The First Page
Saturday, July 18th, 2009Today I am void of anxiety and the words are seeming to flow better. So, I finished the rough draft of my first page.
Archive for the ‘Lagniappe’ Category
A Normal Day
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009Last night, I dreamed about dating Stephen Colbert. It was sexy in a very farcical kind-of way. I was disappointed that we didn’t make love.
I am not a dork.
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009The studio formerly known as “my yoga studio” which is certainly now someone else’s yoga studio has a cute little framed picture of a dancing bear above the toilet. I don’t usually go for the dancing-bear-in-frame motif, but above this this particular teddy (one might have once referred to it as “my teddy”) are the words: Remember to use positive affirmations. I am not a dork is not one of them.
I always chuckled at this little ha-ha because “I am not a dork” is my kind of affirmation. Along with: I am not a loser. I am not a cow. And, I am not destined to be another slug popped and gutted under the iron heel of mediocrity.
When I try on phrases such as: I am hip. I am sexy. I am both intelligent and talented and am a virtual giant of creativity. I just sound like a fraud.
(Yeah, I should also try on the phrase “Even though I’m a language arts teacher, I don’t know a good goddamn about grammar.” Yes, that explains the odd jumble of colons and periods and the lack of quotation marks or whatever.)
55 Word Story
Saturday, March 28th, 2009So, I’ve been staying with some friends. Silas and I. It has been difficult, but I couldn’t stand living in the demolition zone any longer. It is not a separation from Paul as much as it is a separation from the house. I had become so depressed that I lifting myself from the bed was becoming impossible. Mascara a herculean effort. Paul is taking this time to put our home back together and I hope he does it quickly.
In the meantime, I have been listening to a collection of 55 word short stories about love and death. The collection itself is not really very good. But, the idea was inspiring. Since, I don’t have too much to give, 55 words seemed managable. (more…)
The First of Many Origami Love Notes
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008New Year’s Resolution: Instead of resolving to lose more pounds, to submit more essays, to clean more surfaces to an unhealthy shine, I am here resolving to unearth the passion and wonder and trust and love that used to flow so easily and so readily between my husband and me. I am committing to falling back in love.
Origami Love Note #1 (written with a quill pen on a folded double heart)
My Dearest Paul,
Today I found– in the bottom of a box, in the bottom of a closet– some pictures of us from a time when we were just starting out: carefree and full of wonder. It was during these times that we were so certain that we were meant for one another– when we walked through forests, through the street of New Orleans, through a crowded dance floor in amazement and awe that we’d actually found true love.
I thought that you were the very Universe. When I looked in your eyes, I found God.
Will we ever find those times again? It seems like eons since I have even looked in your eyes, swayed with my head rested on your shoulder. Will we ever be so certain and full of wonder?
I hope with this first note that we begin to discover that wonder all over again!
With much hope and love,
Emily
A Companion to the Companion Poem (Revised)
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008Ah, I sit here, Witch Doctor of words. Shaman of syllables. Lexical mad woman. I have, like all of the word smith syntactical Frankenstein’s before me, added a bit of flesh, maybe some skin, a tuft of hair here and there, to the naked, skeletal, two-stanzed deal that I posted a few days ago. Yes, I am asking you, dear reader, to subject yourself to another of my poems. I hope I fail to waste your precious time; to disappoint. And, as always, you are invited to give your opinion. (If your opinion is good. Just kidding.)
When the Words Come (the skeleton of a companion poem)
Thursday, June 5th, 2008Drifting off to sleep,
the words come.
Also while driving,
or in the shower.
Whenever it may be inconvenient
to hold a pen and paper.
Yes,
I have written
while speeding down the Interstate,
letting my hand do its magic
while my eyes
keep a steady rhythm
from the rearview mirror
to the road.
I’ve started adding bits and pieces to this poem. Bits about soldiers, mouths filled with spit and holler, hearts hustled by adrenaline. Pieces about horseflys buzzing around my temples. Segments about shampoo slipping painfully into my eyes. But, as I have said, I am only a mediocre poet. All that remains, at this moment, is this skeleton. Any suggestions?
A Poem
Monday, June 2nd, 2008I wrote this poem in one go and I’m just going to submit it to a bunch of places. Just to see what happens. It’s kind of like playing the lottery. I suggest you try it. You may experience an electric thrill. You may have been needing an electric thrill for some time now. So, sit. Write. Any poem. Any poem at all. Then submit it for publication. Just do it. Trust me, you’ll like it.
Silas and his Alien Pajamas
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008We have had to retire Silas’s alien pajamas as his arms and legs are just too damn long. To commemorate this sad, untimely event, I have a written a short story in honor of Silas and his pajamas and his already formulating adventurous and mischievous ways.
I am putting a copy of this is his baby book along with all of his letters.
Letter from a Child Lost, to his Mother
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008Before I became pregnant with Silas, Paul and I suffered a miscarriage. In an attempt to make sense of this loss, I wrote the following poem. I recently submitted this poem to Mothering magazine, but it was rejected. This was my first official submission and therefore my first official rejection. Of course, I wish they had accepted the poem, but I feel good about the entire process. It helped that the rejection was very personal and very kind.
