You sing your caged bird song
a lonely trill that echoes in the hearts of mothers,
with a tug at familiar longings,
but the wisdom of a thousand shattered
fragments of love.
So fly. Go. I will be here to catch you.…
About four years ago I was diagnosed with Chronic Neurological Lyme disease. I sometimes feel like I need to be confessing this to a support group. “Hi! My name is Ivy and I have Lyme Disease.” I know it seems dramatic, but unless you have lived with someone who has it, you cannot understand the impact.…
I came home from work today to find a box of my books! It hasn’t been a real thing until now. Of course my work was real, and I have seen my work in print before, but an entire book is a whole new experience. …
For a year or so I have been thinking of writing a book on writing poetry, getting your work out there, and other writing things. I have had a number of people ask me for advice on everything from how to start writing poetry to how to shop a book of poetry out.…
This has been one of the more challenging semesters, but quite fulfilling. Many of the classes I taught were filled with freshmen, excited, then nervous, then exhausted, and now feeling the pinch of the final week. I rode through this roller-coaster with them, while offering encouragement, guidance, and (of course) lessons along the way.…
For two years now I have been working hard to publish my poetry, find teaching positions, and become a local advocate for poetry through readings and starting my own literary journal. At some point with any work, no matter how much you love it, it becomes just that…work.…
I can now breathe a sigh of relief. While last semester sent me into a spiral of letting the non-paid work slide, this semester is turning out a little more balanced. Thank goodness!
I have been able to keep OVS going, write, provide my students with feedback, and spend time with the family.…
As I sit writing this, the fireworks are going off just up the road. Every once in a while, a big one cracks the air and both of my German Shepherds jump to attention and whine. The heat of summer seems to have settled into the White Mountains.…
Well, Spring has come and gone it seems. While the nights in the foothills of the White Mountains are still cool, the bugs are coming with the heat of the day. It is shaping up to be a great year so far!…
I realize that no matter how hard I work, it is about me being happy with what I have done. No matter how many times we try to work harder, better, or reach our goals, there will be pitfalls and hurtles that stand in our way. After receiving a run of rejections from literary presses, dealing with an individual who doesn’t give a pat on the back due to frustration and economic concern, and generally feeling the Spring blah, I have decided to just let all of the stress of it dissolve. In order to do this, I need to cut myself some slack. Recognize that I have worked long and hard to get to a point in my life where I can support a family, dabble in my writing, run a few open mics, and teach as time allows.…