Contemplating - What Poems do I include in my manuscript?

Glenda reading poetry at Poetry Hickory

In 2009, my poetry chapbook, Now Might as Well be Then, was published by Finishing Line Press. The book was released in October and Barry had died from cancer in July. He never saw the finished product. The reading pictured above was one of the few I made when the book came out. In my grief, I had very little interest in setting up readings or appearances. My sister hosted a book party at her home in Roswell, Georgia and her friends bought books. We also had 100 pre-orders from friends and family. 

It is a fact that most poetry books are sold in person-to-person situations. Also, most poetry books are bought by other poets, but I am pleased that many non-poets purchased my book and let me know they enjoyed it. 

One of those non-poets was a French lady in Marietta, GA who used one of my poems on her blog page with lovely pictures that fit with each verse. Another was Nancy Purcell, a fiction writer who said of my book:  You touched my heart over and over again with your words. I've already read the book (Now Might as Well be Then) three times...I'm so glad I own a copy.

                                                       

Steven Harvey, author and essayist, said "I enjoyed reading your chapbook, "Now Might as Well Be Then."  I was interested in it, of course, since you frame it as an exercise in memory, a subject that I am much interested in these days as my class at your "writer's circle" probably made clear. "The Woman in the Mirror" reads like a call to duty for the poet as rememberer.

I do like the narrative impulse behind some of the longer poems such as "Inundated" and "Roosevelt" and "Blue Moon Every Twenty Years" because you allow them to build in a way that conveys the emotions, usually of loss, but in the end the lyrics were moving, too, pieces like "Beneath the Beauty" where your vision of life as a mix of beauty amid ugliness is powerfully presented. You can be proud of this small book!"

Dr. Harvey volunteered his comments after reading my book and I was as excited about his compliments as I would have been if my book had won first place in a contest.

I am contemplating submitting another manuscript of poetry this year. I think I might include some of the poems in "Now Might as Well be Then" because the book was not widely read, and I hope the new book will reach more readers.

If you have my book and have read it, will you let me know which were your favorite poems? "The Woman in the Mirror" seems to appeal to most people, but I would love to have your input as to which poems you think I should include in the new book.

Email me, gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com   or leave a comment on this blog.

Mirrors

Since this is poetry month, I want to share at least one good poem with my readers.

Mirror by Sylvia Plath is one that hits a chord with me today.

I wrote a poem called The Woman in the Mirror. 

Mirrors hide nothing from us. I have heard of people who will not have a mirror in their home. But mirrors are my security, my safety net. My mirror tells me the truth when no one else will. A mirror can bring us to our knees at times and can also send us soaring like a kite set free on the wind.

I knew a young man who, each morning, looked at his reflection in his mirror and said out loud, "I look good! I feel good!" He smiled at himself and began his day. 

My mirror speaks to me frankly and never minces words when I ask, "who is the fairest?"

It doesn't hide my flaws, but pronounces them in a silver quiet voice perfect for my hearing these days. 

I seldom visit my reflection anxious as I did in my youth. Now I speak to myself and say, job well done. 

Woman in the Mirror

In July 2011 one of my poems, Woman in the Mirror, was merged with lovely paintings to make a post that will always be special to me. 

I had lost the link to Avagabond's blog, but she was kind enough to find the post and send it to me. I never met her, but this woman is one of the most interesting people I have read about online.

She writes about her life, her travels, France and she shares great photography. I feel like I'm there with her. I think some of my present readers came into my life through this site and this post.

Click on this link to see her post using my poem. You might have to copy the link and paste it into the search line.

http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-intermission-no-14-entracte-woman.html

Visit Vagabonde's blog for Woman in the Mirror

I am very pleased to share this link with you.
http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-intermission-no-14-entracte-woman.html


Vagabonde married my poem, "Woman in the Mirror," with a collection of paintings to make an outstanding post on her blog. I hope you will visit and see what she did.
I am honored that she chose my poem from Now Might as Well be Then, and creatively matched it with the lovely photos.