetry up in US – Newspaper – DAWN.COM — Read on www.dawn.com/news/1432643

The Poetry Quarterly has accepted a second poem of mine for their next issue. “Sewing” is loosely based on a memory of my grandmother. In addition, two of my poems have been lister as contenders for PQ’s 2018 Rebecca Lard Award.

The Poetry Quarterly has accepted a second poem of mine for their next issue. "Sewing" is loosely based on a memory of my grandmother.  In addition, two of my poems have been lister as contenders for PQ's 2018 Rebecca Lard Award.

The Northern Region of the Poetry Society of Virginia is cohosting a poetry reading with Germanna Community College open to the public, October 25 4 to 6 p.m. I am one of the scheduled poets reading. After scheduled poets read, there will be an open mic opportunity. www.facebook.com/events/258085268176048/

Vine Leaves Literary Journal ’s coffee table collection including several of my poems is on sale at Amazon.

Vine Leaves Literary Journal ’s coffee table collection including several of my poems is on sale at Amazon.

My poem “ The Sky Ungainly ” is now published online at Plum Tree Tavern. You ca read it  HERE .

My poem " The Sky Ungainly " is now published online at Plum Tree Tavern. You ca read it HERE .

High Flight John Gillespie Magee, Jr Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, –and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of –Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air… Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew — And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

High Flight John Gillespie Magee, Jr Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew -- And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.