a poem
salt
on the wind
filling the core
of my being
guilty and alive
tired but alert-
what is peace
with a ghost limb?
my lungs fill
bottom to top
with salt
with salt
with salt
hello, it’s been a minute
I spent last week on retreat somewhere within the inlets of Midcoast Maine. During that time, I attempted to slow myself down (moderate success) spend time alone (minor success) and to understand my experience of being a mother and a poet more deeply (great success). I facilitated two poetry workshops centered around poetry as an embodied form of mindfulness and how to enliven a poetry practice through working with kindred spirits. I woke before five each day to prolonged quiet, an open notebook, and a sleepy pine forest. Those early mornings became some of my most cherished memories from the experience. They brought me back to center, back to purpose, back to several goals I’d lost track of throughout the chaos of day to day living.
I’ve decided that The Poetry Journals will now be a free newsletter. I do this to cultivate accessibility for both you and me. I believe scrapping the title ‘paid subscriber benefits' will open me up to create with more ease, allow me to bring more of myself and my offerings to the table, and to allocate time where it matters (see below for more details). I wholeheartedly believe poetry is in everything, that everyone is a poet, that self-expression and words are our birthrights, that being a poet is ours to pursue, regardless of education or background, if we wish to. Writing from a place of “could I be a SAHM and just write a lucrative newsletter?” is the type of grind that does next to nothing to fill my creative well. You will still receive the same content as always (poems, prompts, kindred spirits, my offerings), delivered most Fridays as usual. To paid subscribers of The Poetry Journals: your support has been a nod of recognition that I should keep going. I am so grateful for that, for you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
a quandry
I am designing a container with you in mind- a space to dive into the depths of what is lightly touched upon here. I’d like to know your preferences, before unveiling it to you. If you’re interested in gathering with other poets and filling your creative well, would you prefer:
attn: mothers
Flowering Bodies is back this month! Our next generative writing circle is Sept. 22, 1-2pm EST. To join us, all you need to do is sign up for a paid subscription of our Flowering Bodies Substack. We are also unveiling our free book club. To join our book club, all you have to do is become a free subscriber of the Flowering Bodies Substack. Holler with any questions!
As always, thank you for being here. It is heartening to be in conversation with other poets in any capacity. Until next week!
Yours in poetry,
Kat
Love this Kat. Agreed that "accessible" poetry is best. A bit of opaqueness and a touch of the surreal/absurd can help to push the reader to experience the poem beyond the words themselves, but if the language is too opaque, it can just seem self-serving and pompous. Just my two cents... 🤪